11: Chapter 11 The Little Nobody in a Pampered Novel 11

In her past life, this had happened before.

The consistently obedient Xu Zhao didn't object to her parents' wishes and was forced to stay home by Xu Congtao. They lied to the public, claiming she was in poor health and hospitalized, making her unable to participate in the city-level competition.

Thus, her spot was naturally taken by the sixth-place finisher, Li Yan.

Because of this, Li Yan gained some recognition. The Li Family portrayed him as a top student—good-looking with outstanding grades.

But in the end, he didn't win any awards.

Just as Zhao Yan had said, how could someone who couldn't even secure a spot in the school's preliminary rounds think they could enter city-level, national, or even world-class competitions?

That year's National Mathematical Olympiad champion was from The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China, but the world champion was not Chinese.

In this life, she was here. Everything owed to Xu Zhao would be repaid!

The next day was the midterm exam.

Since they weren't in the same class or exam hall, the Slacker Trio didn't notice at first that the Study God hadn't come.

That evening, Xu Zhao didn't show up at the lounge. They messaged her, but there was no reply, and her phone was off. The three grew worried and pestered their homeroom teacher, Teacher Li, to get information from Teacher Chen.

Teacher Chen had received a call from the Parents of the Xu Family early that morning, saying Xu Zhao was hospitalized. She had even offered a few words of comfort.

But after three consecutive days, even after the midterms were over, Xu Zhao still hadn't returned to school. Teacher Chen began to feel that something was wrong.

Just then, the homeroom teacher of Class 6 walked into the office beaming. As soon as he entered, he said to Teacher Chen with a smile, "Your class's Xu Zhao is impressive, but it's a pity she's in poor health and can't participate in the city-level competition this time. Li Yan from our class, who came in sixth, will have to take her place."

Hearing this, Teacher Chen froze on the spot.

"Who did you say? What happened to Xu Zhao?"

"According to her parents and the principal, she's apparently so sick she can't get out of bed. She won't make it to the city-level selection in half a month," said Teacher Li from Class 6, shrugging.

"Impossible!" Teacher Chen instinctively retorted. Although Xu Zhao was a bit thin, her physical health had always been good.

She had a stubborn streak in her bones, and this was the competition she valued most. How could she give up so easily?

"What illness? What illness does Xu Zhao have?"

Teacher Li curled his lip. "How should I know?"

"I'm going to the principal to get to the bottom of this." Teacher Li from Class 3, who shared the same office, took a few quick steps and stopped Teacher Chen. "I heard from Zhou Chi that Xu Zhao was perfectly fine when she was tutoring them the night before the midterms. Later, she was called home by her family. Before that, her older sister, Xu Jiao, had approached her privately, hoping she would withdraw from the competition. If she did, Li Yan, who was in sixth place, would have a chance to compete."

"Aren't Xu Jiao and Li Yan—" Teacher Li made a gesture indicating they were a couple. "Li Yan is also from the Li Family. The complications involved are hard to say, and the principal's office is likely just going along with it."

Teacher Chen understood instantly, and a surge of anger welled up from her heart. How could they treat a child like this? What did they think the competition was?

"Thank you, Teacher Li. But Xu Zhao is my student. I know how important this exam is to her. I still need to go to the principal's office to find out the truth."

Teacher Chen happened to run into the trio looking for her, and the group grew to four as they marched off.

Inside the principal's office.

"You are aiding and abetting a villain, encouraging unhealthy practices! This is about selecting talent for the country, bringing glory to the nation, and cultivating scientific talent! You... you're actually playing deaf and mute just to curry favor with a financial tycoon!"

"I don't care how powerful or great the Li Family is! If Li Yan wants it, he should earn it himself. No one can touch my student's spot!"

"Xu Zhao is still a minor under eighteen. What do the Parents of the Xu Family want? What exactly did they conspire to do to Xu Zhao?"

"Teacher Chen, have you had enough? The Xu Family has already explained that Xu Zhao cannot participate due to personal reasons; it has nothing to do with anyone else," the principal said, suppressing his anger.

"How can there be so many coincidences! One moment the Li Family wants the spot, and the next, Xu Zhao is sick. What illness does she have? Her phone is off—this is illegal detention!"

