Crystal Warner held the student file, her expression grim. She summoned the homeroom teachers of all ten senior year classes to the office.
"This is the situation. Which of your classes will take this student?"
Gloria Alden from the advanced Class A was the first to speak up. "Our class won't take her! Her scores aren't good enough for our class!"
Her words were harsh, but her arrogance was well-founded.
Advanced Class A was the pride of Kingsford No. 1 High School when it came to college entrance exams. Almost all its students went on to Arcadian University or Kingsford University; they wouldn't even consider ordinary first-tier universities.
After she spoke, the other advanced class also refused. Then, the teachers of the regular classes all rejected the student one after another. Only Leon Barron from the regular Class Six said nothing, just held Aurora Sinclair's test papers, studying them intently.
Gloria Alden had always looked down on Leon Barron. The two were polar opposites among the senior year homeroom teachers. She was overly competitive, while he was overly lax. As long as his students didn't cause any disciplinary problems, Leon Barron was extremely lenient with them.
As a result, the academic performance of the regular Class Six was at the bottom of the entire grade. The problem students and underachievers were all concentrated in this class, giving all their teachers a massive headache.
Gloria Alden sneered. "I think this student's grades are a perfect match for Mr. Barron's class. Your class already has the most students who got in through connections, so one more won't make a difference!"
Leon Barron pushed the glasses up on his nose and smiled. "This kid has a good foundation! And her handwriting is nice. Our class will take her!"
Seeing that a homeroom teacher was willing to take Aurora Sinclair, Crystal Warner said no more. "Mr. Barron, please go to the principal's office."
***
After leaving Kingsford No. 1 High School, Aurora Sinclair glanced at Master Sinclair beside her, who looked a bit tired. She took a small medicine bottle out of her school bag.
Master Sinclair looked at the small bottle that had been pressed into his hand. Mustering his energy, he asked, "What's this?"
"Medicine. It replenishes your vital energy."
Master Sinclair smiled and patted her hand. "Once you start at your new school, you have to study hard. If there's something you don't understand, just take careful notes, and Grandpa will hire the best tutors for you."
Aurora Sinclair tilted her head to look at him and thought for a moment. "Are my grades not considered good?"
Master Sinclair, of course, wouldn't say they were bad. He patted her hand again. "For your first time, Aurora, scoring like this is already very good! Let's aim for 80 in every subject next time!"
Aurora Sinclair seemed lost in thought. She lowered her head, glanced at her science composite test paper, and pressed her lips together.
***
「Celestial Vista Manor.」
The Sinclair Family had booked the entire second floor to throw a celebration banquet for Stella Sinclair.
Master Sinclair had specifically returned to the old family residence to change into a new suit. Full of vigor, he led Aurora Sinclair into the banquet.
This was the first time Stella Sinclair had seen Aurora Sinclair since they had grown up. Her eyes flickered slightly, and the corners of her mouth curved up.
Hailey Gordon smiled and made the introduction. "Aurora, this is your older sister, Stella."
Aurora Sinclair greeted her politely.
Stella Sinclair picked up a scroll from a nearby table and handed it to her with a smile. "It's our first time meeting, so I wasn't sure what you'd like. This is a painting I just finished today. It's for you!"
Master Sinclair, standing to the side, was very pleased and quickly told Aurora Sinclair to accept it.
Aurora Sinclair held the scroll and pulled a familiar yellow paper from her pocket, only to be met with Jean Quincy's mockery. "Our eldest cousin gave you the painting that won her first place, and you're just giving her a strip of yellow paper? Aren't you embarrassed to even take that out?"
Aurora Sinclair thought for a moment, then pulled a test paper from her school bag and handed it to Stella Sinclair.
This move left both Jean Quincy and Stella Sinclair completely stunned.
Only Master Sinclair laughed with understanding. He patted Aurora Sinclair's head and said kindly, "This is the test paper from Aurora's exam at school today!"
"How is that the same thing?" Jean Quincy muttered unhappily after she recovered, but after seeing Master Sinclair's look, she obediently shut her mouth.
Stella Sinclair looked at the test paper with a score of 60 in her hand, and the smile on her face faded considerably. She casually handed the paper to Sue Quinn beside her and followed Master Sinclair and Aurora Sinclair to the main table.
Before the banquet began, Master Sinclair raised his glass and addressed all the members of The Core Lineage and branch lineages of the Sinclair Family present in the room: "Today is a day of double celebration for the Sinclair Family! Stella has been accepted into the Kingsford Calligraphy and Painting Association and won first place! And Aurora has successfully become a senior at Kingsford No. 1 High School!"
