NOVEL NEXT Chapter 51: The True Face Revealed
Xanthia never anticipated that completing the "Top of the Class" challenge would bring such unexpected joy.
Though she didn’t gain much personal happiness from it, given her past life as a diligent student beaten down by society's expectations, she had long become indifferent to academic achievements. However, good grades were undeniably beneficial, especially during one's student years.
The real surprise was the unintended consequence of her so-called "studious" behavior, which garnered a significant amount of "pain points" from her classmates.
For instance, not only did the normally composed Dematero break down and release a large number of "pain points," but even his seatmate, Jimmy, was deeply affected by Xanthia's outstanding exam performance.
Jimmy, who inherently looked down on "poor students," was particularly devastated. To see a student he had underestimated achieve such a high score in a school-wide exam was a blow to his pride.
This underdog was unexpectedly formidable!
He vividly remembered lecturing Xanthia with a patronizing tone, convinced that she had nothing to offer beyond her looks. Now, with the exam results in, his face was metaphorically slapped swollen with embarrassment.
He couldn't even muster the courage to speak to Xanthia now, fervently wishing for the teacher to change his seat and place him far away from this girl who had shattered his confidence.
Additionally, he had grown quite resentful of his seat, living in constant fear of losing control of his bladder out of sheer anxiety...
Nevertheless, the "pain points" Jimmy generated were undoubtedly fewer than Dematero's. Jimmy had actually improved his class rank from 19th to 17th this time, although his overall grade rank had slightly declined due to the overall decline of Class 1-3. Perhaps having Dematero as a scapegoat for everyone's frustration helped mitigate his own breakdown.
In contrast, Xanthia's backseat classmate, Crissante, maintained a positive attitude. Having become friends with Xanthia, the two often shared snacks and good times.
Crissante knew Xanthia was a very approachable girl, always cheerful and fun, spreading joy to those around her. Therefore, even though Xanthia topped the class, she never looked down on those who scored lower.
Whenever Crissante struggled with difficult questions on her test, she would ask Xanthia for help and always received satisfactory explanations, sometimes finding Xanthia's explanations clearer than the teacher's.
After unlocking the "Study Expert" trait, Xanthia activated it and quickly discovered its incredible utility for her student identity. It was like a divine skill, significantly enhancing her approach to studying, memory techniques, problem-solving strategies, and test-taking skills.
Unlike the "Wisdom Root" trait, which increased overall comprehension and could be applied to various areas, the "Study Expert" trait focused on detailed, specialized academic skills. It made studying feel effortless and intuitive, improving her performance across the board.
While the "Wisdom Root" trait was broader, enhancing various skill levels beyond academics, including her rapid progression in singing skills to Level 2, Xanthia greatly valued this trait and was determined to maintain a state of "the wise stay away from stupidity called love."
Now, Xanthia's new status as the "Top Student" was recognized by her classmates. Her natural talent and hard-earned skills were undeniable. No one could claim she achieved her exam scores through cheating or luck.
Yet, among those classmates who didn't know her well and had a narrow perspective, skepticism remained. They believed her "top of the class" status was too good to be true and that her true nature would eventually be exposed.
One evening after self-study, in the girls' dormitory of Class 1-3 ---
"Hey, do you think Xanthia's exam scores are really her own doing?"
"I find it hard to believe. Don’t forget how she dressed that day when we returned to school. She didn't look like someone who studies seriously in private!"
"Truth can't be faked, and falsehoods can't last. I bet she won't score this well next time!"
"The proctors were pretty lax during this exam, and there were no signal jammers. A skilled cheater could sneak a phone in, look up answers online, and score big."
"I can accept Luciel's second place because we all know how hard she works. But why Xanthia? That girl only reads comics... ah no... what it is again? oh yes, manga!"
"Elena, what do you think? You were the top girl among us last time, but now this poor girl beat you. It's so unfair!"
Elena wasn't participating in the gossip session; she was listening to music and taking selfies. Her hobby was creating various videos, meeting new friends, sharing her life, and enjoying the adoration and attention she received.
Regarding her performance in the recent monthly exams, Elena was quite satisfied. She wasn't the type of girl who always had to be first in everything. Ranking fifth in the class and maintaining a consistent grade rank were enough to put her at ease.
With these results, she could once again make her parents a little more satisfied, which brought her some small happiness.
Elena’s family had been well-off during her childhood, but their current situation was far from ideal. The family was heavily in debt, and she had a younger brother three years her junior. Both her parents were considered defaulters.
When she attended university, she would definitely have to apply for a student loan. Unlike the student loans in her previous world, these were akin to those in Uncle Sam or Republic Of Korea, where repayment could stretch over decades, a testament to the "superiority" of capitalist systems.
Since her family’s financial downfall, Elena had matured quickly and learned to package and utilize herself effectively. Without taking a single penny from her family, she thrived in school, maintaining a polished appearance. Everyone assumed she came from a scholarly family, a testament to her skills.
When Elena overheard her gossiping roommates dragging Xanthia into their conversation and then turning their focus on her, she felt irritated. She detested how people talked about who was rich and who was poor, as if being poor meant everything you did was wrong, even breathing.
What had Xanthia done wrong? Just because she was poor? What kind of nonsense was that?
Why did society insist on dividing people into classes based on wealth?
Having experienced both wealth and poverty, Elena felt increasingly disillusioned with the world.
"Heh, I don't need you guys to fight my battles," Elena said with a cold smile. "If you have any skills, why not learn from Xanthia? Regardless of how she got her grades, why can't you admit that she's strong?"
"Elena, you sound a bit skewed. How can cheating make someone strong in academics?"
"Exactly! Our goddess Elena is the real deal—good grades, wealthy family, branded clothes, luxury skincare products, and all the boys see you as their ideal."
Elena continued to smile, but it was devoid of warmth.
It was clear that her dormitory lacked a strong leader like Luciel, making it a typical dysfunctional environment filled with backstabbing and petty jealousy.
Such a peaceful world of women.
In their dorm of eight girls, who knew how many secret groups they had formed to talk behind each other's backs?
