The period after the P.E. exam was a self-study session, specially arranged by the school to allow the students to take a breather while preparing for the next mock exam. Jiang Li didn’t go back to the classroom after the exam. Instead, she went directly to Director Li’s office and asked permission to see the surveillance records. The reason she gave was that she fell down during the long-distance run and was helped by someone, but she didn’t see who the person was and wanted to say thanks.
Naturally, Director Li would not refuse such a simple request. He took Jiang Li to the surveillance room and asked the teacher in charge to play the surveillance record. Since the specific time was known, the particular recording was quickly pulled out, but when Director Li saw the contents, his expression changed.
At first, when Director Li saw Shen Mian stretching out her foot and causing Jiang Li to fall, he thought there was a problem with the camera angle and worried about wrongfully accusing Shen Mian. But immediately afterward, he saw Shen Mian rush to the finish line, turn around with a provocative smile, and give a middle finger to Jiang Li.
Combining the two shots, it was clear that Shen Mian tripped Jiang Li on purpose.
Director Li turned to Jiang Li and asked, “Have you suspected someone tripped you on purpose?”
Jiang Li nodded frankly, “It was just a doubt initially, and I had no evidence.”
Because of the lack of evidence, even though Tong Yi later said that he saw Shen Mian deliberately tripping her, Jiang Li still chose a euphemistic way to look at the surveillance record.
Director Li suddenly realized that this girl was not simple. Probably because Jiang Li grew up in an orphanage, which made her extra cautious in her words and deeds. Changed to other students, most would raise a ruckus the moment they were tripped down and demanded a re-exam.
“I will deal with Shen Mian’s punishment later. As for the result of your long-distance running, I will apply for a retake for you. Although the procedure is a little troublesome, there is still a chance.” Director Li’s said gently.
However, Jiang Li shook her head and said, “No need. I want to use my time to study.”
Director Li frowned, “You received an overtime penalty during the long-distance running, which deducted your total score by two points. Although two points don’t seem much, it may determine the result of your high school entrance examination.”
Jiang Li still shook her head, “Even if Shen Mian didn’t trip me, I might still have failed to get a full score. It will be unfair to other students if I am allowed to retake the exam.”
In fact, Jiang Li was already sure about the result she was originally to have. When watching the surveillance video just now, she also carefully calculated her time and found that it was still impossible for her to get the full score even if Shen Mian hadn’t tripped her. She was already too exhausted at the time, and could not make the final spur like other students.
In other words, Shen Mian’s petty action was totally in vain.
Jiang Li was not one to waste time and energy unless she was sure of the result, not to mention there would be a mock exam next week that demanded her undivided preparation. For her now, obtaining a scholarship was the most important goal.
In addition, she also wanted to thank the girl who helped her. Although Jiang Li didn’t recognize the girl, as students of the same school, it shouldn’t be too hard to find someone. However, it seemed that she couldn’t openly look for the girl, or she would risk having her targeted by Shen Mian.
Director Li: …
Just now, he only focused on Shen Mian’s unlawful behavior and didn’t pay attention to Jiang Li’s time. Indeed, strictly speaking, even if Jiang Li was not tripped by Shen Mian, she probably would reach the finish line just barely before the time limit. However, looking at her state at the time, Jiang Li should have been too exhausted to make the last sprint like other students, and so it was almost certain that she would still end up with an overtime penalty.
What’s more, once a student finishes the exam, it is not easy to apply for a retake, no matter the reason. Seeing Jiang Li’s frankness and determination, Director Li stopped persuading her. “Shen Mian’s behavior is indeed very inappropriate, and the school will definitely deal with her. You should return to your classroom now and leave the rest to me, okay?”
Jiang Li nodded, “Thank you, Teacher Li.”
After leaving the surveillance room, Jiang Li was on the way to return to the classroom when she bumped into Shen Mian on the first floor of the faculty building. Shen Mian was also taken aback upon seeing Jiang Li, but she was slightly relieved when she saw that Jiang Li’s expression was normal.
