C42 City No1 High School's New System

"Say that one more time! I dare you!" The girl with the tousled hair was visibly upset.

"Jiang Yi, please calm down," her deskmate implored. Jiang Yi was notorious for her arrogance and for stirring up trouble. If it weren't for her brother being the leader of the school's toughest gang, they really wouldn't bother with her.

"How can I stay calm when that bitch is insulting me?" Jiang Yi seemed ready to go to war with Yi Lanyou.

"Youyou, let's get out of here," Wang Xiaoman suggested, setting down her utensils and tugging at Yi Lanyou's sleeve.

"I've lost my appetite anyway," Zhang Ya admitted, her previously good mood spoiled, with no desire to eat any further.

Yi Lanyou, however, clearly hadn't had her fill. In her past life, this restaurant had been forced to relocate due to demolition a year later, and she never got to taste their food again. She had been looking forward to savoring the meal, but her enjoyment was now spoiled by the disruptive outburst. Yi Lanyou was visibly displeased.

"Students from No. 1 High School sure are full of themselves," Jiang Yi muttered, rolling up her sleeves.

"Jiang Yi," a previously silent boy finally spoke up, "how much longer are you going to keep this up?"

At his words, Jiang Yi fell silent, shooting a resentful glance at Zhang Ya's departing figure. She had come out today for Yan Lecheng, yet from the moment he entered the diner, his eyes had been fixed on the girl with the high ponytail. How could she not be angry?

The mood had become tense and quiet, so much so that even the waiter, who had been playing games on his phone, wisely switched it to silent mode.

The restaurant door swung open, and a man stepped in. "Boss, I'll have a large braised chicken rice," he announced, scanning the room before his eyes settled on the table where the three girls sat. "Oh, you're all here too."

Hearing the voice, Yi Lanyou and the others turned. "Teacher?"

Bai Yiming approached them. "Would you mind if I joined you?"

"Please, have a seat, Teacher," they responded, clearing their bags from the empty chair and stowing them behind themselves.

"Okay," Bai Yiming said as he took a seat next to Zhang Ya, with Wang Xiaoman sitting across from him and Yi Lanyou positioned diagonally in front of him. "How did you find out about this place?"

"Youyou introduced us to it," Wang Xiaoman responded, her earlier unease seemingly mitigated by the presence of a man in their group. While his ability to handle a confrontation was uncertain, Bai Yiming's presence had nonetheless brought her some peace of mind.

"Class Monitor Youyou is really something," Bai Yiming said with a thumbs-up. "This place has the best flavor around. I haven't had braised chicken rice that's tasted this good since I graduated."

"It really is tasty," Zhang Ya agreed with a nod.

"Teacher, we're the first group of students to experience the educational reform at City No. 1 High School, aren't we?" Yi Lanyou asked, broaching a more serious topic.

"That's right," Bai Yiming confirmed as he poured himself a cup of hot water. "You students didn't have to do military training or running exercises. You're quite fortunate." He smiled and shook his head. "Your grades are now based on a credit review percentage system. Coursework accounts for 60% of your total grade, with exams making up the remaining 40%."

"Oh," Yi Lanyou acknowledged with a nod.

"Teacher, what does this change in scoring mean?" Wang Xiaoman inquired, not fully grasping the implications of this shift.

"It signifies that the school is placing greater emphasis on your overall development, beyond just your grades. They're considering your character, intelligence, physical conditioning, aesthetic sense, and participation in labor. For instance, if you scored 76 on your English final exam, but you have solid coursework grades, excellent attendance, and favorable evaluations from your English teacher, then after the comprehensive percentage assessment, your actual score could end up being over 80."

"Here's your large braised chicken rice," the waiter announced as he arrived with the tray.

"Great, thank you," Bai Yiming said before continuing his explanation. "However, this system is different from your college entrance exam scores. It's designed to foster well-rounded students. The policy applies only to freshmen and sophomores in high school. By your senior year, you'll still need to meet the national college entrance exam standards, with subjects like language, mathematics, and foreign languages each worth 150 points."

"I heard we're the first institution in the country to adopt this system," Wang Xiaoman remarked.

"It's probably the only one," Yi Lanyou said with a wry smile. Such a risky endeavor isn't something other universities would likely dare to attempt.

"Haha," they all chuckled.

The table next to them finally quieted down. Jiang Yi had become more compliant after Yan Lecheng's scolding. The rest were silently enduring Jiang Yi's temper, cursing under their breath without uttering a word.

Yan Lecheng downed a glass of water in one gulp and cast a meaningful glance at Zhang Ya before getting up to leave.

"Yan Lecheng, where are you going?" Jiang Yi quickly stood and asked.

"I've had enough," he replied, then turned and walked away.

"Wait for me! Yan Lecheng, just wait!" Jiang Yi hurried after him.

Zhang Ya watched Yan Lecheng cross the street, her brows knitting together as a complex expression flickered in her eyes.

"Jiang Yi!" The two girls left at the table called out several times before letting out a sigh of disappointment. It seemed Jiang Yi had never really considered them friends.

The frustrated boy at the table tossed his chopsticks down and said, "Boss, I'll settle the bill."

After paying for the meal, the boy left with the two girls.

Wang Xiaoman turned back to Yi Lanyou and asked, "Youyou, who were they?"

"Students from Fourteenth Middle School," Yi Lanyou explained. "It's just two streets over from City No. 1 High School."

"Oh," Wang Xiaoman nodded, understanding that Fourteenth Middle School was the least prestigious high school in Z City.

"Wow, boss, your cooking just keeps getting better!" Bai Yiming savored his meal, making sure to compliment the chef.

The chef beamed, clearly pleased with Bai Yiming's accolades.

Once Yi Lanyou had finished eating, she set her chopsticks and spoon aside.

The three women had finished their meals, but Bai Yiming was still eating. They exchanged glances, none wanting to broach the subject of leaving first.

Bai Yiming, however, was a fast eater. When he finished, he asked, "What are your plans after this?"

"We're heading to Xindong Pedestrian Street," Yi Lanyou answered.

"Let's go, I can give you a lift," Bai Yiming offered, gesturing towards the door. "My car's parked right outside."

"No need," the three of them quickly gestured with their hands. They felt a sense of pressure at the thought of their teacher driving them to their destination, so they declined the offer.

"Don't be shy about accepting my help," Bai Yiming said, glancing at his watch. "At this time, the 239 bus to Xindong Pedestrian Street has just left, and the next one won't depart for another half hour. Taking a taxi there will cost you 40 yuan. It's really no trouble for me to give you a lift."

With that, the three of them nodded in appreciation and thanked him. Bai Yiming truly was a kind person.