Love Me in Another Universe

Chapter 79. Goodbye, Xiaoda

July 31, 1999, Saturday, afternoon. Even though it was already summer vacation and the college entrance exams had been over for more than 20 days, the Senior Three classrooms at Xiaoda Middle School were still bustling with activity. Some students sat, some stood, and small groups gathered here and there chatting. Most looked quite relaxed, but a hint of tension could be seen in the expressions of many.

Around 2:30 p.m., Ms. Jiang Xiuning, head teacher of Class 5, walked into the classroom carrying a thick stack of papers. She stepped up to the podium, clapped her hands, then smiled and said loudly to the students: "Alright, everyone, please take your seats and quiet down. I'm about to hand out the application forms."

On hearing this, the students all returned to their seats, focusing intently on Ms. Jiang—just like they had used to during English classes or class meetings.

Once the students had settled down, Ms. Jiang looked out at them and joked, "It seems that you have let go of the pressure after the college entrance exams. I notice quite a few of you seem to have put on a bit of weight. There's still a month left of summer vacation, so don't just eat and sleep all day—make sure to get some exercise, or you'll all turn into chubby boys and girls by the time you start university."

The students burst into laughter.

Ms. Jiang laughed along with them. When the laughter died down, she continued with a warm smile, "This year, we first tried the '3+X' exam format, and now we're testing out filling out college applications after the exam results are released. So you've all been 'guinea pigs' this year."

The students all smiled knowingly.

The smile on Ms. Jiang's face gradually faded, and she said thoughtfully, "But being a 'guinea pig' isn't such a bad thing. When we first filled out applications back in June, the exams hadn't taken place yet—you could only guess which universities to apply to based on your usual grades. Now that the exams are over and scores are out, you'll have a much clearer idea when filling out your applications.

"There's a Hong Kong TV commercial that says 'Life has no second chance'—I'm sure you've all seen it. Of course, many things in life really can't be redone, so you must cherish them. Getting a 'second chance' with college applications this time is truly rare. Some of you might have made less-than-ideal choices in your first applications, so think carefully before putting pen to paper today. Once this is done, there won't be a third chance.

"Today is the last time you'll sit here as Xiaoda students, so I'd like to share a few heartfelt words with you. Let me share a little secret with you. Actually, my childhood dream wasn't to become a teacher. I was really good at gymnastics when I was little—there was even a chance I could've become a gymnast. But for some reason, that dream didn't come true. Instead, I became a teacher."

The students let out sounds of surprise upon hearing this.

Ms. Jiang smiled softly and went on in an upbeat tone, "Of course, I felt sorry back then for not making it as a gymnast. But looking back now, being a teacher is pretty great. At least I got to meet all you lovely students and spend two unforgettable years with you."

The students broke into warm applause.

Once the class quieted down a bit, Ms. Jiang smiled and said, "Alright, I won't take up any more of your time. I'll hand out the application forms now."

After distributing the forms, Ms. Jiang added, her tone turning a bit serious, "Just like last time, think carefully before you start writing. Use a black fountain pen. Your handwriting must be clear, with no erasures or corrections whatsoever."