"Tiancheng, damn, you scared me to death!" After class, Qiu Dazheng came up to Lin Tiancheng and patted his shoulder. "You really did it, over thirty thousand characters, and you actually recited it all."
"If you put your mind to it, you could do it too," Lin Tiancheng said.
Qiu Dazheng didn't doubt that. It wasn't unheard of for someone to be able to recite 'The Essentials from the Golden Cabinet.' With an even better memory, reciting it backward wasn't impossible either.
"This afternoon is the second interview for the internship slots at the city's Second People's Hospital. Let's just grab a quick lunch, and tonight at Juxian Tower, dinner's on me," Qiu Dazheng said.
"Good luck. I believe in you!" Lin Tiancheng patted Qiu Dazheng on the shoulder.
"I'm just going through the motions; I doubt I'll make it to the top ten," Qiu Dazheng said. But judging from his nervous demeanor, he clearly had high hopes.
The school had secured ten internship slots for fourth-year students at the city's Second People's Hospital. To determine who would get them, the school had arranged a competition.
Qiu Dazheng had passed the first round and made it to the top twenty. As long as he placed in the top ten in this afternoon's second round, he could secure an internship at the Second People's Hospital.
As for Lin Tiancheng, although his family ran a traditional Chinese medicine clinic and he studied traditional Chinese medicine, his financial situation had delayed much of his education. To avoid being humiliated during the competition, he hadn't even signed up.
If this had been before he had merged with his phone, Lin Tiancheng might have felt down about it. But now, Lin Tiancheng wasn't too concerned.
As long as he could solve the charging problem, with the ability to see through things at will, he could make a fortune just from jade gambling.
"Lin Tiancheng." Just as Lin Tiancheng was about to leave, a cold voice called out.
Lin Tiancheng turned around to see Wang Xiaomin walking towards him with an expressionless face. "Teacher Xia asked me to inform you that, as an exception, you're allowed to participate in this afternoon's second interview."
"Got it," Lin Tiancheng replied indifferently.
Wang Xiaomin's eyes held a hint of disdain as she said to Lin Tiancheng, "Lin Tiancheng, by doing this, you're only making me look down on you even more."
"What did I do?" Lin Tiancheng was confused.
"You know exactly what you did." Wang Xiaomin said coldly and then turned and left.
"That's great!" Qiu Dazheng was so excited he almost jumped up. "You can recite 'The Essentials from the Golden Cabinet' backward—getting into the top ten should be a piece of cake."
Lin Tiancheng wasn't as thrilled as one might expect.
If this had been before merging with his phone, Lin Tiancheng would have eagerly wanted this internship opportunity, knowing that, if successful, it could lead to a permanent position as a doctor.
But now, Lin Tiancheng wasn't as desperate to become a doctor. As long as he could solve the charging problem, he could easily outshine the rich and powerful, marry someone beautiful and wealthy, and achieve the pinnacle of success.
More importantly, Lin Tiancheng knew that the reason Xia Xue gave him a chance was because of his ability to recite 'The Essentials from the Golden Cabinet' backward. But the second interview this afternoon wasn't about reciting—it was about assessing everyone's foundational knowledge in traditional Chinese medicine.
If he couldn't answer a single question, he might end up embarrassing himself badly.
Still, Lin Tiancheng didn't want to miss out on this opportunity that had practically fallen into his lap. After lunch, he went with Qiu Dazheng to the lecture hall.
Although only twenty students were participating in the second interview, to ensure fairness and transparency, the process was held publicly in the lecture hall, with hundreds of students attending to watch.
"Haoming, are you confident?" Wang Xiaomin, her voice soft and sweet, asked while holding onto Qian Haoming's arm.
Qian Haoming smiled confidently and said, "I'm aiming for at least third place, maybe even first. The time was a bit tight, plus we celebrated your birthday last night, so I didn't get a chance to study. Otherwise, I'd be more certain of taking first place."
"Haoming, no matter what place you get, you're the best in my heart," Wang Xiaomin said affectionately.
Qian Haoming nodded, looking at Wang Xiaomin beside him, his gaze intense. "For you, I'll do my best to take first place."
Qian Haoming wasn't just bragging.
As the president of the fourth-year student council, Qian Haoming had some skills.
In fact, given his family's resources, Qian Haoming could have easily used connections to get an internship at the city's Second People's Hospital. Confident in his abilities, he chose to participate in the competition to gain some glory in the school.
