The students in the Rocket Class hurried to check their answers, but before long, groans of frustration echoed across the room. It was obvious—most of them hadn't done well.
"Coach Peng, I heard Director Zhu is a huge fan of that genius girl," one of the students muttered in disbelief. "She's unbelievable! We can't even understand the questions she doesn't write herself."
Peng Li also admired that legendary girl. He sighed and said, "Think about it. In the century-long history of Tsinghua University, only two true prodigies have ever appeared—Professor Fu, who is renowned across the capital, and this girl, whose brilliance is unmatched. If she isn't a genius, then who is?"
The mention of her sparked curiosity across the classroom. "She hasn't shown up yet, but we're dying to see her for ourselves," someone whispered.
Peng Li walked over to Yara Lu and Ning Xiner. "Yara, Xiner, how did your answers look?"
Ning Xiner's eyes welled up with tears. "Coach, I checked mine... I don't think I even passed this time."
Yara Lu's expression stiffened, her pride wounded. For the first time, she truly felt the gap between herself and that mysterious prodigy. "Coach Peng, I think I scored about 110."
Peng Li quickly reassured her. "Yara, 110 is already excellent. You've done really well this time. I'd say you're probably the top scorer in our class."
Hearing that, Yara's lips curved into a small, confident smile. A moment later, her eyes glimmered with smugness. "Our class might not have done great overall, but Class 28? They probably bombed the exam. Just wait—we'll get to see Celia make a fool of herself!"
Laughter spread across the Rocket Class, their arrogance restored.
······
After the exam, Tsinghua University quickly organized the grading. Peng Li couldn't wait and hurried to find Director Zhu. "Director Zhu, are the results ready? Did Yara Lu from my class take first place this time?"
Director Zhu's eyes lit up. "Yara Lu? Did she get the perfect score of 150?"
Peng Li froze. "What?"
A perfect score of 150? On this paper? That was nearly impossible!
And Yara had only estimated her score at 110…
Soon, the results were compiled, and all the teachers gathered in the office to review the rankings.
The announcement of a perfect score caused a ripple of excitement. All eyes turned toward Peng Li.
"Congratulations, Teacher Peng! The perfect score must have come from your Rocket Class!"
But Peng Li's expression darkened. She remained silent.
Standing nearby, Li Guoxiang immediately sensed something was off. "Teacher Peng… why do you look so grim? Don't tell me the perfect paper didn't come from your class?"
Peng Li shot him a sharp look. "If it didn't come from mine, it certainly wouldn't come from yours. Don't flatter yourself."
Li Guoxiang pressed his lips together, falling silent. He knew the level of Class 28 all too well. For years, they had been the lowest-ranked class. He had never even dared to dream of something like a perfect score.
Peng Li urged impatiently, "Director Zhu, open the results."
"Alright." Director Zhu carefully unsealed the envelope. Inside was the ranking list, and at the very top—one student with a flawless 150.
Everyone leaned in to see. Peng Li's breath caught as her eyes fell on the name.
The next second, she gasped.
"No way. Impossible!"
Her voice trembled as she repeated the name in disbelief—
Celia.
Celia from Class 28 had actually scored a perfect 150!
Peng Li's hands shook as she looked back at Li Guoxiang.
Li Guoxiang hadn't even moved forward yet; years of ridicule had taught him to keep to the background. But at this moment, as the teacher of Class 28—the "hopeless" class—he suddenly realized that everything had changed.
His student had just stunned the entire school.
······
When the news reached the Rocket Class, the atmosphere instantly froze.
"What? Celia got a perfect score?" someone blurted out in shock.
"That's impossible! She's from Class 28!" another protested, but their voice lacked conviction.
Ning Xiner's face turned pale, her lips trembling. She had barely passed, yet Celia had scored full marks.
As for Yara Lu, her smile shattered in an instant. Her hands clenched tightly around her pen, her nails digging into her palm until they left red marks. She had been certain that Celia would embarrass herself—yet now, it was her own pride that was crumbling.
Whispers spread through the classroom like wildfire. Some students gawked in disbelief, while others lowered their heads, unwilling to meet each other's eyes.
The girl they had mocked as nothing more than a joke had just risen higher than all of them.