This music box with unknown origin is the first birthday gift Xia Linxi received this year.

She put the music box on the bedside table, and before going to bed at night, she repeatedly played against the lights until she was sleepy, and then she remembered that she should go to bed.

She covered her quilt and lay down, held her cell phone in both hands, took out Jiang Zhenghan from the contact list, then turned on the text message function, and asked seriously: Are you asleep?

Xia Linxi actually wanted to ask if you gave the music box, but she was embarrassed to ask directly, and she planned to lay a detour.

Jiang Zhenghan replied quickly, but only two words: No.

Xia Linxi turned over and lay in the quilt to continue editing: I picked up a music box today, which looked like it was made by hand.

After writing this sentence, she looked back and forth several times, constantly pondering the words, deleting them and typing them again.

After the delivery was successful, Xia Linxi wrapped the quilt tightly and knelt on the bed and stared at the screen. She placed her phone on the pillow and quietly waited for the other party's reply, as if facing a glorious holy object.

After waiting for about a few seconds, Jiang Zhenghan replied: Happy birthday.

Although there are only four words, it seems that everything is clear.

Xia Linxi jumped off the bed and turned on the wall light by the wall. She felt her heart beat a little faster and her cheeks were a little hot. When the guess was verified as reality, reality seemed to be dreaming.

She needs to do a few math questions to calm down.

The night was dark and the clock had passed, and the lamp on the table was still on. While Xia Linxi was busy writing the test paper, she realized that she was eighteen years old and was already an adult in the legal sense and needed to bear her own responsibilities.

Standing at the intersection of eighteen years old, she is still irrational, immature, not brave, not humble, and cannot be perfect in everything. She always weighs which one is more important. The road to the future is like the test paper in her hand. Doing a little bit is a little bit, and taking one step at a time.

At this stage, what is the most important thing?

It will be the three-school joint examination next week.

Xia Linxi thought that it would be very difficult for an ordinary student to improve by 120 per week. But Jiang Zhenghan's weakness lies in her comprehensive and Chinese language, both of which are her strengths. She is familiar with all her knowledge points and answering skills.

With this idea, what she said to him in the morning reading class the next day seemed natural.

The weather was rare, with dark clouds covering the sky, unable to penetrate a ray of sunshine. The students on the side opened the curtains and shouted enthusiastically: "It's going to rain today!"

This heavy rain in late summer came quickly and violently, with dense raindrops as pouring, intertwined into a water curtain filled with mist. Many students surrounded the window to watch the rain, but Xia Linxi sat in his original position.

"This is what I have memorized...all the Chinese answer formulas," Xia Linxi passed the notebook back, holding the English vocabulary book in his hand. "There is also a comprehensive science notebook, I will write it for you tomorrow."

Jiang Zhenghan held it in his hand and looked at two pages. Xia Linxi's font was very neat at the beginning, but at the end page it was a little tilted. Although the handwriting was still clear, it was a bit inconsistent overall.

Xia Linxi explained: "I was a little sleepy last night, but later I wrote a wrong hand."

Jiang Zhenghan asked: "Have you been all night?"

"No," Xia Linxi said, "and I will write it myself, which is equivalent to reviewing."

After saying that, she didn't mention a single word.

Jiang Zhenghan took her things and did not make any special statement. He was still no different from before. He left on time every day and walked through the two-point and one-line life with all ordinary students, and was as unknown as them.

Time passed by quietly like flowing water, and in a blink of an eye, it was the day of the joint examination of the three schools.

Since September, the high temperature has disappeared, an autumn rain and a cool rain, and a hazy fog in the early morning.

During the joint examination of the three schools, all students had to exchange examination rooms. Xia Linxi's examination location was located at No. 19 Middle School in Jiangming City. Her mother happened to pass by here when she was at work, so she took Xia Linxi over.

Shortly after Xia Linxi got off the bus, the examination room had not opened yet, so he wandered outside the door alone.

It was less than eight o'clock at this time, but it was the morning rush hour in the traffic, and pedestrians rushed to and occupied the entire sidewalk.

She bypassed the door sign of No. 19 Middle School and saw several boys and girls standing in the corner, all of whom were her classmates, including not only Chen Yichuan, but also Meng Zhixing and Shi Ying.

Perhaps because the joint examination is important, everyone comes early.

Shi Ying was the first to see her and raised her hand to say hello to her: "Xia Linxi, are you here too?"

Xia Linxi walked over with her schoolbag on her back.

Meng Zhixing held a transparent file bag and smiled at Xia Linxi: "I have made a bet with others. When this joint examination is over, you will definitely be the first in total score."

Chen Yichuan asked: "What bet have you put on?"

Meng Zhixing has not answered yet, and Chen Yichuan said: "It is very likely that he will lose."

In the morning, the white fog was filled with the temperature, and a cool breeze blew from afar, lifting up the hem of the school uniform. Someone muttered that it was so cold. Everyone stood behind the wall, and only Xia Linxi was still standing at the vent.

She didn't wear school uniform today, she was wearing long clothes and trousers, so even if she stood outside the wall, she didn't feel cold, but on the contrary, she was a little cool.

She said: "If this joint examination is over, my total score will be higher than yours..."

Before Xia Linxi could finish her words, Chen Yichuan interrupted her: "The exam has not started yet, how can you draw a conclusion in advance?"

