Chapter 25: Incredible Memory
Editor: Sparrow Translations
After getting stumped by Ling Yun's replies from the beginning, Mr. Wu finally calmed himself down and discreetly anticipated the show Ling Yun was going to put on.
"So, today, we will revise chapter one. Since Ling Yun has remarkably memorized the textbook, maybe we should give him an opportunity to read out what he has memorized. Everyone will have a better idea of the content as well," Mr. Wu was exhilarated as he prepared Ling Yun for his doom.
Excluding Ling Yun, Cao Shanshan, Chai Hanlin and Zhang Dong, the rest of the class agreed without hesitation. Wei Tiangan was no exception. He was extremely supportive of Mr. Wu's idea. He started to clap, causing everyone else to clap vigorously.
Chao Shanshan turned around to face Ling Yun. Are you dumb? Memorise every single thing? I actually want to see how you do it! While his classmates applauded for him to start, Ling Yun blushed a little as all he wanted was to stay as lowkey as possible.
"Hey Ling Yun, don't be shy! Didn't you already memorize everything? Just be confident and read it out to us! We will give you our fullest attention!" Mr. Wu announced as though he knew Ling Yun was about to fail. He was ready to chase Ling Yun out of the class after embarrassing him.
"I'm just afraid there isn't enough time for me to finish reading everything…" Ling Yun replied as he scratched the back of his head. Undeniably, it would require a significant amount of time to read out twenty or more pages without missing out on anything. From how the historical homo sapiens developed their survival skills to different schools of thoughts contending for attention during the Qin Dynasty, it would take at least two hours.
A number of the students thought that Ling Yun was a joker who only started looking for excuses now when he could have saved his own face previously.
Cao Shanshan clenched her fists forcefully as if she was going to punch the hell out of Ling Yun for his silly acts. She was rather agitated. It's obvious that Mr. Wu doesn't mind wasting lesson time today just to watch you make a fool out of yourself! He has two long periods to play with you.
Wei Tiangan's face was as black as the devil. He glared cunningly at Ling Yun as he could not wait for karma to befall his hostel-mate for disgracing him in public the night before. Something no one could deny was the fact that he hated Ling Yun to the core.
"You do not have to worry a single bit. You just need to read out to all of us what you have learned. In fact, we would actually have to thank you for helping instead!" Mr. Wu uttered briefly with a tinge of mockery.
Ling Yun proceeded to ponder for a few minutes before realizing that this might be a good chance for him to improve his relationship with his classmates. "Alright then," he assured. Just as he was about to start speaking, Mr. Wu cut him off sheepishly and commented, "Ling Yun, if you stay in your seat, your classmates would have to turn around. Might you want to come to the front of the class instead? They would be able to hear it more clearly as well."
"There's a chair available here for you and if your throat gets too dry after speaking, I have some beverages for you here as well." It might seem that Mr. Wu was a kind and caring teacher, but truth be told, he was preventing other students from helping Ling Yun so that he would be at the losing end. He already had everything planned out. Once Ling Yun failed to say anything, he would instigate his students to treat Ling Yun as a laughing stock till he got too ashamed and ran out of class. Mr. Wu would then make use of his departure as a reason for disrupting his lesson. Ling Yun's reputation would then be tarnished once and for all.
Ling Yun considered Mr. Wu's advice and found it to be workable. He gently pushed Zhang Dong away and steadily made his way to the front of the room."
How does he stay so calm before his doom? Zhang Dong was mulling as he gazed at Ling Yun's back view with pity and a small fraction of respect.
Mr. Wu could not believe his eyes as he agonizingly witnessed Ling Yun pick up his cup and take a drink. He told himself he would never touch that cup again.
It did not take long before Ling Yun sat comfortably on the chair.
Mr. Wu took the initiative to move beside the classroom door. He was waiting patiently for Ling Yun to start his reading, his own 'show'. He already had everything worked out as long as nothing proper came out of Ling Yun's mouth.
However, as a teacher, Mr. Wu would still have to abide by the teaching guidelines and get the class to follow his instructions. "Class, Ling Yun will be reading out what he memorized earlier. Everyone, take out your textbook and turn to chapter one now."
He said all these just for the sake of it. No one bothered to take out their textbooks as they had no confidence in Ling Yun reading everything out. Cao Shanshan was in a state of panic and anxiety. It was if there were butterflies flying in her stomach. "Zhang Ling… Zhang Ling, what should we do now?" She tugged on her shirt anxiously.
Zhang Ling was happily engrossed in what was happening at the front of the class. It was as if she was watching the last episode of a blockbuster drama series, not until Cao Shanshan disturbed her. "What do you mean by 'what should we do now'?"
