Chapter 23.1 - (Part 1) (2/2)

“Besides, our school’s annual celebration will be broadcasted on TV! Aside from looks, should we not get someone who has good results too? The results of a simpleton from the Normal Class surely can’t compete with our previous School Beauty’s, right?”

But it wasn’t long before someone from the Normal Class rebutted: “The exams for the Normal Classes and those three classes were never the same, so that means that these two School Beauties have never competed on an equal platform. Who gave you the courage to claim that Zhao Mingxi’s results are not as good as Zhao Yuan’s? At least she had gotten into the Top 3 among the Normal Classes.”

The students from those three classes always felt like they were above the rest. So immediately someone commented: “With your Normal Class exams that are so easy that I can use my toes to score full marks? What is so hard about getting in Top 3? I can do it even with my eyes closed.”

Then an argument broke out.

Finally, someone made a firm note: “What’s the point in arguing? Isn’t the October monthly exam coming up? We’ll just wait and see their results.”

Mingxi was shocked. What the heck is going on?

Whoever wants to be the host, go ahead and do it! She never said that she wanted to steal that spot from Zhao Yuan!

But she had no choice but to participate in the October monthly exam.

Someone even called her a simpleton. She wanted to see who was the true simpleton.

Mingxi pulled up her sleeves and returned to class to continue doing the test papers.

*

While Zhao Mingxi had no intention whatsoever to become the host, the people from the Evergreen Class were becoming unsettled.

Previously it was always someone who was from their class who became the host. So why was it that this year a lot of people in the forum were leaning towards the International Class’ Zhao Mingxi?

“Is Zhao Mingxi even qualified for the job? Can you all not just look at her visuals?” When Pu Shuang saw Zhao Yuan resting her head on the table, she could not help but to stand up for her. In just a few days’ time, Zhao Mingxi had taken everything away from her. She was about to lose her title as host that she had for the past two years as well.

A guy said, “She is really beautiful.”

Pu Shuang spoke in disdain, “You boys only know how to look at someone’s face. What else does she have aside from her appearance?! Those who came from the Normal Class will only be ranked last in our class! Moreover, Zhao Mingxi had only obtained good results once. Other than that, her results were always below average! As for Yuanyuan, she has constantly been representing us in the Top 20 among the three classes. Wouldn’t these glorious results be more of a positive impact on society if she is the host?”

As the guys could not think of a better argument, they all agreed. “It is true that mere beauty without wits is a little lacking.”

Zhao Yuan lost to Zhao Mingxi in the School Beauty Contest.

Zhao Yuan initially thought that she could ignore it. After all, she had the love of her family, good results, intelligence, and she knew how to play piano and dance ballet.

But this was a really odd feeling— When she saw those IDs who used to talk about her frequently now change to talk about the International Class’ Zhao Mingxi, she felt a slight sense of envy.

On the one hand, she told herself that this was just temporary. These people wanted something fresh. They will surely re-focus their attention on her later.

On the other hand, she could not help but to open up the posts about Zhao Mingxi. She searched for the keywords ‘Zhao Mingxi’ and ‘zmx’, and like an addict, she tried to focus on the flaws in her photos. Then she would tell herself that she had nothing to worry about.

Zhao Yun also felt that she could not maintain such a mindset. Just because she lost once doesn’t mean that she will continue losing.

It won’t be long before she will be able to win over her in other areas.

She regained her composure and began to prepare for the October monthly exam.

Just like what those people said, this was the first time that she and Zhao Mingxi were taking the same exam.

…

*

The exam days were here.

On the day of the exam, during their morning self-study period, their homeroom teacher Mr. Lu was observing them from outside the class. He noticed that although Zhao Mingxi was from the Normal Class, she was focused and hard-working. With just these qualities, it was enough to leave a good impression on Mr. Lu. He even felt bad about how he persuaded her not to take the exams yesterday afternoon.

But a good impression was one thing. When Mr. Lu thought about how the average results were going to drop, he felt an itch on his scalp and a pain in his chest.

