NOVEL NEXT Chapter 27: Monthly Exam and Invitation
At long last, the much-anticipated October holiday arrived, albeit a bit late for many students.
However, after a series of bewildering and flashy adjustments to the schedule, students miraculously discovered that the length of the combined holiday was no different from previous October holidays!
In other words, the Autumn Festival holiday mysteriously vanished...
This was just business as usual at Thessaloniki First High School, a school known for starting vacations later and resuming classes earlier than other schools, often under the guise of "summer camps" or "winter camps."
As Einstein quote, time is like a girl in streets, you can always squeeze some out if you try.
The ones who suffered the most were still the "competition champions," whose summer breaks were further shortened for final sprints in preparation for the national competitions held in early September.
Typically, freshmen who had just entered high school rarely participated in competitions. Most students started in their second year, and it was rare for them to achieve top provincial results until they reached their third year, by which time the competition champions had fully matured.
During the summer, Thessaloniki First High School offered competition training classes, officially on a "voluntary" basis. However, for students eager to win awards for college admission bonus points or direct recommendations to prestigious universities, this "voluntary" option felt mandatory.
Just because they were from the same school didn't mean they weren't competitors. Truly dedicated students wouldn't slack off; seeing others attending the cram sessions, they wouldn't want to fall behind.
Before the holiday, homeroom teacher Emmanuel spent a long class meeting discussing safety issues during the break, with a particular focus on the upcoming monthly exam.
"The monthly exam after the holiday is the first significant exam since you started high school. Its results will be considered when reassigning classes in the second year. I know many students in our class are eager to enter the experimental class, so you must take every major school exam seriously."
Emmanuel's words were mainly aimed at the top-ranking, ambitious students in the class.
Upon hearing that the class reassignments in the second year would consider each major exam's results, these students became alert, realizing they couldn't afford to slack off on this monthly exam just because it wasn't as significant as the mid-term or final exams.
Then, Emmanuel's tone turned somber as he continued, "As for those who perform poorly in the monthly exam, they will certainly be kicked out of Class Three! Although our class isn't an experimental class, it's equivalent to a provincial recruitment class and definitely a strengthened class. The teachers assigned to you are the same as those in the top two experimental classes. You wouldn't want to be disgracefully kicked out of Class Three, would you?"
These words weighed heavily on the minds of the mid and lower-ranking students. Their initial plans to have a carefree holiday suddenly seemed irresponsible.
What? You're asking about those low-ranking students with connections? Who cares about them!
They would obviously do whatever they wanted; even the college entrance exam didn't matter much to them, let alone a regular monthly exam.
Getting kicked out of Class Three wouldn't bother them either. If they had the inclination to study, they could easily hire the best tutors outside of school with their money and connections...
On the last evening before the holiday, Xanthia was alone in her apartment, engrossed in a single-player game on her computer when she received a message from Dionysios.
"Xanthia, the Autumn Festival is approaching. As usual, Grandpa will host a grand familia banquet. Since we are familia, let's attend it together. Why don't we take the car home together tomorrow? I'll wait for you."
Dionysios's message was cautiously worded, showing his genuine hope to accompany Xanthia.
Upon seeing this message, Xanthia searched her memories and recalled the tradition of the familia banquet. The Papadopoulos familia's banquet was indeed grand, a significant social event for the local elite, featuring top celebrities and stars.
However, over the years, the original host had never attended these events. She would use the excuse of being ill to skip them, even if she wasn't actually sick at the time.
It was evident that the original host detested these so-called familia banquets, a sentiment that had existed even when her mother, Ella La Fielsola, was alive.
The fundamental reason was her useless father, Papadopoulos Demetrios. His low status in the Papadopoulos familia meant that Ella La Fielsola would face all sorts of overt and covert mistreatment whenever they attended such gatherings.
One incident stuck in her memory: despite her mother being a daughter-in-law of the Papadopoulos familia, she was once coerced by the wives of other wealthy families to perform on stage due to her past as a singer. It was a blatant humiliation, and her father remained silent, displaying his cowardice.
Moreover, Ella already had a "weak and sickly" body and had long been in a state of emotional distress in the Papadopoulos familia, which further deteriorated her health.
In any case, the original host had grown to hate the entire Papadopoulos familia. She deeply believed that her mother suffered so much and died prematurely because she married into such toxic environment.
Such a familia, even if they were wealthy, she would cut ties with them without hesitation.
Xanthia, however, was somewhat interested in these so-called grand familia banquets, not because she wanted to integrate through them, but rather to stir up trouble, cause a scene, and vent her frustration on behalf of the original host.
But considering her current insufficient strength and lack of confidence in her physical condition, she decided to lay low for now. She never liked taking on challenges above her level; being invincible and easily defeating opponents was what she found satisfying.
"Sorry, I'm not feeling well, so I won't be attending the familia banquet. Please give my regards to Grandpa," Xanthia replied.
Seeing this familiar response, Dionysios couldn't help but smile bitterly. However, he didn't insist. He simply replied, "Take care of yourself and go out to relax. If you need pocket money, just let me know."
After sending this message, Dionysios transferred ten thousands of romani to her account, hoping she would accept it. Unfortunately, as always, it would automatically be returned.
Of course, Xanthia wouldn't accept the money. But she noticed Dionysios's attitude towards her throughout, and she appreciated it. In the vast Papadopoulos familia, there was only one Dionysios who seemed like a decent person.
As for that useless father, Demetrios, who had effectively disowned her, if she didn't attend the familia banquet, he wouldn't even bother informing her in the future. Who would indulge you anyway?!
