During the Monday flag-raising ceremony, the school highlighted eleven students who had recently won dals and honors for the school at the just-concluded winter camp.
Five bronze, three silver, four gold—this was the best record Lanya High School had ever achieved in the history of the winter camp.
Not to ntion, the prestige of this year’s winter camp far surpassed any of the previous years.
Lanya High School had gained nationwide recognition, soaring in national rankings. The school leadership was so thrilled that they generously awarded credits, bonuses, and prizes, almost depleting their reserve.
Shen You’an stood in the Team A lineup, listening as the school leaders announced the nas of Zhu Ci, Yan Lu, and other bronze dal winners and invited them to the stage to receive their awards. Shen You’an’s lips gave a slight twitch.
Soon, it was her turn.
The awards for gold, silver, and bronze dals were handed out separately.
When the ti ca for the gold dal awards, Shen You’an was the only one to go up on stage.
Leng Yunyang skipped classes as if it were routine.
Liu Runxi was still recovering in the hospital, not yet fully healed.
Gu Bichen... According to the class president, he had taken leave.
Thus, for the gold dal presentation, Shen You’an took the stage alone.
The principal was a man in his fifties, slightly plump, whose eyes squinted into a line whenever he smiled, resembling Maitreya Buddha—a cheerful and endearing figure.
He handed the check and gift into Shen You’an’s hands, smiling warmly, "Shen, you are the pride of Lanya High School. We are so proud of you."
Shen You’an maintained an elegant smile, "Thank you, Principal. I will continue to strive."
Satisfaction in the principal’s eyes deepened.
Having worked in education for many years, he had co across countless top students and prodigies; every generation’s first-place achiever was revered.
But geniuses like Shen You’an were exceedingly rare—a true diamond in the rough. There was sothing uniquely "spirited" about her. While past first-place students were remarkable, they often carried a stifling aura of bookish rigidity, a monotonous uniformity.
Shen You’an was different. Her future promised boundless potential.
Previously, it was the students who basked in the reputation of Lanya High School. But in her case, it was Lanya High School that basked in her brilliance.
The Young Talent Class program at De Ren University was classified information. He had officially received the confidential notice two days ago: only twenty students nationwide would be accepted, and Lanya High School had secured four spots.
Thinking of this, his smile widened until his eyes disappeared completely.
"Co to my office after this; I have good news for you," he said with his hands behind his back, smiling contentedly as he walked down the stage.
The morning sunlight at eight o’clock was bright and splendid, warming the skin. The golden rays painted the world into a vibrant oil painting, transforming the young lady standing tall and graceful on center stage into an ethereal figure—a vision so captivating it rendered observers speechless.
"Shen You’an is just too spectacular. I heard that this year’s gold dal is significantly more prestigious than previous years, yet she still took first place. That’s the highest rank nationwide! And she’s so beautiful—I’m absolutely dying of envy," one girl remarked.
"She’s also the piano prodigy Pearl has set her sights on. Can’t even compare, can we? Look, Qin Xiangge didn’t even co to school today—probably too embarrassed to show her face."
In Class L’s lineup, a few girls whispered amongst themselves.
When Qin Xiangge ca up, the girls grew even more animated.
Qin Xiangge had always flaunted her dual titles as "talented girl" and "school beauty," holding herself aloof and prideful. But after Shen You’an and Luuo Yunqi had stolen the school beauty title, she pinned all her hopes on dazzling the entire campus with her piano solo during the New Year’s Eve party. She relentlessly promoted herself, to the point where high schools from neighboring districts knew she was performing a piano solo at the party.
But as everyone already knew, while she did steal the spotlight, it was for all the wrong reasons—her posts were still circulating on the forums, but unfortunately, they were all mocking her.
Before, people would avoid bad-mouthing Qin Xiangge due to her fa, though resentnt simred quietly in their hearts. Now, with Qin Xiangge’s public downfall, her reputation was in tatters overnight. Although no one was outright cruel, light jabs and mocking remarks were inevitable.
"She probably won’t dare show up at school anymore, right? Going on endlessly about being so piano genius, only to prove absolutely terrible—it’s laughable. If I were her, I’d hide far away and never appear before Shen You’an again," another girl scoffed.
"How could anyone compare with Shen You’an? She’s smart and brilliant; she’ll excel in anything she does. Even if she stepped into the entertainnt world relying on her looks, she’d rise to the top with her beauty and elegance," chid in a friend.
"She’s much prettier than Luuo Yunqi, right? Imagine if Director Cen had seen her back then—there’s no way Luuo Yunqi could’ve gotten the spotlight instead...."
The girl speaking felt her elbow nudged by her companion, who was glancing frantically and signaling her with exaggerated winks. Finally realizing what was going on, the girl awkwardly turned her head.
Luuo Yunqi was standing just two positions away, diagonally behind them.
The girl stole a quick glance—Luuo Yunqi stood quietly, head slightly bowed, her eyelids lowered, appearing calm and subdued, as though completely indifferent to the conversation about her.
Sneering inwardly, the girl pursed her lips—what was there to feel guilty about when she was only speaking the truth?
Luuo Yunqi’s hands clenched tightly inside her sleeves, and her lips curved slightly—a smile dripping with irony that disappeared almost as quickly as it had ford.
She lifted her gaze to the young lady on the stage ahead. Bathed in morning light, Shen You’an dazzled under the sun, commanding everyone’s gaze as if she embodied the very center of the universe.
A fragnt of a scene erged in her mory—a reckless young man rushing onto the stage to save her. These past days, the mont had haunted her dreams, replaying relentlessly, transforming what should have been solace into a nightmare.
Her eyes widened, the sunlight piercing her vision—burning painfully into her eyes.
Within her chest, a strange emotion surged—it ignited, consuming the depths of her soul like an unstoppable blaze.
User Comments
0 comments from readers