Legacy of the Stars

Chapter 13: Rapid Progress

At Ningcheng No. 1 High School, Class 4 of the Senior Three was in the midst of a mock college entrance examination for English, a daily routine at this stage. By the end of their second year in high school, they had covered all three years’ worth of curriculum. In their final year, the focus shifted to consolidation and improvement, with constant practice exams to adapt to the college entrance exam format.

Liu Yuan stared at the English test paper in his hand. In the past, his English had been exceptionally poor. There were several reasons for this. One was his weak foundation, typical in rural areas where exposure to English starts later compared to urban areas where children start learning English basics at a very young age. Another factor was Liu Yuan's lack of interest and resistance towards learning English. Being from a poor family, he also faced nutritional deficiencies during his growth years, which affected his ability to concentrate and memorize effectively, especially in learning English vocabulary.

However, things were different now. After undergoing genetic optimization, Liu Yuan's memory had improved dramatically, giving him the ability to memorize vast amounts effortlessly. Since the start of the school year, aided by the Seed, he had managed to memorize the Oxford dictionary in just a few days, establishing a solid vocabulary foundation that surpassed mere rote memorization.

With enhanced memory and cognitive abilities, Liu Yuan found the English exam papers now straightforward. Previously, he struggled to understand sentences, often guessing their meanings vaguely, which reflected in his poor grades. But now, he could grasp the meaning of sentences at a glance, and the answers seemed to appear effortlessly before him.

Even the dreaded listening comprehension section, once a challenge, now seemed clear and manageable to Liu Yuan. It was as if he was simply reciting answers rather than comprehending questions. With his extensive vocabulary, reading comprehension became equally straightforward; he could deduce answers without much thought.

"English seems to be no longer a major issue for me."

"To achieve a perfect score, I may need more practice in writing. Messy handwriting will definitely cost me marks, but other than that, I'm confident."

Liu Yuan multitasked, pondering over other matters while completing the listening comprehension section. In less than a month, he had overcome his English difficulties entirely, making it appear easy and manageable. He was even practicing speaking English to perfect his pronunciation, understanding that mastering a language went beyond exams—it involved practical usage.

While Liu Yuan reviewed his progress, English teacher Wen Lianying quietly approached, carefully observing Liu Yuan's test answers. Since Liu Yuan's remarkable performance in the entrance test, both classmates and teachers had been paying closer attention to him. Among them, Wen Lianying was particularly invested, as instructed by their class teacher Lu Xiao to monitor Liu Yuan's progress closely. If Liu Yuan could continue improving his English, he might have a shot at prestigious universities, a feat that would bring considerable pride to their ordinary class.

"All correct answers, incredibly fast completion speed—his progress is astonishingly rapid," Wen Lianying remarked, watching Liu Yuan effortlessly fill out each answer.

She had been monitoring Liu Yuan closely and was amazed at his growth rate. Just a week ago, Liu Yuan struggled with the exercises, but now he tackled them like a seasoned top student, with ease and confidence. At this rate, he might even compete for a place in the top universities.

"I might actually see him aiming for the top two universities," she nodded thoughtfully.

Liu Yuan's speed in answering was astounding; once the listening section was finished, the subsequent questions posed no challenge. Multiple-choice questions were breezed through in minutes, and reading comprehension, with his extensive vocabulary, was a simple task of finding answers directly.

"If I hadn't seen his rapid progress with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed such talent exists. His speed of improvement and learning ability is truly remarkable."

She sighed inwardly.

"The upcoming monthly exams will be interesting. If he continues at this pace, he might just claim the top spot in the entire school."

"Peng Hua and Chen Xinwei will probably be furious, but it's a delightful thought."

Peng Hua and Chen Xinwei were the class teachers of two prestigious classes at Ningcheng No. 1 High School, constantly competing with each other. They rarely paid attention to students and teachers from ordinary classes, who were often less experienced.

Smiling at the thought, Wen Lianying walked away slowly, checking on other students' progress.

Having finished the English test early, Liu Yuan felt a bit bored. He had spent this period immersed in intense study, focusing on memorizing vocabulary, improving his English, and practicing speaking, consuming a significant amount of his time. The foundation of English was vast, almost equivalent to relearning all of high school English. Fortunately, with his enhanced learning ability and brain function, English had become manageable within a month.

Quietly taking out his old-fashioned mobile phone, he saw numerous messages.

"Little bro, are you in class again? I'm coming to Ningcheng for vacation soon. I heard it's a revolutionary old area there. Will you be my guide?"

"Sending texts every day is too much hassle. I'll buy you a new phone for us to video chat."

He knew immediately it was Dong Feifei.

"I don't have time to be your guide. I have my own phone; no need to spend money on me."

He quickly replied, but before he could read the next message, she immediately responded.

"It's class time now, right? If you don't pay attention in class and get caught using your phone, the teacher might confiscate it."

"If you don't tell me, how will I find out? Waiting for your package."

She ended with a smug emoji.

Liu Yuan didn't bother replying and continued reading other messages.

"After evening self-study, let's go have bubble tea together. The place across from school is really good; you'll like it."

This was from Qiu Tingting, who loved bubble tea and drank it almost daily.

"After class, let's go to the cafeteria for dinner?"

This was from Lin Yao, who now seemed to eat with Liu Yuan every day, leading to rumors of a romance.

"Our school's exam was so hard. I did poorly and feel terrible. When will you be free? Can we talk on the phone? Please answer my call today; if you don't, I won't study properly."

This message was from Chen Ya, a city girl Liu Yuan had met while working at night. She texted him every day and often called after evening self-study, but Liu Yuan usually ignored her calls, unwilling to waste time with this city girl.

"Women are troublesome," Liu Yuan muttered as he scrolled through the messages. The side effects of the genetic optimization fluid were becoming increasingly apparent, leading more and more female classmates to contact him, sending him letters, cards, and even girls he met that night, who contacted him every day after school.