“…Su Xiaoyu, you’re back~”
As Su Wanli’s footsteps crossed the threshold of Class Three, Year Two’s classroom, the girl with a high ponytail sitting by the window smiled and waved at her in greeting.
“There are still two minutes before class starts. You’re really on time this time.”
Su Wanli habitually responded with a slight nod, her gaze drifting to Meng Huange’s face, bathed in morning sunlight.
Was it just an illusion? She felt as though there was a faint droop at the corner of Meng Huange’s eyes, as if some inexplicable gloom was mixed in her gaze…
Ah, perhaps she was just tired? After all, she had to get up early to exercise, then wait by the bed to help her with her Makeup Points. No wonder she didn’t look quite energetic.
Besides, the system had said that any emotion she could notice must be what Meng Huange intentionally displayed. What she was actually thinking, only Meng Huange herself knew.
Su Wanli nodded casually in Meng Huange’s direction, then walked straight to her own seat.
“Alright, class is about to begin. Everyone, return to your seats.”
Before the bell rang, Teacher Xiaohua pushed open the classroom’s front door with a smile, holding a language textbook, a lesson plan, and a sheet of white paper with a table printed on it.
Hmm? A sheet with a table?
She might have forgotten a lot from her high school days, but this thing left a strong impression.
Su Wanli still remembered that familiar touch from long ago.
…That sheet of white paper was most likely yesterday’s Test Score Sheet.
To think they managed to grade everything in just one night—Baiying Academy was really efficient. She’d thought she wouldn’t know her ranking until the last two periods of the afternoon.
Gazing at the white paper Teacher Xiaohua carelessly placed on the lectern, Su Wanli’s heart began to race uncontrollably.
Although she was fairly confident in her test results, after all, it was her first time seriously participating in an exam as Su Wanli. It was only natural to be nervous about the outcome.
Of course, her current persona was that of an aloof villainous young lady. This was just a trivial quiz; she shouldn’t care. On the contrary, showing even a hint of concern would be a defeat.
So, to show her nonchalance, Su Wanli leaned back against her chair and cocked an arrogant Erlang pose.
What would her score be? She’d worked so hard, and even had a peerless genius like Meng Huange preparing study materials for her. Surely, getting into the mid-level of an ordinary class should be a breeze?
Right… right?
There wasn’t much time for Su Wanli to hesitate. As soon as the bell stopped, Teacher Xiaohua smiled, picked up the white paper, and nodded to the whole class.
“Everyone—everyone worked hard on the Opening Exam this time. As a class, our results have greatly improved. You should all be proud.”
Hearing this, apart from a few students in the front rows who clapped perfunctorily, there wasn’t much of a reaction in the classroom.
Alright, enough of this empty talk, just announce the results already!
Su Wanli swallowed nervously, maintaining the delicate balance between her pose and her composure as she waited for what would come next.
However, Teacher Xiaohua didn’t seem to intend on announcing the scores. She just set the Test Score Sheet aside and opened the language textbook.
“Well then, let’s turn to page 16 in the textbook…”
From the back of the classroom came a loud thump. Liu Xiaohua glanced reflexively in that direction, seeing only a puffed-cheeked Su Wanli and a forehead pressed against the desk. She quietly asked, “Um, Miss Wanli, is something wrong?”
“…Nothing, just pay attention to your lesson.”
“O-okay, today’s lesson is…”
Listening to the endless stream of unrelated language knowledge, Liu Chunqin ground her teeth, fiddling with her sore, callused hand.
Come on, Liu Xiaohua, just tell me the results already! What’s the final verdict?
Don’t drag it out any longer!!
In this class, where nobody would question Su Wanli’s actions, only the girl with the ponytail beside her understood what was truly on her mind.
Seeing Su Wanli’s puffed cheeks, Meng Huange gently rubbed her chin and softly said, “Miss Wanli, are you worried about your exam results?”
“Tch, don’t get cocky! Who would worry about something so trivial? As long as I put in the time, being in the middle of the class is a piece of cake for someone like me.”
“Yes, I think so too. So, please turn your head this way.”
Facing Su Wanli’s bashful expression, Meng Huange smiled and brought her hand toward Su Wanli’s face, then reached out with her fingertips, gently stroking her brow.
“Please don’t frown anymore. If you keep frowning, even the prettiest face won’t look good.”
Feeling the soft touch at her brow, Su Wanli jolted back as if shocked.
“H-hey, Meng Huange, don’t you think you’re getting more and more presumptuous? I haven’t even confronted you about snapping my photo this morning, and now you’re—”
But as if anticipating Su Wanli’s reaction, Meng Huange simply shook her finger with a bright smile. A few sparkling white specks of powder fell from her fingertip.
“I just helped you touch up your Makeup Points. I hope you don’t mind.”
…What a crafty person, so well-prepared that Su Wanli couldn’t even find words to be angry.
But after being interrupted like this, Su Wanli’s anxiety about her grades had indeed lessened quite a bit.
Well, if she truly had confidence in her results, there was no need to be impatient for the answer.
Let the final reveal come in its own time.
As for this exam, it was pretty much an Opening Exam for her, and she’d even memorized three days’ worth of answers beforehand. Even if she couldn’t understand the questions, with the system’s “twelve-sided die” luck boost, there was no way she’d score poorly.
Of course, the lottery ticket that cost her 180 system points was actually pretty useless.
Su Wanli let out a soft sigh of relief, then prepared to follow Teacher Xiaohua’s instructions and turn to page sixteen of the textbook.
Wait, wait—since the Opening Exam was over yesterday, and there were no more exams for now, did that mean…
Could she finally stop listening to class?
As the school tyrant who could walk around Baiying Academy as she pleased, it was one thing not to go out stirring up trouble, but having to sit quietly through class? That was just too much!
But…
Unknowingly, a question surfaced in Su Wanli’s mind, the kind only parents and teachers would ask—
If a student doesn’t pay attention in class, how can they maintain their grades?
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