Amid COVID outbreak, dozens of phone calls save exam taker from quitting

Later that night, a third phone call came in from Luoyang's education exam authority. They told Zhao that an exam had been arranged and ready for her the next day.

However, Zhao replied that she wouldn't be ready as she hadn't taken the nucleic acid test yet. "It's maybe too late. I give up the exam voluntarily," she said through the phone.

Shortly after, Zhao found she had missed dozens of phone calls and texts, all from the local education exam authority.

One text message read, "Following the examinee-oriented principle and considering the actual conditions, we have arranged a testing site for Zhao Yijing. And the information as follows..."

At the end of the message, the simple words Jiayou (keep it up) moved Zhao to tears. "I didn't expect that so many people worked against the clock to make things possible for me. I should not give up so easily amid their hard efforts," she said.

Despite the late hour, Zhao found a hospital to take her nucleic acid test, of which a negative result is required before taking the exam.

Zhao then posted the touching experience and expressed her thanks to the exam authorities on social media platform Sina Weibo. She wrote, "It would already be a success showing up and finishing the exam this year. What I went through is so unique. Once again, thank you for the responsible education exam authorities."