"Hasn''t it been years since our school had a top scorer? Who could it be?"


    Lionel smiled, building suspense. "Now, let''s all guess who the top scorer in our ss might be."


    Xenia was quick to speak up. "It''s probably our ss''s top student, the head of the studymittee."


    "Yeah, if it''s the top scorer, it must be our studymittee leader. He''s been in the top three of the grade for years. It''s definitely him."


    At that moment, the top student stood up, shaking his head. "It''s not me."


    "How is that possible? If it''s not him, who else could be the top scorer? Could it be the second-ranked student?"


    As Lionel saw the reporters arriving, he announced, "It''s Noelle!"


    The ssroom fell into stunned silence.


    Then, Rachel was the first to scream, "Our queen! It''s you! You''re actually the top scorer in the city! Oh my god, you''re amazing!"


    The rest of the ss sat in shock,pletely speechless.


    They had guessed so many names, but no one had expected the top scorer to be Noelle.


    Xenia was left dumbfounded. How could it be? Noelle was actually the top scorer in the city.


    This revtion hit Xenia harder than anything else-worse than if someone had struck her down.


    Rachel threw a nce at Xenia and Betty, sneering. "Hmph! Some people were just running their mouths earlier, pretending tofort our city''s top scorer.


    "They were saying, ''If you don''t do well this time, I can apany you to repeat the year.'' How dare they say such things, thinking they''d apany our city''s number one to repeat a grade?"


    "Rachel, stop, you''re killing me! This is honestly the funniest thing I''ve heard in my life!"


    "Yeah, a student with bad grades actually tried tofort the top scorer in the city, saying she''ll. apany her to repeat the year. Who gave her the courage t@say that?"  en


    Xenia''s face turned pale as if she had swallowed something bitter.


    These words hit her like a p to the face, leaving herpletely stunned.


    Unable to contain himself, Betty shouted, "How could Noelle be the top scorer? Something must be wrong with her results, or she must''ve cheated!"


    Deep down, Xenia thought the same. How could Noelle possibly be the top scorer in the city?


    Lionel shot them both a cold re. "What''s wrong with you two? Noelle''s improvement is evident to everyone. She performed


    exceptionally well and became the


    dark horse of this exam.


    "As her ssmates and peers, instead of being happy for her, you''re questioning her results. Is this how I''ve taught you?"


    Xenia''s eyes welled up with tears.


    But no one came tofort her. The rest of the ss was busy celebrating Noelle''s sess as the top scorer.


    At that moment, reporters entered, followed by Bruce and the director.


    Bruce, a kind-hearted elderly man, smiled at Noelle. "I never expected you to do so well on the exam."


    Noelle smiled back. "Thank you for the set of stationery you gave me back then."


    If Bruce hadn''t given her a high-quality stationery set at just the right time, hernguage exam scores might have suffered.


    The poor-quality stationery had unclear writing and leaked ink. If she had used it, her paper would''ve been stained, and she would have definitely lost points.


    "I was just doing my job. It''s your own talent that made you the top scorer," Bruce replied.


    A reporter stepped forward, holding


    a microphone in front of Noelle. "Noelle, in thest few months, your grades skyrocketed, and you achieved the top score in the city. Surety you''ve had help and support


    from those around you. Who do you most want to thank?"