School Flower and School Tyrant - Chapter 9
“Hey, have you all heard?” a group of students began chatting after the monthly exams ended.
“Heard what?”
“About Ouyang Qianxue! She placed second in the grade, and she was only two points behind Bai Yuxuan, the top student!”
“No way! Are you messing with me?”
“It’s true! If I hadn’t seen the leaderboard with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it either!”
“Wow, Ouyang is incredible! Not only is she stunning, talented in so many ways, but her academic abilities are also terrifying. How can someone this perfect exist?”
Since the end of the monthly exams, Ouyang Qianxue’s reputation had skyrocketed again. By now, there wasn’t a single person at Sakura Academy who didn’t know her name.
In a dimly lit classroom, dozens of male students gathered, their expressions serious. In the center stood a student wearing a badge that read “President of the School Beauty Committee.”
“Well, gentlemen, didn’t I tell you? My judgment wasn’t wrong. I knew that Lady Qianxue wouldn’t let us down,” the president declared confidently.
“‘Not let us down’ is an understatement. She was only two points behind Bai Yuxuan!”
“It’s unbelievable. If I hadn’t seen it for myself, I wouldn’t have believed someone as exceptional as Lady Qianxue existed in this world!”
“Alright, everyone, there’s no need to keep singing her praises. We’re all aware of Lady Qianxue’s excellence. Today, I’ve gathered you here to confirm something: does anyone have any objections to officially endorsing Ouyang Qianxue as the school Beauty?”
“Of course not!” the boys replied in unison.
“Good. Then I’ll make it official.”
The president hit the enter key on the computer next to him, posting a pre-drafted announcement:
“The School Beauty Committee formally establishes Ouyang Qianxue as Sakura Academy’s school Beauty.”
The post quickly appeared on the school forum.
“Alright, now it’s time to deliver that special gift to Lord Qianxue.”
In Class 1-6, Ouyang Qianxue had just walked into the classroom when her classmates, their eyes sparkling with admiration, swarmed around her.
“Ouyang, you’re amazing! Second in the grade, and just two points behind Bai Yuxuan!”
“Yeah, Ouyang, can you teach us your study techniques?”
“Please, share your secrets with me too!”
The flood of voices overwhelmed Ouyang, leaving her unsure how to respond.
“Enough!” a male student suddenly shouted, silencing the others.
“Can’t you see you’re making Ouyang uncomfortable? You’re crowding her so much she hasn’t even had a chance to put down her bag. Don’t you notice she’s been holding it this whole time?”
Realizing their mistake, the classmates quickly apologized and cleared a path for Ouyang.
“It’s okay. Everyone’s just being enthusiastic, and I’m happy to be welcomed like this,” Ouyang said with a warm smile.
“Not only is Ouyang outstanding in every way, but her personality is also so kind!” the classmates praised her again.
“Thank you for stepping in and helping me,” Ouyang said, turning to the boy who had calmed the crowd.
“No problem. We’re all classmates, after all,” he replied with a casual grin.
“Mm.” Ouyang nodded before heading to her seat.
“After all, it’s part of the School Beauty Committee’s duty to help the school Beauty in times of trouble,” the boy muttered under his breath, so softly no one else heard.
As Ouyang sat down and placed her bag in her desk, she suddenly felt something unusual inside.
“This is…?” Ouyang Qianxue reached into her desk, feeling something strange. When she pulled it out, she realized it was a silver, cherry blossom-shaped hairpin.
“Look! Ouyang is holding…” one of her classmates exclaimed, drawing everyone’s attention to the hairpin in Ouyang’s hand.
“Isn’t that the School Beauty’s Token?”
“The School Beauty’s Token?” Ouyang was puzzled.
“You don’t know? Every time a new school Beauty is chosen, the School Beauty Committee presents this commemorative gift. It’s a long-standing tradition at Sakura Academy,” someone explained.
“We already heard you passed the School Beauty Committee’s preliminary evaluation, right? And now that you’ve received the token, it’s official, you’re the new school Beauty!” another girl said with admiration.
At that moment, a boy quickly pulled out his phone and checked the school forum.
“The committee just announced it online! They’ve officially declared Ouyang Qianxue as the new school Beauty!”
“Congratulations, Ouyang!” The students gathered around her, offering their heartfelt congratulations.
“Thank you, everyone, but… this hairpin looks like it’s made of silver. It feels too valuable to accept…” Ouyang hesitated as she looked at the hairpin in her hand.
“You don’t have to worry. This hairpin comes with a story,” a few students began explaining.
It turned out that the hairpin was originally crafted by a past School Beauty Committee president as a gift for the school Beauty of his time. The two eventually became a couple. To express their gratitude toward Sakura Academy for bringing them together, the former committee president, who later opened a jewelry store, decided to provide a silver cherry blossom hairpin for every subsequent school Beauty free of charge.
“So that’s the story!” Ouyang exclaimed.
“Exactly! So feel free to accept it. But I have to say, after Bai Yuxuan, our class now has you. It makes someone as ordinary as me feel like I don’t belong in Class 1-6 anymore,” a boy joked, drawing laughter.
“Totally! Two geniuses in one class!”
“Everyone is exaggerating. I’m just an ordinary student,” Ouyang said shyly.
The school bell rang, and the students reluctantly returned to their seats, though their excitement lingered.
As the lesson began, Bai Yuxuan walked into the classroom. On her way to her seat, she couldn’t help but glance at Ouyang Qianxue. For the first time, she couldn’t underestimate her classmate, the person who had nearly toppled her.
“What is it?” Ouyang noticed Bai Yuxuan’s gaze.
“Nothing. I just wanted to look at the person who almost defeated me,” Bai Yuxuan replied, locking eyes with Ouyang.
(Her gaze lacks the ambition and fervor I see in myself. Does this mean she has resigned herself to being controlled by her family? No, that’s not it. Her eyes are too clear for that…) Bai Yuxuan thought, trying to decipher the mystery of Ouyang Qianxue.
Growing up in a prominent family, Bai Yuxuan had seen her share of deceit and schemes. She was skilled at reading people with just a glance. Yet, Ouyang remained an enigma.
“Hmph. I can’t tell what kind of person you are, but we’re definitely not the same. And don’t think you can surpass me so easily!” Bai Yuxuan declared before sitting down and diving back into her university-level textbook.
“What are you talking about? Surpass you? I never said anything like that. What a strange person,” Ouyang muttered, shifting her focus back to the teacher’s lesson.
After this brief exchange, the two returned to being strangers.