Mingxi’s ultimate goal was to escape her fate as the unlucky side character and get into the best university she could possibly get into. Without the Zhao family, she was still the Zhao Mingxi who came out of a small Northern town, so she could only rely on a good university to change her fate.

Although an ordinary October monthly exam was a small thing, she still had to try her best.

She kept on doing test papers, and by the time she noticed her surroundings, it was already the moment before the exam papers were to be distributed. The invigilators were asking the students to shift the position of the tables.

This was Mingxi’s first exam after being reborn.

She would be lying if she said she wasn’t nervous.

She looked at the 66 frail buds in her flower pot and turned to Fu Yangxi who had his head full of red hair leaned against his hand as he flipped carelessly through a book, his eyes unfocused as he looked at her. She said, “I’m a little nervous.”

When she looked over, Fu Yangxi immediately retracted his gaze.

Only after he heard her speak did he pretend to have just seen her.

“So?” Fu Yangxi’s heart was beating faster because of her. He took off his noise-cancelling headphones. “Isn’t this just an October monthly exam? Since you’re my follower, no one will say anything if you don’t do well.”

Mingxi put out her hand with her palms up and looked at him.

Fu Yangxi: ?

Mingxi said, “Then I’ll be frank. Can you let me hold your hand for a couple of minutes?”

F*ck.

Fu Yangxi almost fell out of his chair.

Mingxi immediately placed her hands in front of him. Her hands were thin and as pale as jade.

Fu Yangxi looked at her hand, then raised his gaze to look at her before his face flushed red.

If she wanted to hold hands she could have just said so. Why pull the whole ‘I’m nervous’ or ‘I need you to give me courage’ as an excuse?

He wondered if Zhao Mingxi had read one too many romance novels.

“Right here?” Fu Yangxi pulled a long face as he slowly sat straight, acting as if he didn’t want to hold hands at all.

There are so many people in class. There is no snow, nor is there any rain.

What an unromantic setting for their first time holding hands.

“Quick.” Mingxi was getting impatient. There was only around 15 minutes before the exam was about to start.

“What are you in a rush for?” Her anxiousness made Fu Yangxi’s heart skip a beat. He offered her his hand with an unwilling façade. Fu Yangxi turned his head to face Ke Chengwen, and pulled on an expression that said ‘what the f*ck am I supposed to do when she’s so clingy?’.

Ke Chengwen: …

To his surprise, the moment he reached one hand out, both his hands were held tightly in Zhao Mingxi’s haste.

Fu Yangxi: …!

“…”

Fu Yangxi spent the whole 15 minutes in a daze. Aside from that one time when Zhao Mingxi was applying medicine on him, this was the first time he ever held hands with a girl.

And it was the kind where their hands were tightly held together.

His thoughts were everywhere, yet he refused to think about his hands.

Although he felt like his relationship with Zhao Mingxi ought to have progressed to this stage, isn’t she a little too thoughtless about this?!

Suddenly they were holding hands before the exam!

At that moment, a familiar figure appeared outside their class. Fu Yangxi instinctively took a glance. He recognized him. He had seen him before at the library, someone called Shen something Yao.

Just as he noticed this guy, the bell signaling the start of the exams rang. That guy rushed to the Gold Medal Class while Zhao Mingxi pulled her hand away and said, “The exams are starting. Good luck.”

The product of holding hands for 15 minutes was the instant growth of 10 tiny buds! Mingxi felt slightly more confident in her exams!

—That’s it?

Fu Yangxi looked at Zhao Mingxi in shock. Shouldn’t she be writing about their first time holding hands in her diary? Why is she so nonchalant about this? She was as casual as how she confessed that day at the library. She couldn’t even confess with proper words! How was he to accept her confession then?

Fu Yangxi stared at Zhao Mingxi. He kept on staring until the invigilator at the podium had no choice but to cough and walk over to him in order to block his line of sight. “Focus on your exams.”

Only then did Fu Yangxi retract his gaze.

After a while, when the invigilator left, Fu Yangxi couldn’t help but to look at her again.

But this time, he was focused on the speed at which Zhao Mingxi was answering the exam paper.

What the hell? Is she writing blindly? Why is she writing so fast? Didn’t she transfer here from the Normal Class?