The Cannon Fodder Became the Empire's Beloved Omega - Chapter 32

Professor Han stepped onto the podium and set down the folder tucked under his arm. After a moment, he raised his eyes. “You’re not convinced, are you?”

Song Si’s scalp prickled, but he replied defiantly, “Of course not!”

As a prestigious, long-established institution exclusively for Alphas, Starcloud Academy had already faced considerable criticism in recent years due to Ye Yizhou’s insistence on reforms, which had led to the admission of numerous Beta students. Now, deliberately recruiting an Omega was nothing short of a blatant insult.

Who didn’t know that the old-guard nobles truly in power on the capital planet were all stubborn traditionalists? Since the founding of the Gaia Empire, there had never been an instance of an Omega becoming an heir. Trying to push reforms through such means wasn’t the other party afraid of overreaching and tripping themselves up?

Moreover, Starcloud had not proactively announced the results even after all this time, which was proof enough of the school’s lack of confidence. So why shouldn’t he be unconvinced?

Hearing this, Professor Han shifted his gaze to Yu Ruan. “Do you have any objections?”

His tone suggested he was giving Yu Ruan free rein to speak his mind.

Yu Ruan was slightly surprised. After a moment’s thought, he quickly replied, “Just follow the school regulations. Please handle it directly, I have no objections. My apologies for disrupting the class.”

Professor Han raised an eyebrow in surprise, then nodded. “Very well.”

He scanned the students in the lecture hall. “In that case, we’ll have a pop quiz today.” He opened his folder. “Since none of you can convince each other, why not see who can solve this problem first? How does that sound?”

Song Si was taken aback.

In Starcloud, where meritocracy reigned, Professor Han’s method of resolving conflicts was undoubtedly sound, and no one present would likely question his approach. Yet, that was precisely where the problem lay.

Whether it was the parachute student or someone like him who had earned their place through hard work, everyone was attending Professor Han’s class for the first time. None of them could possibly be very familiar with the course material.

If the problem turned out to be too difficult, and not only stumped the Omega but also left him stumped as well. wouldn’t that be utterly humiliating??

Song Si hesitated for a moment, then steeled himself and said, “Professor Han, this is just a trial class. Isn’t this method of resolving the issue a bit unfair?”

He cast a meaningful glance toward Le Meng, who was sitting next to Yu Ruan.

Instantly, the round-faced Beta girl bristled like a cat with its fur standing on end, glaring fiercely at him.

Yu Ruan patted her shoulder and smiled at Song Si. “Actually, precisely because it’s a trial class, this method is quite fair, isn’t it? Any one of us could solve it or none of us could. With a 50% probability, what are you afraid of?”

“Who’s afraid?!” Provoked, Song Si’s temper flared. “Fine, let’s do it. But tell that upperclassman next to you to leave.”

Le Meng was visibly angered by his words. She frowned, about to retort, but Yu Ruan discreetly slipped her a milk candy under the table and gave her a subtle wink.

Reluctantly, she swallowed her anger, picked up her bag, and returned to her original seat.

Professor Han activated the light screen and casually wrote out a formula with his stylus. As the characters appeared, the expressions of the students in the room gradually grew peculiar.

“Give it a try?” He lifted his head and looked toward the two people in the distance.

Seeing that line of equations, sweat began to bead on Song Si’s forehead:

As expected, things were just as he had initially feared. He had no idea how to solve the problem the other person had posed!

It wasn’t really his fault, if it were a subject he genuinely enjoyed, he would have already made up his mind long ago. Only those who were indecisive would come to the lecture hall to sit in before deciding whether to enroll.

But this common situation had now undoubtedly become a death warrant pushing him into the abyss.

Panic surged from the depths of his heart. He felt the sweat on his forehead growing thicker and more profuse, his heart pounding wildly, as if the gazes of every student in the classroom were now fixed on him.

It’s fine!

Song Si steadied himself, silently cheering himself on: After all, he was among the top few dozen students in the freshman class. If even he couldn’t solve it, how could that parachuted-in Omega possibly figure it out? No need to panic, stay calm, he could definitely do it.

Just then, a calm and unhurried, gentle voice rang out, striking him like a heavy blow to the head:

“Professor Han,” the other person said calmly, “The problem you’ve given has no solution.”

Song Si froze instantly, then whipped his head around: “What kind of answer is that?! Are you just messing around and playing games??”

Yu Ruan turned to him, raising an eyebrow in confusion. “It really has no solution. Classmate Song, didn’t you know that?”

Song Si faltered immediately.

He couldn’t answer.

He had never even seen that problem on the light screen before, how could he possibly solve it in such a short amount of time?! If anything, the other person’s claim that there was no solution was just a cheap trick.

He took a deep breath, ready to loudly denounce the other’s shameless behavior. Suddenly, a faint remark drifted over from the lectern: “Well said.”

Hearing this, Song Si was stunned.

He turned his head incredulously toward the person on the lectern, only to see the other unhurriedly switch the light screen to the usual lecture slides:

“Given the conditions I provided, it indeed has no positive integer solution. This student, if you wish to attend my class, I suggest you broaden your horizons in your daily studies, rather than approaching problems with such narrow-minded thinking.”

He turned his gaze to Yu Ruan, a hint of appreciative smile in his gray eyes. “Very impressive. You may sit down.”

Yu Ruan was taken aback for a moment, then gave a slight smile and sat down.

