Alice''s words struck a nerve. The ssroom fell silent; everyone stared at her in shock. She was truly an inspiration.


    Chloe''s face flushed; she started crying.“Alice, I was just trying tofort you. I didn''t mean anything else.”


    A ssmate eximed, “Alice, don''t be ungrateful! Even if your score is good, what''s so impressive? Be the top scorer and then boast!"


    Other ssmates agreed. “Alice, your scores and gaming skills are impressive, but belittle others. Chloe was being kind."


    Alice smirked."I don''t need her kindness."


    you


    shouldn''t


    Chloe sniffed."Don''t fight because of me. I understand Alice''s upset about her scores." Chloe was furious.“Understand what? Stop with the crocodile tears! The stationery incident was definitely rted to you!" She''d heard rumors about a high-achieving student whose writing score suffered, affecting their overall grade. Knowing about Alice''s stationery issue, she suspected Chloe.


    Chloe looked innocent. “Chloe, that''s hurtful. I didn''t prepare Alice''s stationery. It was bad luck.” She was d Alice hadn''t done well.


    Alice scoffed."Who said I didn''t do well?" She hadn''t wanted to be the center of attention, but Chloe had provoked Chloe; she couldn''t let that stand.


    Chloe was surprised."Alice, don''t be stubborn. We all know."


    A ssmate asked, "Alice, if you did well, what did


    you


    score?"


    Alice raised an eyebrow."I don''t know."


    “Really? You''re kidding! The scores, are out."


    Chloe said, “There''s another possibility: her score is hidden.”


    Alice leaned back, rxed and unconcerned. Chloe felt uneasy; Alice must be lying. knows her actual score. Another ssmate said, "Alice''s just bluffing. No


    one


    Chloe thought so too but wasn''t sure because of Alice''sposure.


    Chloe probed, “Alice, I know you studied hard in thest few months, and your scores improved,


    good scores


    but


    aren''t everything.


    feel Don''t


    to pressured


    exaggerate.


    Chloe retorted, “Chloe, are you jealous? Alice''s skills are evident. Perhaps she exceeded expectations; a hidden score isn''t impossible."


    Another ssmate argued, “Her scores were always average. How could she suddenly score so


    the hidden score? It''s high, especially with


    It''s impossible she''s in


    No one believed it.


    a


    top


    50."


    The homeroom teacher entered happily.“Students, I''m treating everyone to celebrate our ss''s


    top scorer-the city''s top scorer!"


    The ssroom exploded.


    "No way! The city''s top scorer is in our ss?!"


    14:40


    27.9%


    "Our school hasn''t had a top scorer in years! Who is it?"


    The teacher paused dramatically."Guess who it is!"


    Chloe said, "Probably the ss valedictorian."


    Menu


    “Yes, the valedictorian, Mo. He''s consistently ranked in the top three in the grade.” Mo, the valedictorian, stood up."It''s not me."


    "Impossible! If not him, then who? Number two?"


    The teacher, seeing reporters, announced, "It''s Lu Ning."


    Silence.


    Chloe


    screamed, "It''s


    our


    idol!


    the You''re


    top


    scorer!


    Amazing!"


    The students were shocked; they hadn''t expected it to be Alice.


    Chloe was stunned. Alice was the top scorer? This was devastating. Chloe looked at Chloe and the ssmate."Who wasforting our top scorer, saying, ''If you don''t do well, I''ll help you retake the exam''? What nerve!"


    "That''s hrious! A low scorer consoling the top scorer, offering to retake the exam together! Incredible!" Chloe''s face was ashen. These words were like ps.


    A ssmate yelled, "Alice couldn''t be the top scorer! Something''s wrong! She cheated!" Chloe thought so too. How could Alice be the top scorer?


    The teacher red at them. “What''s wrong with you two? Alice''s improvement was evident. She became a dark horse. As her ssmates and, supposedly, her family, you should be celebrating not questioning her score. Is this how I taught you?"


    Chloe''s eyes welled up, but no oneforted her. Everyone discussed Alice''s achievement.


    Reporters arrived with the principal and vice principal. The principal looked at Alice with relief."I didn''t expect you to do so well."


    Alice smiled. “Thank you for the stationery you gave me." Without the principal''s timely intervention, her writing score would have suffered. The defective stationery was smudging and causing ink bleed.


    "I was just following regtions. You''re talented; you earned this."


    A reporter approached. “Lu Ning, your scores improved dramatically in thest few months. Who do you want


    to thank?"