Chapter 9: Something’s Wrong

After all, she had been standing in the corner the entire time, unnoticed by anyone, let alone spoken to. There was really nothing to be nervous about.

Yet, her ambiguous answer sounded to others like Chu Han possessed a strong inner confidence, remaining poised and unyielding even in front of the big shots.

Instantly, Chu Han received a wave of envy and praise, easing the sting of being ignored last night.

She continued smiling, “Mr. Lu really is as handsome as he appears in the videos!”

“But he is quite aloof and doesn’t say much.”

“I only spoke one sentence to him the whole time,” Chu Han added, a hint of regret in her tone.

The others were wildly envious!

That was none other than the head of the prestigious Lu family!

So many people had tried desperately but couldn’t even catch a glance from him, let alone speak with him!

“Chu Han, Mr. Lu must have had a good impression of you to be willing to talk to you,” a female classmate gushed with envy.

Chu Han smiled shyly, denying it, “Not really. He talked much more with those big shots at the banquet than with me.”

“Maybe I just got noticed because of Teacher Cai’s influence,” she said modestly.

But to everyone else, it was a different story.

At a banquet filled with elites, for Mr. Lu to notice a senior student like Chu Han and even speak to her clearly meant he cared quite a bit.

Amid the growing envy, Chu Han cast a meaningful glance at Chu Qiao.

Knowing she had not only met Mr. Lu but also spoken to him, Chu Qiao must be green with jealousy.

Sigh... she had only herself to blame.

If she had obediently listened to her mother, she too might have had the chance to appear before Mr. Lu.

Although she was certain she wouldn't attract the slightest attention from Mr. Lu, nor spark his interest in talking to her,

just showing her face in front of him was a dream many longed for.

Now Chu Qiao should realize how costly it was to oppose her.

Chu Qiao felt baffled.

Though Lu Jingtian was cold by nature, he was well-mannered and treated people gently and courteously, wasn’t he?

Just the fact that he added her as a contact and transferred ten million to her proved he was an unequivocally good person!

Why did these people make it sound as if Lu Jingtian were so hard to approach that even saying a word to him was a rare honor?

“Qin Fan, do you think talking to Lu Jingtian is something to be proud of?” Chu Qiao asked her best friend.

Qin Fan shook her head.

“I don’t think so at all.”

“Talking to him benefits me nothing and just wastes my breath. What’s so honorable about that?”

“Of course, if talking to him could get me money, then that would be truly honorable.”

Oh no.

Lu Jingtian really did give her ten million.

Could it be that her way of thinking was truly out of the ordinary?

Chu Qiao began to reflect.

She had never noticed Chu Han’s gaze all along.

Chu Han pressed her lips tightly, her face slightly darkening.

She hadn’t expected that not only would she fail to see any regret or collapse on Chu Qiao’s face, but she would be completely ignored instead!

At that moment, the class bell rang.

A stern teacher in her forties entered the classroom.

Everyone quickly took their seats.

The teacher approached the podium and briefly addressed the upcoming exchange competition:

“Regarding next week’s national medical college exchange competition:

Besides the two already confirmed spots occupied by Qin Fan and Chu Han, the remaining eight places will be decided based on the ranking of the test three days from now.”

“Students, this competition is not only a chance to prove your strength but also a crucial opportunity to change your future!”

“I hope everyone prepares diligently and strives to succeed!”

The students below the podium instantly felt their blood boil with excitement.

They had all worked tirelessly since high school to earn admission to this prestigious institution, ranked third nationwide.

Who would be content with mediocrity?

With such an opportunity within reach, who wouldn’t want to seize it?

“What about me? I want to participate in the exchange competition!” Chu Qiao whispered.

Her learning and comprehension abilities were no worse than Qin Fan’s.

In the past, she had been suppressed by her family, convinced she could never surpass Chu Han and resigned to becoming an ordinary doctor at the city hospital.

But now things were different.

Now, having hit rock bottom under an even more absurd and twisted system, she was ready to rebound and felt hopeful about the future!

Qin Fan looked at Chu Qiao with satisfaction.

Though her friend seemed a little mad, her enthusiasm was truly uplifting.

“Are you sure?” Qin Fan asked, confirming.

“With your current ranking outside the top thirty, trying to break into the top eight in just three days means enduring hellish high-intensity study and practice.”

“And even securing a spot is only the beginning.”

“At the exchange competition, you’ll face one after another of prodigious geniuses that will make you question your own existence.”

“I’ve seen other schools’ talents crushed and left despondent—no one knows if they’ve recovered yet.”

But on the other hand, if she could shine spectacularly in such a competition, her future would surely be bright.

Besides...

She also wanted to test how much advantage the two skills granted by the system could bring to her specialty.

Chu Qiao pondered briefly and tossed the practice book she had finished last night onto the desk.

“This is my decision.”

Qin Fan was momentarily stunned when she saw the book.

After flipping through it, a faint look of shock appeared on her cold face.

She looked deeply into Chu Qiao’s eyes:

“To finish this entire practice book means you really are determined.”

This was the amount of homework assigned by the professor for an entire semester.

The exercises covered the most difficult topics of the semester.

She hadn’t expected Chu Qiao to complete it all in one night!

Was the awakened Chu Qiao truly terrifying in her discipline and effort?

Suppressing her astonishment, Qin Fan returned the book:

“Give me all your textbooks.”

“There are only three days left—there’s no time for make-up classes.”

“I’ll circle the key points you’ll be tested on.”

“While I can’t guarantee the questions will be exactly on those points, as long as you understand them thoroughly in these three days, getting into the top six should be no problem.”

Chu Qiao was deeply moved.

No wonder Qin Fan had been the top student for four consecutive years!

This was practically cheating.

After Qin Fan marked the key points, Chu Qiao gratefully accepted the textbooks.

“Thank you, bestie.”

“If I win first place in the exchange competition and catch the eye of a famous professor, I’ll definitely recommend you!”

Qin Fan immediately poured cold water on her hopes:

“Get the spot first, then talk.”

“With Bai Lu from Lu’an University competing, no one can take first place.”

“Even I only dare to dream of second.”

Chu Qiao was surprised:

“Bai Lu? She’s that strong?”

Her best friend usually dismissed geniuses from other schools as trash.

This was the first time Qin Fan had outright admitted defeat to someone.