"I want to take the Gaokao," Xia Chuyi asserted to Director Wang.
Director Wang was taken aback by her reply, which he hadn’t anticipated to be so firm and decisive.
Afterward, Director Wang sized her up for a moment, then bowed his head in thought and remained silent for a while.
Meanwhile, Liu Chunya watched her with a schadenfreude expression the entire time, her face displaying a "Xia Chuyi, you are done for" look.
Suddenly, Director Wang said, "The thing is, Xia Chuyi, I’ve checked your first year high school grades, and they were quite average... of course, I can understand that students from rural schools have weaker foundations."
"Your performance had improved a bit."
Director Wang, a man of some eloquence, began by affirming her before continuing, "But then, you took a year off."
"High school material is difficult, and for you to think about coming back, especially to directly enter the third year, is very challenging."
Liu Chunya looked on at Director Wang with anticipation.
Xia Chuyi remained calm.
"In that case, you might as well go to the second year instead, where you can try again to see if you can keep up with the studies."
"What?" Xia Chuyi hadn’t even reacted when Liu Chunya was the first to be surprised, exclaiming, "Director Wang, how can you agree to let her come back to school?"
"Her grades were poor in the first year, and after dropping out for a year, even if she repeats the second year, she will definitely still hold others back!"
Liu Chunya, who really didn’t want to see her formidable rival, Xia Chuyi, return to school and be a nuisance, lobbied fiercely.
"Shut up!" she was abruptly interrupted by Director Wang, who said, "Liu Chunya, if I’m not mistaken, your own grades aren’t great either, are they?"
"Your teachers have reported this to me several times!"
"Moreover, you spend all day focusing on your appearance, but your grades haven’t improved at all."
"The Gaokao is just around the corner, and with you , how can you even take the exam?"
Liu Chunya had never expected that, instead of Xia Chuyi being driven away, she herself would be scolded.
"I..." Being chastised in front of her rival, Xia Chuyi, Liu Chunya was extremely embarrassed. She stamped her foot angrily, glared at Xia Chuyi a few times, wanting to leave but reluctant to miss the chance to see Xia Chuyi’s downfall, she hesitated to speak.
Fortunately for her, Director Wang only reprimanded her briefly and then turned his attention back to Xia Chuyi, saying, "How about it, Xia Chuyi, what do you think of my suggestion?"
Xia Chuyi smiled and responded to Director Wang, "Thank you for your consideration, Director Wang, but I would still like to stay in the third year."
Hearing this, Director Wang furrowed his brow and said, "Xia Chuyi, are you sure you’ve thought this through?
"With your situation, going directly into the third year, it’s essentially impossible to keep up."
His tone had become somewhat displeased.
"Director Wang, I’m sorry," Xia Chuyi politely told him, "In fact, I haven’t planned to attend school in person."
"What did you say?" Director Wang, as well as Liu Chunya who had been enjoying the show, both failed to grasp her meaning.
Facing their surprise, Xia Chuyi explained, "Director Wang, it’s , I only plan to register at the school and then go home to self-study. When July comes around, I’ll directly come to school to participate in the Gaokao."
A person who dropped out in the second year, yet talking about merely registering and taking the Gaokao directly in July?
To the other two, Xia Chuyi’s attitude seemed incredibly arrogant.