"What else? Ling Yun will become the joke of the town in a few minutes time. Are we not going to help him out?" Shanshan looked doubtingly into the eyes of Zhang Ling.
"Help him out? Are you serious? Weren't you furious at him for what he said to you?" Zhang Ling replied while a slight smirk appeared on her face.
Cao Shanshan blushed. She then retaliated, "No matter what, as the class monitress, it is my duty to speak up for Ling Yun before he gets 'punished' for delaying the class by one or two minutes!" Shanshan backed herself up as she found an excuse to be concerned about Ling Yun.
"If you really want to help him, feel free to do so. I won't be able to help you with that. I'd rather spend my time listening to Ling Yun," Zhang Ling could not be bothered. She then turned back to face him.
"Listen to Ling Yun? You must be mad! Pigs will fly before he can read anything properly from the textbook!" Cao Shanshan was stunned by Zhang Ling's words.
"I think you should relax. Everything will be fine. Remember the way Ling Yun has been acting today? I doubt this matter would go Mr. Wu's way."
"Do you have that much confidence in him?" Shanshan asked. She was starting to have difficulties understanding Zhang Ling. "Yup! I might not know what his next move is, but I am pretty sure he knows what he is doing!"
Cao Shanshan was intrigued, but at the same time, she had a sense of discomfort at Zhang Ling's dauntless eyes and tone. "Zhang Ling, have you fallen for Ling Yun?" Cao Shanshan brought this topic up out of nowhere.
"What? Please! The pot calling the kettle black!" Zhang Ling gave her bestie a displeasing knock.
"You! Okay, forget it. It's my bad. But I don't understand. What makes you so confident about Ling Yun?" Cao Shanshan gave up squandering with Zhang Ling.
"Intuition, my dear! Women's intuition!" Zhang Ling's rubbish remarks were received with a death stare from Cao Shanshan. She was done talking to her buddy.
Suddenly, she felt someone fixing his sight on her, like an eagle aiming for its prey.
"What's wrong with me?" Shanshan hid her face away from Ling Yun subconsciously. She began to feel puzzled over her attitude towards him. She had had no reason to flare up at him in the canteen. Furthermore, there was no sense for her to worry about Ling Yun.
Ling Yun scanned the classroom, before fidgeting to find a comfortable posture. He produced a vibrant smile at Mr. Wu, "So, should I start now?" Ling Yun asked eagerly, like a five-year-old child waiting for his turn on the carousel.
Mr. Wu replied unhesitantly with a nod. He thought to himself that Ling Yun should make a fool out of himself as soon as possible so that he would be able to carry on lessons in his absence.
"Ahem! Chapter One…" Ling Yun cleared his throat, then proceeded to retrieve the content from his brain and projected them with his voice in a chronological order.
Initially, no one paid any attention to him. They did not want to waste their precious time on this clown.
However, things quickly changed when Ling Yun incredibly managed to read out the content word for word, as if he was the one who wrote the textbook.
After the first minute, there were no more discussions and banter. By the second minute, the only thing that could be heard was the rummaging of books and the flipping of pages, as well as Ling Yun's crisp and lively voice. After five minutes, almost a thousand words had flowed out from Ling Yun's mouth and into the ears of his classmates. There were no more disruptions as he continued to read at his own tempo.
What was magnificent and unbelievable was that he did not miss out any single word at all. If one did not see it for themselves, they would definitely think that he was directly reading from the textbook.
Both Zhang Dong and Chai Hanlin were stunned. On Wei Tiangan's wicked face, his jeering smile froze as he sat there in disbelief, looking like a statue. Zhang Ling's face changed too.
Chao Shanshan had unknowingly looked up at the composed Ling Yun, with her alluring eyes and mouth wide open. The word 'unbelievable' was written all over her face.
As for their history teacher, who had been waiting silently for Ling Yun to disgrace himself, his expression switched drastically. His mouth opened so wide even an ostrich egg could fit into it. It was as if he was a master of the art of face-changing in Chinese Opera. His initial face of mockery turned into doubt, before showing a flabbergasted look. Eventually, all that was left in the eyes behind that pair of gold-colored spectacles were excitement and jubilance derived from Ling Yun's magnificent display.
Sitting still on the chair, Ling Yun continued reading out what he had memorized. His fluency and tone of speech were perfectly grasped as everybody's ears twitched towards his direction. After finishing the first chapter, he went on the second.
Mr. Wu was thrilled. He could not believe what was happening before his eyes. The classroom was dead silent. Only Ling Yun's delicate voice could be heard. Mr. Wu gingerly made his way beside Chai Hanlin, not wanting to disrupt Ling Yun's momentum.
As he flipped Hanlin's textbook to the second chapter, he was amazed. How could he have memorized everything word for word? He doesn't even have to stop and think before continuing. His memory is incredible! It's out-of-this-world! I've discovered a genius!
