Chapter 8: This Student, We Cannot Accept

Ning Li paused, then slowly turned around.

It was currently the break between classes. A few boys and girls were standing together, pointing at her.

Upon seeing Ning Li’s face, the group froze in unison.

Immediately after, one of the girls curled her lip, her eyes filled with mockery and disdain.

"Ye Ci is so pitiful, having to live with someone like this. The daughter of a murderer—who knows, she might be a murderer herself one day!"

She didn't lower her voice, so Ning Li heard her clearly.

The other party had intended for her to hear it all along.

—Her father killed someone! What if she’s just like her father?

—Teacher! I don't want to sit next to her!

—Her mother ran away, too! There must be something wrong with both her and her father!

—Haha! So what if she gets first place? A little bastard with no one to raise her and no one who wants her!

Chaotic, shrill voices flooded her mind, making her temples throb with pain.

She had heard words like these countless times since she could remember.

At the very beginning, she had been bewildered and lost, not knowing what she had done wrong, and could only run home crying.

Her grandmother would hold her, repeating over and over: "Our A-Li isn't unwanted; A-Li is the best child in the world."

Grandmother said she hadn't done anything wrong.

But her voice was too weak.

Ning Li tried many methods, but she still couldn't stop the targeting from others.

Later, she learned to be silent, living her life as a transparent person.

Average grades, introverted personality, quiet and reserved.

Gradually, those people finally felt it was boring and left her alone.

Until—Su Yuan brought her back to the Ye family.

They told her to work hard and strive for success.

She thought that if she were outstanding enough, she would win their acceptance.

But when she took the first monthly exam after enrolling and scored higher than Ye Ci, what greeted her were forced smiles and years of jealousy.

After dying once, she finally understood that even if a person does nothing wrong, they can still be harassed, smeared, and pushed into a desperate situation.

Some malice simply has no reason.

And silence and concession only make them more arrogant.

"What did you just say? Say it again."

Ning Li spoke in a cold voice.

The girl's voice was calm and clear, and her deep, quiet peach-blossom eyes held a bone-chilling coldness that made people shudder.

The mocking and triumphant smiles on the faces of the group instantly froze.

The girl who had spoken felt a subconscious fear, followed by shame-induced anger.

"What? Am I wrong? Who doesn't know your father drove a car and killed someone, and now you're shamelessly clinging to the Ye family!? You—"

Ning Li suddenly stepped forward.

The girl’s heart skipped a beat, and the rest of her words stuck in her throat, unable to come out.

A boy nearby sensed something was wrong and immediately stepped forward.

"What do you think you're doing!?"

This was the administration building; what could she possibly do?

Ning Li kicked him in the shin!

The boy let out a cry of pain, his face turning pale instantly.

None of them expected Ning Li to resort to violence without a word, and right in front of the Dean's office!

How could she be so arrogant?

Ning Li grabbed the girl’s school uniform collar and shoved her against the railing!

The girl felt a sharp pain in her back, and her upper body was suddenly suspended over the railing!

"Ah!"

The surrounding group stood stunned on the spot.

The girl felt a hollow sensation in her heart; the arrogance on her face finally vanished, replaced by nothing but terror.

"Help—"

"Ning Li!"

A sharp, exasperated reprimand came from nearby.

Su Yuan had gone to take care of some business and happened to run into Director Sun on her way back, so they came up together.

Who would have thought that as soon as they reached the floor, they would see such a scene!

Looking at the girl radiating coldness, as if she might push someone off the building at any moment, Su Yuan felt her temples throbbing.

"What are you doing!"

The poise cultivated from ten years of high-society life had vanished into thin air.

Su Yuan was trembling with rage.

Ning Li, however, acted as if she hadn't heard her voice at all, staring at the panicked, flushed girl with a cold, ruthless glint in her eyes.

"Apologize."

She commanded.

The girl was terrified out of her wits by her, tears streaming down her face, her pale lips trembling slightly.

"I-I'm sorry..."

Ning Li wasn't surprised that they knew about her background.

Even though she hadn't officially enrolled yet, since it involved the Ye family and Ye Ci, there were naturally plenty of people in the school "helping" to make her business known to everyone.

These people were just the vanguard.

There were no telling how many others were waiting in the shadows to step on her.

If she were to endure it blindly like in her past life, she would only end up in an even more difficult situation.

"What can be said and what cannot be said—did you remember that?"

The girl nodded hurriedly, her face covered in tear tracks.

Only then did Ning Li pull her back and let go.

The girl’s legs went weak, and she nearly collapsed to the ground.

Ning Li then looked up.

"It's nothing. I'm new here, just exchanging pleasantries with my classmates."

The hallway fell into a deathly silence.

The expressions of Sun Quan and Su Yuan became incredibly colorful.

They had seen clearly what she had just done; how could she still dare to say that?

Su Yuan couldn't help but say

"The exam isn't even over yet, and you're out here fighting? Who taught you this!"

Her reputation had been completely ruined today!

Ning Li corrected her

"I finished the exam."

Finished?

Could it be that she handed in a blank paper!?

Sun Quan walked over, his expression stern.

"Mrs. Ye, I'm afraid our No. 2 High School cannot accommodate a student like this."

She hadn't even enrolled yet, and she had already nearly pushed a classmate off the building. Who knew what she would do in the future!?

It didn't matter how much face the Ye family had!

Su Yuan was incredibly embarrassed.

Originally, it was already difficult enough to transfer Ning Li here given her grades, and now she had caused such a scene!

Whether she could attend No. 2 High School was secondary; the Ye family's reputation would also suffer.

"Director Sun..."

She wanted to offer a defense, but felt she had no standing to do so.

Recalling Ning Li’s indifferent and brazen expression just now, she felt a sense of profound unfamiliarity, and even a trace of lingering fear.

Was this really her daughter?

How could she have a daughter like this!

Sun Quan shook his head.

"Mrs. Ye, we cannot accept this student."

Just then, the door to the Dean's office was opened, and Zhou Fei hurried out, seemingly looking for someone.

"Ning Li? Ning Li?"

He turned his head, saw Ning Li, and hurried over, apologizing as he walked

"Oh, I am so sorry, I gave you the wrong test paper earlier, you—"

Noticing the strange atmosphere in the hallway, he paused, then asked belatedly

"...What's going on here?"

Sun Quan said

"It doesn't matter if you gave her the wrong paper; we aren't accepting this student."

Zhou Fei’s voice rose an octave

"How can that be!?"

Without waiting for Sun Quan to retort, he thrust the test paper forward, his face filled with irrepressible excitement

"Director Sun! Look at this paper! This is the sprint test from last year's senior rocket class! She got full marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology!"

Ning Li: If you can solve it with action, don't bother with words.

(End of chapter)