Outside the classroom, Ben Lu stood with one hand hovering in the air, palm pressed lightly against the door—but he didn't push it open.
Beside him, Wendy Wen perked up her ears, while Lynn Chen lifted her head slightly, peering through the window into the classroom, her gaze landing on Evan Lin, who sat quietly and calmly in the back row.
The boy's profile was sharp, and compared to before, he carried more composure and a hint of determination.
Eric Yu, standing to Lynn's left, noticed this scene and deliberately shifted to block Lynn's view. He shot Evan a sideways glance, his face full of disdain.
On the other side, Henry Wang, hands behind his back, heard Evan’s name and curled his fingers slightly, a flash of curiosity in his eyes.
Everyone’s attention was focused on Byron Yang, standing at the podium.
Byron kept staring at the grade sheet in his hands, his eyes lingering on Evan Lin’s scores for each subject. He opened his mouth, hesitated for a long moment, then finally looked up, casting a complicated glance toward Evan.
"Evan Lin, total score... four hundred twenty-five."
Byron finally spoke up.
As soon as the score was announced, the students couldn’t help but turn and stare at Evan.
Some students were about to mock him, but suddenly remembered the guy in the back row had actually missed the first two exams.
In other words...
He got 425 points just from integrated science and English!
That realization made the faces of Class 12 students freeze; their eyes widened in disbelief.
No way! Last time, he didn't even pass the integrated science quiz. How could he score so high this time?
He must've cheated! someone muttered, half convinced.
Cheated? Let me see you cheat like that! He handed in his integrated science paper nearly an hour early. Unless he had the answers, how could anyone get a perfect score?
All kinds of doubts lingered in everyone's minds.
Only the boy in the back row stayed perfectly calm, as always.
Byron stood at the podium, still unable to accept what he'd just seen.
On the grade sheet, Evan Lin had zeros for Chinese and math, but a perfect 300 in integrated science, and 125 out of 150 in English.
If he’d taken math, with his ability he’d easily get at least a 130, making his total 555. And if he’d just passed Chinese with a 90, that’s already enough for top-tier schools like Huaqing or Beijing University!
Byron’s mind raced, running through all the scores. When he finished the mental math, he was so excited he could barely speak.
Even his gaze toward Evan shifted a dozen times in an instant, full of shock and disbelief.
Creak...
At that moment, Ben Lu pushed open the main classroom door, a big smile plastered on his face.
"Director, what brings you here?"
Byron turned his head, stunned to see Ben Lu walk in.
"Mr. Yang, here’s the thing. The next Teacher–Student Assembly is coming up, and per the principal’s instructions, it’s going to be an academic commendation meeting. I need you to tell me who your class’s most improved student is, so we can submit their name."
Ben Lu put extra emphasis on the word 'grades.'
He’d been stewing ever since Evan Lin got the principal’s backing, and now Ben Lu didn’t dare mess with him so easily.
But hearing Byron announce Evan’s score just now, Ben Lu felt a bit of satisfaction.
A bad student is still a bad student. Even with connections, he’s just a joke when it comes to grades!
Ben Lu kept grinning.
Byron was taken aback by his words. "Most improved student?"
"That's right, Mr. Yang. For regular classes, we need the most improved student. The Experimental Classes get two slots: one for most improved, one for top scorer."
Henry Wang chimed in with a grin, then introduced Eric Yu: "Just like this guy—Eric Yu!"
Henry Wang grabbed Eric Yu and shoved him forward. The girls in Class 12 lit up—he was good-looking and basically a campus star.
"Eric Yu went from twentieth in the class to tenth—he made the biggest leap this time. In the Experimental Class, jumping ten spots is a huge deal!" Henry Wang said proudly.
Henry Wang was all smiles, clearly proud of Eric’s progress.
"It’s all thanks to Mr. Wang’s teaching—and Lynn Chen’s help," Eric said, glancing at Lynn with a smile.
"Right, Lynn Chen’s grades have shot up too. She took first in Class 2 and broke into the year’s top five!" Henry Wang nodded enthusiastically.
The boys in Class 12 looked at Lynn Chen like she was a goddess.
But Lynn’s face stayed calm. She glanced at Evan, saw him looking her way, sighed quietly, and looked away.
Outside, Lynn heard Evan’s score—425. To her, that was barely third-tier university level, nowhere near the top schools.
So your grades are slipping, huh?
Lynn muttered to herself, a complicated feeling growing inside.
She’d been working hard just to catch up to Evan’s comet-like rise, but now it looked like his grades had crashed. Maybe his talent was only in math.
Thinking that, Lynn felt a bit sad for Evan’s future.
"Mr. Yang? Why are you spacing out? Get your most improved student up here so Wendy Wen can do an interview and write a piece for the school!"
Ben Lu was all smiles.
Henry Wang looked at Evan, relishing the moment.
"Most improved student..."
Byron started flipping through the grade sheet, but after a few glances, he looked up, embarrassed. "The most improved student is... Evan Lin."
Evan Lin?
Everyone, including Ben Lu, froze in disbelief at Byron’s words.
A total score of 425—and he’s the most improved?
"Mr. Yang, you’re not joking, are you?"
Ben Lu’s face instantly soured.