JFWCM Chapter 42

Striving Together

Striving Together

Returning to School: The Growth Overture Settled by a Drunken Dream

On the hover bus back to school, the students carried a trace of fatigue from their hangovers, but they couldn’t hide the light of recollection in their eyes. Sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating their faces, some lost in thought, others with faint smiles. Jiang Wan’yuan rubbed her still sleepy eyes and looked up at Yi Shang, her eyes full of affection: “Yi Shang, last night I dreamed that we were really adventuring in the universe together, it felt so real.” Yi Shang’s lips curled slightly, and she reached out and gently flicked Jiang Wan’yuan’s forehead: “Then you have to work hard, maybe one day your dream will come true.”

Back at school, the familiar atmosphere of the campus swept over them. The students seemed to have returned to reality from a dazzling dream, but the youthful friendship from last night’s drunkenness quietly blended into the details of campus life like a warm current.

In class, Yi Shang was still focused on the complex theories of cosmic energy, but in the occasional flight of thought, she would remember the laughter and dreams of everyone at the camping base that night. She was even more determined to explore, every formula and every experiment was like a solid step towards her dream.

Jiang Wan’yuan was particularly active in the interstellar research related courses. She was no longer satisfied with superficial knowledge, but delved deeper, trying to combine the dreams they talked about that night with practical research. She often pulled Yi Shang to discuss various whimsical ideas, such as how to use the energy principles Yi Shang studied to develop more efficient interstellar communication equipment.

Zhang Yao and Jichuan were also deeply influenced by the communication that night. Zhang Yao became more and more involved in the study of interstellar ecology. She often recalled the encouragement Jichuan gave her in her drunken stupor, and every time she faced complex ecological sample analysis, she told herself to persevere and contribute to the protection of the universe’s ecology. Jichuan devoted himself to optimizing interstellar navigation technology. He hoped that through his efforts, interstellar travel would be safer and more convenient, paving the way for everyone’s interstellar dreams, just as he had promised that night.

Although Sun Yu was still his usual jovial self, he was a little more serious when preparing for his comedy performances. He drew inspiration from the joy of the students that night and incorporated the interesting stories of their campus research life into his performances, hoping to bring happiness to more people and let more people know about this group of young people with interstellar dreams.

Classes were still as usual.

As the teacher solemnly announced that anyone who failed the midterm exam would have to stay at school for remedial classes, the originally noisy classroom instantly fell silent, and an atmosphere of tension, like a fine spider web, quietly enveloped the minds of every student. Jiang Wan’yuan jumped up from her seat, waved her hands in the air, and said with a face full of anxiety, “Ah? The exam is so soon, and we have to pass, what are we going to do!” Her anxious eyes swept around, and finally landed on the calm Yi Shang beside her.

Yi Shang was recording the key points of the exam mentioned by the teacher in her electronic notebook in neat handwriting. Hearing Jiang Wan’yuan’s exclamation, she slowly raised her head, her eyes with a trace of comfort: “Don’t worry, there’s still time to study properly from now on.” Her clear voice was like a calm lake, slightly calming Jiang Wan’yuan’s flustered mood.

After school, the campus was gradually enveloped in dusk, and most of the students had already left. Yi Shang and Jiang Wan’yuan came to the quiet self-study room of the school with their heavy schoolbags. Jiang Wan’yuan dumped her books on the table, slumped in her chair, and said with a bitter face, “Yi Shang, there are so many subjects to review, I feel like my head is going to explode.”

Yi Shang gently pulled out the chair and sat down, took out a neat review outline from her schoolbag, and placed it in front of Jiang Wan’yuan: “Don’t panic, I’ve already sorted out the key points of each subject, let’s follow this plan. Let’s start with your weakest subject, Cosmic Energy Science.” Yi Shang’s voice was soft and firm, as if it had a magical power to reassure people. Her slender fingers pointed to a knowledge point on the outline, and she explained patiently, “Look, the principle of this energy conversion is actually like the changes in matter we see every day, except that it happens at the microscopic quantum level.”

Jiang Wan’yuan rested her chin on her hand, her eyes fixed on the outline, trying to keep up with Yi Shang’s train of thought. But those complex concepts were like mischievous little elves, jumping around in her head, and she couldn’t catch them no matter what. She couldn’t help but frown and muttered, “Yi Shang, I’m still a little confused.”

Yi Shang sighed slightly, but her eyes were full of doting. She picked up a pen and drew a simple diagram on the paper, and then started with examples from life to explain again: “Imagine, it’s like we’re charging the interstellar spacecraft. Different types of energy are like different fuels, and there are specific rules for the conversion between them…” This time, Jiang Wan’yuan’s eyes gradually lit up. She slapped the table and said excitedly, “I think I understand! It’s so simple.” Yi Shang looked at her, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, revealing a faint smile: “It’s good that you understand, strike while the iron is hot and do a few practice questions to consolidate what you’ve learned.”