Shen Mian put on a cold face and bypassed Jiang Li without a word. She went directly to the surveillance room and found the teacher in charge, then asked permission to see the surveillance record under the pretext of looking for her lost wallet.
The teacher glanced at Shen Mian and asked nonchalantly, “Did you lose it at the race track during the P.E. exam?”
Shen Mian nodded, “Yes! I have my ID card and bank card in my wallet, so I must find them. Oh, and you also don’t have to accompany me, Teacher. I can look at the surveillance record by myself.”
“No need to look. Go back and wait for your punishment!”
Seeing Shen Mian’s dumbfounded look, the teacher snorted coldly, “Instead of studying well, you waste your time playing tricks on your classmate. Even if she lost two exam points, what’s on it for you?”
Shen Mian: …
She… had been exposed.
Shen Mian left the faculty building totally freaked out. She went to look for Jiang Ruo, wanting to discuss countermeasures, but couldn’t find her best friend. In extreme anxiety, Shen Mian finally received the verdict: A major demerit in her school record, a compulsory self-reflection in front of the school, and voiding the score of the long-distance run exam.
Shen Mian’s sky was suddenly falling on her — she understood only too well how important these 15 points were in the high school entrance examination.
When she learned that Ruoruo had applied for the exemption before, she felt regretful on her best friend’s behalf. The full total score for the P.E. exam was 50 points. According to the rules by Minjiang Education Bureau, except for the disabled, students who applied for exemption would only receive a passing grade of 30 points.
But Ruoruo didn’t seem to care much, because in Ruoruo’s opinion, she might not be able to even get 30 points if she did the exam normally, so it was better to directly ask for a dispensation. Besides, Ruoruo’s family was rich and powerful. Even if Ruoruo didn’t perform well in the high school entrance examination, Uncle Jiang surely could find a connection to send her into the talent class.
But she was different from Ruoruo. Her family background was ordinary. Her parents were just ordinary staff at a state-owned enterprise and had no such connections.
—Her future could only be won by her effort.
Although Shen Mian seemed to be carefree, she was actually ambitious. She knew her grades in class were not as good as Ruoruo’s, but fortunately, she had advantages in sports.
But now, reality hit her hard. Without the 15 points from the long-distance running, let alone the talent class, it was hard to say whether she could even enter the experimental class at Minjiang First High School.
If her parents knew why she lost these 15 points, they would definitely scold her furiously.
Shen Mian stumbled to the faculty office, found her homeroom teacher Mrs. He, and begged with red eyes, “Teacher He, please help me. I promise I will never do this kind of thing again.”
Teacher He frowned and rubbed her temples, “I don’t know what conflict is between you and Jiang Li, but no matter what, what you have done today is unacceptable. Not only did you trip her to fall, but you also did that during an important exam whose score is included in the high school entrance examination, and you also know it.”
“I… it was just a momentary confusion. Teacher He, please help me!” Shen Mian cried.
Teacher He sighed, “Your punishment is decided by Director Li; I can’t help you.”
Seeing Shen Mian was still unrepentant, Teacher He became annoyed, “You should first go to apologize to Jiang Li, then stay well-behaved during these last few months. Your focus now is to work hard to erase that demerit from your school record before graduation.”
As for the matter of voiding the 15 points, there was no room to turn back. Otherwise, Director Li wouldn’t be nicknamed ‘Hades Li.’ Everyone knew that Director Li was fond of students with good grades, but he put even more emphasis on students’ conduct. For this reason, anyone who helped Shen Mian intercede would only draw Director Li’s ire, so Teacher He refused promptly.
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T/N:
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If that were me I’d beat her ass right there and then, I’ve done that before to a kid who thought it was funny for me to get rope burns after he yanked the one I was on while I was 2 metres or so off the ground. I lost my grip and grabbed hold of the rope again sliding down, I was furious. I kicked and punched him till the teacher came and pulled me off him, I was 8 or so at the time.