The Villainess’s Darling [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 9

Yuan Wei had been away for a day due to family matters, and upon his return, he found Class 1 buzzing with legends about Ning Xiao.

Even his best friend, Shang Shaotan, advised him to stop liking her.

“She’s not a normal woman. If you had seen the way she clashed with Teacher He in class yesterday, you definitely wouldn’t have any illusions left,” Shang Shaotan said with a look of disdain.

Yuan Wei replied skeptically, “I doubt it. Ning Xiao doesn’t seem like such an impulsive person. Unless it had something to do with you, or Teacher He said something wrong to anger her, how could Ning Xiao confront a teacher like that?”

Yuan Wei trusted his own judgment; he didn’t believe the person he liked would cause a conflict with a teacher for no reason.

Shang Shaotan looked at him with exasperation. “Just because she’s a bit pretty, look how infatuated you are.”

Yuan Wei fired back incredulously, “Just a bit pretty? Forget it. Based on the fact that you look down on Ning Xiao but confessed to Yun Can’er, it’s clear your aesthetic taste has some issues.”

Shang Shaotan didn’t bother explaining himself.

How could he actually like Yun Can’er? She was unremarkable in every way except for her grades. He had only expressed interest in her to spite her and give Ning Xiao an excuse to torment her.

“By the way,” Shang Shaotan recalled something he had accidentally overheard in the Chinese department office, “Ning Xiao is about to leave Class 1.” A smile spread across his face.

Yuan Wei grew anxious. “How! She just transferred here. How can she be moved out so quickly? The monthly exam is still two weeks away!”

“Tsk, you don’t know. Teacher He didn’t want her in the first place, so they made a bet. Ning Xiao could only stay if she placed in the top fifty in the next exam. But Ning Xiao sought her own death by provoking Teacher He. Now, their agreement has changed. Ning Xiao must be able to recite the classical text we just learned backward, with perfect fluency, within a single day to stay in Class 1. Ha! That’s an impossible task. She’s as good as gone.”

To gauge the difficulty, Shang Shaotan had tried reciting the text backward himself after learning about the bet. After an hour, he had only managed one small section, and even then, it wasn’t smooth.

If someone as smart as him couldn’t do it, Ning Xiao certainly wouldn’t be able to.

The “certainly unable” Ning Xiao was currently standing in the Dean’s office. He Yue was delayed by a few minutes, leaving only Ning Xiao and Fang Lei in the room.

Seeing her empty-handed, Fang Lei said worriedly, “Xiao Xiao, why didn’t you bring your textbook? You could have looked it over a couple more times.”

Ning Xiao gave a casual wave of her hand. “No need. I’ve already memorized it.”

Fang Lei thought she was just being stubborn and remained anxious. “If I had known, I wouldn’t have let the terms change. The odds of placing in the top fifty were much higher.”

Ning Xiao knew that some people wouldn’t believe it until they saw it with their own eyes, no matter the explanation. So, she said nothing more and waited for He Yue with a relaxed expression.

After about ten minutes, He Yue finally made her entrance.

She didn’t come alone; she brought three “tails” with her.

There was Shang Shaotan, who wanted to watch the show and mock Ning Xiao.

There was Yuan Wei, who was worried for the girl he admired.

And finally, there was Yun Can’er, who wanted to see He Yue get slapped in the face.

Ning Xiao narrowed her eyes. “Teacher He, what’s the meaning of bringing them along?”

He Yue replied, “Just finding a few students to act as witnesses. Director Fang, that shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

Fang Lei’s expression was quite sour.

This was supposed to be a private matter between the three of them. Having three students from Class 1 involved was uncalled for. If Ning Xiao failed to recite it and these students spread the word, the humiliation would be massive.

“Teacher He, this isn’t appropriate. We agreed yesterday that I would be the witness.”

“Director Fang!” He Yue interrupted him. “We did agree, but it’s obvious you side with Ning Xiao. I’m afraid your judging criteria might be biased, so I brought some witnesses. They are students, fair and upright. They won’t take sides.”

Yun Can’er:  I’m definitely taking Ning Xiao’s side!

Yuan Wei: He felt inexplicably guilty.

Shang Shaotan coughed and said with a smile, “Uncle Fang, don’t worry. The three of us won’t go around talking nonsense.”

Before Fang Lei could argue further, Ning Xiao spoke up. “Director Fang, it’s fine. I trust Shaotan. The three of them won’t spread rumors.”

As she finished, she shot a bright, dazzling smile toward Shang Shaotan.

Yun Can’er glanced at Shang Shaotan, then back at Ning Xiao, feeling a dull ache in her chest.

Since the person involved didn’t object, the three students stayed as a matter of course. They had come prepared, each holding a Chinese textbook.

He Yue mocked the empty-handed Ning Xiao. “Have you already given up? You didn’t even bring a book.”

Ning Xiao smiled. “Teacher He will find out once I finish reciting.”

Seeing Ning Xiao’s confident look, He Yue suddenly grew suspicious. She had arrived late; what if Fang Lei had helped Ning Xiao cheat beforehand?

“Wait. Before you recite, I need to check if you have any electronic devices on you.” She was openly accusing Ning Xiao of hiding high-tech earpieces.

Ning Xiao spread her hands nonchalantly. “Though I don’t quite understand Teacher He’s paranoia, if you’re suspicious, go ahead and check. See if I have any electronics on me.”

She hadn’t even brought her phone; where would she get electronics from?

He Yue focused specifically on Ning Xiao’s ears. Approaching her, she inspected them thoroughly several times. Once she was certain there was nothing there, she stepped back. “Go ahead and recite.”

There’s no way she can do it without cheating, He Yue thought.

Facing gazes that were variously nervous, anxious, or smug, Ning Xiao remained perfectly composed. She opened her mouth and spoke the first word. Seeing that everyone except Yun Can’er was staring intently at their textbooks, she winked playfully at the girl. Then, she launched into a lightning-fast recitation of the text in reverse, finishing in exactly one minute.

Fang Lei, who didn’t have a book, didn’t know if she was correct. He asked Shang Shaotan nervously, “Shaotan, how was it? Did she get it right?”

Shang Shaotan was stunned. He looked up at Ning Xiao, who was tilting her chin up triumphantly, and said in a hoarse voice, “Every single word was correct.”

Fang Lei’s eyes widened behind his glasses. He clapped his hands and laughed. “I knew Xiao Xiao could do it!” Even though he had only just found out, it didn’t stop his joy.

He Yue’s mouth hung open in shock. When she saw Fang Lei looking over, she blurted out, “Impossible! Ning Xiao must have used some trick!”

Yun Can’er walked up to He Yue and explained seriously, “Teacher He, Ning Xiao really memorized it herself. She didn’t use any improper means; you checked her yourself just now. Besides, Ning Xiao is very smart and has a photographic memory. Yesterday, I only read it backward once, and she was able to recite it back at three times the speed. I hope you won’t look at her through a lens of prejudice.”

He Yue’s face turned a sickly shade of green. She questioned Ning Xiao sharply, “If you have a photographic memory, why couldn’t you recite a single word during class yesterday?”

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