Chu Qiuqiu squatted on the stage for what felt like an eternity, five full minutes dragging by before she finally finished reading the excerpt. Her face had turned a ghastly green, and sweat dotted her brow.
The English teacher, however, offered a kind smile. "Although the reading wasn't perfect, it's clear this activity is completely open and fair! Otherwise, how could the lottery result in this?"
Chu Qiuqiu forced herself to nod, enduring the embarrassment that seemed to spread through her whole body.
In the audience, Fu Mingxuan and her little sisters struggled to suppress their laughter. Usually so domineering, Chu Qiuqiu had never been embarrassed like this in front of the entire grade.
Even Chu Qiuqiu herself didn't fully understand why the small note she had prepared with Chu Yin's name ended up being her own. She could have adapted, pretending she drew a blank note, but no—this time she had been completely outmaneuvered.
After descending the stage, several sisters from the international class gathered around her to offer comfort.
"It's already very good, Qiuqiu! Your pronunciation was super authentic," one said.
"Don't worry, everyone knows your English is excellent," added another.
"I'll take the midterm exam immediately, and you can use your results to prove yourself~"
Their words brought Chu Qiuqiu a small measure of solace. Yes, the midterm exam was approaching, and she couldn't escape it—nor could her so-called sister, the hillbilly Chu Yin. Soon, the results would reveal the true superior daughter of the Chu family, and everyone, including her parents and even Gu Qiuze, would see the difference.
Chu Yin, meanwhile, had been studying harder than ever. She actually looked forward to the midterm exam because…
"Ding! First large-scale learning task released! Achieve first place in the midterm exam with a four-star difficulty coefficient. Completion grants permission to [change a single sentence]."
Her eyes lit up. This was different from her previous life. Previously, she had only been able to change words individually. The authority had always been too low, constraining her creativity. But now, she could change an entire sentence.
"Host, you are excited~" the system teased.
Can anyone not be excited at a moment like this? After living a life without autonomy, holding actual power felt indescribably sweet.
Over the following week, Chu Yin pushed herself nearly to exhaustion. She memorized three-subject notes repeatedly, corrected every paper she could find, reviewed CET-6 vocabulary, and accumulated over a dozen pages of composition practice. Sleep and food became secondary.
Class 5 was serious about the exam; every student knew that performance mattered. After every test, rankings were scrutinized. Top scores were announced, differences calculated, and the hierarchy reaffirmed.
Teasing Chu Yin had become a subtle pastime for her classmates, a way to lighten the pressure. Fu Mingxuan, the class beauty, and Bai Fumei led the small mockeries, forming a quiet culture of rivalry. Song Zhaolin, kind-hearted as ever, often chatted with Chu Yin, but most of the class ignored her.
Several boys who liked Fu Mingxuan laughed quietly, "Today, the genius hasn't even left her seat once. Not even to the restroom!"
Xing Lan smirked, "I guess rural girls get used to this, huh?"
"Puff! Ha ha! Could be!" another boy laughed, and the class erupted quietly.
Chu Yin remained unaffected, writing steadily and methodically, completely absorbed in her work.
Fu Mingxuan looked back and sneered. "No matter how hard she studies, it won't change her past results."
"Exactly. And yet she still tries to attract attention—remember how she made Lu Zhen and Gu Qiuze notice her?" another whispered.
The girls nodded knowingly, while the boys were startled by the implications.
"If I were Lu Zhen or Gu Qiuze, I'd be disgusted," one muttered.
"Honestly, I hope Chu Yin's scores are counted separately. Otherwise, the class average will drop. How can we compete with Class 1?"
Chu Yin ignored them. She exceeded her study plan each day, reviewing diligently. She stayed in the classroom from morning until the last bell, leaving immediately afterward, avoiding any unnecessary distractions—including Lu Zhen.
The day before the exam, the school posted the seating arrangements. Students were assigned rooms based on grades from the previous semester. Fu Mingxuan, Xing Lan, and Chu Qiuqiu were all placed in the first examination room. Chu Yin, having no prior grades, was in the last examination room.