Compared to Stella's first-place achievement, for those who had witnessed what Aurora was like on her first day with the family, the fact that she had successfully gotten into Kingsford No. 1 High School today was absolutely mind-blowing.
The Sinclair Family's Fourth Master, Tanner Sinclair, even praised Aurora Sinclair lavishly right after Master Sinclair finished speaking. "Not bad, little niece! Kingsford No. 1 High School isn't that easy to get into. Your Fourth Uncle has to give you a proper reward!"
Jade Sinclair, who had always looked down on Aurora Sinclair, was very surprised. She sized her up and down. 'If I had known her grades were this good, I wouldn't have had that falling out with the old master yesterday.'
Stella Sinclair glanced at Aurora Sinclair across the table. Her gaze darkened, and her lips pressed into a thin line. She then looked toward Sue Quinn.
"I didn't realize my little sister's grades were so good?"
Matron Quinn immediately opened the test paper, glanced over it, and said dismissively, "The Second Miss scored exactly 60 in every subject."
Stella Sinclair pressed her lips together. She took the paper in disbelief, and after looking it over, handed it back to Sue Quinn. Her expression was strange the entire time, and she didn't say a word.
Jean Quincy went from initial disbelief to stepping forward to verify the score, and finally to glaring at Aurora Sinclair with a derisive expression. "With grades like these, how did you get into Kingsford No. 1 High School?"
Master Sinclair looked a little embarrassed and explained, "Aurora got in as a student with special talents!"
"Pfft… I guess being strong really is a special talent!" Zeke Quincy sputtered, recalling Aurora Sinclair's appearance from the day before.
The atmosphere became a bit awkward. Hailey Gordon quickly tried to smooth things over. "Getting in as a sports-specialty student is good too! Jean and Shawn are also at Kingsford No. 1 High School. You two can look after our Aurora."
Jean Quincy rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, "Who wants to look after a country bumpkin?"
Just then, Stella Sinclair said with a smile, "I didn't realize Kingsford No. 1 High School even recruited student-athletes!"
As soon as she said this, the entire private room fell silent. Jean Quincy blurted out, "Our school doesn't recruit student-athletes!"
Then, as if she had realized something, she shot a contemptuous glance at Aurora Sinclair. The implication was obvious.
Seeing that Master Sinclair's face had turned completely black, Tanner Sinclair raised his glass and said nonchalantly, "Doesn't matter how she got in, getting in is a good thing! Let's all raise our glasses for a drink!"
Given a way to de-escalate, the celebration banquet quickly turned to eating and drinking, and no one paid any more mind to the small matter.
***
「Celestial Vista Manor – Women's Restroom.」
Jean Quincy complained to Stella Sinclair, her face full of anger, "I get so frustrated just thinking about that country bumpkin coming to our school next week! You have no idea what she looked like when she showed up yesterday. She was like a total hick coming to the city for the first time, dressed in rags like a beggar…"
A small smile played on Stella Sinclair's lips as she lowered her head to wash her hands carefully. "She grew up on a mountain, so of course she's different from us."
"With grades like hers, even the person ranked last in my class has a higher score. I really don't know what Grandpa is thinking! How could he pull strings for her? Isn't he afraid she'll bring shame to the Sinclair Family?"
"Grandpa has his own considerations."
"Considerations? I think Grandpa is just playing favorites! A country bumpkin, a jinx… is she really worth all this trouble? You're the one who's the face of the Sinclair Family, Big Sis! Today was supposed to be your celebration banquet, and now she's stolen all the thunder!"
Outside the restroom, Beta Morgan happened to be passing by. He clearly overheard the two girls' conversation, and his brow furrowed as he quickened his pace.
「In a VIP private room on the fifth floor of Celestial Vista Manor.」
Arthur Lockwood was fiddling with a new string of beads in his hand. He said with a chuckle, "When I went home yesterday, my old man took one look at this string and fell in love with it. He kept asking me where I bought it, saying it was definitely made by a Master-level craftsman. Morgan, where do you think Aurora Sinclair gets so many of these wooden crafts?"
Alvin Morgan shot him a glance.
Arthur Lockwood gave a sheepish laugh. "Not asking… I'm not asking…"
Just then, the door to the private room was pushed open from the outside.
Beta Morgan said respectfully to Alvin Morgan, "Sir, I saw the Sinclairs downstairs. It seems Miss Sinclair isn't having a very good time."