The Villainess’s Darling [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 26

The teachers at Bo Ming Private High School were remarkably efficient; in less than two days, the results for all eight subjects were out. All that remained was for the Academic Affairs Office to tally the total scores and year rankings.

Every student now had their marked papers back. Zhang Yue, Yun Can’er’s deskmate, usually hovered around tenth place in the year. She viewed Yun Can’er’s consistent top ranking with a mixture of envy and resentment. The moment the final paper was handed back, she ignored her own score and immediately began calculating Yun Can’er’s total.

“Chinese: 141; Maths: 149; English: 145; Physics: 95; Chemistry: 98; Biology: 97; Politics: 93; History: 93; Geography: 100. Out of a possible 1,050, you’ve scored 1,011!” Zhang Yue gasped. The score was nothing short of monstrous.

Yun Can’er, however, looked dissatisfied. “There’s still room for improvement. I’ll have to be more thorough with my checking next time.”

She felt her high score was largely due to the papers being relatively simple, combined with the fact that they were only two months into the term and hadn’t covered much material yet.

Zhang Yue was speechless. She silently calculated her own total: 953, fifty-eight marks behind Yun Can’er.

Glancing back, Zhang Yue saw a crowd of students gathered around Ning Xiao’s desk. Her eyes flickered. “Ning Xiao did quite well this time,” she said to Yun Can’er, her voice laced with a poorly veiled malice. “Do you think she’s actually stolen your top spot?”

Yun Can’er tapped her pen against the numbers on her paper and smiled. “Ning Xiao scored 1,033. That’s twenty marks ahead of me. She’s brilliant; she’ll definitely be first in the year.”

Zhang Yue:

Why on earth did Yun Can’er sound so proud? Your position as the top student has been usurped. What is there to be proud of?!

Zhang Yue furrowed her brows. “Can’er, don’t be so naive. Ning Xiao’s grades used to be mediocre at best. Why do you think she’s suddenly latched onto you? It’s obviously just to get free tutoring. A student with your grades could charge three figures an hour for tuition. Has Ning Xiao ever paid you a penny?”

****

Yun Can’er wasn’t blind to Zhang Yue’s subtext. On the surface, the girl was feigning concern for her; in reality, she was trying to drive a wedge between her and Ning Xiao.

Seeing Yun Can’er remain silent, Zhang Yue assumed her words were hitting home. Secretly pleased, she pressed on. “The Ning family is stinking rich, yet she won’t even give you a tutoring fee? She knows your family’s situation isn’t great. Honestly, I think she’s being incredibly selfish.”

Ning Xiao, having brushed off the classmates clamouring to see her papers, walked over just in time to hear the tail end of Zhang Yue’s speech.

She felt a surge of irritation. With a mocking smile, she cut Zhang Yue off. “I say, wouldn’t your time be better spent studying rather than trying to stir up trouble between friends?”

Startled by the sudden sound of Ning Xiao’s voice, Zhang Yue jumped. Her rosy complexion turned a deathly shade of grey. “N-Ning Xiao! I can explain! I didn’t mean it like that!”

Ning Xiao raised her chin haughtily, eyeing her with pure disdain. “I’m not interested.”

Zhang Yue had only been emboldened by a momentary lapse in judgement; her family’s company relied heavily on the Ning family’s business. The last thing she could afford was to offend Ning Xiao.

“Can’er, please, tell her I didn’t mean it! I really didn’t.” Zhang Yue’s eyes filled with tears, her body trembling with genuine fear. She knew Yun Can’er was soft-hearted and self-conscious, someone who never held a grudge when people gossiped about her.

She looked at Yun Can’er expectantly, only to see the girl purse her pale lips. Yun Can’er looked up at Ning Xiao and said, “She meant every word of it.” Her voice carried a hint of hurt, but mostly a stubborn resolve.

Zhang Yue was flabbergasted. “Yun Can’er! You, ” She pointed a finger at her, unable to find the words.

“Do you mind not pointing at her?” Ning Xiao snapped, batting Zhang Yue’s hand away.

