Reborn Heiress: Seeking Revenge
Chapter 17 Another Wager (1)_1

Chapter 17: Chapter 17 Another Wager (1)_1

The homeroom teachers of several senior classes looked at Shangguan You with amused expressions. They certainly wouldn’t dare to take in a student with such poor grades. Wouldn’t that tarnish their own reputations?

"That’s right, Shangguan You. Skipping a grade and directly taking the college entrance exam—do you think you can handle it?" The speaker was none other than Mr. Li Ming, the literature teacher of Senior Class Three, and the one who had defended Shangguan You before.

"This student, your family sent you to study here hoping you’d get into a good university and distinguish yourself in the future. If you skip grades now, won’t you disappoint them? Besides, with your current academic record, do you really think you can just scrape by with the minimum score? Our school can’t afford such a disgrace."

"Exactly. Even the weakest student in our class can get into Beijing University, and countless others go abroad to study. I wouldn’t dare take a student like you."

"Correct. As a student, it’s best to take things step by step. Don’t look down on the lowly and fawn over the powerful."

Shangguan You paid no mind to the teachers’ sarcasm. Her cold voice rang out again.

"Mr. Chen, if I can achieve first place in the entire school in this exam, can I then move directly to the third year and take the college entrance exam?"

"First place in the entire school? You must be joking. You’re always at the bottom of the school rankings; dreaming of first place is ludicrous."

"Is this the funniest joke I’ve ever heard?"

"Shangguan You, even if you could achieve first place in the entire school, that would be based on first-year material, you understand?" Old Chen suppressed his shock, slowly trying to persuade her. He knew something others didn’t: just how remarkable this student of his was. A single phone call from her had been enough to get the Dean of Students, who had a deputy bureau director backing him, sent home to farm.

"Taking the college entrance exam directly when you don’t understand the material from the second and third years? How could you possibly do well?" Li Ming also chimed in, trying to persuade Shangguan You. He ignored the other teachers’ mockery and sarcasm; as a teacher, he believed he should put the students’ interests first.

"Then, if I take the third-year exam this time and rank first in the entire school, I hope the teachers will agree to let me take the college entrance exam next semester."

A buzz went through the room as Shangguan You’s words struck the teachers like a thunderclap. Han Yachu and Lan Xuan stared at Shangguan You in disbelief. Was this confident, elegant young woman really the same Shangguan You they knew from the first year—the dull, foolish girl who only ever followed in their footsteps?

Shangguan You was quite famous at school—famous for being slow-witted, for her abysmal grades that were consistently near the bottom of the school. Yet, she had somehow managed to get into Class One. The Shangguan You before them now, however, forced everyone to completely reassess their previous understanding of her.

"Hahaha, this is the funniest joke I’ve heard!"

"Courage is commendable, but overestimating yourself will only make you a laughingstock."

A few teachers burst out laughing, their mocking words spewing forth relentlessly. At that moment, they hardly resembled respectable educators.

"If those who should be role models for students act like some of you teachers—fawning over the powerful and trampling on the weak, mocking students at will—then I believe the students this school produces will undoubtedly have character flaws. It’s no wonder the school has students like Feng Shao’an."

Every word of Shangguan You’s icy voice reached the teachers who had been laughing the loudest. On one such teacher’s face, veins bulged with anger. All the teachers knew what kind of person Feng Shao’an was; it was only because his father was a deputy bureau director that the school tolerated his arrogance.

"Shangguan You, what are you implying? Is this how you were raised? To casually insult and disrespect your elders and teachers?" Yang Liwen, Feng Shao’an’s homeroom teacher and the one who had just been laughing the loudest, snapped furiously. He was the one she had alluded to.

"One must first respect others to earn their respect. Also, how I was raised is no concern of Mr. Yang’s."

Shangguan You gave Yang Liwen a cold glance before looking away. She wouldn’t stoop to arguing with such an idiot; it was beneath her.

"You—you! I’ve seen many students who overestimate themselves, but never one so determined to court disaster! First place in the entire school? Do you think this school is owned by your family? If you can get first place, I’ll take your surname!"

Yang Liwen had always taught the top class of the third year. Every year, several of his students were admitted to enviable universities, and many went abroad to study. Even the principal showed him a degree of deference. Having never been subjected to such ridicule, he was now so infuriated by Shangguan You’s sarcasm that his face turned a patchwork of green and white, an indescribably amusing sight.

"Hmph. Mr. Yang wants to take my surname? My parents certainly don’t have a son older than *they* are. I suggest we forget the whole thing."

With that light reply from Shangguan You, Yang Liwen’s face turned crimson. His cheeks puffed out, and his eyes glared fiercely at her.

"Alright, alright! If you get first place in the entire school this time, I will resign. But if you don’t, you will get out of this school! We daren’t keep a student like you who has no respect for her elders."

"Mr. Yang, you should think carefully. If I come in first, you’ll lose your job. If I don’t do well, I can simply transfer to another school."

"Teach a student like you? I’d rather lose this job! Let all the teachers present bear witness!" Yang Liwen declared, veins bulging on his temples, almost leaping up in his rage and looking ready to strike her.

"Mr. Yang Liwen, betting with a student—don’t you think that’s beneath your dignity?" a commanding voice rang out. A middle-aged man walked in. This was Han Xiao, the principal of No. 1 Middle School. He possessed a composure and a mature steadiness that Han Yachu lacked.

Han Xiao had heard every word of the conversation from the doorway. How could a teacher stoop to making such a bet with a student? For someone who should be a role model, such small-mindedness was truly disappointing.

"Principal, it was Shangguan You who proposed the wager," Yang Liwen said, looking at the newly arrived principal. His eyes, when they flicked towards Shangguan You, were full of sarcasm.

The crowd parted, allowing Han Xiao to approach Shangguan You. He scrutinized the girl who had infuriated Yang Liwen to the point of explosion.

He, too, knew of this student. She had transferred from Beijing, was known for poor grades, and seemed dull and slow-witted. Yet, even he couldn’t trace her background. A student like that was either the child of a high official or the heiress of a prominent family. Moreover, her current bearing and composure were not those of an ordinary person. For a student who had remained quiet for half a year to suddenly erupt like this was indeed unexpected.