The teachers in the office were even more stunned, their faces filled with disbelief.

They all taught the experimental class—how could they not know how hard Chu Sheng had worked this month?!

Gu Xue Jiao had also continued to work hard, but she had devoted considerable energy to the competition as well. Plus, they all assumed her previous first-place ranking was pure luck, but this time’s first place…

Could this still be just luck?!

This was a true ability!

“Teacher Yin! Share the scores in the group chat!” Class 2’s homeroom teacher furrowed his brows.

He understood Chu Sheng. Chu Sheng was the most talented student he had encountered in all his years teaching the experimental class. He had talent, and he worked hard—Teacher Li had already determined that Chu Sheng would create a legend. But this Gu Xue Jiao who had emerged unexpectedly…

Perhaps Chu Sheng hadn’t performed well this time? Had something happened?

As soon as Yin Fang sent the file to the group chat, Class 2’s homeroom teacher Li Ping immediately opened it.

Name: Chu Sheng   Score: 729   Rank: 1

Name: Gu Xue Jiao   Score: 729   Rank: 1

Name: Gu Shi Yun   Score: 710   Rank: 3

Name: Shang Zhi Yuan   Score: 708   Rank: 4

…

This score…

This test included more content than last month’s monthly exam, and many students’ scores would have decreased. For Chu Sheng to achieve this score, Li Ping thought honestly, this was already the limit.

Hadn’t they seen the nearly 20-point gap between first place and third place?

But Gu Xue Jiao…

When compiling scores, decimals were rounded up, which was why Chu Sheng and Gu Xue Jiao had the same score. According to alphabetical order, Chu Sheng’s name came before Gu Xue Jiao’s, but in reality…

Gu Xue Jiao had scored 0.5 points more than Chu Sheng!

Chu Sheng was second, and Gu Xue Jiao was rightfully the first place!

“Gu Xue Jiao…” Li Ping opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.

Yin Fang was the same, equally silent.

It was the Chinese teacher, Yuan, who spoke: “I really like Gu Xue Jiao. She definitely has the ability. Teacher Yin must have checked the papers—Gu Xue Jiao’s score definitely comes from real knowledge and skill. At the high school level, their scores are approaching the limit.”

Yin Fang had been quiet for a long time. Inwardly, she was happy, just somewhat ashamed that she had misjudged.

She had been certain that Gu Xue Jiao couldn’t possibly take first place again, but Gu Xue Jiao had turned around and slapped her in the face, quite resoundingly.

After a moment, Yin Fang adjusted her emotions and smiled.

“Now our class has a top student too. Teacher Li, it’s still uncertain who will get the bonus during the college entrance exam!”

At their level of teaching, it was no longer just about the bonus—it was more about reputation.

Teachers were gardeners. Only by growing trees that astonished people could a gardener be recognized by the world.

Previously, Yin Fang had given up hope. Although Gu Xue Jiao had scored first before, they all felt it was purely luck. The neighboring class’s Chu Sheng was almost an insurmountable existence.

But now… she saw hope!

A fire ignited in Yin Fang’s eyes, filled with fighting spirit.

“Teacher Yin, that’s not necessarily true,” Li Ping said with a straight face. “Chu Sheng is stable; Gu Xue Jiao’s foundation is too thin.”

Previously, when Li Ping praised Gu Xue Jiao, it was out of modesty. They all knew Chu Sheng and Gu Xue Jiao were not on the same level.

But now that this dark horse had emerged, if Li Ping continued to praise Gu Xue Jiao, it would be raising others’ confidence while dampening his prestige.

Yin Fang raised an eyebrow, lifting her chin—

“If her foundation is thin, I’ll help strengthen it! I’ll find ways to help her! As long as she has the ability and is willing to work hard, who knows what the future holds!”

The Chinese teacher closed the spreadsheet and suddenly said: “As long as they both perform well, it doesn’t matter to me who’s first—they’re both my students, and I’m just a subject teacher. What I care about now is… Teacher Yin has compiled the scores, so can we rest today?”

“…”

——

On Monday, when Xue Jiao arrived at school, the honor roll had already been posted.

As soon as she approached the classroom, almost everyone looked at her—rows of eyes staring made her uneasy. She instinctively checked her clothes.

No problems there?

Xue Jiao sat down in this strange atmosphere, took out her materials, and began reading.

“Bu Chi—Bu Chi—” Yi Tian Yu hummed, performing a fancy basketball move, then hugged the ball as he flipped into his seat behind Xue Jiao.

Feeling everyone’s casual glances, Yi Tian Yu looked down at himself, then nudged Xue Jiao, running a hand through his hair—

“Hey, dummy, am I looking handsome today? Why is everyone looking at me?”

Xue Jiao: “…”

“Jiao Jiao—” Xi Jun Yang rushed over.

He sat in front of Xue Jiao, making an exaggerated heart-clutching gesture: “Jiao Jiao! You scored 729!! Are you even human?! First place again!”

“Puff—” Yi Tian Yu, who had just opened his water bottle to drink, spat it out. Without bothering to wipe his mouth, he turned and asked, “How much?!”

“Seven hundred twenty-nine!” Xi Jun Yang enunciated each syllable.

At that moment, Yi Tian Yu felt the petite Gu Xue Jiao’s figure suddenly grow taller, becoming like a mountain pressing beside him.

As if he needed to look up to her.

“Jiao Jiao! Are you human?! You must be a deity!” Xi Jun Yang grabbed Xue Jiao’s shoulders and shook them vigorously.

Yi Tian Yu slapped his hands away: “Just talk, don’t get handsy!”

“Alright, alright, no touching.” Xi Jun Yang made a surrender gesture with both hands. “By the way, Yu Ge, you’ve improved again, actually making it into the top 300! Rank 278! Not bad, Yu Ge!”

