When the dormitory was about to turn off the lights, Yu Xiaohua drifted back like a ghost.
Her resentnt had deepened.
Through the bed curtains, Su Li could feel the penetrating glares occasionally cast her way.
As a second-year high school student, there really wasn’t much free ti.
Test papers kept piling up.
Finally, a day off on the weekend allowed for a day of relaxation, but the tension quickly returned.
Although the lights were out, one could still see a faint light shining from Shi Tong and Lin Yaoguang’s bed curtains. No doubt, they were using flashlights to work on test papers.
Both of them were so focused on their studies that they hardly noticed when Yu Xiaohua ca back, the only one who did notice, Su Li, wouldn’t say much.
Under the light of the moon shining through the window, Yu Xiaohua’s shadow stretched long.
She quietly stood in the middle of the dorm for a while, her gaze sweeping over the other beds, before she lowered her head and crawled into her own mosquito net.
The next day, the results of last week’s mock exam were distributed early in the morning.
"Su Li, Su Li, how can you be so amazing? First in our grade again, I really suspect your brain is different from ours."
"We study, you sleep, but co exam ti, you still outscore us..."
Shi Tong pouted jealously.
Speaking of last night, she and Yaoguang had studied under the flashlight, racing against ti, yet still couldn’t surpass Su Li, who had gone to bed early. It was infuriating.
Su Li said, "Jealousy is unbecoming, Shi Tong. Please watch your emotions."
"You need to learn how to allocate your study ti properly. Longer study sessions don’t necessarily lead to better outcos."
At this point, even the gentle Lin Yaoguang had a bone to pick, her usually soft voice had a sting to it as she said, "Not everyone is as naturally gifted as you are."
Most students, like them who studied late into the night, were still in the majority.
Su Li responded, "This brain of mine just happens to be this way, and you still can’t be jealous of that."
"It seems so; we’ll just have to try harder then." Healthy jealousy can be motivating, Shi Tong clenched her fists, puffed her cheeks, and made an encouraging gesture.
The negative emotions soon dissipated, and they were cheerful again, "But, I’ve improved; I made it into the top fifty of our grade."
Lin Yaoguang also joyfully said, " too, I made it into the top thirty. I improved by more than a hundred places from last sester."
Trailing behind them like a tail, Yu Xiaohua, with red eyes, stared at her dismal ranking, her fingernails digging deep into her flesh, unable to feel the pain.
In school, students were quite naive; regardless of status or appearance, as long as one perford well academically, they would be sought after and liked.
This was a place where achievents determined heroes.
Yu Xiaohua had a difficult personality and poor grades, so her environnt wasn’t very friendly towards her.
Still, the quality of the students was noteworthy; they simply ignored Yu Xiaohua at most and there was no bullying.
But Yu Xiaohua, who could harbor resentnt even without feeling any comfort from her roommates like Chunfeng’s soothing presence, only saw her negative emotions escalate further.
"I swear, one day, I will make you all grovel at my feet."
I swear, one day I will...
This kind of weakling’s oath always appears among friends who are frustrated and unfulfilled, as if proclaiming such fantasies aloud could temporarily soothe their minds.
Generally speaking, such words are just an empty promise; she says it, you listen, and it’s best forgotten imdiately.
If there really were such determination, it would be better to take action rather than just proclaiming oaths verbally.
If Yu Xiaohua hadn’t undergone a unique change, her words would have seed like just a joke; instead of saying such things, it would have been better to listen carefully in class and solve more problems after class.
Not just staring blankly, envisioning so future point in space.
"Yu Xiaohua, stand up and answer, how should the first question be chosen?"
Caught off guard when called on, Yu Xiaohua frantically stood up, head down, tightly clutching the fabric of her pants on both sides, twisting it into twists, unable to voice the correct answer even after struggling for a long ti.
The teacher, displeased, glared at Yu Xiaohua and said, "I’ve explained this question several tis in class, exactly the sa type, even the wording hasn’t changed, and still, there are students who can’t answer it."
Though not specified, who the teacher was referring to was clear without saying.
Yu Xiaohua’s face turned embarrassingly red, and tear drops tearfully moistened the desk in front of her.
"Sit down. Please pay attention during class; knowledge won’t jump into your brain on its own."
----------
After the simulation test, there followed a month of intense study, and then the sophomores welcod their sumr vacation.
This would be their last bit of relaxed ti; after the sumr, they would have to dive into even more intense studies because the college entrance examination countdown was approaching.
And Yu Xiaohua would undergo her most significant and strangest change.
Having shared the sa dormitory for two years, Su Li, while not centering her attention on Yu Xiaohua, knew everything there was to know about her.
Until the end of term exams, Yu Xiaohua hadn’t shown much change; it was clear that her change must have occurred at ho.
"Su Li, what are you planning to do over the sumr?"
Shi Tong lay on the bed, head hanging down.
Su Li: "I’m not planning to do much; it’s so hot outside, it’s more comfortable to stay at ho and enjoy the air conditioning."
Lin Yaoguang said with a smile, "After all this ti together, don’t you know her? Even if you carried her out in a sedan, she would likely complain about the bouncing, preferring to stay ho and read a book."
...
Su Li and the others chatted animatedly, while Yu Xiaohua, like an invisible person, continued in silence.
People are strange, when the other roommates previously were too cautious of her emotions, Yu Xiaohua often staged a scene demanding comfort for her ’bad moods’.
Now that it’s better, with Su Li, the academic star setting a precedent, envious Shi Tong and Lin Yaoguang put all their efforts into catching up.
As the saying goes, learning is paramount; other minor matters inevitably get overlooked.
After ignoring Yu Xiaohua several tis, she actually started to act normal, at least on the surface.
Su Li: "Xiao Hua, are you busy this sumr? I am planning to host a party at my family’s villa; let’s all co."
Shi Tong’s eyes lit up, and she exclaid, "Really? Then I can see the school heartthrobs make an appearance?"
Being well-off, excelling in academics, and good-looking, Su Li’s influence at school was imaginable.
By announcing the party, the number of people eager to attend was enormous.
Hearing the question, Yu Xiaohua paused while packing her things and looked up.
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