Reborn As Lucky Star
Chapter 531: Childhood Sweethearts

Chapter 531: Chapter 531: Childhood Sweethearts

Zhuang Lan’s decline in academic performance was apparent to his friends, and of course, the teachers could see it too.

Duan Wenzhen took the time to call Zhuang Lan to the office for guidance.

"Zhuang Lan, have your family mentioned that you’ve been staying up late to study?"

Zhuang Lan murmured a low affirmation.

Duan Wenzhen advised, "Actually, studying should also be about the right approach and method, and I believe you understand this better than any teacher. As a smart kid, you should know that continuing like this isn’t a solution."

Zhuang Lan suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot from all the late nights, no longer clear.

"Teacher, you say I’m smart, but I’m really not. My previous grades were all because I worked hard and I took things seriously. I know very well that I’m not a genius."

"I don’t envy Yue Qingqing, but I truly admire her. I’ve been using her as a goal and working tirelessly towards it. Yet every time it seems like I’m closing the gap a little, she advances quickly to a place almost out of my sight, making me feel like all my efforts are useless in the face of talent."

"Learning is like rowing upstream; if I let go of the oars, I know that as someone like me, the moment I relax, I’ll be left far behind by others. That’s why I dare not rest, and I cannot rest—I’m just an ordinary person without any special talent, that’s all."

Zhuang Lan was very agitated, his voice almost cracking.

In the more than two years Duan Wenzhen had known him, it was the first time she saw him this emotional.

The Zhuang Lan of past days was calm and confident.

But at this moment, Duan Wenzhen realized that he was just a kid who was afraid of losing.

"Zhuang Lan, you’re too exhausted. How about you skip the extra classes for now and rest well over the weekend?"

Duan Wenzhen felt that Zhuang Lan was stretched too thin, ready to snap at any moment.

Continuing with this attitude certainly wasn’t good.

Zhuang Lan’s habit of obsessing over details made him more diligent in his studies than others, but it also risked leading him astray in life.

Duan Wenzhen didn’t want him to be so stubborn.

Yet Zhuang Lan flatly refused, "I need to go. Only then can I see how big the gap is between myself and a true genius."

"Zhuang Lan..."

Duan Wenzhen wanted to say more, but the bell for class rang.

Zhuang Lan bowed, "Thank you for your concern, Teacher."

After speaking, he turned and walked away, his silhouette exuding weariness.

Duan Wenzhen silently sighed inside, unsure of how to persuade the boy.

Although everyone likes to quote an inventor who said, "Genius is one percent inspiration plus ninety-nine percent perspiration," as if to prove the importance of effort,

they often overlook the rest of the saying.

"But that one percent of inspiration is often more important than the ninety-nine percent of perspiration."

Undoubtedly, Zhuang Lan was outstanding, but placing him among real geniuses seemed to put too much pressure on the boy...

Duan Wenzhen felt a slight headache coming on, at a loss for how to guide the boy out of this vicious cycle.

As his childhood friend, Jun Feifei naturally noticed Zhuang Lan’s unusual behavior.

With Zhuang Lan’s condition worsening, she, too, became increasingly silent.

After school, Jun Feifei didn’t go home with their small group of friends but instead sought out Zhuang Lan proactively.

"Hey, what are you planning to do after school?" Jun Feifei feigned a casual tone, but her nervousness twisted her backpack strap into a roll.

Zhuang Lan, with his head down, packed up his things.

"Go home and study."

"Come with me for a stroll around the streets. Qingqing and the others left early for something, and since you’re here, you can keep me company."

Zhuang Lan declined, "I need to get home early."

"Oh come on, just for a bit!" Jun Feifei, not giving up, grabbed the worksheets that were still not put into the backpack and ran out of the classroom, "If you want your worksheets, you’ll have to agree to my request!"

Those worksheets were extra homework assigned by the tutor at the review class. With no choice left, Zhuang Lan hurriedly shoved his things into his backpack and followed.

"Jun Feifei, don’t go too far."

In the past, Jun Feifei would have backed down, but today she was as if emboldened by a surge of courage.

"Look here, I’m leveraging my power over the emperor to give orders to the lords. I’ve already put the worksheet in my backpack anyway. You won’t try to snatch a girl’s backpack in public, right?"

Zhuang Lan, resigned, could only follow Jun Feifei angrily.

"Is that how you use the phrase ’leveraging power over the emperor’? Why can’t you focus more on your studies!"

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