Chapter 10

The next day at school, the classmates who got scolded last night avoided her like the plague. Jiang Zhiyu could only sigh quietly — typical bullies who cower when faced with the strong.

Frankly, Jiang Zhiyu couldn’t be happier that they kept their distance. Attending class attentively and focusing on studies — that’s what being a senior in high school should be about.

The entire morning was filled with math classes, and everyone was overwhelmed — but the math teacher was even less enthusiastic than they were.

So, the math teacher decided to stretch out time by giving a quiz.

There were ten questions on the quiz paper, and for Jiang Zhiyu, it was a walk in the park. She finished it in under five minutes.

As her classmates were furiously scribbling, Jiang Zhiyu sighed again. The teacher had given them 30 minutes, and with 25 minutes left, all she could do was space out.

Resting her chin on her hands, she pouted and tapped her pen against her lips.

The math teacher noticed something odd, walked over, and smacked her lightly on the head.

“Jiang Zhiyu, you scored the lowest in the last math test — eight points! Do you even understand what that means? That’s the result of guessing four multiple-choice questions right! I know you don’t get it, but you’ll never improve if you don’t even try!”

In the teacher’s eyes, Jiang Zhiyu had always been a good student — being reprimanded like this was unheard of. But knowing the teacher probably meant well, she didn’t feel too wronged.

“Teacher, Jiang must have finished already and probably got everything right,” said a sarcastic voice from behind — short-haired and mocking.

Although He Shiduo was a bit charmed by Jiang Zhiyu’s personality, it didn’t stop her from continuing to dislike her.

Also, last night had been way too embarrassing.

She chimed in with the short-haired girl, “Don’t flatter her. Full marks? Jiang should consider herself lucky to get even one question right. Finished that fast? She’s probably sleepwalking, hahaha.”

“Quiet!” the math teacher, sensing things were escalating, knocked on the desk to restore order.

Meanwhile, Jiang Zhiyu glanced calmly at He Shiduo — with a smile. That seemed to spook He Shiduo, who flinched and backed off immediately.

The math teacher picked up Jiang Zhiyu’s quiz. “If you don’t know how to solve it, just don’t do it! If you can’t get into college, go dig through trash for a living!”

Returning to the desk angrily, the math teacher sat down — only to realize that Jiang Zhiyu had already completed all ten questions.

Taking out a red pen and answer sheet, she began grading — only to blow up even more.

Not only were the answers not wrong — they were exactly right. Every single one.

The teacher’s face twitched. “Jiang Zhiyu… got full marks.” Then slammed the metal desk.

BANG!!

“Did you cheat?! Did you steal the answer sheet? Just the other day we had to call your parents — and now this? Outright cheating?”

Ridiculous. Absurd.

Jiang Zhiyu gave a bitter smile. The teacher’s accusations were over the top — if it were the original Jiang, she’d probably be crying buckets by now.

“I solved it myself,” Jiang Zhiyu defended. “I didn’t cheat.”

The math teacher suppressed her fury. “Come on, everyone knows your level. What about next time? And the college entrance exam? Keep this up, and I’ll be having a serious chat with your homeroom teacher.”

—-

Jiang Zhiyu had no response. Maybe this was the suffering that comes with being labeled the class dunce…

Just when she thought it was over, the math teacher exploded again. “And I heard you insulted Ye Muwan, and are involved in some messy stuff with Lin Yeci. If you keep this up, you’ll end up working as a hostess in a karaoke bar!”

???

A teacher actually said that? Is this moral decay or human depravity?

Now she couldn’t hold back anymore. “Takes one to know one, old hag.”

The practice book was thrown from the podium. “Never seen a student like you! Get to the office now! If I don’t call your homeroom teacher to skin you alive, my name isn’t Chen!”

As she was kicked out and sent to the office, classmates started whispering and gossiping, mocking her.

Standing by the window, she couldn’t see Lin Yeci’s face clearly. It felt like they were a tight-knit group — and she didn’t belong.

Upon arriving at the office, the homeroom teacher, physics teacher, and math teacher surrounded her, all speaking harshly.

The physics teacher was Ye Muwan’s homeroom teacher, and she was close with the math teacher. They both really favored Ye Muwan, and since Jiang Zhiyu had crossed her, this wasn’t going to be easy.

Math teacher: “I can’t handle this kid anymore. Cheats on a quiz and insults the teacher.”

Homeroom teacher: “Mr. Chen, calm down. Kids these days are rebellious.”

Physics teacher (stirring the pot): “Linlin, she cursed a teacher. Don’t cover for her. I think this needs to be handled by the Moral Education Office.”

The homeroom teacher still felt a little protective. “I know Jiang Zhiyu. She’s timid — how could she curse a teacher? Isn’t referring her to the Moral Ed Office a bit too much?”

Math teacher: “I’ve already called Teacher Zhang Keliang over.” Then turned smugly toward Jiang Zhiyu.

What could she do? In school, students are like pigs on a butcher’s block — no real power to resist.

Jiang Zhiyu knew the Moral Education Office well. She used to be its student representative. Her picture even used to hang in the commendation board.

Inside, the office was full of fierce-looking male teachers.

One bald teacher glared at her. “Insulting a teacher? That’s serious. Aren’t you afraid of getting expelled?”

Back when she worked in this office, she’d often hear how they liked to intimidate “problem students.”

Jiang Zhiyu pretended to look pitiful. “I didn’t… I just talked back a little.”

She knew well — these teachers only responded to soft behavior, not defiance.

Then in the corner of the office, she saw a familiar figure.

Wait — wasn’t that Xu Leyun, the one she “recruited” back in the escape room?

He was standing there holding sandbags with a bottle of water balanced on his head, muttering curses under his breath.

Him? He’s from this school?

But with such a face, if he were a student here, he’d be famous in their grade. Yet no one seemed to know him…

One of the Moral Ed teachers laughed sarcastically, “You two really are a perfect match. One fights, the other curses teachers. Don’t go telling anyone you came from our school later.”

Then he pointed to the sandbags and water, signaling Jiang Zhiyu to follow Xu Leyun’s example.

Xu Leyun noticed and almost called her “sister Yu” on reflex.