Chapter Four: The Plot Unfolds—A Five-Year-Old Exam Champion

“You want to go to elementary school? Uh…”

Hearing Lin Qiye’s sweet, childish plea, Lin’s mother fell into a dilemma. Her beloved child was a genius, but she still wanted to spend every day playing with him. Children were so delightful—especially Lin Qiye, who was not only adorable and clever but also healthy.

Feeding him was never a struggle. He always behaved. He called for her when he needed to use the bathroom, and he could already speak. At night, he slept soundly and never woke up to cause trouble. Lin Qiye had never let her taste the hardships of raising a child; all she knew was pure happiness and overflowing pride.

But what would happen if her darling boy started elementary school? She wasn’t ready to be apart from him—she simply couldn’t bear the thought.

Lin’s mother shook her head reluctantly. “Sweetheart, you’re only two years old. You’re far too young. The school won’t take you.”

But Lin Qiye had naturally thought this through. “I’ll go register at the school, then study at home. For exams, you can accompany me!”

This suggestion lit up Lin’s mother’s eyes. This way, her child’s talent wouldn’t be wasted, and she could still ‘take care of’ her young son. She immediately called Lin’s father to discuss it.

Upon learning of Lin Qiye’s talent, Lin’s father was so shocked he nearly leaped three feet in the air at work. “I always knew my son was a genius! In that case, I’ll take a day off tomorrow and get him enrolled.”

The next day, Lin’s parents took him to the best elementary school in Jiangnan City. At first, the principal refused. A two-year-old toddler—surely, he was still nursing? How could he possibly attend elementary school? He probably couldn’t even count to a hundred.

However, as soon as Lin Qiye opened his mouth, he recited the multiplication table fluently and without error. The principal was astonished. He handed Lin Qiye a first-grade math test, which the boy solved at a glance, giving all the correct answers. The principal was dumbfounded. He thought of those prodigies who entered university at fourteen, or special programs at thirteen.

He couldn’t help but gasp. “Your son is a genius! An absolute genius!”

Ecstatic, the principal—who had taught for over thirty years—had never met a child prodigy like this. To solve a first-grade math test in seconds at age two—what heights might he reach in the future? The very prospect of nurturing such talent and the potential boost to his own reputation left the principal breathless.

“Let’s do as his mother suggested: you’re admitted. You can study at home and only need to attend the midterm and final exams.”

With that, the principal quickly processed Lin Qiye’s enrollment, placing him directly into second grade.

Lin Qiye was thrilled.

After half a year of study, under the principal’s quivering astonishment, Lin Qiye skipped grades again—straight to middle school. The principal, preparing the paperwork, clicked his tongue in amazement. “Unbelievable! So real geniuses do exist in this world!”

At three years old, Lin Qiye had mastered all of elementary school—he could even grasp junior high material. It was simply too shocking. The principal’s hands trembled as he stamped the official documents, then, beaming, he gently pinched Lin Qiye’s chubby cheek.

“Little Qiye, you’ll continue studying at home, just come for the exams.”

Lin Qiye nodded coolly.

That night, as soon as he went to bed, a familiar notification echoed in his mind:

[Destiny Changed: At age two, you entered kindergarten. You’re handsome, strong, and all the children adore you. Thanks to your impish yet impressive performance, your family received additional income.]
[Destiny Changed: At age two, you entered elementary school. Fate’s train is racing down a new track.]
[Destiny Changed: At age three, you advanced to middle school. Your reputation as a prodigy begins to spread—your name will be known. You are destined for greatness.]
[Life Gem forming...]
[You have gained 500 Progress Points.]

Seeing these notifications, Lin Qiye smiled faintly. Five hundred progress points—a veritable fortune. With this, he had the resources to face any unforeseen event.

Nevertheless, he remained extremely cautious. He had changed fate twice, but that didn’t mean he could afford to be careless. His simulated school experiences had taught him: life is full of the unexpected.

You might alter events in childhood, but if you aren’t careful, you could still trigger a robbery, kidnapping, car accident, falling debris, or a deadly illness—any number of disasters.

Lin Qiye chose to keep a low profile. He was barely three; staying home and self-studying was safest. Between lessons, he’d jump around and exercise.

His diet was scientifically balanced, so he shot up in height—by age four, he was as tall as a seven-year-old. His looks had shifted from cherubic to handsomely boyish; he was already a little heartthrob.

But good looks were useless in the face of a fatal childhood illness! Knowledge was the only salvation.

Lin Qiye understood this well. In the face of sudden, catastrophic illness, only scientific knowledge mattered—everything else was fleeting.

Thus, he studied even harder. In half a year, he mastered all of junior high. With perfect scores in six subjects and a 147 in Chinese, he was accepted into Jiangnan City’s top high school—Jiangnan No. 1 High.

A four-year-old top scorer on the high school entrance exam—a true prodigy, causing a minor sensation.

Reporters flocked to his neighborhood, eager for a story. But Lin’s parents refused all interviews. “Our child loves to study and learn; his thirst for knowledge is strong. We hope the public will respect his privacy.”

Their response earned the family sympathy from society, and soon, the reporters and newspapers withdrew in defeat.

Meanwhile, the principal of Jiangnan No. 1 High personally visited their home. Lin Qiye’s talent was simply too extraordinary. The entire school administration was willing to make exceptions for him. He could study at home and only needed to attend exams, accompanied by his parents.

Lin Qiye was delighted. After all, with a Nobel scientist’s wisdom card in hand, mastering high school subjects was effortless.

Within a year, he had thoroughly digested all the high school curriculum. He was now just five years old. Thanks to his balanced diet, he stood at about 1.3 meters—like a nine-year-old—but compared to the high schoolers, he still seemed tiny.

But this didn’t faze him. He petitioned the school early to let him sit for the university entrance exam.

That year, at age five, Lin Qiye became the top science student in Jiangnan Province, earning admission to the Xia Country University of Science and Technology, majoring in Biological Sciences.

A five-year-old top scorer in the sciences—an instant media sensation. Reports flooded in. He became the figure of the summer.

The media hailed him as a prodigy, but the internet was rife with criticism and vitriol.

“Heh! Xia Country loves to churn out test-taking machines.”
“At five, he’s great at exams—he’ll never do real research.”
“What a waste! Five is the perfect age to cultivate scientific thinking and creativity, but standardized testing ruined him!”
“Another genius destroyed by rote education—now you see the gap between us and the West?”

Lin Qiye paid these attacks no mind. He only had thirteen years left. In those years, he had to find a way to overcome the illness within him. If not, this life simulation would be a failure.

He dared not imagine the consequences of failure. This was his last chance—he had to seize it.

So, Lin Qiye shut out the world’s clamor. Whether praised or condemned, he remained unmoved. He immersed himself wholly in the sea of knowledge.

And the moment he received his university acceptance letter, the familiar, exhilarating chime sounded again in his mind.