‘Are my votes really that high?’
Seeing his own high vote count, Bu Chenghua instinctively clenched his fist. Despite his stoic expression, a flicker of excitement crossed his face.
He had been a class monitor for nine years, but never before had he yearned for the position with such intensity.
One by one, candidates took the stage, delivered their speeches, and then stepped down. Yet, none managed to surpass his vote tally.
Bu Chenghua’s heart pounded with increasing anticipation.
‘I think I actually have a chance,’ he whispered, his face betraying no emotion despite the surging excitement within him.
“Don’t get your hopes up too soon,” Huang Xiu interjected, pouring cold water on his enthusiasm. “Have you seen who’s next?”
“Who?” Bu Chenghua asked, turning his gaze towards the stage.
Tian Rong, who had been presiding over the event from the side, took small steps to the front of the crowd.
A smile gracing his lips, he announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, please forgive my self-recommendation. Your next candidate is myself.”
No one was surprised that Tian Rong was running for class monitor. In fact, it would have been more shocking if he hadn’t.
From his initial demeanor, it was clear he had his sights set on the position.
However, no one anticipated the explosive nature of his opening remarks.
“First, allow me to introduce myself with a few simple labels,” he began. “I was first in the Tiandu City retest, achieved an A-grade with 710 points, was first in cultural subjects for my grade, served as class monitor for nine consecutive years, and was Student Union President for three years.”
As Huang Xiu listened to this string of accomplishments, she felt an overwhelming aura of academic brilliance wash over her.
Not only was he a local Tiandu native and a top student, but he had also topped the Tiandu retest.
‘Seriously, what a golden child,’ she grumbled inwardly. ‘God didn’t just open a door for this guy; he ripped off the entire roof, didn’t he?’
****
Despite Tian Rong’s subsequent speech being rather ordinary—even less impressive than Bu Chenghua’s—his initial string of impressive labels and his confident presence as the host had already left a strong impression.
Predictably, his final vote count secured him the first-place position.
Bu Chenghua was merely the temporary class monitor. However, given Yuan Fei’s uncooperative nature, it was highly probable that this ‘temporary’ title would be stripped away as soon as the results were reported in the next class.
After the class monitor election concluded, little time remained. To expedite the process, the speaking time for the academic representative candidates was significantly shortened.
Students went up and down, their votes quickly tallied, and the final representative was soon decided.
The chosen student was a true academic prodigy, reportedly from a prestigious school in a province renowned for its rigorous college entrance exams. His grades had consistently remained at the top.
Beyond him, the only other Exploration Department student, four others from his school had also successfully passed the cultural retest and enrolled in the Research Department.
The caliber of his background was self-evident.
Moreover, his appearance exuded an undeniable air of intelligence. With glasses, a buzz cut, and square, defined features, he naturally gave off the impression of a born science and engineering genius.
He was the kind of person where, if your answers didn’t match his, you would instinctively doubt your own correctness.
His reason for being elected was simple: he promised to provide his notes for everyone to consult, free of charge.
“Why are all the Exploration Department students academic prodigies?” Huang Xiu muttered, wiping away non-existent cold sweat under immense pressure.
Not to mention the class monitor candidates, even among those who just ran for academic representative, every single one was an academic powerhouse far superior to her.
‘This shouldn’t be right!’ she thought. ‘Shouldn’t Awakened individuals be like me—ordinary people with average grades and rich inner lives?’
To reclaim her dignity as an ordinary student, Huang Xiu turned to Ying Zhiyu and asked, “Xiao Yu, how were your grades back in school?”
“Me?” Ying Zhiyu scratched her head, a sheepish expression on her face. “My grades were pretty average!”
“I usually hovered around eighth or ninth in class. I can’t compare to these academic prodigies at all.”
‘Pfft!’ Huang Xiu felt like spitting blood. Eighth or ninth place was still incredibly good! She herself had consistently ranked in the twenties.
Huang Xiu looked at Ying Zhiyu, her eyes wide with disbelief. Even the adorable Ying Zhiyu was a top student!
