Chapter 71: Lin Tian Walks the Path of an Arts Student (5 AM) (Please Vote for Me)
Monday at Qinzhou Seventh High.
After the morning Chinese exam, the faculty room.
“What?! You want to be an arts student?!”
With an excited tone, Ms. Zhang Juan, the head teacher of Class A, stood up and stared in horror at Lin Tian before her.
“Yes, Ms. Zhang.”
Lin Tian repeated,
“I plan on taking the entrance exam for the Zhuanghua Music Academy.”
This commotion immediately drew the attention of other teachers in the office.
“Isn’t that the top-five student from Class A?”
“And with just months till the college entrance exams, why is he deciding to take the arts route now?”
“Hahahaha, a student who can easily get into prestigious universities is now going to pursue arts. Poor Ms. Zhang has her hands full.”
“Can’t help but think he got fooled by some pretty art student girl. Those pure-hearted studiers often fall for attractive girls, right?”
“It’s a shame; our school is losing one of its biggest academic pillars.”
Despite the fact that everyone was still swamped with work after the recently finished exam, they all paused their activities to discuss the scene before them.
“Lin Tian, do you realize there’re only two months left until the arts exam?”
“Your decision to pursue arts is just a gamble with your future!”
“Two months—do you really think you can pass the arts exam in time?”
“There’s only half a year left until the college entrance exams! Every day counts! Spending two months on arts means falling behind significantly!”
Ms. Zhang, with a heart full of concern, pleaded with Lin Tian, lines of worry etched onto her forehead. She’d always seen Lin Tian as a diligent and well-behaved student who gave teachers peace of mind. Such students were like dreams come true for any class advisor like her.
She couldn’t understand why he suddenly decided to go the arts path.
It wasn’t that she looked down on arts students.
Both the Zhuanghua Music Academy and the Hushang Music University were top-notch music schools in China and had their own prestige.
Although these institutions might be classified under the category of 211 universities instead of 985, they were internationally recognized, making their reputation on par with the latter.
If Lin Tian could make it, it wouldn’t be too bad.
Maybe it would even become a good story to tell.
However, Ms. Zhang was certain that two months would be insufficient for Lin Tian to get through the arts exam.
Worse yet, if he failed the exam, he’d waste those already precious months meant for reviewing for regular college entrance exams.
It wouldn’t be worth it!
“Teacher, I—” Lin Tian tried to speak.
But the fervent Ms. Zhang cut him off once more:
“Wasting two months is one thing! But stress among arts students is intense. If you fail the exam and suffer mentally, who knows what might happen?”
“.”
“Don’t think I’m exaggerating! I’ve seen so many cases in my years of teaching senior-year students!”
“Take our grade for instance! There’s this girl named Gan Yan Yu from Class B, she’s an arts student and currently dealing with depression—stuck at home. Can you imagine how rough she must have it? She’s dropped to 80 pounds…”
“Eighty pounds, eighty pounds! That’s insane! Do you know what eighty pounds feels like? So light…”
Ms. Zhang gestured wildly with her fingers in the air and then sighed heavily,
“As a mother, if this were my daughter, I’d weep buckets.”
As she spoke, her voice trembled, almost breaking.
“.”
Lin Tian also choked up.
Last night, after a grueling review session, Lin Tian came to realize he should inform the school about his decision regarding the arts exam.
After all, he needed to take leave for both the arts exam and subsequent school assessments.
He hadn’t expected the head teacher’s reaction would be so intense. It was the first time he saw Ms. Zhang’s typically gentle facade crack into such desperation.
Still, her concerns were coming from a place of benevolence.
“Teacher, I can pass the arts exam.”
“Two months’ time—what exactly can you use to prepare?”
At those words, Ms. Zhang, who had just caught her breath, sat back upright,
“I know you’ve become somewhat famous for your piano skills on Douyin with videos that went viral. Even I saw it. Truly, you’re talented. However, that’s no reason to impulsively decide to take the arts exam!”
Just then, someone reported at the door.
Lin Tian turned, seeing Xu Yong unexpectedly walk in.
“Ms. Zhang, you wanted to see me?”
“Lin Tian?”
Xu Yong looked at Lin Tian, equally shocked.
“Yes, come in,” Ms. Zhang directed Xu Yong.
As Lin Tian watched, Ms. Zhang addressed Xu Yong,
“You know Lin Tian wants to pursue arts?”
“You want to be an arts student?!”
Xu Yong stared wide-eyed at Lin Tian.
“Yes.”
“When did you decide?”
“This past weekend.”
“Did some woman—”
Xu Yong, naturally ready to let out a few colorful expressions, stopped short upon realizing where he was.
“What’s your reasoning?”
“Right, Xu Yong. Don’t you think this is an irrational move?”
Ms. Zhang, serious as ever, chimed in.
As class advisor, Ms. Zhang knew intimately well the various relationships among students.
She was aware that Lin Tian had very few friends, except for Xu Yong.
Calling Xu Yong over was specifically to get firsthand insight on his stance.
If he was unaware, Ms. Zhang hoped Xu Yong would join her persuading efforts.
Friends’ persuasion was sometimes more influential than a teacher’s.
“Absolutely!”
Xu Yong nodded affirmatively, turning to Lin Tian,
“Two months for an arts exam… Do you think you can handle it?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
Xu Yong turned to Ms. Zhang,
“I think everything will be fine.”
“What?!”
Ms. Zhang was completely baffled. Why did Xu Yong cave so quickly?
“It’s impossible in just two months,”
“I can do it.”
“He can do it,”
“…”
Facing her two stubborn students, Ms. Zhang was at a loss.
Dealing with one hard-headed student is already troublesome enough. Two made it exponentially more complicated.
Reluctantly, she sighed.
Since Lin Tian was so determined,
as a teacher, she could only support him.
She knew the boy had a habit of following through with his decisions, working incredibly hard to achieve goals.
What if he succeeds?
While she was willing to support him, she had to report back to the school leaders.
So, she had to lay down some ground rules,
“Lin Tian, you’re bound to take arts. But here are my conditions.”
“Go on.”
“First month, you still have to attend classes regularly. The second month, you’re welcome to take time off, find training institutions or tutors—I can arrange that.
“But in the first month, grades mustn’t slip. Think you can manage that?”
This concludes the fifth chapter in this series of updates.
Sorry, I promised to add extra chapters, but my birthday took up my time yesterday.
To make up for it, I posted COS photos of affectionate letter-writing teacher in the comment sections.
Also, the book club is set up—welcome everyone to join us in the discussion!
And that’s a wrap for this chapter.