"Xu Zhao is my student. I must see her today! I need to ensure she is healthy and safe!"

"Fine, you don't dare offend the Li Family, and you don't want to offend the Xu Family either! I'll go. I'm applying for a home visit right now. I'm going to the Xu Family home, and I won't stop until I see Xu Zhao standing before me in one piece."

From inside the room came bursts of arguing. Teacher Chen's indignation had already alerted many outside.

Finally, there was the sound of a hand slamming on a desk, and a powerful voice shouted: "Chen Jinmin, you're fired! You're no longer a teacher at Yinghua High School. You have no right to conduct a home visit."

Teacher Chen storming out of the office, the door slamming shut behind her.

The trio outside had heard the argument in the office clearly. After Teacher Chen left, the principal and others remained in the office, their anger still simmering. Looking up, they saw an exquisite young man walk in, his brow filled with hostility. They couldn't help but shrink back.

"Gu, Gu Yunjing, what are you doing here?" This one was also a little ancestor.

"I thought Yinghua was something special. The old man even said I was beneath it. He really should open his eyes and take a good look." Gu Yunjing turned and left.

Zhou Chi and Cheng Yi followed closely behind. Seeing the direction he was heading, he wasn't going back to the classroom.

"Gu, Brother Gu, class is still in session. Where are you going?"

"Has studying hard these past two months made you two forget who you really are?" Skipping class—did he even need to say it?

"The Study God isn't even here. Who are we attending class for?" Zhou Chi reacted immediately.

They used to skip class often, but since they started the Study God's tutoring sessions, she had patted her chest and said she could help them pass, on the condition that they weren't allowed to skip class or miss her tutoring and evening self-study sessions.

After sticking with it for two months, they actually passed their midterms.

Zhou Chi's math hadn't been a passing grade since middle school. He had stopped hoping for it. Who would have thought that one day he could actually pass?

His physics used to be a disaster too, but this time he didn't contribute to lowering the class average.

Zhou Chi's father was so happy that various rewards arrived in no time. It was very satisfying.

But the person he most wanted to share his joy and happiness with wasn't there. Zhou Chi thought to himself: Xu Zhao is such a good girl, why is her fate so full of hardships?

Gu Yunjing's brow was furrowed. The Little Tutor valued this competition very much. They actually dared to touch her spot. With her stubborn personality, she would never compromise.

So, was she okay now?

Judging by the Xu Family's attitude towards her—being able to disregard her at school for the sake of their own business—it was hard to guarantee they wouldn't do something extreme to force her hand.

He hoped—hoped the Little Tutor could know when to yield and when to stand tall for once and be a bit soft, so she wouldn't get hurt.

At least until he found her.

At this moment, Xu Zhao was lying on the bed in her room, watching the events at school that system 1105 was transmitting to her mind.

When she saw Teacher Chen standing up for her and being fired by Yinghua, and Gu Yunjing saying those words to the principal, she understood a little why the young girl was grateful to these two and wanted to help Gu Yunjing, even feeling somewhat indebted to him.

That was why, in this life, when Zhou Chi asked her to tutor Gu Yunjing, she agreed without a second thought. This was also the original host's wish.

In her past life, the original host and Gu Yunjing weren't close; they were just strangers who had met once or twice. They didn't even know each other's names.

But when Teacher Chen's argument with the principal failed, Gu Yunjing happened to overhear it. He said the same things then as he did in this life. After going home, he told his grandfather about it, and the Gu Family actually investigated. However, under the coercion of the Xu Family, Xu Zhao admitted she was indeed sick and had voluntarily given up the competition. In the end, the matter was dropped.

The girl felt that he was probably one of the few good people she had encountered in her short life. Yet she had let down his kindness. She hadn't persisted for her dream until the end. She had failed him, and she had failed Teacher Chen.

Food was placed at the door.

Nanny Xu looked at the untouched food, shook her head, and took it away.

"She hasn't eaten again?"

"Yes, Second Young Master."

"Tch... who is she trying to show with this hunger strike? Starve her for three days, and we'll see if she eats then."

Nanny Xu hesitated to speak. She really wanted to say: Actually, this is already the fourth day.

The Young Miss wasn't eating or opening her door. The room was silent. If it weren't for the occasional sound of coughing, she would really worry that something had happened to her inside.