Chapter 72: Trending for the Wrong Reasons
Back in the classroom, Brooke York shot a smug glance at Chloe York, who was studying diligently, before returning to her own seat.
"Brooke, where were you just now?" Seeing that Brooke York had been gone for the entire break, Clara Bell couldn’t wait to ask the moment she returned.
"Why are you so nosy?" Brooke York sounded quite impatient at Clara Bell’s question.
’If I take care of the homeroom teacher, the nail that sticks out, I don’t think I’ll need to play nice with Clara Bell anymore,’ she thought. ’After all, she’s completely useless and only ever makes things worse.’
"Hey, I was just curious. We’re friends, aren’t we? If you need my help with something, telling me about it lets me know what’s going on ahead of time!"
’She’s not wrong,’ Brooke thought. ’Clara might be useless, but I can’t just burn that bridge yet. Who knows, I might still have a use for her.’
After some thought, Brooke York decided to be vague. "Let’s just say I was out doing a good deed. You’ll find out in a day or two."
Brooke York was being deliberately mysterious, saying something without really saying anything, so Clara Bell didn’t press the issue.
’But still, I’m curious,’ she mused. ’Someone like Brooke York, going out of her way to help someone?’
’Don’t tell me she hired someone to pretend they were in trouble, then swooped in to ’help’ them and had it all filmed, just to build the same kind of do-gooder image as Chloe York!’
「The Principal’s Office」
"What is it? Is this about your apology? We can do it on the main athletic field today!" When Jordan Walton saw the homeroom teacher approaching him, he didn’t immediately register what was happening.
Then it dawned on him that the teacher was likely there to discuss the apology, so he started making arrangements out of habit, his fingers still tapping away at the keyboard, his eyes never leaving the computer screen.
"Principal, I never said I would apologize. I am not going to apologize, and I am not leaving this school."
Jordan Walton stopped what he was doing and looked at the homeroom teacher.
"Who’s to say she didn’t have help?" the homeroom teacher said firmly. His attitude was far more arrogant than during his last visit, and he shot a meaningful glance at Jordan Walton.
"Mr. Hale, what are you implying? What are you suspecting me of?" Jordan Walton knew immediately what the man was suggesting.
"Principal, you helped Chloe York cheat, didn’t you!" the homeroom teacher said bluntly, not beating around the bush.
"Mr. Hale!" Jordan Walton slammed his hands on the desk and shot to his feet. He couldn’t believe Mr. Hale would think such a thing, let alone direct the suspicion at him. "Slandering someone is a serious offense, and I can hold you accountable for it."
"Slander? Hah! Principal, do you even believe it yourself? I’m asking you, do you? Someone who scored a single point on the first mock exam is suddenly getting over eighty on the second? What, do you take us for idiots? It’s painfully obvious you helped Chloe York cheat!"
"Mr. Hale, you need evidence to make these kinds of accusations. A student’s progress should be celebrated, not met with suspicion of cheating. In your eyes, does any student who improves their grades automatically a cheater?"
"Other students can improve, but it’s impossible for Chloe York. Or let me rephrase—she can improve, but not by this many points."
"The exams were graded by you and the other subject teachers. The exams were proctored by you. How could I have possibly helped her cheat?"
"You have your ways, I’m sure!"
They went back and forth, neither giving an inch.
Seeing that the homeroom teacher was dead set on believing he had helped her cheat, Jordan Walton’s expression hardened. "Mr. Hale, this school is too small to house a ’great master’ like you. You should resign."
"My resigning is impossible, and you firing me is also impossible. I’ve already made that perfectly clear."
"Then let me make my position clear right now. You must leave this school, even if I have to fire you and pay severance." Jordan Walton knew he couldn’t let Mr. Hale stay; it would damage the school’s reputation.
Thanks to Chloe York’s good deeds, winning the bet, and her rapid academic improvement, many people had been calling to inquire about enrolling at their school.
Letting Mr. Hale continue to cause trouble like this would have a terrible impact on the school.
Jordan Walton’s tone and attitude made the homeroom teacher’s heart skip a beat. This school was not short on funds. If they really wanted to fire him, paying him severance to get him out the door would be a trivial matter.
His only intention had been to keep his job without having to apologize.
"Principal, if you let me get out of the apology, I don’t necessarily have to leave the school. And I won’t tell anyone that you helped Chloe York cheat," Mr. Hale said, softening his tone.
Hearing this, Jordan Walton let out a cold laugh. "Mr. Hale, how many times do I have to tell you? Bring out your proof. Show me the evidence that I helped Chloe York cheat."
Of course, the homeroom teacher had no evidence. He had even proctored the exam himself and seen Chloe York answering the questions with her own two hands. ’The principal must have been too clever about it,’ he thought. ’I have no idea how he actually helped her cheat.’
"Principal, you should know that I don’t need proof. As long as I put the story out there, people will start speculating. Your reputation, and the school’s, will be dragged through the mud!"
Jordan Walton slammed his hand on the desk again, glaring at the homeroom teacher.
’He’s right about that,’ Jordan thought grimly. ’There’s no smoke without fire. Even if it’s a complete lie, once someone makes a negative accusation online, it gets treated as the truth, regardless of the facts. The school’s reputation will absolutely take a hit.’
"Mr. Hale, a clear conscience fears no accusation. Do what you will. No matter what you post, I’m confident the truth will come to light when the college entrance exam scores are released!"
"As for you, you’re fired. Your severance will be paid out according to standard procedure. Leave the school today."
With that said, Jordan Walton ignored the homeroom teacher and returned to his work.
Mr. Hale never imagined that not only would his threats fail, but he would also end up losing his job entirely.
’Since they won’t let me off easy, then none of them will get off easy either,’ he fumed.
Physical System: [Host, go to sleep before 11 PM for six consecutive nights to receive a reward: Beauty Doubled!]
"Beauty doubled?"
Physical System: [That’s right! Host’s skin will get better, your features will become more refined, and your hair will grow thicker and darker. Basically, you’ll just keep getting prettier.]
’Beauty?’ Chloe York was already quite satisfied with her looks, but...
"I mean, that’s fine, but I have to study for the next few days! How about we start in a few days?" Chloe York tried to negotiate.
She wasn’t satisfied with her scores on the second mock exam, so she had created a study plan for herself that required her to study until midnight every night.
Now the Physical System was asking her to be asleep before 11 PM every day, which was going to be difficult.
Physical System: [Oh, don’t worry, Host! It’s okay! If you go to sleep earlier, you’ll be well-rested, and your Memory will improve. That will help your grades improve, too!]
The Physical System had a point. "Alright, I accept the mission!"
Chloe York accepted the mission. ’I’ll just have to start studying earlier in the evening,’ she decided.
That night, trending topics suddenly began appearing online.
#The Inside Story of Hero Student Chloe York’s Exam Cheating!#
#Principal Helps Student Cheat, Score Jumps From 1 to 80?#