บท 27: 27 - School Exams
Soon enough, it was exam season in school. Fang was busy studying, for he had supplementary exams for his advanced classes as well as test papers for the medical entrance exams.
Ren was fully healed by now. He was busy with the construction of his medical school and research institute and managing Sirocco and the new hospital. When he had a bit of free time, he would help Fang with the test papers for the medical entrance exams - after all, both of them needed to appear for that.
Fang studied like his life depended on it. Steward Paul and the cook Jules ensured that he ate on time with minimal fuss - they would often place plates of easy to eat snacks and beverages on his study table quietly. Fang had become used to eating without looking up from whatever fat book he was reading at the time.
The household staff were worried about the teenager, though.
"Master Ren, do you have a moment to spare?" Steward Paul asked Ren when he came home one evening.
"Of course," Ren said. "Is something wrong?"
Steward Paul shook his head. "We are a little worried about Young Master Fang. He appears to be working too hard. We estimate that he is sleeping less than two hours a day. His health is not yet optimal, so we are concerned that he might collapse."
Ren felt a pang of guilt in his heart. He himself had been too busy lately to keep proper tabs on the boy.
"Thank you for telling me, Steward Paul," Ren said gratefully. "I'll get him to slow down and relax a bit."
Steward Paul thanked him and withdrew.
Ren washed up quickly and then went over to Fang's room. The teenager was so busy studying that he didn't even notice Ren walking in and coming to his side.
It was only when Ren put a gentle hand on Fang's shoulder and called softly that the boy reacted.
With dark bags under his eyes, Fang looked up at his boyfriend. "Oh, Ren, hi."
Ren sighed and pinched the younger man's cheeks. "What a lukewarm response!" he complained. "Aren't you happy to see me?"
Fang threw up his hands in surrender. "I am! I am! I was just caught up with my exam preparations."
"How are you doing?" Ren asked gently.
"I've read through everything - coursework, reference materials, advanced books, test papers, lecture recordings...but I'm still nervous," Fang confessed.
Ren hugged him and rubbed his back. "Why are you nervous?"
Fang hesitated.
"Tell me," Ren coaxed gently.
"I've never had to care about my grades before... nobody really expected anything from me before. It was good enough that I got to go to school and I just needed to keep up decent grades to be able to win a scholarship later to go to college...and if I couldn't, I'd just go to work like most others." Fang's voice trembled. "But now...now there are people who expect me to do well...who don't think I'm some random trash, but someone with talent...and I don't want to let them down." His voice sunk into a whisper. "I don't want to let you down."
"Oh, you darling boy..." Ren murmured. "Don't worry so much. You don't have to push yourself so hard and exhaust yourself. There's no way you'll let me down unless you harm yourself." He planted a soft kiss on Fang's forehead. "Look how haggard you've become...you're making my heart ache. Our staff has worked so hard to get your weight up - they'll all skin me alive if you ruin your health with over-studying!"
Fang giggled softly and shook his head. "It's not because of your pressure," he said. "I want to do well."
"And you will," Ren said firmly. "Unless you collapse of fatigue and anxiety."
"But..." Fang began.
Ren held up his hand to stop him. "Tell me, have you finished studying everything in your syllabus?"
Fang nodded.
"And, if I'm not wrong, you've also read up a ton of extra material?"
Fang nodded again.
Ren smiled. "What are your scored on the sample test papers?"
"Average of 98%," Fang said, clutching his hair in frustration. "I'm still making mistakes!"
"What is the highest national score in the last ten years?" Ren demanded.
"96.4%," Fang replied reluctantly.
Ren huffed. "So...aren't you already doing better than everyone in the last ten years?!"
"But I wanted a perfect score..." Fang murmured.
Ren caught his shoulders and looked into his eyes seriously. "I know the secret formula for that," he whispered. "But it will need you to follow certain rituals."
Fang eyed him suspiciously.
"Want me to demonstrate?" Ren asked.
Fang handed him a new test paper silently.
Ren grabbed a pen and worked on the paper quickly, while Fang watched him, fascinated.
Naturally, Ren got a perfect score.
Fang's eyes shone excitedly. "What's the secret formula? Tell me, tell me!"
"I have a special incense in my room, but you need to inhale it overnight for at least eight hours every day until your exams are over. Also, it needs to be paired with very particular food and drinks, some light exercises and a special kind of tea," Ren said sombrely. "Will you be able to do it?"
"I will! I definitely will!" Fang swore.
"All right, I'll instruct Jules to prepare appropriate meals right away. You wash up quickly and meet me downstairs for dinner. Then we'll take a short walk on the garden and sleep in my room. We'll follow this until your exams are over, ok?" Ren raised an eyebrow.
Fang flushed. "We'll...sleep together?"
Ren pinched his cheeks again. "Just sleeping, my little one."
Fang flushed, but didn't protest.
Thus, exam season passed peacefully. And when the results came in, Fang actually had a perfect score!
"It's magic?!" Fang asked Ren, his eyes shining.
Ren wondered if he should tell Fang the truth and emphasise the importance of adequate rest and timely meals again...but then he remembered there were many more exams to come. He decided to keep the secret until they finished medical school.
"Perhaps," he said enigmatically. Then, with a smirk, he said truthfully, "I'm a magician!"
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