Chapter 26: This is phenomenal!
Editor: Sparrow Translations
Minute after minute passed and the only break Ling Yun had taken was a sip of water after chapter four. Other than that, he was a hundred percent engrossed in reciting the content.
No one was willing to break his momentum. They allowed this obese-looking loser to continue with his recitation of the chapters.
Amazing would be an understatement of his wondrous ability. It was nothing short of phenomenal!
By now, all the mockery from his classmates had vanished. What remained of it were just looks of envy and jealousy towards Ling Yun.
At the side, Zhang Ling used her hands to cover her chest, so as to prevent her heart, which had been thumping very fast, from bursting out from her chest. She was probably the only person in the whole class who correctly guessed that Ling Yun would have something up his sleeve to retaliate against Mr. Wu. What she did not expect was the method Ling Yun used. It was shockingly simple yet fancifully effective.
As for Cao Shanshan, she was flabbergasted. She had to forcefully control herself to stay as composed as possible. This was after Ling Yun's incredible performance gave her the shock of her life, leaving her with a wildly pulsating heart. She was worried that she might affect Ling Yun's recitation if her breathing got too heavy.
Wei Tiangan was one of those students that were taken aback by Ling Yun's astounding recitation. At the start, he had been thinking about stirring up some trouble and making a big deal out of it so as to disrupt Ling Yun's memory. But now, he had entirely forgotten about it. Ling Yun's smooth and fluent recitation managed to take his mind off his nefarious schemes.
By the time the first period ended, Ling Yun had the first seven chapters all read out. However, he was disappointed at himself for being two chapters behind time. He presented a face full of probe at Mr. Wu, asking him if he wanted him to resume the chapters.
Mr. Wu could not control his excitement anymore as he joyfully crossed his arms to signal a stop.
While activities happening outside the classroom were chaotic and lively, there was complete silence inside the classroom of Grade 12 Class 6. It was so silent that even a pin drop could be heard. Only after a minute did the rounds of applause start. The applause carried on for what seemed to be almost an eternity before subsiding.
Some would say that even President Obama did not receive such a thunderous ovation when he got on stage to deliver his famous speeches.
Mr. Wu, who was clapping enthusiastically with vigor, walked up to Ling Yun and affectionately gave a pat on his shoulder. "Are you thirsty? Let me get you a drink," Mr. Wu insisted, in a gentle tone unbefitting of him. He picked up his cup of water and offered it to Ling Yun, looking at this student of his ten times more tenderly than he would at his beloved pet dog or dream lover.
To Mr. Wu, Ling Yun was not just one in a thousand, he was one in a million! He did not regret his underhanded tactics as that had been the key to discovering his precious student's hidden talent, although he hid feelings of heartfelt apology deep in his heart.
After serving the drink to Ling Yun, Mr. Wu walked to the front of the stage and uttered in a crisp and welcoming voice, "Students, what do you guys think about Ling Yun's recitation?"
"Great!" Everyone, other than the uneasy-looking Wei Tiangan, had the exact same sentiments.
"Doesn't everyone feel that the lesson we just had was extremely fruitful?" Mr. Wu inquired further. The class agreed energetically in response.
"Alright. Everyone, go and have a short break. Cao Shanshan, you will be in charge of the class discipline for now," Mr. Wu announced to the class. "And… Ling Yun, follow me to the office. I have something to talk to you about."
This time, Mr. Wu did not bother about whether the class greeted him or not as he walked over to Ling Yun and guided him out of the classroom in a welcoming fashion.
As Ling Yun walked out of the classroom, he looked back in the direction of Cao Shanshan and Zhang Ling. However, he did not meet their gazes. This meant that he had pretended to not know Cao Shanshan.
After Mr. Wu and Ling Yun's exit, silence devoured the classroom as if the students had all became mute. They were immersing themselves in Ling Yun's fabulous showing earlier. Such an occurrence had actually happened right in front of their own eyes! It would probably be one to stay in their memory banks for a long time.
"This is the fourth time already…" Zhang Ling blurted out.
"Huh? Fourth time…?" Cao Shanshan got very curious about Zhang Ling's statement.
"Yesterday night outside the hostel, this morning on the track, a few hours ago at the canteen against you, and now…", Zhang Ling recalled while counting with her fingers. "This is the fourth time already! I've told you he's changed but you did not believe me."
This time around, Cao Shanshan could not provide a rebuttal. She was still overwhelmed by Ling Yun's capability. How could someone's memory be so incredibly impressive? If he could remember so well, why would his academic results be so poor?
The students did not stay quiet for too long as they broke out of silence and started to exchange their views about Ling Yun.
