Gaoliang gave a bright smile and signaled to his three loyal friends. These friends had been well-trained by the boss and immediately rushed forward, pushing the water ball that was holding Zhou Chao’s younger brother hard outward. "Plop!" The water ball landed and rolled away. So Zhou Chao's face turned pale, and he fiercely told Gao Liang, "Today's your lucky day!" With that, he turned and strode toward the water ball without looking back. Gao Liang said coldly, "Zhou Chao! We've drawn today! But next time, I'll definitely beat you!" Zhou Chao controlled the water ball and, right in front of everyone, swallowed it whole in one breath. His face now turned rosy. From a distance, he said to Gao Liang, "Gao Liang, if my water-based ability reaches the mid-level of 'Human Master,' you won't stand a chance against me! Besides, I've got even more powerful moves up my sleeve! Hmph! Want to challenge me? Then go ahead and meet your end!" "Anyone who stands in my way shall perish! I don't care what schemes you devise!" Gao Liang's words rang out with authority, leaving everyone astonished. "The boss is truly magnificent! This time, I've seen Zhou Chao fall once again! Haha! Zhou Chao looks embarrassed and retreats!" Fat Deng was the first to clap and cheer. But suddenly the clarity in his eyes blurred out. He rubbed them with his right hand, but it didn't improve. After closing his eyes for about one minute, his vision gradually returned. "Big brother! What's wrong?" Everyone grew concerned. "Nothing! It's just sand got into my eyes!" High亮 said to mask his concern, though he knew clearly that water droplets from Zhou Chao had entered his eyes—possibly causing intermittent blurring over time. If that happened, he would be completely out of the running. This time, High亮 was certain that Zhou Chao truly had an advantage. That water-based ability was indeed impressive. If they fought directly, he would surely suffer significant losses—even if he won, it would be only barely. No, it was indeed what Ying'er had said—old experience required training, and training required advancement. Advancement! If his own ability didn't improve quickly, he would inevitably fall behind Zhou Chao. As he was about to speak to Ying'er, he realized she was no longer by his side. Where had this little girl gone? At that moment, Zhang Yuping appeared in her field of vision. Gao Liang noticed that the delicate hairpin was still on her head, adding an extra touch of beauty to the charming, elegant campus beauty. "Gao Liang, you're completely hopeless! Look!" Zhang Yuping handed Gao Liang the exam paper that Liu Heigou had reviewed. Gao Liang glanced at it—only one out of ten questions was answered correctly. Though Liu Heigou hadn't written down a score, the vivid red "X" marks were glaringly obvious. Mother Shen Hanfu looked at her son with a look of disappointment. Father Gao Zhongming, though not as disheartened as his wife, simply held his head, knelt down on the ground, and struggled to breathe through a cheap cigarette, his eyes welling up with tears. Gao Liang most feared seeing his parents' expressions of disappointment. He wanted to comfort them, but Shen Hanfu spoke first. To her son she said, "Liang! You must really try! If you do, even if you don't get into university, we'll have no regrets. But just now, your attitude was truly... so disappointing to me." Before she could finish, her face turned pale, her throat trembled, and she quickly pressed her handkerchief to her lips. After a deep, labored breath, Gao Liang took the white handkerchief from her hands, "Wow! Goodness! It's blood! A clump of blood!" "Liang! I may not be around much longer! I'd originally planned to tell you this after your college entrance exam, but with your attitude just now, I have no choice but to share this truth with you now!" Shen Hanfu’s words weighed heavily on Gao Liang’s heart. In front of Zhang Yuping and his father, Gao Zhongming, he said, “Mom! I absolutely must make sure you live well! I’ll do everything I can to cure your illness!” “No! It can’t be cured! Truly, it can’t!” Shen Hanfu shook her head vigorously, like a paddle in the wind. Gao Zhongming also stood up, his face full of sorrow, and grasped Gao Liang’s hand, saying, “Son! Fulfill my one wish—while I’m still alive, study hard! Don’t let yourself drift from your studies!” “Yes!” Gao Liang nodded, tears streaming down his face. Zhang Yuping, listening beside them, couldn’t help but cry—tears of sympathy. She never imagined that behind Gao Liang’s poor academic performance, his family faced such hardship. If it were her own situation, she would have found it unbearable in such circumstances. With both parents gone, Gao Liang entered the classroom with a clear sense of purpose. Highlight has changed. Though he used to rarely touch his textbooks, he is now studying seriously. Despite missing many classes, he always remembers his mother's words: "Highlight! Strive hard! If you try your best, even if you don't get into university, we'll be completely satisfied!" Yes, from today on, I will strive! For my mother's wish! Though I've lost enthusiasm and confidence in university admissions, for my mother, for my parents, I will study, study, and study again. On this day, Highlight listened attentively to his lessons—something he had never done before—beginning to take notes. When Ying'er saw her master starting to study seriously, she happily clapped her little pink hands and danced an elegant "eight-character" dance in the air. The joyful movements lifted Highlight's spirits. He tossed the natural milk tea he hadn't drunk all day into the air, and Ying'er happily caught it, then hid in a corner, sipping it with a contented smile, her rosy cheeks glowing beautifully. Although Liu He-gou's lectures sounded a bit dull and monotonous, Gao Liang was still listening, because Zhang Yu-ping had mentioned that, no matter how poor Liu's teaching was, he was still their teacher, and they should respect him.