Chapter 19

It was suspiciously quiet in class. Wenya kept an eye on Xia Tian but pretended to look elsewhere.

“The results from the mock exam yesterday are out. I will be reading out your report.” The class teacher ran her eyes in the entire room before adding, “The exam questions are provided by Jing University and the result will determine your special enrolment, if any.

“The top 30 students in the exams will have a chance to become Jing University’s specially enrolled students.”

Jing University was one of the best universities in the country and was coveted by many students. Every year, the reputable high schools of the provinces would produce one or two star students, and Jianghai City’s Jianghai High School was no exception.

The special enrolment was not without strict requirements. It took into consideration many aspects, and one of them was a student’s grades. Schools would not inform students in advance on the mock exams having something to do with Jing University’s special enrolment to avoid any incidents of cheating.

This was the countermeasure thought up by Jing University’s professors.

Without introduction from the class teacher, Xia Tian knew the identity of the three teachers that entered with the principal. They had to be the professors of Jing University who were in charge of the special enrolment.

It was no surprise that Huo Lajiao placed last in class and her two subordinates were respectively second and third to last. The trio were the top three in class, counting from the back of course.

The results were read out in order of precedence. Wenya had always been great in her studies, scoring third place in class in this exam and tenth place in the entire school.

Xia Tian’s results placed him first in class. Although Xia Tian was a model student, he never got first place. Not only was he the top of his class now, he achieved perfect scores in most of his subject courses, on grounds of the meticulous answers he had written on his tests.

He was not just the top of his class but the entire grade. He, scoring the highest in the exam, was the reason behind the presence of these three professors.

Xia Tian smiled at the mention of his achievement. ‘My guess was right. My concentration did improve. There’s a limit of concentration to everyone, especially when it’s in high demand where it can only last for a few minutes. Despite that I managed to maintain focus the entire exam.’

Hence, he was able to answer all the questions on the paper swiftly.

“Xia Tian, you did great. You should be able to take a spot in special enrolment based on your results, they proved to be too good. If the NCEE was yesterday, you would have come out the top of the nation.” The class teacher pleasingly nodded. She was happy with Xia Tian’s achievement. She was the invigilator of this exam and kept her eyes on Xia Tian the whole time. With that and Xia Tian’s reputation as a model student, she would never believe that he cheated.

However, these two professors from Jing University were skeptical about the exceptional result so they came for an observation.

“Xia Tian, to be honest, I question the authenticity of your remarkable results.” A woman among the three professors sitting in the back row stood up. She was blunt with her words. This person was about forty. Her face was covered in thick foundation but she did not apply any on her neck, resulting in the stark color difference between the two skin tones.

Her make-up was quite thick. A professor normally would not have makeup this thick.

“I will never cheat, this is a teaching my father enforced in me.” The result of his examination was a reflection of his honest self. His father stopped him from any act of deceit.

“Xia Tian, she is a professor from Jing University and the person in charge of this year’s special enrolment.” The class teacher hastily reminded him. Her intention was for Xia Tian to provide full cooperation in answering or his chance for a spot in special enrolment might slip away.

“A teaching your father enforced in you? So you’re telling me if a parent were to tell a child not to cheat, the child won’t?” The women held Xia Tian in contempt. “Tell me, how did you cheat? Even a student of Jing University won’t be able to answer this perfectly.”

Hearing the person-in-charge’s words, Xia Tian’s class teacher butted in to explain, “Professor Pan, it’s impossible for Xia Tian to cheat. He’s always been good with his studies and I was by his side the entire exam.”

“Then you have failed in your duty. He must have cheated, but his acts were too brilliant for you.” Professor Pan glared at Xia Tian’s class teacher, motioning for her to watch her mouth.

Xia Tian finally came to grasp. These people were here to find fault in him. He did not intend to go to Jing University and had his mindset on Jianghai University instead, for his cousin sister was there. Yet out came these three professors out of the blue, accusing him of cheating.

“Can I ask, Professor Pan, on what grounds are you claiming my teacher failed in her duty to detect my cheating?” Xia Tian was neither supercilious nor obsequious when he turned to the female professor.

“On what grounds? Your results are solid proof. No one could possibly achieve such high marks.” Professor Pan slammed Xia Tian’s test papers on the desk.

