Chapter 18: Confronted by Shi Jing

Chapter 18: Confronted by Shi Jing

The classroom fell silent instantly, everyone stunned into speechlessness by An Wen's analysis.

Tang Rui curled the corner of his lips into a faint smile.

"An Wen, so you didn’t cheat, right?" Zeng Xiuman asked.

"Why would I need to cheat on questions of this level? The Teaching Director said someone reported me for cheating. They checked the surveillance and thought I answered too quickly, suspecting I knew the questions in advance. The teachers will have me retake a more difficult exam tomorrow."

An Wen thought: A more difficult exam means the senior-year science test papers.

"Of course you’d say you didn’t cheat. Whether you cheated or not, only you know. Taking half a month off and then coming back to top the exam—what, you think you’re some kind of genius girl?" Zou Yingying sneered.

An Wen thought: You might not believe it, but I actually am!

"Believe what you want. An Wen didn’t cheat, and I think you’re just jealous!" Zeng Xiuman retorted loudly.

"I do my own work and earn my grades fairly. Why would I be jealous of a cheater?"

Their argument set off murmurs among the classmates. The usually quiet Rocket Class was now buzzing with noise.

"What’s all this racket?" The homeroom teacher, dressed in a black suit, rapped her knuckles against the door. Her expression was calm, yet her presence alone exuded authority, her sharp eyes silencing the room instantly. The students shrank like mice spotting a cat, lowering their heads and pretending to read.

She strode into the classroom, slamming a stack of test papers onto the lectern. "Did you all do so well that you’re guaranteed Tsinghua now? Think you’re all top scorers, huh?"

The students kept their heads down, staring at their papers or books, not daring to speak.

"Take out your test papers. We’re going over the essay first!" the homeroom teacher ordered.

The rustling of papers filled the room.

Two consecutive Chinese classes were spent reviewing the exam, and the session even ran overtime, delaying the Rocket Class’s lunch break.

After class, the homeroom teacher called An Wen to the office for a discussion. By the time An Wen returned, the classroom was empty, so she headed to the cafeteria alone.

Just as she descended one flight of stairs, she ran into Shi Jing and several other girls at the corner. Further down the stairs, a group of boys lounged against the wall, chatting. Shi Jing was applying nail polish when one of the girls nudged her with an elbow.

Only then did Shi Jing look up at An Wen, offering a shallow smile. "Finally. I’ve been waiting forever."

"How kind of you, Shi Jing, to wait for me just because I was running late. Shall we go to the cafeteria together?" An Wen replied, her voice soft and sweet.

One of the boys leaning against the wall snorted with laughter. Tall and lean, he lifted his head, revealing a strikingly handsome face.

Jiang Yiwen—the so-called "boss" of the edgy kids at Di Cheng No. 1 High School.

In An Wen’s eyes, he was just an immature brat who hadn’t even grown all his feathers yet.

"I was waiting for you. You really kept me waiting. I know a place with great food—why don’t you come with us?" Shi Jing said with a smile.

"Sure." An Wen nodded, following Shi Jing downstairs.

Brat. This is a closed-campus school—where else would there be good food besides the cafeteria? Can’t even lie properly.

"Boss, should we follow them?" Zhou Zhiyuan asked. They had come after hearing that Shi Jing was planning to teach the new school belle a lesson. The boss had once pursued the school belle, so when he saw An Wen being deceived, he thought the boss would step in to save her. To his surprise, the boss just stood by and watched as An Wen left with Shi Jing.

Jiang Yiwen stood up with a mischievous grin and said, "Let's go. Time for me to play the hero and save the beauty!"