With Yi Shang’s companionship and guidance, Jiang Wan’yuan gradually entered a state of learning. Time quietly passed in the quiet self-study room, only the rustling of the pen tip on the paper and the occasional soft exchanges between the two.

At the same time, in another corner of the school, Zhang Yao and Jichuan were not idle either. They met in a corner of the library to review interstellar ecology and interstellar navigation technology together. Zhang Yao pointed to a thick illustrated book of interstellar ecology and said to Jichuan, “Look at this plant that grows on planet X-7. Its ecological adaptability is very unique, and it is likely to be tested in the exam.” Jichuan nodded and quickly recorded the main points in his notebook.

As for Sun Yu, he was frowning at a pile of review materials in his dormitory. Interstellar comedy performance had taken up too much of his energy, and he had long forgotten about his studies. He paced back and forth in the dormitory, muttering, “Oh, I knew I shouldn’t have been so playful, what am I going to do now!” Suddenly, he had an idea and picked up his communicator to send a message to Zhang Yao: “Sister Yao, save me, I feel like I’m going to fail this exam. Can you tell me about interstellar history?”

Zhang Yao quickly replied, “Okay, come to the library now, and we’ll study together.” Sun Yu was pardoned and immediately packed up his books and rushed to the library.

Days passed, and the midterm exams were getting closer and closer. Yi Shang and Jiang Wan’yuan studied in the self-study room every night without fail. Once, Jiang Wan’yuan was a little tired because she participated in a club activity during the day, and she couldn’t concentrate on studying. Yi Shang saw it and said with distress, “Why don’t we stop here for today and you go back and get some rest.”

Jiang Wan’yuan stubbornly shook her head: “No, I can’t hold you back, let’s persevere for a while.” Yi Shang smiled helplessly, got up and went to the vending machine to buy a cup of steaming interstellar energy coffee and placed it in front of Jiang Wan’yuan: “Drink this to refresh yourself, but this is the last time, you should pay attention to the combination of work and rest.” Jiang Wan’yuan picked up the coffee, took a sip, and the warm feeling instantly spread throughout her body. She looked at Yi Shang gratefully and threw herself back into studying.

On Zhang Yao, Jichuan and Sun Yu’s side, the review was also going on in an orderly manner. With everyone’s help, Sun Yu gradually found a method and joy in learning. Everyone was very pleased with his progress.

Finally, the day of the midterm exams arrived. The students walked into the examination room with uneasy and expectant moods. Yi Shang and Jiang Wan’yuan walked side by side. Yi Shang said softly to Jiang Wan’yuan, “Don’t be nervous, you’ve studied very hard during this time, just perform normally.” Jiang Wan’yuan took a deep breath and nodded vigorously: “Yeah, I have confidence!”

In the examination room, Yi Shang quickly browsed through the test paper and had a bottom line in her heart. She answered the questions calmly, each question was carefully considered, and the answers written were like a movement she had already arranged in her heart. Jiang Wan’yuan answered the questions while recalling the knowledge points Yi Shang had explained to her in her mind. When she encountered difficult problems, she frowned slightly and tried to think hard, as if she could see Yi Shang patiently guiding her by her side.

The bell rang to signal the end of the exam, and the students walked out of the examination room one after another. Jiang Wan’yuan rushed to Yi Shang’s side, her face a little nervous: “Yi Shang, I feel like I did well on the exam, I should be able to pass, right?” Yi Shang smiled and touched her head: “Of course, you’ve put in so much effort during this time.”

A few days later, the moment to announce the results finally arrived. The students gathered in front of the results bulletin board, anxiously looking for their names. Jiang Wan’yuan held Yi Shang’s hand tightly, her eyes eagerly scanning the list. When she saw a satisfactory score behind both her and Yi Shang’s names, she jumped up excitedly: “Yeah! We passed!”

Yi Shang looked at Jiang Wan’yuan, who was cheering, her eyes full of tenderness and gratification. At this time, Zhang Yao, Jichuan and Sun Yu also ran over, Sun Yu excitedly waving his arms: “I passed too! Thanks to everyone’s help, otherwise I would have to stay at school for remedial classes this time.”

Everyone hugged each other, and joyful laughter echoed on the campus. This midterm exam was not only a contest of knowledge, but also an unforgettable experience in their youthful years. Yi Shang and Jiang Wan’yuan’s friendship grew deeper and deeper as they accompanied each other and studied together; and the entire small team also understood the meaning of unity and hard work because of this joint effort. They knew that no matter how many difficulties they encountered on the road to pursue their dreams in the future, as long as they accompanied each other, they would be able to move forward courageously and write their own wonderful chapters.