“Hehe, Professor Pan, just because you are unable to nurture such a student, doesn’t mean my teacher can’t do so.” Xia Tian coldly smirked. He despised this sort of people, thinking they were all that being a professor of a named university. He did not believe in discounting others who were able.

“How-how dare you speak to me this way.” Professor Pan was boiling over.

“How? I maintained my composure when speaking to you but you, as a professor, are not watching your tone there.” Xia Tian was not afraid. The most she could do was revoke his right to special enrolment, but he could not care less for the spot. He could make it to any university by his own hands and he had no intention to enter Jing University anyway.

“Boy, that’s where you’re wrong. Hasn’t anyone taught you to respect your teachers?” An older male of the three professors stood up.

“Teachers? What have you taught me? Which one of you three is my teacher? My teacher is standing there on the platform. I’ve respected her, always, and yet I find no reason to respect any of you.” Xia Tian was aghast by these people. None of them spoke reason.

“You-you insolent boy!” The professor’s face went red.

“Hey hey hey! Don’t call my master a boy. Who are you anyway, making a fuss over here?” Huo Lajiao, who was napping over her neck, turned over listlessly.

“What rabbit-hole did you jump out of? Look at you, look at what you’re wearing. This isn’t what a student should be wearing.” The third professor could not hold his tongue back but opened fire at Huo Lajiao. He chose not to confront Xia Tian, seeing how articulate he was so he decided to put this little girl on the chopping board instead.

It was obvious he made the wrong call.

“Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?” Huo Lajiao had quite the temper in her. Shooting up, she stomped her left foot on the desk and right foot on her chair before glaring at the professor in an arrogant manner.

“Teacher Hu, tell them off.” The principal was helpless seeing this all unfold. He dared not be in the saddle over Huo Lajiao.

“Xia Tian, take your seat. Be polite to the three professors.” Xia Tian’s class teacher tried to calm the situation down. She stared at Huo Lajiao but dared not tell her off.

Xia Tian could tell the class teacher was in a difficult position so he darted a glance at Huo Lajiao, “You, sit down.”

“Oh.” Huo Lajiao immediately took her seat. Huo Lajiao was a tyrant in Jianghai High School but show total obedience in front of Xia Tian.

“With such character, you have no right to take part in the special enrolment.” Professor Pan blurted in anger. Caught with an egg on her face, she was rendered speechless by a student.

“You don’t decide that just on my character. Plus, I never said I wanted to take part. I wouldn’t take it even if you were to give it to me.” Xia Tian glared at the female professor with disdain. She must have taken unlawful measures for her to be promoted to a professor.

“You, humph,” The female professor gave a smug look. “you’re only saying that because you can’t have it.”

“Oh, you finally something worth noting. I thought a Jing University professor only knew how to bark.” Xia Tian’s word stirred an uproar in class. Wenya kept her eyes on Xia Tian. She realized Xia Tian had changed, and drastically.

“Good, it’s not just your spot, but because of you, there won’t be any entry quotas for special enrolment for your school,” Professor Pan mentioned with delight. She wanted the entire class to hate on Xia Tian.

“Haha,” Xia Tian burst out laughing. “way to hold a grudge. I guess this is how far the Jing University professors’ magnanimity goes. You really emulate the actions of vile characters in books. I’ve got to give it to you, professors, you won’t go behind our backs but gladly do it in the open.

“Such people of virtue.”

Judging by Xia Tian’s words, Professor Pan knew she was in hot soup. If word got out, there would be tremendous consequences. The internet was a wondrous thing nowadays.

“I won’t waste my time on you. Jing University’s one of the best schools in the world. You’re just saying you’re not interested to enter because you can’t make it to the university.” Professor Pan stared Xia Tian down. The other two professors coldly snorted before walking out of the classroom.

“Then you better watch out for me. Check out if my scores when they’re out, see if they’re enough to enter Jing University. Don’t forget my name, I’m Xia Tian,” Xia Tian shouted at the three but the latter did not bother to turn back as they made their way out.

“Sigh, Xia Tian, you’re done for.” The principal stood by Xia Tian and sighed before following them out.

“Students, please review your lessons.” Casting a glance at Xia Tian, the class teacher left the class.

Wenya was upset. She sensed the change in Xia Tian. The Xia Tian before had always kept a low profile but now wherever he went, he was the star.