"Don't compare scores with others, you should compare yourself," Shi Ying stood around the corner and suddenly interrupted, "If you make progress, you will really make progress."

Another boy next to him nodded and said, "It's still our goddess who said it right."

He asked, "By the way, Shi Ying, how are your health? You have taken leave these days and haven't come to class. We thought you wouldn't take the joint exam."

Shi Ying replied: "I had an operation some time ago and I just had a week off. I also hired a tutor at home, so I didn't miss the school's courses."

She has fair skin, a rosy complexion, wears a pair of contact lenses, and has regained her strength when speaking, and her condition is much better than before.

"I also want to thank Xia Linxi," Shi Ying walked over with a smile and grabbed Xia Linxi's hand. "A week ago, I fell in the boiling water room. If I hadn't met her, I wouldn't know what to do."

Xia Linxi said: "It's fine if you're fine."

Shi Ying nodded and continued, "If I have time in the future, I will definitely treat you to a meal."

"Xia Linxi won't have time," Chen Yichuan took out his admission ticket and turned his head to look at the examination room. "She is busy doing questions all day long, so she has no time to have time to have dinner with you."

After saying that, he suddenly remembered that Xia Linxi had just spoken to him, but he didn't say a word in full.

So he asked again: "What did you just say? If your score is after the joint examination is over..."

This time, it was Chen Yichuan's turn to say nothing.

Xia Linxi ran away.

The examination room was not open yet, and the classmates were still here. She didn't know who she saw, so she ran to another entrance.

"What's wrong with Xia Linxi? Who is there?" someone asked.

Meng Zhixing stood at the edge, so he took two steps and looked into the distance. Sure enough, he saw Jiang Zhenghan.

"Oh, isn't this that anyone?" Meng Zhixing pointed forward and said nonsense, "Gu Xiaoman."

When Shi Ying heard this, she also walked over.

But she did not look into the distance. She stood in front of the glass door of the security room, faced her reflective shadow, and took a photo with her camera.

"So Xia Linxi and Gu Xiaoman have such a good relationship," Shi Ying looked down at the camera and searched for her photos back and forth. "I saw them quarrel in my second year of high school."

Meng Zhixingdao: "This is not surprising. I even fought with Chen Yichuan."

The glass door reflected the figures of people from afar, overlapping Xia Linxi and a bicycle.

Xia Linxi accompanied Jiang Zhenghan to find a parking space. The nearby area was full of motorcycles and electric vehicles, and there were also small three-wheelers who could find a chance. After about five minutes, he finally found a seat. Xia Linxi asked, "How are you reviewing?"

Jiang Zhenghan answered the question: "After the exam, I will go back and have a sleep."

Xia Linxi just ran over and pretended to be a chance encounter. Now she is standing next to him, looking very calm. She turned her back to him and said, "This exam is very ordinary. If you enter the door later, don't be nervous."

Jiang Zhenghan said: "Well, don't be nervous."

The clock showed 8:00, and the whistle sounded in the school. The doors on both sides slowly opened, and many students entered in an orderly manner.

At this moment, a crowded stream of people rushed from all directions, looking down from the sky above the school, like a group of ants coming out of their nests, crawling towards their destination with their schoolbags on their backs.

Xia Linxi followed Jiang Zhenghan and suddenly noticed that he stretched out his hand.

Xia Linxi hesitated for a moment and reached out to his hand.

He just happened to hold it.

His palms were hotter than her and his fingers were longer than her. He walked forward with her. Neither of them spoke, and there were students everywhere, and there were their acquaintances, but no one bowed his head, and no one noticed them holding hands.

From the main entrance to the teaching building, a distance of up to 700 meters was at most, Xia Linxi was in vague.

The sky is high and the clouds are wide, the autumn wind is refreshing, and the fog has not yet dissipated. She holds the admission ticket in one hand, but the palm of her other hand seems to be sweating a little.

In a place with sparse crowds, Xia Linxi pulled his hand back.

Her examination room is on the second floor, so she has to part ways in the stairwell: "Come on, take the exam."

Jiang Zhenghan said: "So too."

He was carrying his schoolbag, and there was still warmth in his palm.

It turned out that the girl's hand was like this. He thought to himself, it was indeed softer than his own. He didn't dare to use any strength to hold her all the way. He felt that it would hurt if he pinched her.

A month ago, Jiang Zhenghan and Xia Linxi rarely communicated, but now, he took the initiative to hold her hand, and he felt that he had changed very quickly.

What changed was not only habits, but also his grades and rankings.

On the fifth day after the joint examination of the three schools, the overall ranking of the school was released. The class teacher first got a list, and knew the final result before the whole class.

Teacher He's desk was in the middle. When he heard that the joint examination results had come out, other teachers rushed to watch. One teacher asked, "How about it, the number one in our top class, what is her total score in this exam?"

Teacher He smiled with relief and read the rankings casually: "Maybe it's luck. Xia Linxi, the one in our class, is still ranked first in the overall ranking."

Many teachers applauded, and some praised, "Teacher He has a good teaching."

"Xia Linxi's Chinese and English tests are very high every time," Teacher He pointed to the score column. "In these two subjects, many boys with good science will be dumped by her."

While talking, he turned the page down, his eyes suddenly paused and stopped at Jiang Zhenghan's name.

Class ranking 29, comprehensive ranking 56.
Chapter completed!