Glancing at the seating chart, Chu Yin's eyes fell on Lu Zhen's name—he was in front of her.
"…Perfect," she muttered, expressionless.
Song Zhaolin whispered, "Sister Yin, your seat is ideal. Nothing can distract you here."
Chu Yin remembered her last life. Lu Zhen had never taken traditional grade exams, yet he had received elite private education. As long as he didn't interfere, she could handle the exam smoothly.
That evening, Lu Zhen and his companions came out for dinner. The young master hosted guests, while Song Zhaolin and Tan Ke ordered extravagantly without restraint.
Waiting for the food, Song Zhaolin asked, "By the way, Brother Zhen, are you taking the exam tomorrow?"
Tan Ke laughed, "When has Brother Zhen ever taken exams?"
Song Zhaolin nodded. "Exactly."
Lu Zhen toyed with his cup, fingers long and slender, turning it lazily. "Why does it matter?"
Once the dishes arrived, Song Zhaolin casually said, "I'll sit at the same table as her. You might be irritated if you go."
Lu Zhen's fingers froze mid-motion.
Tan Ke blinked, confused. "Who?"
"Chu Yin," Song Zhaolin replied. "The Chu family's daughter."
They were from wealthy circles, and Tan Ke had seen Chu Yin's recent transcript go viral online. But beyond that, she wasn't particularly impressive—neither in looks nor grades. A brief chat passed before Tan Ke moved on.
Lu Zhen lowered his gaze, eyes dark and unreadable. After a long pause, he muttered quietly, "I hate her?"
Song Zhaolin and Tan Ke exchanged confused glances.
Lu Zhen threw the cup aside, letting out a low, almost amused laugh. Perhaps the opposite was true.
The next morning, Chu Qiuqiu spent the car ride to school buried in books. Class 5 was quiet, even Song Zhaolin focused intently. Chu Yin, on the other hand, felt calm, confident in her preparation.
By eight o'clock, students filed into the examination room. Chu Yin entered the penultimate room. A few girls craned their necks, then slumped back in disappointment—Lu Zhen hadn't arrived.
Her desk had only two neighbors, one on each side. The school had installed signal-blocking devices and confiscated phones, even for a midterm. The girls beside her were bored, doodling to pass time, but Chu Yin remained entirely focused.
As the math exam began, the room quieted. Students who had been curious now slumped, awaiting the papers listlessly.
Suddenly, the back door opened, and a gentle breeze brought a pleasant scent.
Chu Yin's instincts flared—Lu Zhen had arrived.
The girls beside her straightened nervously. He was tall, barely fitting his long legs under the desk, and his gaze landed on her as she stiffened. He could see the porcelain-white nape of her neck, strands of hair escaping her ponytail.
"Pass the papers, classmate," he murmured.
Chu Yin cursed silently, but handed the papers over. When she turned, his gaze met hers. Her lashes drooped, soft lines visible beneath her eyes, and she quickly looked away.
…Dog man, look at it!
The exam officially began. Chu Yin threw herself into the math problems. Liberal arts math could create the biggest point gap, so she aimed for perfection. After finishing the first twelve questions, she paused thoughtfully.
"Load the current script," she whispered to the system.
…Lu Zhen, this dog!
The hero's power countered her golden finger, preventing her from gaining higher authority, and she could almost feel his presence as an irritant in her mind.
Chu Yin scanned the script:
"…Lu Zhen didn't make papers; he sat in the exam room for two hours, hand on cheek."
She muttered, "Can I make the male lead blind?"
The system questioned, "?"
She replaced the word "sit" with "sleep."
"Smile. Personal injury is not allowed, host," Xueji reminded her.
Seconds later, the sight behind her shifted—Lu Zhen, arms crossed, eyes closed, tears hidden beneath his lashes. Every girl in the classroom stared, captivated.
Chu Yin completed her paper smoothly, checking the clock with ten minutes remaining. Lu Zhen remained still, eyes shut.
Smiling to herself, she handed in the paper early, leaving the room with poise.
See you next time!