Playing another self, leading to a split image, is very challenging!
However, Ma Ran loves challenges.
In his plan, the most important initial script is as follows.
[Script One: "Pseudo-Wisdom"]
[Protagonist: Ma Ran]
[Flaws: Obsessive-compulsive cleanliness, distant and aloof.]
"Ma Ran, with the strongest brain power in the history of Earth humans, can understand any book knowledge at first sight and master any skills quickly."
"He can infer many things from one, see through the complex human nature, and easily master in a short time the skills that ordinary people take half a lifetime to grasp."
"Originally, Ma Ran intended to live his life as a mediocre person, but unexpectedly, in his third year of high school, he suddenly received messages from other civilizations."
"Thus, he no longer concealed his edge and began to show his talents..."
This is the persona Ma Ran set for himself.
Operating behind the scenes with pseudonyms and other identities is good, but not enough.
Ma Ran is quite confident, or perhaps...
He's quite greedy!
He wants to lead in spirit in the open, push the trend behind the scenes, participate in and dominate in both places!
Currently, Ma Ran only possesses the derivative ability of the "Scholar God," still far from the ultimate goal of "Peak Brain Power."
However, the script has just begun; everything is on track, and there are many areas to operate next.
Ma Ran has had a complete plan on how to make his persona more convincing!
In his previous life, when Ma Ran first awakened his "play" ability, he always worried that "the tallest tree gets destroyed by the wind," thinking of hiding his ability and keeping a low profile.
After going through many things, Ma Ran understood a truth—many times, deliberately leaking some less important information can, on the contrary, better hide the biggest secret.
In this life, Ma Ran wants to stand in the most conspicuous place on the world stage, leading the trendsetters to stir the storm!
Originally, he was a bit worried about sudden changes in tests that would lead to a drop in the success rate of the plan.
Now it seems, he was overthinking.
The butterfly effect didn't occur.
...
All the test subjects in this test are multiple-choice questions, with no fill-in-the-blank or short answer stuff, and the time given is very tight.
At noon, there is only half an hour for lunch.
Afternoon nap?
Nonexistent!
Examinees from various grades just put a little something in their stomachs, then were pressed back into the exam hall.
Amid the tense exam, time seemed like sand between fingers, vanishing in an instant.
By the afternoon time, at 4:45, all subject tests were completed.
"Finally, it's over; even the college entrance exam isn't this exhausting, is it?"
"The questions are so tough! I almost vomited from the exam!"
"How do you feel? Will you score over 500 points?"
"I might not even get 400; many question types were unfamiliar, seemingly familiar yet different when I thought about them carefully!"
"It doesn't matter if it went badly; it's not an official exam anyway."
"Am I the only one curious about Ma Ran and Su Qiangwei's scores?"
"Pfft... I have no topics in common with you guys, the top students!"
"There's also a benefit from this exam! It's not even 5:00 yet, and we have no class tonight, which is like having half a day off! Who wants to join me at the internet café to play some games? I'm great with Yasuo!"
"No, it's too far, and LOL takes too long, playing one round is exhausting; let's play King of Glory instead?"
"Okay! I'm unstoppable with Luban No.7!"
After the exam, the students scattered like birds into the wilderness, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Reading novels, chasing dramas, playing games, watching anime.
In short, they're all doing things they wanted to do but didn't have time for before.
The extremely competitive Su Qiangwei, pestering Ma Ran with questions, from the classroom to the cafeteria.
Two hours later, she finally came to a sorrowful conclusion—Ma Ran completed all the questions seriously.
The most terrifying part was...
This guy didn't get a single question wrong!
At least for those questions Su Qiangwei could recall, Ma Ran's accuracy was 100%.
Su Qiangwei felt down for a bit, turning her sorrow into appetite, after chomping down two big meat buns, her eyes fell on Ma Ran's small notebook.
"What are you writing? Oracle bone script?"
Since they started comparing answers, this guy kept writing and drawing in the text, and those lines, whether curved or straight, had a pattern, unlike random doodles.
"You're not qualified to get involved with these yet."
Ma Ran put down his pen, pulled out an old Huawei phone to check the time, and seriously said, "It'll drive you mad."
These scripts originate from a mysterious civilization called "You" (Note ①), containing supernatural power, which will subtly twist a person's spirit and will, driving one utterly insane, turning into a bloodthirsty monster.
If Ma Ran were not a reincarnator experienced in many battles with a firm will, without the "Scholar God" badge strengthening him, he wouldn't dare to think back on these things recklessly.
With a slight error in judgment, one might completely lose oneself, becoming a mutant monster.
With those words, Ma Ran, ignoring the humiliated and introverted Su Qiangwei, carefully put away the small notebook and tapped on the table: "I'm going to check the exam results, see you if fate allows."
Optical grading machines, coupled with official urging, made the test paper marking efficiency extremely high.
The results will be released at 6:50.
Can't be wrong.
"How can it be so fast! At least wait until tomorrow, right? And what does 'see you if fate allows' mean? Are you dropping out of school? Not planning on taking the college entrance exam? And... hey! I haven't finished speaking!"
Su Qiangwei flushed with anger, grabbed the student card and small backpack on the desk, and quickly followed.
The results are indeed out already!
The list, as usual, was posted on the southeast wall of the teacher's dormitory building opposite the cafeteria, with a red background, black characters, written in calligraphy.
A lot of people were gathered around.
Su Qiangwei quickly noticed that this time the ranking list was different from usual, only the top ten scores from the three grades were released, not the top hundred.
The younger brothers in first and second year, Su Qiangwei couldn't be bothered with; her gaze immediately focused on the third-year list.
First place, Ma Ran, total score 750.
Second place, Su Qiangwei, total score 703.
She didn't look at the rest.
This score, like a bolt from the blue, left Su Qiangwei's mind buzzing with a starry haze as if she might faint on the spot.
"Lost... again!"
Su Qiangwei felt her eyes get a little watery, an aching sourness in her heart, so she immediately pinched the palm hidden in her sleeve hard, nearly embedding her nails into her flesh.
The pain made her feel slightly better.
"Nice job."
Ma Ran looked at Su Qiangwei with appreciation: "You exceeded your usual performance this time."
"Congratulations."
In the exam before his reincarnation, Su Qiangwei's total score was 693.
Now it's increased by ten points!
This was also Ma Ran's first encounter with the butterfly effect.
Apparently, Su Qiangwei gets braver with setbacks, a big-hearted player, and external pressure instead helps her perform better.
The recruiting standards of the official Grass Hut Academy are completely different for different ages.
For third-year students...
Seven hundred points is a critical line.
Scoring this means you get the qualification to receive an invitation, even if you're not the first.
Moreover, if you don't score above 690, even being the first in the entire grade would still keep you away from the Grass Hut Academy!
The truth is well-intentioned, but as the person involved, Su Qiangwei didn't think so.
"Sob..."
Su Qiangwei burst into tears on the spot.
The little bit of good feeling she had for Ma Ran instantly vanished.
Gentlemanly demeanor?
Such a thing is poles apart from this guy before her!
Thinking back, when this guy said "good luck" back then, the way he looked at her was kind of like looking at a fool, wasn't it?
It must have been like that!
...
(Note ①: You [yòu]. Definition: 1. An area for raising animals 2. Limitation; rigidity.)