Kong Xiuru thought of herself as a genius in learning foreign languages. Her memory had always been good and she had her own methods of remembering words. In her daily teaching process, she would pass down some of them to her students.
However, Kong Xiuru only realized now that her memory wasn't even worth trash as compared to Ling Yun's!
Once! Just once! He had learned it after just taking one look. She heard that he had no problem reading or writing it. Is...is he even human?
Can 'genius' still be used to describe him?
If he...if he has such a terrifying memorizing ability, why did he have to wait until the college entrance exams to exhibit it?!
Why was he so low-profile before?
Kong Xiuru didn't quite dare to believe that Ling Yun had really memorized over a thousand words so quickly. She took out the Grade 10 English textbook and started picking out some of the more difficult words for Ling Yun to read.
This time, she wasn't searching from the word lists behind the texts. Instead, Kong Xiuru was randomly selecting from within the texts.
In truth, Ling Yun wasn't just able to read the words out very well, he could even explain their meaning at will and easily write the words on paper.
Kong Xiuru tried seventeen words consecutively but each time was the same. There was no exception!
Kong Xiuru couldn't believe it at first. She had gotten Ling Yun to translate the English words to Chinese, as well as read and write them. Now, she was closing the textbook and she was describing the meaning of English words using Chinese and getting Ling Yun to translate it to English. On top of that, he even had to write and read those English words.
Then, she believed it! Whenever she said a Chinese word, Ling Yun would immediately translate it to English. Moreover, as he read the word, he would casually write that word on paper as well.
In one go, he had translated twenty to thirty words and they were all correct. Not one of them was wrong and he had not hesitated on a single one of them.
Kong Xiuru was dumbfounded. She felt as if she couldn't stand properly. She stopped getting Ling Yun to stay in the study room. Instead, she got him to come out and sit on the sofa.
Then, she closely scanned Ling Yun to the point that Ling Yun was a little scared. Was my performance too nature-defying?
Kong Xiuru knew that Ling Yun's learning of English was no longer limited to this half an hour of remedial. If he were to be given a day to memorize all the English words from the senior high school to university syllabuses, it wouldn't be a problem at all!
If that were the case, she could teach him some grammar on top of that and get him to memorize the senior high and even university level English texts. College entrance exams? Even taking the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) straight away wouldn't be a problem!
"Ling Yun, you're incredible!" Kong Xiuru suddenly burst out exclaiming.
And what came after shock? Adoration. Sincere shock would produce sincere adoration!
Even if Kong Xiuru was even more anti-men or even more indifferent towards men, she was still a woman in the end. Moreover, she was a virgin.
Ling Yun chuckled. "I'm just alright. It's mainly because Teacher teaches well. Otherwise, I wouldn't learn so quickly!"
Kong Xiuru blushed as she said in her heart. Your memory is so terrifying. What does that have to do with the English basics I've taught you? However, she still felt sweet and cheery on the inside. She felt proud that Ling Yun had been able to grasp the language so quickly.
"Ling Yun, Teacher will teach you a few commonly used sentence structures later. For example, sentence structures for things that have happened and things that are happening. Once you learn these, you will be able to completely learn English by yourself. As for listening, as long as you listen to some recordings, Teacher believes that your listening definitely won't be a problem."
Ling Yun thought to himself. Listening? That's the last thing I'm worried about. Within a thirty meter radius, if any wind blows or any grass moves, I would be able to hear it clearly.
"English, plainly said, is just about memorizing words. What kind of grades you get will depend completely on how many words you've grasped. Your teacher has one request for you."
Kong Xiuru was thinking as she spoke. She was guiding Ling Yun patiently and systematically.
"Hehe. Teacher, you can say whatever request you have. As long as it is within my ability, it definitely won't be a problem."
Ling Yun laughed as he spoke leisurely.
Kong Xiuru looked at the student who seemed to be the most talented one she had taught in her six years of teaching. Her heart was filled with emotions. She said softly, "Ling Yun, with your memory, memorizing five thousand words in two days would not be a problem at all. Your Teacher wants you to memorize all the English words in the senior high and university syllabuses."
Ling Yun pondered for a moment. He had memorized over a thousand words in half an hour. Memorizing five thousand in two days wouldn't be a problem, would it? Hence, he smiled brightly and said, "No problem. But I don't have the university textbook, Teacher!"
Kong Xiuru laughed softly. "Don't worry about that. Your Teacher has it at home!"
But then, she suddenly laughed mischievously. "If you really have a photographic memory, would you dare to memorize the Oxford English Dictionary?"
Lin Yun started perspiring madly. My beautiful form teacher, are you playing with me? Ling Yun had seen how thick that Oxford English Dictionary on Cao Shanshan's table was. Memorize that? Even if he had that kind of memory, he didn't have the kind of effort needed. Even if he had the kind of effort needed, he wasn't in the kind of mood to do it!
As for patience, Ling Yun, who practiced cultivation, had plenty of it. But what was the point of memorizing something useless?
Seeing that Ling Yun had no response, Kong Xiuru knew that her request was overboard. She couldn't help but look down on herself for a moment. Then, she said, "If you can do as Teacher has requested for the next two months, Teacher believes that you will be able to score full marks on your English college entrance exam."
Ling Yun had that self-belief too. Now, he already knew the phonetic alphabets. English words were not an obstacle anymore. He would first memorize all the English words, then memorize things like history texts and all of the senior high English texts. As for grammar or whatnot, even if he didn't understand it now, he would understand it by the end!
