Chapter 25: Xu Ming's Perfect Math Score

[After diligent study, your [Mathematics] proficiency has improved. You have gained 10 experience points.]

Inside the classroom, Xu Ming withdrew from his state of deep learning and looked at the newly added subject experience points on the interface before him.

[Mathematics: lv1 (101/500)]

"Finally broke a hundred."

Feeling satisfied, he closed the Higher Algebra textbook spread out before him, preparing to head to the cafeteria to settle his dinner for the evening.

After arriving in class, he had spent his time sitting at his desk, focused on studying this volume of Higher Algebra. He began with systems of linear equations. In the process, he had specifically entered a state of deep learning, boosting his efficiency to memorize the various concepts in the book. Once everything was firmly in his mind, he would derive the contents to ensure he grasped the formulas and theorems and could apply them flexibly. After all, he had not majored in mathematics, and with no one available to consult at the moment, he could only dissect the mathematical structure by deriving the formulas himself. It was much like owning a tool; once you understand it, you can use it however you please. Seeing that he had gained double-digit experience points, he knew his current method was feasible and correct.

Qian Hong had returned to his typical weekend routine, never entering the classroom until attendance was taken, so Xu Ming had no intention of waiting for him to eat. He grabbed his lunch box from his desk and stood up, heading toward the door. As he passed the row where Chen Lu sat, he suddenly heard Yang Huijuan call out:

"Xu Ming! Aren't you going to check your answers? These were written by Zhou Junhao from the honors class; the accuracy rate is extremely high."

Xu Ming paused upon hearing this and shook his head. "I'll wait until the test papers are handed back."

There were people in the honors class who liked to write down their answers after an exam, which were sometimes circulated to the regular classes, making it convenient for everyone to compare answers and estimate their scores in advance. Among them, the accuracy rate of Zhou Junhao, the top student in the grade, was naturally the highest.

"Then do you remember the final high-difficulty problem in the math test? What was the proof logic and process? Chen Lu and I compared our answers and found that both sub-questions were wrong," Yang Huijuan followed up.

As soon as she finished speaking, Chen Lu chimed in, her expression somewhat embarrassed. "Xu Ming, just go eat. We'll know tonight anyway."

"Let me take a look at the answers," Xu Ming replied.

"Here you go." Yang Huijuan handed them over immediately.

Taking them, Xu Ming scanned the proof steps for the final high-difficulty problem. In this mock exam, the math finale mainly tested two variables. The sub-questions involved discussing the monotonicity of the function f(x) and, finally, proving that f(x₁) + f(x₂) > 1 regarding the extreme points x₁ and x₂.

Because he had used two different methods to solve this problem, a mere glance was enough to tell him where the issues lay. Although Zhou Junhao’s proof logic was similar to his, there were derivation errors in two of the steps, which would lead to an invalid conclusion.

He handed the paper back to Yang Huijuan and dropped a remark lightly:

"The answer is wrong."

"You can try to re-derive the results for the formulas in steps six and seven. Or, I can explain it to you in detail after I finish eating."

Yang Huijuan watched Xu Ming’s back until he disappeared past the corridor window, standing there in a daze. After a few seconds of stunned silence, she turned to Chen Lu and asked, "Did Xu Ming just say that Zhou Junhao’s proof for the final problem was wrong?"

Across the entire Dongping No. 1 High School, who wasn't aware of the terrifying dominance of Zhou Junhao from the honors class? Before the split between liberal arts and sciences, he had already claimed the top spot in the grade, and that had never changed through countless exams. In many people's minds, Zhou Junhao’s answers were synonymous with the correct ones. But now, he had been refuted by a single sentence from Xu Ming. Naturally, there was skepticism.

Chen Lu remained unaffected by the stir in the classroom. Faced with her desk-mate’s disbelief, she nodded firmly. "I believe Xu Ming is right."

When Xu Ming had stated his conclusion, she had seen a look on his face she had become very familiar with—an absolute, well-prepared confidence. When their homeroom teacher had previously called Xu Ming to the podium to solve problems in front of everyone, he had worn that exact expression.

After saying this, she stopped worrying about Yang Huijuan’s opinion and immediately began to re-derive those steps as Xu Ming had suggested.

Li Wenhui, sitting in the row to the right, had naturally heard Xu Ming’s words, but he scoffed at them. "Zhou the 'God' gets full marks in math most of the time. How could he possibly be wrong?"

Setting aside Zhou Junhao’s reputation, Li had compared his own answers and found his proof results matched, so he was naturally more convinced that his were the correct ones—especially since he had seen with his own eyes that Xu Ming hadn't even finished the test paper.

...

Xu Ming was unaware that his departure had sparked a heated discussion. After eating and returning to class, seeing that Chen Lu didn't intend to make him explain the problem, he continued his study of Higher Algebra.

During the evening self-study session, Wang Qingtao, perhaps too excited, entered the classroom with the math test papers and report cards before the bell even rang. Standing on the podium, he held back for a moment, not speaking immediately. He scanned the room, met everyone’s eyes, and then his stern face suddenly broke into a smile.

After a couple of light coughs, he said:

"Everyone’s results this time are quite good. Basically, everyone has improved compared to the final exams, which shows that our recent sprint has been effective."

As he spoke, he glanced intentionally or otherwise toward Xu Ming’s seat, but seeing that Xu Ming didn't look up, he stopped. After a brief pause, he shifted his tone.

"However..."

"This result alone doesn't represent everything. You must work even harder from here on out to try and boost your scores further before the college entrance exam."

"Improve by one point, beat a thousand people."

"Now, I will pass out the math papers. Everyone, look at your mistakes."

Seeing that the atmosphere in the class had been stirred up, Wang Qingtao didn't delay any longer and began reading names as he looked at the papers before him.

"Wang Mingjie, 97."

"Yang Huijuan, 103."

...

"Li Wenhui, 131."

"Chen Lu, 138."

As everyone went to the podium one by one to collect their math papers, their faces were generally beaming with happy smiles. They were clearly satisfied with their scores.

It wasn't until Wang Qingtao called Xu Ming’s name that many people curiously looked up. After all, besides Xu Ming's previous performances in math class, he had just refuted Zhou Junhao’s answer during the afternoon meal, so everyone naturally wanted to know his score.

But when the following number echoed through the classroom, every face was instantly filled with shock. A thought flashed through their minds: was the homeroom teacher reading it wrong?

"Xu Ming, 150 points."

Wang Qingtao watched the shift in everyone’s expressions and felt no surprise at all. Because he had felt exactly the same way when he first saw it.

However, after waiting a few seconds and seeing that Xu Ming didn't seem to have any intention of going to the podium, he repeated it.

"Xu Ming, 150 points."