After Becoming the Abused Heroine in a Campus Story - Chapter 15: Our Class Has Produced a Dark Horse...

Chapter 15: Our Class Has Produced a Dark Horse…

Zhou Yining didn’t care at all about the mess at home. She wasn’t the original owner, who might have held back for the sake of family ties. To Zhou Yining, face was the least valuable thing.

She went to the same roadside stall as last time and happily ordered a portion of tofu pudding and a fried dough stick.

Zhou Yining added chive flower paste and chili to her tofu pudding and started eating.

When Jiang Xianzhi passed by in a car, she spotted Zhou Yining again. She told the driver, “Uncle Li, stop here. I saw my classmate. I’m going to join her.”

“Okay.” Uncle Li parked the car and saw Zhou Yining at a roadside stall, chatting with a girl.

He knew all of Jiang Xianzhi’s friends but hadn’t seen this girl before. Still, he didn’t mind. He was just the driver. Who the young miss befriended was none of his business.

After getting out, Jiang Xianzhi called out, “Zhou Yining.”

“You’re here? Hold on, I’ll wipe this for you.” Zhou Yining wiped the stool beside her with a tissue and gestured for Jiang Xianzhi to sit.

“Thanks.” Jiang Xianzhi thanked her and sat down. “You’re eating this again today? Is it good?”

She had eaten a sandwich at home, but with little appetite in the morning, she only took a few bites. Seeing Zhou Yining eat so eagerly, she felt hungry again.

“It’s delicious. I’ll order another bowl. My treat.” Zhou Yining smiled at her and asked the stall owner for another bowl of tofu pudding and a fried dough stick.

She took a new spoon, wiped it clean with a tissue, and asked, “Do you want chive flower paste and chili?”

“Chive flower paste? What’s that?” The rich girl, used to black truffles and caviar, had no idea what chive flower paste was.

Zhou Yining smiled at her. “It’s this green stuff. I’ll add just a little in case you’re not used to it.”

Zhou Yining asked again, “Chili? Want some?”

“A little.” Jiang Xianzhi pursed her lips. She was really hungry.

Zhou Yining added a bit of chili, stirred gently, and placed the bowl in front of Jiang Xianzhi. “Try it. See if you like it.”

“Okay.” Jiang Xianzhi replied softly, scooped a spoonful, and ate.

After one bite, her eyes lit up. So this was the “junk food” her family talked about. It was way tastier than the sandwiches at home.

She took a bite of the dough stick and found its crispy texture delicious too. “It’s good.”

“Eat more if it’s good. We can order more if it’s not enough.”

“It’s enough, it’s enough.” Jiang Xianzhi said, eating in small bites.

Her family pampered her, worried that street food would upset her stomach, so they never let her eat it. Spicy hotpot and this tofu pudding were things she only ate with Zhou Yining.

Zhou Yining finished quickly. After paying, she sat there waiting for Jiang Xianzhi.

In a short while, Jiang Xianzhi nearly finished her tofu pudding. She ate the last bite of the dough stick, feeling fully refreshed.

Zhou Yining smiled at her. “Done? Let’s get going.”

As she spoke, she handed Jiang Xianzhi a tissue. Jiang Xianzhi took it, wiped her mouth, and nodded at Zhou Yining.

The two walked to school, chatting and laughing. At the school gate, Zhou Yining saw Tian Xue and called out to her. Tian Xue didn’t respond and jogged into the school.

Jiang Xianzhi asked, “Why didn’t she acknowledge you?”

Zhou Yining was puzzled too, but remembering Tian Xue’s shy nature, she guessed, “She’s probably just socially anxious. Let’s go to the classroom.”

“Okay.”

When Zhou Yining returned to class, Tian Xue was already at her seat. Zhou Yining didn’t approach her and went straight to her own seat.

The classroom smelled bad. Some students had brought breakfast like stuffed pancakes and grilled cold noodles to school. The air was filled with food smells, mixed with the scent of spicy snacks.

Chen Yitong came in soon after and frowned as she entered. “Students near the windows, open them. Smell this classroom—it’s worse than a wet market. Air it out. Finish your breakfast quickly. Morning reading’s about to start.”

The sleepy students sprang into action, returning to their seats and finishing their breakfast.

After the bell rang, Chen Yitong scanned the classroom. Everyone had put away their food and started morning reading.

Chen Yitong stood at the podium and said, “The monthly exam rankings should be out this afternoon. Most of you did poorly. Reflect on yourselves. Did you really try? Did you actually learn the material, or did you just glance at it without thinking?”

When the homeroom teacher said this, the students grew quieter, shrinking into their seats, wishing they could bury themselves in their books.

Zhou Yining stayed calm. She knew she’d done well in every subject except English.

Sure enough, during the first math class, Teacher Zhang had the class representative distribute everyone’s answer sheets.

She scanned the class and said, “This math test was challenging. Only five students in our class scored above 130.”

Her words sparked murmurs in the class.

“We’re doomed. If top students only got 130, I probably didn’t even pass.”

“Yeah, Jiang Hao’s probably first again, right? He’s the math representative.”

“Not necessarily. Look at Jiang Hao’s grim face. Maybe he didn’t do well.”

Seeing the students gossiping, Teacher Zhang restored order. “Quiet down. Check where you went wrong. This test was designed based on college entrance exam standards. If this were the real exam, with these scores, you wouldn’t even get into a first-tier university. Reflect on that.”

Her gaze fell on Zhou Yining, and her expression softened. “But our class produced a dark horse. This time, the grade’s top math score goes to our class’s Zhou Yining. Everyone should learn from her. The more critical the moment, the harder you need to work.”

After Teacher Zhang’s words, the class buzzed again.

“No way, really? Wasn’t Zhou Yining almost at the bottom before? How’d she get so good?”

“Yeah, did she cheat like Old Cao said?”

“Probably not. Didn’t she redo an English test last time and get it all right?”

“True, but how’d she suddenly get this good?”

“Maybe she paid for tutoring outside. What else?”

“Enough. Quiet down. Zhou Yining got a perfect score in math. Why are you all so excited?” Teacher Zhang said, displeased.

She looked at Zhou Yining and said, “Zhou Yining, can you explain this test for the class?”