Immediately afterward, Professor Han shifted his gaze to the other side. “Classmate Song, is it? Do you still remember the school regulations? Can you recite the penalty for provoking disputes with classmates without reason?”

Upon hearing this, Song Si’s face turned ashen, his facial muscles twitching slightly. “Yes, yes! If one provokes a dispute with a classmate and loses.”

“Please leave my classroom, will you?” The other’s expression remained indifferent. “This place welcomes anyone with a thirst for knowledge to come and learn, regardless of social class, but it does not welcome narrow-minded gender essentialists.”

He scanned the lecture hall. “I hope my classroom will not see such individuals again in the future.”

The students nodded silently.

From the outcome, it could be said that he had lost completely.

Song Si gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, and said in a suppressed tone, “I understand. I’ll leave now. Thank you for your time, Professor Han.”

Without waiting for a response, he took the initiative to pack his things, furrowed his brow, and prepared to leave the lecture hall.

Unexpectedly, before he could even step out of the classroom, a familiar voice drifted from behind, sending a chill down his spine.

“Song Si.”

Song Si slowly turned around, only to find the Omega who had utterly crushed his pride smiling gently and tilting his chin upward. “Aren’t you going to apologize to Senior Le before you leave?”

“…” A vein throbbed on his forehead. Suppressing his anger and recalling the bold claims he had made earlier, Song Si reluctantly turned and bowed to the Beta girl. “Senior, I was wrong earlier. I’m very sorry for causing you trouble.”

Le Meng wrinkled her nose in disgust and muttered a low “tch.”

Swallowing his humiliation, Song Si pretended not to hear her, wiped his face, and walked out of the classroom.

The commotion finally settled.

Seeing Song Si leave, Yu Ruan lost interest in pursuing the matter further. He bowed apologetically to Professor Han, opened the teaching materials, and focused on the lecture.

The class passed quickly.

Perhaps still upset by the earlier incident, even though it was a class taught by her favorite professor, Le Meng quietly messaged Yu Ruan to vent her frustration about Song Si. Even after class ended, she still seemed unsatisfied, her face flushed with lingering anger.

“Your Highness, you have no idea how satisfying it was to see him walk out looking so humiliated!”

As the bell rang, she cheerfully ran over. “Your Highness, you’re amazing! You haven’t even studied it before, yet you knew the answer to Professor Han’s question.”

Yu Ruan shook his head. “It was just a coincidence.”

After all, the question happened to be something he had studied back in his university days. It was pure luck, he didn’t think he was particularly impressive. Still, it was a good opportunity to put someone like Song Si in his place.

He packed his things and put them in his bag. Whether it was his imagination or not, he felt that after what had just happened, the gazes around him seemed a little friendlier.

Yu Ruan picked up his bag and prepared to head to his next class.

Suddenly, a faint vibration came from his earphones. Startled, Yu Ruan looked down and opened his tablet, only to find a mass notification email from the school.

Clicking on the email, the words “Academic Transcript Overview for the XXX Freshman Class” immediately caught his eye.

Scrolling further down, he saw his name at the very top of the list, a full hundred points ahead of the second-place student.

Staring at the results, Yu Ruan was stunned.

He knew he had done well, but he never expected to outscore the second-place student by such a large margin. This was.

Closing the message list, Yu Ruan felt a mix of emotions.

Around him, buzzing vibrations began to sound one after another. Everyone took out their communication devices, glanced casually at the screen, and then widened their eyes in shock, their expressions full of disbelief.

What the hell is this transcript?! How is it even possible for someone to score like this?!

This is terrifying!!

Song Si, who was outside the classroom, also received the notification.

Seeing the bold red text, he felt a surge of excitement and eagerly clicked on it. But the next moment, he was dumbstruck by the familiar name that followed.

Yu Ruan: 888 Points

With a loud “clang,” the communicator hit the floor. Song Si’s mind went completely blank, the only thing remaining being those three glaringly bright “8”s that left him dizzy and disoriented.

888!

First place in the entire school!!

Yu Ruan bid a brief farewell to Le Meng.

With the next class about to start soon, he needed to hurry over to avoid being late.

Unexpectedly, just as he reached the doorway, a distorted exclamation suddenly erupted from the classroom: “This can’t be!? This score, he’s first?!”

Following those words, the gazes of all the students in the classroom instantly converged on Yu Ruan.

Pausing mid-step under the eerie stares, Yu Ruan turned back, raising an eyebrow in confusion. “Can I help you?”

The crowd was stunned by his question. After a moment, someone belatedly asked, “Are you the Yu Ruan who got first place?”

Yu Ruan froze for a second, then nodded.

“Then why didn’t you say anything?” the person asked incredulously.

“No one asked me either?” Yu Ruan was equally perplexed. “Do you enjoy going around telling strangers about your academic results?”

The crowd: “…” They certainly didn’t.

Yu Ruan had no more time to waste with them. He gave a casual nod as a farewell and headed toward the classroom for his next class.

The explosive news quickly spread throughout Star Cloud.

The class channel’s notifications flashed incessantly. Without even looking, Yu Ruan could guess what they were discussing. He set his status to “Do Not Disturb,” reviewed the results of his day’s hard work, and checked off each subject in the system backend.

After finishing these tasks, he finally let out a long sigh of relief, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

Soon, it was time for the freshman orientation speech.

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