The Unbelievable North American High School Student

It had been more than 20 days since Levi last visited Franklin K. Lane High School.

When I came here this time, I found that this school is still just as awful as ever. No wonder it's a top high school that had a school shooting in the 90s.

As a prestigious high school in Brooklyn, there were as many as five police cars parked in front of the school on the day of the entrance placement test.

There's an extra security check machine compared to last time, to handle the unusually large crowds today.

"Would you like to reconsider?"

Inside the Toyota, Don Quixote watched as several high school students covered in tattoos passed through the security checkpoint, then turned to Li Wei and spoke.

"What are you considering?" Li Wei turned his head back. "Whether or not to change schools?"

"Yes," Don Quixote nodded, "Although this is the only public high school we can get into based on our current address, if you prepare for another month, you might be able to transfer to a specialized high school, just one grade lower."

Specialized high schools are those that are not based on school districts and are specifically designed for high school students with special talents in academics and the arts. Students from all over New York City can apply to them.

For example, Stuyvesant High School, Bronx Science High School, etc.

Li Wei turned his head to look at his classmates, who now seemed a bit like chicks to him.

He felt that if he added just a little more strength, he could crush their wrists.

"No need, is it?" he smiled. "Would anyone bring a gun into the school?"

"They usually don't do that inside schools. Didn't you see the security scanners at the entrance?" Don Quixote pointed to the security guards at the entrance. "Besides, New York is a relatively safer area."

Unlike states with exceptionally lenient gun laws, such as Colorado and Texas, New York City has implemented extremely strict security protocols for public schools. More than 80 high schools have installed security screening machines at their entrances, and last year alone, more than 15 guns were confiscated using scanners.

With the police cars parked at the entrance, American high schools are truly safe.

Very good, that's very American.

"But the students there can definitely get their hands on daggers and other sharp weapons, there's no doubt about that," he added again. "So what do you think? Should we study for another year?"

If it were a dagger or a sharp weapon, then Li Wei wouldn't have to worry at all. His bronze body couldn't even be cut by his own strength combined with the blade, let alone by these American high school students who had developed osteoporosis from drinking carbonated beverages.

Not to mention, this place is even more chaotic, so he might be able to trigger even more missions.

"No need," Li Wei gave him a thumbs up, "Let's go."

Having said that, before Don Quixote could say anything more, he opened the car door and got out.

Don Quixote could only helplessly follow Livy, carrying the prepared documents.

"Proof of residence, utility bills, a copy of my passport..." Don Quixote handed over the documents and certificates one by one to the administrative window. "Alright, it's all here."

Inside the window, after the administrative staff filed all the materials, they handed Don Quixote a piece of paper with Li Wei's name and examination number written on it.

"Classroom 3, go ahead," Don Quixote handed the list to Li Wei. "The entrance level placement test only covers two subjects: mathematics and English."

"I thought we'd have an AP exam today," Li Wei said, glancing at the list. "Didn't expect there to be no exam today?"

"Take the exam again after you finish your test today and are assigned to your class," Don Quixote patted him on the shoulder. "I'll go find the rugby coach for you and ask him about it."

Li Wei carried his bag into a small classroom. The white tiled walls were covered with dusty art posters, and several cards with numbers hung from the ceiling. There were more than ten tables inside, and several students who looked to be about his age were already sitting there.

Li Wei casually pulled out a table covered with white paper, sat down, and quietly waited for the exam to begin.

Sitting diagonally in front of him was a Latino teenager wearing an oversized hoodie in the early September weather, with a string of crooked letters tattooed on the side of his neck.

At this moment, he was staring at the level test paper, his brows furrowed.

"Hey, sir!" he raised his hand and asked in broken English, "What does it mean that your name is 'printed' here? Is it to tell me to go find a printer?"

One of the proctors, a Black man who looked as old as the school, rolled his eyes when he heard what the tattooed teenager said.

"Mr. Zaharis, that means you have to write your name in capital letters. Now, shut up and pick up your pencil."

Li Wei glanced at the English and math test papers on the table and realized that, in terms of math alone, if Chinese students could understand English, this would probably be at the level of a first or second year of junior high school.

The difficulty level of the AP courses he prepared himself was worlds apart from theirs.

Less than 10 minutes into the exam, Li Wei, with his exceptional mental strength, completed most of the math questions.

Just as he was about to check it again and then do the English, he felt someone poke him in the back.

He looked up at the proctor who was looking down at his phone, then looked back at what was behind him.

Behind him sat a white boy with somewhat innocent-looking eyes. Upon seeing Levi's Asian face, a smug glint appeared in his eyes, and he asked in a low voice:

"Hey buddy," he asked, "it says math on this, but why are there letters? Aren't X and Y only in English class? Is this test paper printed wrong?"

?

Li Wei paused for a second, then whispered, "That's algebra, buddy. The letters represent unknowns."

"An unknown?" The white guy seemed to have heard some kind of witchcraft. "If we don't know it, why would we write it down? That doesn't make sense, man."

"You're a genius," Li Wei sighed, turning his head away. "Fill in 1. Don't ask me why."

Fifteen minutes later, as the white boy behind him tried to draw a crooked little figure on his answer sheet, Li Wei picked up his bag, stood up, and handed in his paper.

"If you're going to protest going to school by submitting blank papers, I suggest you reconsider... Oh! It's you."

The proctor was looking down at his phone and muttering to himself, but when he looked up and saw Li Wei's Asian features, he immediately changed his tune.

"Hmm...not bad, as expected of an Asian," he said, taking the test paper and glancing at it. "Alright, you can go now. We'll let you know about the class placement results and the things needed for enrollment later."

Li Wei nodded politely in thanks and left the classroom.

He walked towards the administration hall, refusing the advances and phone number requests of two Black girls along the way, and finally saw Don Quixote sitting on a bench.

"You're out so quickly?" He looked up at Li Wei. "You didn't hand in a blank paper, did you?"

"Alright, I solved all these problems with my eyes closed," Li Wei rolled his eyes. "What about the rugby team thing?"

"Their school team does have vacancies, but they have some doubts about your physical fitness," Don Quixote said. "At my request, he agreed to let you participate in the joint trial this afternoon, but before that, you need to go to the school clinic to complete a physical examination."