Chapter 69: Brooke York is Shameless
"Brooke, you’re studying!"
Alice Cole walked into Brooke York’s room and saw her sitting at her desk, studying.
"Mom!" Brooke York put down her book.
"Don’t work yourself too hard. Studying is important, but your health is what matters most."
"I know."
"Brooke, were you upset about something? Is that why you didn’t do well on the exam?" Alice Cole asked, her tone careful and probing.
Hearing this, Brooke York knew her mother had already seen her score.
"Mom, I was worried about Chloe. Her scores are usually so low, and I was afraid she’d feel bad if I got a really high score. So I deliberately aimed a little lower. I honestly never expected she’d score over eighty!"
Brooke was implying that she had intentionally scored low to save Chloe’s face.
She just never expected Chloe to go and quietly get a high score. Nobody would have thought she was capable of a score like that.
"Oh, I knew it! I was wondering how your score could possibly be that low. It turns out you were holding back on purpose!"
"If you ask me, that Chloe York is just so unpleasant. She definitely didn’t earn that score. She must have cheated."
Brooke York didn’t say anything, just smiled, but her meaning was clear.
"Alright, well, you focus on your studies and get some rest. The principal can’t possibly help Chloe York every time. If she gets caught, the fallout will be terrible!"
Alice Cole’s words were meant to comfort Brooke York and tell her not to worry about it.
Brooke York nodded and watched Alice Cole close the door. The moment it shut, the smile vanished from her face.
’I’m not sure if the principal helped her cheat, but this time, my score is practically the same as Chloe’s. It’s so humiliating.’
"Alright, class. I’ve sent the results of your third mock exam to your parents via text message. I’m sure you’ve all seen your scores by now, so you should know where you stand."
"Next, your subject teachers will be handing back your exams. I want everyone to look over their graded papers to see where they lost points. If there’s anything you don’t understand, make sure you figure it out. And for any points lost to carelessness, make sure the lesson sticks."
After speaking, the homeroom teacher began to hand out the exams. Unlike before, she didn’t announce the score with each name, but simply called out the names.
This prevented the students who were curious about Chloe York’s score from finding out right away.
"This teacher is such a bitch. She’s usually so eager to announce everyone’s scores, but now she suddenly decides not to!" Stella Winters said with disgust, looking at the homeroom teacher on the dais before whispering in Chloe York’s ear.
"It doesn’t matter whether she announces them or not. Once the scores are officially out, there’s no escaping her public apology to me in front of the whole school."
Stella Winters nodded. "That’s true. I can’t wait for that. It’s going to be so satisfying."
Looking at the exam in her hand, the homeroom teacher’s gaze fell upon Chloe York. "Chloe York!"
Hearing her name, Chloe York stood up and walked toward the lectern. She took her exam and saw the number written in red ink: 86!
’This score is a far cry from what I got on the second mock exam in my original world. My Language Arts score back then was a 98; I only lost two points on the essay.’
’As the top scorer on the college entrance exams, my essay was even published in the newspaper.’
Scholar System: [Congratulations, Host. You have successfully scored above fifty in every subject on this mock exam. Reward: Memory Value +5, Wisdom Value +5.]
Godly Rich System: [Wow, congratulations, Host! We didn’t dare give you any quests these past few days. We were afraid of distracting you and making you lose the bet!]
Physical System: [Yeah, yeah! Now we can get ready to start sending you quests again.]
Listening to the systems, Chloe York felt happy. She really liked this arrangement and was very satisfied with it.
’Thank you all!’ Chloe York thought, genuinely grateful. ’Without these systems, I never would have improved so quickly. I wouldn’t be in a position to win this bet, my body wouldn’t be this healthy, and I wouldn’t have any money.’
Scholar System: [No need to be so formal! You’ve been working hard too, Host!]
Physical System: [That’s right! This is the first time we’ve ever been bound to a host as a group of three!]
Godly Rich System: [The Host is awesome!]
As she walked back from the lectern with her exam, students on both sides tried to see her score.
Chloe York didn’t try to hide it, casually carrying the exam back to her seat.
Quite a few students saw the score: 86.
"Whoa, Chloe York got an 86."
"That’s amazing! I just saw Brooke York’s score, and she only got an 87!"
"Holy crap, that’s insane! In just one month! That’s it, I have to work harder. If Chloe York can go from rock bottom to an 86, then someone like me who’s already getting 60s can definitely do it too."
The students’ excited discussions grew louder, and the whole classroom started to get rowdy.
Suddenly, there was the sound of a hand slapping a desk. "Quiet! Do you all think you did that well on the exam?"
The homeroom teacher snapped, and the students immediately fell silent, not daring to speak.
"Compared to the first mock exam, the overall average for our Class Six has dropped. And what does that mean? It means your grades are getting worse!"
"And you’re all happily chatting? During the next mock exam, do you want our entire class to be sent to the lowest-ranked exam room?"
The students glanced at each other or looked at the teacher, but no one said a word. The homeroom teacher always said things like this, telling them they were worse than other classes.
Seeing that the students had quieted down, the homeroom teacher’s anger subsided a little.
She continued handing out the exams. When she got to Brooke York, her expression soured again.
"Brooke York!" Her tone was not pleasant. Everyone knew that the homeroom teacher usually called Brooke York’s name gently, but this time her voice was tinged with resentment.
Brooke York felt it too, of course. She pursed her lips, suppressed her unease, and stood up to go to the lectern and get her exam.
"Your performance has slipped," the homeroom teacher said to her.
"I’ll adjust my mindset, Teacher. I’ll strive to do better on the next mock exam."
The homeroom teacher nodded and continued handing out the exams.
Brooke York folded her paper slightly to hide the score as she walked back from the lectern.
The students on either side of the aisle wanted to see Brooke York’s score. After all, if Chloe York got a score in the eighties, they were curious to see what Brooke got.
But Brooke York blocked it completely, and they couldn’t see a thing.
Back in her seat, Brooke York unfolded her exam and looked at the score. Only an 87. This was a score she should never have gotten.
Clara Bell snuck a peek at Brooke York’s score. When she saw the 87, she felt a flicker of disdain. ’I thought she was supposed to be so amazing, but it looks like her grades are slipping too.’
Suddenly realizing this was a good opportunity to make up with her, Clara Bell leaned closer to Brooke York.
"Brooke, don’t be discouraged. I’m sure you’ll score over ninety-five on the next mock exam."
Brooke York didn’t really want to talk to Clara Bell, but then she remembered that she didn’t have anyone to do her bidding anymore. ’Having her around could be useful.’
"I think so too!"
Hearing Brooke York respond, Clara Bell was instantly delighted. It seemed Brooke still wanted to be friends with her after all.
"Chloe York, come out here a moment!" the homeroom teacher said suddenly, after she had finished handing out all the exams.