It wasn't that Qian Haoming was necessarily the top student—most of the really outstanding students had already been guaranteed internships at better hospitals.
He and Wang Xiaomin had already been involved for some time. Last night, he thought they might take things further, given it was her birthday, but Wang Xiaomin didn't give him the opportunity. He figured that if he showed his abilities today, it might just seal the deal.
Lin Tiancheng and Qiu Dazheng were sitting right behind Qian Haoming, and Lin Tiancheng didn't think much of it.
Seeing Qian Haoming showing off in front of Wang Xiaomin, Qiu Dazheng couldn't help but snort, "Big words. Aren't you afraid of becoming a laughingstock?"
Hearing someone mocking him from behind, Qian Haoming turned around and saw it was Qiu Dazheng and Lin Tiancheng. His face showed a hint of contempt. "What, not convinced?"
"What are you acting so high and mighty for? Aiming for third place—do you think being student council president is that impressive? Beat me first, then talk." Qiu Dazheng taunted.
Qiu Dazheng had prepared well, or he wouldn't have made it to the second round. He felt that someone like Qian Haoming wouldn't have put in the effort to prepare.
Qian Haoming looked at Qiu Dazheng with a provocative gaze and said, "Oh? How about we make a bet?"
"What kind of bet?" Qiu Dazheng wasn't about to back down.
"During the second interview, whoever ranks lower loses ten thousand yuan. How about that?"
"Dazheng, forget it." Before Qiu Dazheng could respond, Lin Tiancheng spoke up.
It wasn't that Lin Tiancheng didn't believe in Qiu Dazheng, but ten thousand yuan was nothing to Qian Haoming, whereas it was an entire semester's living expenses for Qiu Dazheng. Moreover, Qian Haoming wasn't stupid—if he wasn't confident, why would he offer free money to Qiu Dazheng?
"People with no ability always say things like that. Haoming, don't bother with them," Wang Xiaomin said softly.
Seeing Qian Haoming's confidence, Qiu Dazheng hesitated—ten thousand was a lot for him. But after hearing Wang Xiaomin's words, he couldn't hold back any longer.
Besides, Qiu Dazheng wanted to win against Qian Haoming and stand up for Lin Tiancheng.
"No problem." Qiu Dazheng gritted his teeth.
"It's a deal. If you end up losing and can't afford food, I'll lend you a few hundred, for old times' sake," Qian Haoming said with a smile.
Lin Tiancheng looked at Qian Haoming and said, "You can bet with Qiu Dazheng, but why not include me as well?"
"You want to bet too?" Qian Haoming sneered. "If I recall correctly, you didn't even qualify for the second interview."
Before Lin Tiancheng could respond, Wang Xiaomin whispered a few words to Qian Haoming.
Qian Haoming looked at Lin Tiancheng with an odd expression, his disdain growing stronger. He smirked. "How do you want to bet?"
"Same bet as with Qiu Dazheng, but I want to bet ten thousand. Do you dare?" Lin Tiancheng said.
Seeing that Lin Tiancheng didn't seem to be joking, Qian Haoming was overjoyed. Lin Tiancheng had won ten thousand from them yesterday—today, he'd win it back.
He wasn't worried that Lin Tiancheng had prepared. After all, through Wang Xiaomin, he knew quite a bit about Lin Tiancheng, and she had just explained how Lin Tiancheng got the second interview opportunity.
Someone who didn't even dare take the first interview, someone who had to bribe his way into the second interview—did he really think he could compete with him?
Worried that agreeing too quickly might make Lin Tiancheng back out, Qian Haoming decided to provoke him further. He sneered, "Ten thousand? I think you'd better save it to build a house back in your hometown."
"If you're too scared, just say so. Don't give me that nonsense," Lin Tiancheng said.
Hearing this, Qiu Dazheng was startled. "Tiancheng, don't act recklessly. You've been working at the gambling stone shop every day; when do you have time to study?"
Lin Tiancheng, however, showed no concern.
He had already asked Qiu Dazheng about the competition process.
The exam teacher would prepare answer cards in advance, and the answers were on those cards. As long as Lin Tiancheng used his flashlight, he was confident he could breeze through it.
Seeing that Lin Tiancheng was determined to bet, Qian Haoming suppressed his excitement and smiled faintly, saying, "I can afford to lose a hundred thousand. If you beat me, I'll lose a hundred thousand. Otherwise, you lose a hundred thousand."
...