The afternoon sun slanted through the tall classroom windows, casting golden streaks across the desks. Students lounged in their seats after a long day, chattering noisily while waiting for the head teacher to arrive.
When the door finally swung open, the room stilled. The head teacher walked in, holding a thin folder against her chest. Her usual stern expression was missing. Instead, her brows were knitted in something close to… disbelief.
Everyone straightened. The test results.
Her gaze swept over the class, lingering for a moment on Su Ning before she cleared her throat.
"I've just received the grade results from the exam committee," she said, voice steady but with a faint tremor. "And I must say… the results are rather surprising."
Students leaned forward in curiosity. A few smirked, already expecting their names to be called at the top.
"As usual, I will announce the top three scores." She opened the folder, adjusted her glasses, and began.
"Third place… Shen Mixi."
Polite applause followed. Mixi tossed her hair proudly, though she eyed her teacher with a little confusion. She was used to hearing her name in either first or second place.
"Second place…" the teacher paused, her lips pressing together, "Chen Jing."
Gasps. Heads turned. Whispered soared.
"I thought the first place was supposed to be Chen Jing?"
"What happened, why is he suddenly second place?"
"Who could have gotten first place?"
"Who knows..."
"First place—overall top scorer in the entire grade, with near-perfect marks in every subject…" The teacher's gaze lifted, locking on Su Ning, "Su Ning."
The room froze.
A single heartbeat passed. Then another.
And then—
"What?!"
"Impossible!"
"Did I hear wrong?"
The classroom erupted. Chairs scraped against the floor as students twisted in their seats to stare at the girl who had always been mocked as a nobody.
Su Ning sat gracefully in her place, her uniform crisp, her face serene. Not a flicker of surprise crossed her features—only the faint curve of her lips as if she had been expecting this all along.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
"But… the exams here never leak."
"She couldn't have cheated—our system is too strict."
"Then… she really knew all the answers?"
Chen Anya clapped both hands over her mouth, her eyes shining with joy. She leaned toward Su Ning, whispering, "You did it! I knew you could, but this… this is incredible!"
Su Ning allowed herself a smile, her calmness making the victory all the more unnerving.
At the back of the room, Shen Luoluo's nails dug into her desk, her glare so sharp it felt like knives piercing Su Ning's back. Rage boiled in her chest. 'How dare she… how dare she steal my limelight!'
The teacher cleared her throat sharply, regaining order. "There will be no baseless accusations. Our school's integrity is unquestionable. Su Ning earned her marks fairly."
Silence fell again, heavier than before.
Inside Su Ning's mind, a familiar chime echoed—
'Ding! Congratulations host, task completed. Rewards issued—'
"Wait till I get home" Su Ning interrupted. She didn't know what to do if she couldn't control her excitement.
"As you wish host"
Her pulse quickened. She couldn't wait to get home, to see exactly what the system had bestowed upon her. Power, cultivation… with each step, she was closer to never being trampled again.
The final bell rang. Students spilled into the corridors, still buzzing with rumors and disbelief.
Su Ning walked calmly, her bag slung over one shoulder, her good mood unshaken. Beside her, Chen Anya trotted nervously, tugging at her sleeve. "I—I'll come with you. I already told my parents."
"Good," Su Ning replied simply.
From behind, hurried footsteps echoed.
"Su Ning!"
Mu Suying appeared, slightly breathless, her face lit with unrestrained excitement. She rushed over, beaming. "Congratulations on topping the entire grade! Everyone already knows"
"Ha! I told you all, didn't I?" She turned and raised her voice so half the hallway could hear. "Look at your faces now! Who was mocking her before? Where's your pride now, huh?"
Students shrank back, unwilling to cross the Mu family's heiress.
Su Ning glanced at her with faint amusement but said nothing. Chen Anya, on the other hand, gawked at Mu Suying like she'd grown two heads.
Unfazed, Su Ning led them outside. Her designated car—a sleek, tailored vehicle waited at the school gates.
Chen Anya froze, her palms sweating. She had never even stood this close to such a luxurious car, let alone sat inside one. "I-I… Su Ning, this…"
"Get in," Su Ning said softly, already sliding into the backseat.
Heart racing, Anya obeyed.
Not far away, Mu Suying hopped into her own family's glossy car, leaning forward to her driver. "Follow them slowly."
And farther still, Shen Luoluo and Shen Mixi entered their own vehicle, rage simmering in their eyes.
"Don't lose them," Luoluo hissed. "I want to see exactly where Su Ning is hiding now."
The engines roared to life. One by one, three cars rolled out of the school gates—each carrying their own intentions, their own secrets, and their own storms waiting to collide.