Zhang Yue recoiled. “Ning Xiao, please believe me. I really didn’t mean any harm.”

Ning Xiao glared at her. “Shut it.”

Zhang Yue clamped her mouth shut instantly.

“You’d do well to stop talking to people like that,” Ning Xiao said softly, reaching out to ruffle Yun Can’er’s hair. “If it becomes an issue, I’ll have the teacher move your seat.”

Her voice was gentle and warm, a complete departure from her previous arrogance. Watching them, Zhang Yue felt a mixture of terror and bitter resentment. So what if Yun Can’er has good grades? Why does she get this special treatment from Ning Xiao?!

Yun Can’er nodded obediently, her cheeks flushing a soft pink. “I understand.”

Ning Xiao chuckled. “Good girl.”

***

By the time He Yue entered the classroom for the final period with the official rankings, the news of Ning Xiao taking first place had already spread through the school. In the staff room, He Yue had been surrounded by colleagues offering their congratulations. She felt a conflicted mix of smugness and irritation.

While she was pleased to have the top student in her class, the fact that it was Ning Xiao—the rebellious girl who had repeatedly challenged her authority—made the victory taste rather sour.

He Yue walked to the lectern and announced coldly, “Our class results this time were less than ideal. Three of you have fallen outside the top fifty in the year. Once I’ve finished reading the scores, those three are to pack their bags and move to Class Two.”

“First place: Ning Xiao. Score: 1,033.” “Second place: Yun Can’er. Score: 1,011.” “Third place: Shang Shaotan. Score: 999.”

Shang Shaotan stared at Ning Xiao’s back with a venomous intensity. Over the last two days, he had already begun searching for a reputable exorcist. Once he drove the “ghost” out of Ning Xiao’s body, everything would return to normal.

…

“Fifty-sixth place: Zhang Yue. Score: 953.” “Sixty-fifth place…”

Zhang Yue turned pale. She couldn’t believe she had done so poorly! Her score was almost the same as the last exam; how had her ranking dropped so drastically?

Once she finished the list, He Yue tapped the desk. “Right. Those of you who have been moved, pack your things and head to Class Two. Don’t make me tell you twice.”

The dazed Zhang Yue jumped, her face burning with shame. The disdain in He Yue’s eyes and the stares of her classmates felt like daggers. Fighting back tears, she packed her bag and slunk out of the classroom, too humiliated to even say goodbye to Yun Can’er.

Three left, and three new students from Class Two moved up. The exchange barely caused a ripple.

*****

Following the exams, a few autumn rains brought a persistent chill to the air. By November, Bo Ming Private High School was preparing for the annual Sports Day. Performing well could earn bonus points for the class, which were crucial for the “Model Class” evaluation.

As the class monitor, Shang Shaotan used the class meeting to discuss the event. Ms. He and I have already finalised the list of competitors. This is a matter of class honour, so I expect everyone to take it seriously.”

The classroom immediately erupted in hushed discussions. Assigning events without consulting the students was a recipe for disaster.

Shang Shaotan ignored the grumbling. For most, he had assigned events based on their previous athletic records, which pacified the majority of the students. However, when he reached Ning Xiao, he paused.

“As for Ning Xiao, given her remarkable ‘perseverance,’ I’ve signed her up for the Marathon.”

A full marathon was 42.195 kilometres. No matter how much perseverance Ning Xiao had, she wasn’t a trained athlete; finishing it was a pipe dream. It was a blatant attempt to make her life miserable.

Yuan Wei frowned. “I’m a lad. I’ve got more stamina than Ning Xiao. I’ll run the marathon.”

The marathon route went outside the school gates. Shang Shaotan had already arranged for the exorcist to meet him there; he needed Ning Xiao away from the crowded campus to give the master a chance to get close. He wasn’t about to let Yuan Wei ruin his plan.

“The list has been submitted; it can’t be changed,” Shang Shaotan said coldly. “Unless, Ning Xiao, you’re looking to let the whole class down?”

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