Yi Tian Yu gave him a sidelong glance without responding, then slumped onto his desk.

“The results are out?” Xue Jiao put down her pen, tilting her head slightly.

“Yes, they’re posted on the bulletin board outside.”

“I’ll go take a look.” Xue Jiao stood up.

Yi Tian Yu quickly stood up too: “I’ll go too!”

He then followed behind Xue Jiao toward the bulletin board.

Xue Jiao’s gaze settled on the top few positions at the top of the list, and she froze slightly.

Chu Sheng… 729…

She had used all her energy, plus the extra two years of knowledge, and had only tied with this person…

This person was truly formidable. Xue Jiao looked at that name, filled with fighting spirit.

“Gu Xue Jiao.” A voice came from beside her.

Xue Jiao turned and was momentarily stunned—Chu Sheng.

“Yes?”

“You should be first. You scored 0.5 more than me.” Chu Sheng pushed up his glasses, standing elegantly beside her.

He was very tall, frighteningly pale, and extremely refined.

Xue Jiao smiled: “In the college entrance exam, 0.5 is your luck—we’re the same.”

Chu Sheng also smiled: “That’s true. I’ll continue to work hard. Next time, I’ll surpass you.”

“Good, I’ll also work hard to maintain my position.”

Their gazes met, like crackling electricity.

Yi Tian Yu stood beside them, feeling a huge gap between himself and the girl before him. Her world probably belonged with the person opposite—the exemplary child others were compared to since childhood. He was praised by teachers, while Yi Tian Yu himself was disliked by teachers…

Was this also how Xue Jiao saw him?

He lowered his head slightly, feeling somewhat dejected.

“I’m heading back to the classroom now?” Xue Jiao nodded politely to Chu Sheng.

“Alright, goodbye.” Chu Sheng hurriedly replied.

Xue Jiao walked a few steps, then paused, looking back: “Aren’t you coming?”

Huh?

Yi Tian Yu looked up to see her confused gaze on him. The girl’s face was turned to the side, extremely delicate, beautiful in a understated yet breathtaking way!

“Oh! Coming!” Yi Tian Yu’s dejected mood instantly vanished as he hurried to catch up.

As he passed by Chu Sheng, he held his head high, chin slightly raised, like a victorious rooster.

See that? No matter how well you score, it doesn’t matter!

Handsome guys like him are still more popular!

Hehe!

——

“Chu Sheng!” After Xue Jiao and Yi Tian Yu left, Gu Shi Yun approached Chu Sheng with a smile.

“What is it?”

“I’d like to ask you about the last question of the physics test—the final part. I just couldn’t solve it. I lost ten points on that question alone, sigh…” Gu Shi Yun lightly patted her head, looking somewhat troubled.

Chu Sheng and she were in the same class. They frequently discussed academic problems before, while their classmates didn’t dare to speak, only surrounding them to listen with faces full of admiration and envy.

Some even said that the academic ace Chu Sheng only paid attention to Gu Shi Yun, and only a goddess’s charm could make him bend.

She didn’t like Chu Sheng; she had always liked Cheng Ming Ze.

But she enjoyed being the only girl with a good relationship with Chu Sheng. The envious gazes from other girls made her feel satisfied.

She, Gu Shi Yun, finally didn’t have to look at others with envy—others were looking at her with envy!

However, she hadn’t expected—Chu Sheng shook his head.

He said: “You can look at my paper, but if you want an explanation, go find the teacher. Classmate Gu Shi Yun, I won’t have time to explain problems to you anymore. I need to focus all my energy on working hard!”

After saying this, Chu Sheng turned and quickly left, appearing eager to return to the classroom.

“Chu—” But he had already disappeared.

By now, many people had gathered at the honor roll to check the scores.

Chu Sheng, Gu Xue Jiao, Yi Tian Yu, and Gu Shi Yun—all were notable figures in the grade, attracting the most attention.

Gu Shi Yun soon heard people saying—

“Chu Sheng wants to catch up to Gu Xue Jiao. Feels like he’s going to work even harder now!”

“Gu Xue Jiao works hard too. Every time I see her, she’s studying. Someone from Class 1 said she listens to English tapes even while walking.”

“Oh? So she’s listening to English tapes? I always thought she was just being aloof!”

“People from Class 1 say she’s not aloof, but quite approachable. Her grades are genuinely good, and she truly works hard.”

“My goodness! Is she giving anyone a chance to live? Good-looking and top in academics!”

“Yeah, and Chu Sheng, and Yi Tian Yu both have really good relationships with her!”

“Class 1’s class president Xi Jun Yang too—they all get along so well with her!”

“She doesn’t give others a chance. A true goddess!”

Someone gestured toward Gu Shi Yun, lowering their voice—

“Gu Xue Jiao is the real goddess! She looks incredibly good, and now her studies are outstanding too. Not like this one, who’s still lacking a bit…”

“Stop talking! She’s right here.”

“Right, let’s go, class is about to start!”

…

Gu Shi Yun could barely maintain the gentleness on her face. She gripped her phone tightly, digging her nails into her palm as she walked back to the classroom step by step.

——

Cheng Ming Jiao had stayed up too late last night and woke up late today, arriving at the classroom just before class started.

On a day like today, she was so excited that she had barely slept last night. As soon as she sat down, she asked the person in front of her: “Who’s first in the grade?”

“It’s Chu Sheng…”

“Hahaha!!!” Cheng Ming Jiao burst into laughter, then turned to look at Gu Xue Jiao with a mocking expression.

“Weren’t you so impressive? How did first place become Chu Sheng? You ranked first once, and now your true colors are showing, right? Last time’s score must have been from cheating! Hahaha!”