NOVEL WEB Chapter 29 - Two No.1
As Skyhaven Academy's most renowned prodigy, Zhang Tu emerged from the test cabin only after completing the final question, marking a full four hours since the exam commenced.
His uncle, serving as the proctor, greeted him with a smile as Zhang Tu stepped out. “Congratulations, you're the last one to finish the test at our school. And I'm sure you've already guessed the surprise—Lu Lixing was the first to be eliminated.”
He sighed, adding, “Just two days ago, Lu Lixing was challenging you. He likely never saw this day coming.”
A smile of satisfaction spread across Zhang Tu's handsome features. He had been eagerly anticipating this very day.
Today, he intended to make it clear to Lu Lixing that they were worlds apart. Ants would always be ants, incapable of transforming into colossal prehistoric beasts.
“Come on, it's time to head to the field.”
Zhang Tu made his way out of the exam hall, where the entire school—faculty and students alike—awaited him. He was about to ascend the podium under the watchful eyes of all, ready to bask in the spotlight as the object of everyone's admiration.
Upon reaching the school's sports field, Zhang Tu was met with resounding cheers. All eyes were on him, filled with adoration and envy, for he was their school's unparalleled genius.
Pleased with the reception, Zhang Tu ascended the podium with a smile, taking his place before the school's dignitaries and teachers. This was the acclaim befitting a student of his caliber.
Scanning the crowd below, Zhang Tu sought out Lu Lixing's figure, but the sea of faces made it an impossible task. A twinge of disappointment struck him; he had hoped to witness the frustration and defeat etched on Lu Lixing's face.
“Silence, please!”
Principal Mi Hongbo took to the stage at that moment, addressing the audience. “The qualification test has concluded. The results will be displayed on the Crystal Screen behind me. Should you have any questions, feel free to raise them.”
As the principal's words faded, the hush that fell over the crowd was palpable. Eyes turned to the towering Crystal Screen, everyone eager to see their scores. And there, for all to see, the examination results shone brightly, with Zhang Tu's name at the top. Out of a perfect 800, Zhang Tu had scored an impressive 760 points!
Upon seeing Zhang Tu's test scores, a wave of astonishment rippled through the crowd once more. They heaped praise upon Zhang Tu's prowess, proclaiming him the premier genius of Skyhaven Academy!
Sha Xiufen claimed the second spot with 720 points, trailing Zhang Tu by a full 40 points, which only underscored Zhang Tu's formidable talents.
Then, suddenly, another round of gasps erupted among the onlookers.
“The top scorer is actually Lu Lixing!”
This claim sent a ripple of confusion through the crowd as they glanced at the rankings. Zhang Tu was clearly in first place, so why was someone claiming Lu Lixing had outscored him?
Amidst the confusion, the same voice hastily clarified, “I meant he's in last place! Lu Lixing only managed to score 20 points! He's at the bottom of the list!”
While some were shocked, others scoffed at the news.
Nobody had anticipated that Lu Lixing, who had recently stirred up the school with his challenge to Zhang Tu, would end up with the lowest score in the qualification test!
“Is this the so-called genius from the slums you've been raving about? I could score 100 points blindfolded!”
“It's laughable! How can such rubbish even be mentioned in the same breath as Zhang Tu? He's not fit to even carry Zhang Tu's shoes!”
“It's truly unexpected. He only scored 20 points.”
“I just think his abilities don't measure up. He's all talk, but when it's time to show his true skills, he falls flat.”
The crowd buzzed with commentary, stunned by the stark contrast between Zhang Tu's top school ranking and Lu Lixing's position at the very bottom.
On the podium, the teachers murmured amongst themselves, casting discreet glances at Zhang Tu and the school board member beside him, Zhang Maozhe of the Zhang family.
While the students might be in the dark about why Lu Lixing ranked last, the teachers knew all too well. Understanding the intricacies of the situation was one thing, but speaking up was quite another. Anyone with sense could see that Lu Lixing had been set up. They wouldn't risk offending the powerful Zhang family for a student without influence.
Wen Shi stood on the podium, his face a mask of neutrality. He observed Lu Lixing, noting the icy demeanor on his face with a hint of surprise. He had expected Lu Lixing to react with outrage, to publicly denounce the school for this blatant act of sabotage. Yet, contrary to expectations, Lu Lixing remained composed, devoid of anger.
Wen Shi believed Lu Lixing hadn't been provoked enough. Casting a glance at someone in the crowd who caught his cue, that person immediately pointed at Lu Lixing, standing among them, and bellowed, “Hey everyone, check this out: the one in last place is right here!”
At the sound of the call, nearly everyone in the room swiveled to stare at Lu Lixing. Instinctively, those nearby stepped back, leaving him conspicuously alone. Sha Zhenghao tried to push his way through the throng to get back to Lu Lixing's side, but the dense crowd was impenetrable. Frustrated and anxious, there was nothing he could do.
From her vantage point on the stage, Sha Xiufen's gaze landed on the now isolated Lu Lixing, her eyes betraying a flicker of complex emotion.
“I warned you not to cross Zhang Tu. You're feeling the fallout now. You must realize you've made a mistake.”
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