“Bu Chenghua, what about you?” Huang Xiu asked, unwilling to give up.
Bu Chenghua, having quickly adjusted his mindset and recovered from his election loss, replied with a smile, “Me? I was alright, top ten in the grade.”
‘Pfft!’
*Spits blood.*
Liu Lu, seemingly anticipating Huang Xiu’s next question, interjected before she could ask. “I was also in the top five of my class!”
‘Damn it! These cursed academic prodigies!’
Huang Xiu gritted her teeth. It seemed she was truly the only academic slacker among her circle of classmates.
“Sister Xiu Xiu, how were your high school grades?” Ying Zhiyu asked, looking at Huang Xiu with innocent curiosity, successfully wounding her with her words.
Huang Xiu toyed with the ends of her hair, wrapping a strand around her pinky finger.
With a pitiful expression, she replied, “Young Ah Xiu’s high school grades were not ideal.”
“Young?” Ying Zhiyu tilted her head.
“I was just making a joke!” Huang Xiu quickly blurted out, her heart pounding with panic. ‘Damn it, it just slipped out naturally.’
“What joke?” Ying Zhiyu asked curiously.
“Cough, cough.” Bu Chenghua interjected promptly. “It’s a very boring, old joke. You don’t need to know.”
After speaking, he cast a sidelong glance at Huang Xiu, as if to say, ‘So this is the real Huang Xiu.’
The group chatted for a while longer. More than half of the students running for practical committee member had already gone up, including Liu Lu.
Tian Rong checked his phone, narrowed his eyes, and announced loudly, “The next candidate is Huang Xiu.”
“Sister Xiu Xiu, it’s your turn!” Ying Zhiyu whispered a reminder.
Huang Xiu nodded, her throat bobbing imperceptibly, then rose and walked to the front of the crowd.
Even counting yesterday’s incident, this was only her second time speaking before so many people.
It was impossible not to be nervous.
Taking a deep breath, Huang Xiu delivered the campaign speech she had meticulously prepared in her mind.
“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Huang Xiu. You should all be familiar with me. Yes, I am the one you often discuss—the only A-grade… nationwide…”
She looked at the many people before her, watching her silently, listening to her speech.
Their eyes held curiosity, longing, admiration, and for some, a deeply hidden trace of—jealousy.
For some reason, Huang Xiu suddenly felt less nervous.
Because, without realizing it, she seemed to have become an exceptionally outstanding person in the eyes of others.
She had become the one to be envied.
Huang Xiu’s tone grew increasingly firm as she spoke, casually altering the speech she had originally prepared.
“I am confident I possess the ability to ensure everyone’s safety during practical outings…”
She paused, then continued, “Because the fact proves, I am the strongest freshman of this cohort!”
Having finished, Huang Xiu bowed.
Then, amidst crisp applause, she turned and strode back to her previous spot without a backward glance.
As she walked, she could feel countless gazes following her every move, making her entire body tense involuntarily.
Only when she sat back down did those gazes gradually dissipate.
It was then that Huang Xiu finally emerged from her impassioned state, realizing what outlandish things she had just said.
“Sister Xiu Xiu, you were super cool just now!” Ying Zhiyu, beside her, gave a thumbs-up, transforming into her personal cheerleading squad!
“Cool… cool my ass!”
Huang Xiu covered her face with her right hand, a faint blush of shame spreading across her cheeks.
She had gotten carried away, completely losing control of her mouth during her campaign speech and saying something so audacious.
Now, surely no one would vote for her!
“Huang Xiu’s speech was very confident and excellent,” Tian Rong said, standing on stage with a smile. “Next, those who believe Huang Xiu is suitable to be the practical committee member, please raise your hands after the countdown ends.”
There was no rule preventing self-voting, so when Huang Xiu heard the voting begin, she instinctively cast a vote for herself.
She raised her hand, her face slightly flushed, and looked forward. Everywhere her gaze landed, hands were raised high.
At that moment, Huang Xiu suddenly realized… the number of people who voted for her seemed to be quite significant?