Although she had become a fat girl, losing all her previous glory and wealth, she still had some luck.
For example, right now.
The ancient essay "Reflections on the Lotus" was something she knew by heart. Not only because she had a photographic memory, but also because the movie she had just won an award for used this essay as its narrator.
She was the female lead and also recited the narration.
The ideas of this essay ran throughout the entire movie, and Sheng Tang, thinking that journalists might ask about it after the award, had taken it out for another look.
Her memory was astonishing, and it was an essay she had reviewed multiple times, allowing her to recite it fluently.
"Right," the homeroom teacher said.
"The flowers of water and land plants are numerous and lovely. Tao Yuanming of the Jin dynasty uniquely cherished chrysanthemums. From the Tang dynasty onwards..." Sheng Tang stood straight and began to recite slowly, word by word.
The classroom suddenly fell silent, all the students raised their heads again, watching Sheng Tang.
In their eyes, there was complete shock.
"...Who else shares my love for the lotus? The love for peonies is surely widespread!" Sheng Tang's voice was bright and elegant, as if she were reciting poetry.
The classroom was silent enough to hear a pin drop.
Everyone looked at Sheng Tang with disbelief, like they had seen a ghost.
Sheng Tang had always been a lower-middle-grade student, overweight, usually keeping to herself and not interacting much with classmates.
Everyone instinctively ignored her.
At this moment, regardless of how long she had prepared, at least in this instant, she was quite the standout.
The homeroom teacher's face also showed undisguised shock.
Her expression changed several times, and she could no longer embarrass Sheng Tang.
Feng Yijin stood up again: "You're reciting it wrong! You can't do it at all!"
The classmates started to murmur.
"Really? She just recited it pretty well."
"Seemed to make a few mistakes."
"Even if it's not perfect, she seems to have anticipated it, right?"
Everyone talked at once.
The homeroom teacher knocked on the podium to quiet the classroom again.
She looked at Sheng Tang.
Sheng Tang didn't wait for her to challenge, smiling as she said to Feng Yijin: "Then, I'll recite it again, you look at the textbook, word by word, and see where I went wrong, okay?"
Her tone was as if coaxing a child.
The leader Feng Yijin's eyes almost spouted fire.
Sheng Tang cleared her throat and continued to recite.
She recited slowly and clearly.
Students all opened their textbooks and checked word for word as she recited.
No mistakes, not a single mistake.
She indeed had memorized it!
Feng Yijin was both shocked and angry, her fingers almost tearing the textbook apart.
Students again caused an uproar, discussing wildly.
"Pretty amazing, she actually anticipated it and memorized it!"
"She might not know the teacher would pick this essay today, probably memorized them all."
"Why put so much effort in?"
"She's really impressive!"
From then on, when they talked about Sheng Tang, she was no longer just the fattest girl, but the girl who was great at reciting ancient texts.
Feng Yijin's face turned pale.
The homeroom teacher was also annoyed but nonetheless pinched her nose and praised Sheng Tang a few times, and then said, "Don't be arrogant, keep it up, you can go back now."
Sheng Tang replied affirmatively.
The teacher then returned her phone: "Turn off your phone during class, don't use it."
Sheng Tang replied affirmatively again.
She went back to her seat.
Her deskmate nudged her lightly: "You're finished."
Sheng Tang: "..."
The homeroom teacher continued teaching, the classroom quieted down, and the deskmate stopped whispering but passed a note to Sheng Tang: "You've offended Feng Yijin, they will target you."
Sheng Tang smiled a little, not taking it to heart.
Later, Sheng Tang was somewhat distracted in class because she suddenly remembered that in high school, phones weren't allowed in school. If discovered, it would be confiscated, and parents needed to retrieve it.
However, she was using her phone in class and the teacher just returned it to her on the spot, what was going on?
As soon as class ended, Sheng Tang immediately went to the bathroom.