BXBX NOVEL Chapter 59 - Telling the Truth Is Hard
Outside the assessment center.
Many of the students who had already been assessed at this time had not left yet.
After Fang Ping exited the chamber, Wu Zhihao quickly dashed forward and asked, “How did it go?”
“Who knows. We can’t see the results.”
“That, too...”
Wu Zhihao was a little nervous. He said anxiously, “We still have to wait till the day after tomorrow to know. I’m so damn nervous.”
Fang Ping did not pay him any attention. He looked around before asking, “Where are Zhang Hao and the others?”
“They’ve already gone back to the hotel...”
Wu Zhihao sighed softly. “Zhang Hao and the others probably can’t pass. They’re somewhat dejected...”
Fang Ping did not say anything in response. If this had happened to him, he would be dejected too.
After chatting for a while, Fang Ping had wanted to leave, but then someone behind him shouted, “Fang Ping!”
Fang Ping turned his head back to see Tan Zhenping walking toward him.
..
After a while.
In an alcove.
Tan Zhenping laughed. “You’re a careless one to just leave like that. Aren’t you afraid that the rest of the money will be gone?”
Fang Ping answered nonchalantly, “How is that possible? Would someone as important as Director Jin skimp on such little money?
“Also, I don’t need to worry when Uncle Tan is at my side.”
“You brat... You’re really something else.”
Tan Zhenping laughed despite himself. Next, he said with a hint of a smile on his face, “It seems like you’re not surprised at you reaching the limit at all.”
Fang Ping chuckled. “How so? I’m still extremely surprised. I didn’t expect my Vitality to reach 149cal...”
“Hahaha...”
Tan Zhenping guffawed. This kid had not intended to lie to him in any way.
A look at Fang Ping told him that he was not surprised at all. His confidence revealed that he had long reached the limit.
Tan Zhenping exclaimed at the thought. “The younger generation is shaping up to be formidable!”
“I’ll take care of the rest. Director Jin cannot risk revealing his part in this.”
“It’s fine. Thanks for the trouble.”
Fang Ping fished a bottle out of his pocket as he spoke. It was the bottle that contained his normal Vitality Pill before.
“Uncle Tan, this is yours.”
Tan Zhenping eyed him and smiled. “You’re quite generous. Are you going to regret this?”
“How can I possibly? Without you, I’ll end up with nothing. This is the least I should do...”
Tan Zhenping chuckled again and took the bottle without any fanfare.
Modesty and appearances had their merits when appropriate. There was no need for it when the time was not right.
The two of them chatted for a while. Fang Ping saw Wu Zhihao eyeing him from behind, and so he asked after some thought, “Uncle Tan, do you know the level of Wu Zhihao and the others’ Vitalities?
“Wu Zhihao...”
Wu Zhihao had left an impression on Tan Zhenping during the long period of data monitoring. He was the first student to get a result of 120cal.
“He’s done quite well. 120cal. He should have no problem reaching the benchmark of admission to martial arts universities.”
“120cal?” Fang Ping repeated with surprise. “That’s quite high. Uncle Tan, can you tell me the others’ results?”
“You care about all this?”
Tan Zhenping laughed. “There’s too many of them. I don’t remember everyone’s.
“Zhou Bin from No.1 High School has reached 128cal. Chen Jie, 122cal. Wu Zhihao, 120cal.
“To sum it up, Sun City’s done quite well this year. There are six students from No.1 High School whose Vitalities are over 120cal.
“There are two from No.2 High School and another from one of the schools in the countryside...
“Amounting to eight in total!”
Eight candidates from Sun City had Vitalities over 120cal. Tan Zhenping had to admit that this was unexpected.
Of course, Fang Ping was an anomaly.
Wu Zhihao was, too, in another way.
The benchmark for Vitality was increasing year by year. That was why there were eight outstanding candidates this year.
“Those with Vitalities over 120cal will have no problem being accepted into a martial arts university.
“Those below 120cal... Not so much.
“Nanjiang Martial Arts University will take in more students this year, so there’s still hope for those whose Vitalities are between 116 to 119cal.”
Tan Zhenping did not mind confiding in Fang Ping at all. He continued with his analysis. “It depends. Special treatment will be given to those who get good marks in their cultural studies exams.
“It’s not out of the ordinary if students who have Vitalities above 116cal and outstanding marks in their cultural studies exams are accepted.
“There might be more than ten people from Sun City advancing to martial arts universities.”
Tan Zhenping said, joy evident in his words. “This is an increase compared to last year. It has completely blown my expectations out of the water.”
There were nine from Sun City who had succeeded in getting into martial arts universities last year; this year’s prospective candidates amounted to more than that. Although Director Jin was still dissatisfied, there was still an improvement.
As for other districts like Serenity... Their fate depended on Director Jin’s whims. They might be doomed.
Of course, it was none of Fang Ping and the others’ business.
The two of them chatted for a while more before Fang Ping noted that Tan Zhenping was raising his arm to look at the time. He said immediately, “Uncle Tan, I won’t take up your time for longer. I’ll return now.”
“Okay. I’ll seek you out after Director Jin has finished with his affairs.”
Fang Ping checked his Wealth as soon as Tan Zhenping took his leave.
