9: Chapter 9 The Insignificant Character in a Pampered Novel

Unsurprisingly, Xu Zhao secured the first place in the school's preliminary exam, confirming her spot in the city-wide preliminaries.

"Zhao Zhao, I have something to tell you."

Xu Zhao looked up with a hint of resentment; whenever she wanted to close her eyes and rest for a bit, Xu Jiao would appear.

"What is it?"

"Let's go outside to talk." Xu Jiao looked at her expectantly.

Xu Zhao raised an eyebrow and followed her out of the classroom.

It happened to be lunch break, so there was almost no one by the school's small river.

After listening to Xu Jiao's long speech, Xu Zhao couldn't help but laugh, looking at her as if she were an idiot.

"Zhao Zhao, why are you looking at me like that? I think this is good for both you and A-Yan. You're only losing one opportunity, but this competition is too important for A-Yan. If you can give up this spot, I, A-Yan, and the Li Family will all be grateful to you—grateful to our Xu Family."

"Xu Jiao, please use your brain, okay? It's gone rusty."

"Pfft—"

There seemed to be movement in the bushes. Xu Zhao's ears twitched slightly, but she didn't pay it any mind.

"Zhao Zhao, how can you say that about me!"

"What do you take a national selection for? Everyone has put in their own blood, sweat, and effort; everyone deserves their spot."

"No, A-Yan worked hard too. He was just a little short; he came in 6th, just barely missing the cut for the preliminaries."

"Setting aside that I won't give him my spot, even if I did, he would still have to pass the city competition to participate in the national competition, and then win the national competition to represent the country in the international one. Does he have that capability? The fact is, he couldn't even get a preliminary spot from the school."

"It's not like that! Anyway, I don't care, I don't care about any of that. Xu Zhao, I'm begging you, please give the spot to A-Yan. He can't lose this chance. A-Yan's father promised his grandfather that he would definitely bring back a major prize this time." And then, he would ruthlessly slap Li Shaoheng's face, showing that the Li Family didn't just have Li Shaoheng.

But who would have thought that A-Yan wouldn't even make the top 5, failing to even get a spot to represent the school in the city competition.

"Instead of begging me, you should beg yourself. If you hadn't distracted him, maybe Li Yan, that perennial runner-up, might have actually stood a chance of getting a preliminary spot. Let him learn his lesson and try again next year."

"Xu Zhao!" A sharp voice pierced the air. Xu Jiao's eyes widened in disbelief. "How can you be so cruel! A-Yan and I are truly in love, and you actually want to separate us!"

Xu Zhao silently rolled her eyes: Is that what I meant? I'd love for you two to get married right now so you don't go around ruining anyone else.

In the nearby bushes, the two people crouching there were laughing uncontrollably. Zhou Chi poked Cheng Yi: "Perennial runner-up, he really is a perennial runner-up! Sigh, are we even worthy of worrying about Study God Xu being bullied?" The underachiever duo was having a blast.

The joyful atmosphere suddenly infected the sleepy-eyed Gu Yunjing.

He had been having a perfectly good nap when he was inexplicably dragged along by Cheng Yi to make up the numbers, saying that their little tutor's sister was going to bully the little tutor.

He rolled his eyes. What was the point of these two rubbing their hands in anticipation? Was the little tutor in their eyes really that easy to bully? Recalling how the little tutor had just secretly rolled her eyes at Xu Jiao—the same way he did—he couldn't help but let out a silent chuckle.

"Am I his father? Or his mother? Or his girlfriend? Why should I give him my spot?"

Xu Jiao instantly exploded. "I knew it! Xu Zhao, you like A-Yan too. You're jealous that I have A-Yan's love, so that's why you won't agree to give him the spot!"

Xu Zhao took a deep breath. Such logic!

"Xu Jiao, wake up! What would I like about him? Like that his grades are worse than mine? Like that he hugs and kisses girls at school regardless of the setting? Or like a man who cowers behind his girlfriend and has her come beg me to give him a competition spot?"

Have some shame, will you?!

Xu Jiao was momentarily speechless, her face turning red with frustration, before she stammered, "But A-Yan is handsome, and his family background is good..."

