Lin Lan smiled and nodded. "Mhm! Just tell me what you want to eat, and your auntie will make it for you."
Lin Jun said, "We want to have a picnic by the river during the break."
Zhang Xiuqing shot him a look, then smiled at Lin Lan and said, "Don't listen to him. He doesn't study properly, his grades are terrible, and all he thinks about is food."
Lin Lan looked at Lin Jun and the other kids in surprise. "Are your grades really that bad? What did you guys score on your unit test?"
Lin Jun blushed and said dejectedly, "Not good. I only moved up one spot from last time." 'I get yelled at if I improve, and I get yelled at if I don't. This place is the worst. I should have just stayed in Shilian for school.'
Lin Lan smiled and comforted him, "Progress is progress. Take it slow, like climbing stairs, one step at a time." She understood the pain of being a poor student—that truly depressing feeling of never being able to catch up, no matter how hard you tried.