"Impossible! It is definitely impossible!" The majority of the students commented.
"How is it impossible? If someone can recite Pi to its sixty thousandth decimal place, what makes you think that Ling Yun is not capable of putting to memory everything in this history textbook?" Voices of rebuttals were heard as well.
"But what you are talking about is a Guinness World Record. How can you compare that to Ling Yun, who is, more than often, the last in our class?"
"Hey… What's the big deal about being able to memorize the textbook content? That does not guarantee him a university admission! I don't get why Mr. Wu has to wait on him!" One of the students resented.
"Exactly! The end of year examinations is so much more than just History alone. Maybe he has spent the past three years doing nothing but memorizing these chapters…"
All these jealous and hateful remarks emerged, although not directly from the mouth of Wei Tiangan, but under his deliberate instigation.
Zhang Dong was an exception, as he stayed stuck to his seat in an aghast state. It was true that Ling Yun's accomplishment was nothing compared to that Guinness World Record but Zhang Dong had seen with his own eyes that Ling Yun only skimmed through the textbook once. Just once. There was no way he could have had it prepared beforehand.
It was unbelievable how Ling Yun had managed to memorize this vast amount of content within that limited time he had before the start of the lesson. As Zhang Dong looked out of the window at the track, he became even more impressed as he was reminded of Ling Yun's actions earlier that day.
Inside Mr. Wu's office.
"Hey Ling Yun, relax and take a seat." Mr. Wu caringly smiled at Ling Yun.
"I did not expect you to have such a talent. How did you train to have such an unimaginably good memory?" He asked. Of everything he had said or done to Ling Yun, that was the only question he was most interested in. If he could master then teach the skills to have a wonderful memory to his students, that would be beneficial to everyone taking the History subject.
As for Ling Yun, he understood the reason for that sudden change of attitude from Mr. Wu to him. He thought to himself. Everyone flocks to you and treats you like their king when you are successful, but look down on you when you lose your value and become a good-for-nothing.
"Nothing much actually. All I did was to put in more effort and memorize them a few more times," Ling Yun replied, obviously making his reason up on the spot.
Mr. Wu chose not to believe his words. To him, Humanities subjects required hard work in memorizing the key points in the content. But to be able to recite from memory seven chapters straight without missing out a single word was something even hard work and talent combined couldn't produce.
As Ling Yun clearly was not interested in sharing about his ability, Mr. Wu decided not to push Ling Yun any further for an answer. He proceeded to focus on his main reason for meeting Ling Yun face to face; to persuade him to achieve better results so as to enhance his reputation as a subject teacher.
"Ling Yun, I might not know how exactly you did that. However, since you have this natural talent in you, why not make the full use out of it academically? As you know, History is a subject that requires you not just to remember a lot of content, understanding the main concept and key points is more crucial," Mr. Wu advised Ling Yun convincingly into aiming for better results.
Looking at Ling Yun's serious-looking face, Mr. Wu was satisfied. " You have less than two months to the end of year examinations. Start by reading more history textbooks and getting your basic foundations right first. I'll arrange for the History representative to tutor you with your homework. If you still have any doubts, feel free to look for me".
Mr. Wu knew that with Ling Yun's ability to memorize so well, History, Geography, Political Science and his language subjects would pose no threat to him anymore. So long as he was able to perform well for these subjects, he should be able to gain entry into university without much of a problem. He immediately went on with his arrangements for Ling Yun.
"Thanks, Mr. Wu. I'll study hard," Ling Yun nodded his head in agreement. Why would anyone say no to free tutoring?
"Alright then, you can return to class now. I'll be looking forward to seeing your results in the upcoming mock exams," Mr. Wu motivated Ling Yun sincerely.
After Ling Yun stepped out of his office, Mr. Wu exhaled heavily and mumbled to himself, "It is such a pity this genius wasn't discovered earlier. Otherwise, he would be able to enter any university course that he desires."
As Ling Yun stepped into the classroom of Grade 12 Class 6, he started to feel awkward as everyone's sight fixated on him, like paparazzis' non-stop camera flashes on celebrities. He quietly made his way back to his place before picking up his book to read again.
"Well done, bro. You stunned Mr. Wu so badly he nearly p*ssed in his pants!" Zhang Dong leaned towards his tablemate and said.
"Nah, it's nothing much. Let's just study," Ling Yun smirked before responding back.
"If you do not know what the main points are, feel free to ask me because I have them in my books." Zhang Dong told Ling Yun, as he pointed to his mountain of books.
"Sure!" Ling Yun accepted his offer this time around.
The following lesson was Geography and the students were all looking forward to another showdown, this time with the Geography teacher instead. However, they were left disappointed as Ling Yun was law-abiding throughout and the teacher had nothing against him to reprimand him about.
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