His eyes glinted with elation when he saw no changes in his Wealth.
The Wealth points were still there after he had given out the pill. This was good news!
He did not know how the system would calculate the Wealth points if he sold it.
Would the system fill in the difference, or would the Wealth points remain the same? This was something he could test out.
The former was more possible, according to his hypothesis. Business was about earning the price difference, most of the time.
If it would not be counted, it would be hard for him to accumulate Wealth.
...
He went back into the crowd.
Wu Zhihao asked impatiently, “Fang Ping, what did Director Tan say?”
Fang Ping answered with a grin, “What could it be about? It’s about Vitality, of course.”
“Really? What’s mine?”
Wu Zhihao was so agitated that he was practically vibrating. Compared to getting his results the day after tomorrow, getting it in advance would do wonders for his anxiety.
“You?”
Fang Ping shook his head and sighed. “It’s a pity...”
“Huh? How could it be?”
Wu Zhihao said, slightly dejected, “I thought that I was in peak condition this time. My Vitality is already above 116cal even before the assessment.
“I’ve taken a Vitality Pill too, and used the emotional outburst method...”
Wu Zhihao had assumed that his Vitality would be 118cal at the least.
Fang Ping had lamented his result, though. Did it mean that he had overestimated himself?
Fang Ping laughed at his distress. Serves the other right for plotting to slash him to death!
Seeing his dejection, Fang Ping said with good humor, “You’re only at 120cal.”
“What?”
“It’s true!”
Wu Zhihao regained his footing. He asked, shocked, “You didn’t lie to me, did you?”
“Do I need to? 120cal is too underwhelming a result, I couldn’t even muster up the intent to lie to you.”
“My Vitality is really at 120cal?”
Various expressions flitted across Wu Zhihao’s face. He came around in a short time, cursing furiously. “Bastard! What did you mean when you said that it was a pity, then?”
“I told you. You’re too lousy. Your level is so much lower than mine. Of course, it’s a pity...”
“F*ck off!”
Wu Zhihao was shocked, but his mood was relatively light now, so he continued, “How much is yours at?”
“149cal!”
“Cut it out! I’m talking about your real result.”
Fang Ping turned to look at him. He was speechless. “You don’t believe me?”
“Duh! Only a fool will believe that!”
Fine. Fang Ping admitted defeat.
He ruminated for a while on the topic before venturing, “125cal?”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. This is quite impressive. Your Vitality is so high. You’ve even reached the benchmark for the reward...”
Wu Zhihao talked to himself, while Fang Ping looked dubious.
Damn it. The other did not believe him when he had told the truth but did not hesitate to gobble his lie up.
He did not know what to feel. Fang Ping did not try to explain himself. To be honest, not many people would believe him even if he had announced his result to the masses.
Only those high achievers at the scene then would probably take his word for it. The others did not feel it for themselves; it was only natural that they would not believe him.
Wu Zhihao asked about the others.
Fang Ping told him about Zhou Bin and the others. As for Yang Jian and those with him, he did not know. Theirs were definitely below 120cal, though.
Wu Zhihao was filled with glee, but he did remember to consider others’ feelings. He did not mention any word of the results at all after returning to the hotel.
...
Sun City.
Lakeview Gardens.
Fang Yuan had reminded her father to leave the mobile phone at home that day.
She had started staring at the phone since morning.
Fang Ping still had not called her after midday. Impatient, she called Fang Ping instead.
“Fang Ping, are you finished with your physical assessment?”
“It just ended. I’m having lunch now.”
“How are you?”
“My Vitality is assessed to be at 149cal...”
Fang Yuan glowered. She said exasperatedly, “Can’t you be serious for a bit? Dad and Mum are waiting for your results, too. How much is it for real?
“Oh, right. Are your results announced?”
On the other side of the phone, Fang Ping was tired of it. An honest man like him was made to lie by all these people.
“Suit yourself. My Vitality is definitely above 120cal, and I’ll have no problem entering a martial arts university. Can you believe that, at least?”
“Really?”
“Can’t be more real!”
“You’ve really passed?”
Fang Yuan was still incredulous. Her eyes glinted with joy.
“There are more exams beyond this. I’ve passed the physical assessment, at least...”
Fang Yuan could not find it in herself to bother with what he said after that. To her and her parents, nothing was a problem as long as he had passed the physical assessment.
That was what Fang Yuan had thought, at least.
Fang Ping was flippant sometimes, but she knew that he would not lie to her at this moment. His Vitality was over 120cal!
The girl could barely sit still at the thought. She hung up the phone immediately.
She had to pass on the good news!
She had to tell her parents, and boast in front of, no, share the happiness with her classmates!
...
While Fang Yuan hung up the phone hurriedly, Fang Ping was feeling exasperated while eating his lunch.
Wu Zhihao said to him sagely across him, “Fang Ping, lying to your sister too... This is not a good habit, you know.”
“Stop it!”
Fang Ping was so pissed he wanted to hit someone.
F*ck, his Vitality was really at 149cal! Why did no one want to believe him?!
Fang Ping wished with everything he had for the quick announcement of the results so that he could shatter the expectations of the others and leave them gaping.