Jiang Nian stood at the school gate, wiping her lips until they ached with a tissue before raising her eyes expressionlessly.

She realized that Si Boye was a madman.

I've only met her three times, and I've already fallen for her?

I like her, so even if she stabs me with a knife, I'll still kiss her?

Is it out of possessiveness, wanting to brand the things you like first?

The thought process of a madman cannot be fathomed using normal logic.

But Jiang Nian is not the kind of person who would sit idly by and be controlled by others.

She took out her phone and sent a message.

[Help me investigate Si Boye; it would be best if you could find out his likes, dislikes, and weaknesses.]

I put my phone away before entering the school gate.

Unlike yesterday when no one paid attention to Jiang Nian, after the forum posts last night went viral, Jiang Nian has suddenly become the most watched focus in Yingzhong today.

As soon as she entered the school, many eyes on her were secretly cast upon her.

Besides the senior students, there were also first and second-year students who were watching her and whispering among themselves.

"Look, that's Jiang Nian, the transfer student. She's the one who's only been to school for a month in her entire life."

"No wonder the Jiang family kicked her out. How can someone who is last in the class, loves to cause trouble, and has a bad reputation compare to Jiang Ranran? If it were me, I would also find her daughter a disgrace."

"Does she even know she's trending on social media? Netizens are criticizing her, and the parents' group and parent committee are in an uproar. Everyone is indignant, saying the top-performing class used back channels to admit someone like her, and they're demanding an explanation from the school."

"That's for sure. Which teacher in the elite class isn't the most awesome in the whole of Jiangcheng? Parents all over Jiangcheng are scrambling to get their children into the elite class, begging and pleading, but they still can't get in. Who could stand that?"

"A good-for-nothing is a good-for-nothing. Today was the placement test for the elite class, and anyone who failed would be kicked out. Jiang Nian got in through connections, do you think he could pass the placement test?"

"Unless she cheated right under the proctor's nose. But the questions in the honors class are so difficult, even if she did cheat, I reckon she wouldn't even be able to understand them, hahaha."

"This Jiang Nian is probably going to be publicly executed..."

Jiang Nian ignored the comments and walked straight ahead.

But then my phone rang; it was my older brother calling.

"Niannian, my assistant told me you're trending on social media. Have your classmates at school given you any trouble?"

Ji Yanli said with concern, "I'll send someone to Yingzhong to pick you up and take you home right now. Don't go to class yet, I'll take care of this for you."

What about getting things done through back channels and connections?

Don't say that Niannian didn't get into the top class through family connections. Even if she did get in through family connections, so what?

He could donate a building to Ying Chung for Niannian's sake, so that all the students at Ying Chung would benefit as well.

There is no such thing as absolute fairness in this society. The older generation works hard precisely so that their children and descendants won't have to suffer.

As the eldest brother, he hoped that his sister, whom he had lost and found again, would live a life that everyone would envy, and that she would not suffer any grievances or be bullied.

"No need, brother, I'm fine," Jiang Nian said into the phone.

"But today's placement test for the top-performing class... I'll still talk to your homeroom teacher and ask them to exempt you from the test."

Ji Yanli didn't know how Jiang Nian got in touch with Principal Feng, but the results of the preliminary exam were genuine and couldn't be faked.

Niannian's grades weren't good at her previous school, so how could she possibly pass this kind of competition-level exam? He couldn't possibly watch Niannian get kicked out of the top class.

Jiang Nian replied, "Don't worry, brother, I'll pass the exam."

After hanging up the phone, Ji Yanli couldn't help but look at his assistant: "The information you found for me before, that Nian Nian really ranked last in Yao County High School?"

Assistant Lin nodded: "Yes, President Ji."

A hint of confusion flashed across Ji Yanli's eyes.

*

In English-medium, senior year.

It's not even eight o'clock yet.

It's strange, usually there are crowds of people in the hallway outside the classroom even before class starts.

The corridor was unusually quiet and empty today.

There must be something fishy going on when things seem unpredictable.

Jiang Nian's eyes flickered, and as she approached, she saw that the door to the top-performing class was ajar, leaving a gap about the size of a hand's width.

Jiang Nian looked in the direction of the door and gave a mocking smirk.

This kind of trickery wouldn't work when she was seven.

Why does someone have to be so suicidal, walking right into the line of fire when she's in a bad mood?

"Jiang Nian is here!"

Someone shouted, and the students in the top class stirred, all looking at the metal bucket full of water on the classroom door.

Everyone was waiting for Jiang Nianyi to push open the door, only to be drenched from head to toe in a stream of cold water, leaving her looking like a disheveled drowned rat.

"Tang Qiuya, that's enough."

A boy wearing frameless glasses and a meticulously tailored shirt and tie stood up coldly. "The classroom is a place for learning, not a place for you to lead pranks on people."

Tang Qiuyue sat down, raised her chin, and looked at Chi Lin: "Class monitor, you really can stand by and watch someone like Jiang Nian sneak into our class?"

"I'm just standing up for those who worked so hard to get into our class, okay?" Then he turned to the rest of the class, "Don't you all agree?"

Chi Lin frowned, preparing to go over and take the bucket off the door.

The next second, a loud bang was heard as the classroom door was suddenly kicked open.

Tang Qiuyue swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on the doorway, while everyone else held their breath.

They watched intently as the bucket came crashing down the moment the door was kicked open.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!