"According to you, as long as someone fits that, I have to like them? Then I might as well like Zhou Chi; isn't he better than him?"

Indeed, although the underachiever trio's grades weren't great, their family backgrounds were top-tier. Zhou Chi's father was incredibly smooth-tongued in the business world. While the Zhou Family couldn't compare to the Li Family, Li Yan was merely from a branch family, whereas Zhou Chi was the genuine heir.

As for that little rascal Zhou Chi, while he wasn't exactly 'elegant as a jade tree,' he could still pass for handsome as long as he kept his mouth shut.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Zhou Chi, in the bushes, felt the surrounding temperature drop. He turned his head and met a pair of cold eyes: "Gu... Brother Gu..."

He turned his head again and met Cheng Yi's bizarre gaze: "O-Old Cheng, what's with that look?"

Cheng Yi said ominously, "I didn't expect that an idiot like you could actually be favored by the Study God."

Zhou Chi swallowed hard and turned back to look at Study God Xu standing in the middle—she was a bit thin, and he usually preferred girls with a bit more meat on them. But then again, Study God Xu had good grades, good patience, and a good temper when she taught them; she didn't try to please them, nor did she look down on them. Moreover, Study God Xu wasn't ugly at all; even those hideous black-rimmed glasses seemed a bit more pleasing to the eye against her porcelain-white face.

It seemed it wasn't impossible—Zhou Chi thought to himself. Mainly, if he could have a girlfriend like Study God Xu, it would be enough for his dad to brag about for a lifetime.

Zhou Chi's father: Although my son is a failure, my daughter-in-law is a great Study God—the kind who wins national awards! Maybe even international ones.

It would bring glory to the family!

"How can they compare! Zhou Chi and his friends are school bullies, and their grades are terrible," Xu Jiao said indignantly.

Xu Zhao: "Either way, neither can beat me in an exam. What's the difference between Zhou Chi and Li Yan?"

These words even stirred up the long-dormant 1105: "You're first in the grade, you have the final say."

"At least Zhou Chi is better at fighting than Li Yan," she added, twisting the knife.

1105 was a bit excited: "Zhao Zhao, look at Gu Yunjing! He's clearly better. Don't be blind."

With a flick of her hand, Xu Zhao sent 1105 back into the little dark room.

Xu Jiao knew something was off about those words, but for a moment, she didn't know how to refute them; they actually seemed to make some sense.

"Zha-Zhao Zhao, so, so do you like Zhou Chi?" Xu Jiao's pretty face was unreadable.

Gu Yunjing felt strangely stifled. He was the one who threw her the jacket, right? How did it turn into her liking Zhou Chi? This was the first time he had ever tasted the feeling of being ignored.

"But Zhao Zhao—" Xu Jiao looked troubled. "Not that I want to say this, but someone like you... Zhou Chi won't like you." Her figure wasn't great, her looks weren't as delicate and lovable as her own, and her personality was gloomy and dull.

"I don't want to discourage you, but the fact is you really are lacking. Don't get tricked by people," Xu Jiao said with an 'I'm doing this for your own good' expression.

"No, I... I think I'm okay with it." In the bushes, Zhou Chi stood up, stealing a rare, bashful glance at Study God Xu, looking a bit embarrassed.

Since Zhou Chi had stood up, there was no need for Cheng Yi and Gu Yunjing to hide anymore, so they both walked out.

Xu Zhao frowned. She knew someone was in the bushes, but she hadn't expected it to be these three.

"Why are you adding to the mess? Let's go." Gu Yunjing grabbed Zhou Chi by the back of his collar and started walking in the opposite direction without a word.

Unfortunately, while he grabbed one with one hand, he missed another.

Cheng Yi suddenly turned around, looked in Xu Zhao's direction, and said, "Study God, do you need a boyfriend? I'm available too."

Cheng Yi: Getting along with the Study God is quite pleasant. I can't let her lose face; I have to back her up in public.

Gu Yunjing: ...

Wake up, you two!

The little tutor was just using him as an example, why are you joining in the chaos!