If one becomes familiar with the Three Hundred Tang Poems, even if he or she doesn't know poetry, he or she would be able to recite poetry. That was the logic Ling Yun had.
Lin Yun laughed gently. "Please do not worry, Teacher. I'll do as you've requested."
Kong Xiuru looked at Ling Yun with her bright eyes. For an instant, she lost herself in a trance. Then, she quickly regained her senses and said, "The fourth self-study period has started. This period, Teacher shall teach you grammar and sentence structures."
Ten minutes before the end of the fourth self-study period.
Kong Xiuru nodded at Ling Yun contently. She said gently, "Alright, let's end our remedial lesson here tonight. Your foundation of English is complete now… You've pretty much grasped it. After a few more remedial lessons, Teacher believes that your grades will soar."
Actually, in less than two periods, Kong Xiuru already realized that Ling Yun had grasped eighty percent of the senior high English knowledge.
Learning English grammar and sentence structures not only requires memory but also requires comprehension. And Ling Yun's ability to comprehend was not far behind his ability to memorize.
Regarding the basics of English, there really wasn't much more that Kong Xiuru could teach Ling Yun.
Going forward, Ling Yun would just have to memorize words and texts, and also do several college entrance mock exam papers and he would be fine. But for some reason, Kong Xiuru actually still wanted Ling Yun to come to her place for remedial lessons.
Hence, she had immediately changed her words on the spot. From saying that Ling Yun had completely grasped it, she said that he had pretty much grasped it. Then, she told him to come for a few more lessons.
Ling Yun remained silent and calm. He was very focused and serious when it came to studying. His body diffused a clear and refreshing smell. Kong Xiuru quite liked the feeling of being with this genius student.
Ling Yun stood up. "Thank you, Teacher. I will work hard. I shall go back to the classroom now. Goodbye, Teacher!"
Kong Xiuru smiled and said, "What are you saying goodbye for? Your Teacher still has to go back to the classroom to collect the test papers. Let's go together!"
"Oh…" Ling Yun was speechless. In his heart, he had been planning to run off right after leaving Kong Xiuru's place. He hadn't expected that Kong Xiuru would still go back to the classroom.
Ling Yun had a chance of breaking into the Fourth Level of the Physique Tempering Stage today. Hence, he couldn't wait to go to the river bank.
Kong Xiuru locked the door and entered the elevator with Ling Yun. The two of them left the teaching and administrative staff dormitories and walked side-by-side towards Grade 12 Class 6.
"Ling Yun, I heard from Cao Shanshan that you've caught up in your mathematics as well."
Kong Xiuru inquired as they walked.
Ling Yun answered casually, "I'm doing alright."
"In the future, try not to be absent. Learn more things. Your Teacher has high hopes for you now. You might even make it into Yan Jing University. That's the best educational establishment in China."
Ling Yun thought to himself. Yan Jing University? I've already promised Ning Lingyu that long ago! But he still laughed gently and replied, "I'll try."
"Mmm. It's good to have confidence. The lesson is ending soon. Let's hurry to the classroom." Kong Xiuru couldn't resist patting Ling Yun gently on the shoulder.
The two of them returned to the classroom. Ling Yun had only just sat back at his seat when the bell rang for the fourth period of night self-study.
Ling Yun immediately stood up as if there was a fire under his a*s. He casually tossed his textbooks on the table and prepared to leave the classroom.
Cao Shanshan's face was blushing as she looked at Ling Yun and said, "Ling Yun… Can...can you send me home…?"
Ling Yun looked at Cao Shanshan in surprise as he thought. Why do you want me to send you home at such a time?
However, since they had become table mates, Cao Shanshan had helped Ling Yun a great deal. Ling Yun really couldn't just reject her.
He could only go back to his seat as he looked at Cao Shanshan thoughtfully. "I really have a very important thing to do tonight? Can we do this another day?"
Cao Shanshan had spontaneously requested Ling Yun to send her home and it had already taken a great deal of courage. Although Ling Yun was rejecting her now, seeing that Ling Yun had come back to his seat just for her and that he was using a negotiating tone, she felt delightful.
"Mmm… Since you have an important thing, we'll do this another day then. I…I'll wait for you!" Cao Shanshan fiddled with her fountain pen as she said shyly.
"Alright then, I'll go now!" After saying that, Ling Yun flashed Cao Shanshan a bright smile before standing up and hinting to Cao Shanshan to make way for him.
Cao Shanshan's heart melted as she giggled and stood up shyly. She left her seat and moved aside for Ling Yun to go out.
Cao Shanshan watched Ling Yun's back view as he left. Then, she muttered to herself, "Finding back something that you've thrown away is really hard…"
After leaving the classroom, Ling Yun dashed to the school field. He put on an act and leisurely ran half a round before entering a shady area. Then, he leaped over the school's fences and activated the Thousand Miles Godly Steps, dashing straight toward the river bank.
"My precious Shichiyou herb, Big Brother has missed you to death!" Ling Yun had already undergone two nights of physique tempering without the help of the Shichiyou herb. Naturally, his heart was burning with eagerness.
Within two minutes, Ling Yun had reached the opposite bank of the Shichiyou herb. Then, he saw that, beside the Shichiyou herb, was a snow-white arctic fox!