Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Perfect Score Admission
Aria Cheney had been there for a while, but she couldn’t find Kimberly Jennings or her daughter anywhere. It wasn’t until the moment the results were about to be announced that she saw the mother-daughter duo walking over, chatting and laughing.
Aria Cheney was very displeased. She was so busy with work, yet she’d made a point to arrive this early, only to stand here roasting under the blazing sun. Meanwhile, those two strolled over at a leisurely pace, chatting and laughing, as if the scorching heat hadn’t touched their faces at all.
"Why are you so late? The results are about to be posted! Was the test too hard? Did Seraphina do poorly and feel too ashamed to show up? Figured there was no hope of passing, so you just decided not to come?"
Aria Cheney couldn’t hold back her anger. The sweltering weather already made people irritable, and her tone was so explosive, it was a wonder she didn’t detonate. The other parents and students who were also waiting for the results started to gather around.
"Seraphina thought it was too hot, and coming early would just mean standing in the sun. We live close by, so coming a bit later is fine. As long as we don’t miss the results being posted, that’s all that matters!"
Kimberly Jennings explained softly. These students who had taken the test with her daughter would very likely be Seraphina’s future classmates, and she didn’t want Seraphina to be embarrassed in front of everyone.
"Hmph, stop making excuses for Seraphina. With a brain like hers, she’s always been at the bottom of her class. I heard this year’s entrance exam was much harder than usual. I bet you stared at the questions, and they were all complete strangers, right?" Aria Cheney shot Seraphina Sterling a glare, seething with anger. ’If she hadn’t kept messing things up, I would’ve gotten that fifty thousand dollars back long ago!’
"Oh! I remember you. You sat in front of me during the exam. You left after about half an hour! The questions were pretty hard, but you shouldn’t give up so early. If you’d just stuck it out a little longer, you might’ve remembered something, right? At the very least, you could’ve guessed an answer!" a long-haired girl chimed in.
"Mia, what nonsense are you talking? How do you know Seraphina gave up? It’s also possible she finished the whole test early!" The speaker was a middle-aged woman, clearly the one who had been chatting with Kimberly Jennings that morning. She had distinctly heard Seraphina Sterling’s comment about the test being "very simple" when she left the exam hall!
Mindy Linton’s eyes went wide as she stared at Seraphina Sterling. She couldn’t believe that someone could actually finish such a difficult test in such a short amount of time!
"Tch, others might not know what you’re capable of, Seraphina Sterling, but I do! Even though you’re a junior now, I bet you couldn’t even pass a freshman test, let alone a sophomore one! You can try to make yourself look good, but don’t brag so hard your lies fall apart!"
Aria Cheney’s sarcastic tone and contemptuous smile made Kimberly Jennings extremely uncomfortable. ’It’s not anyone else’s place to pass judgment on my precious daughter!’
"Even my Zoe would have trouble finishing a comprehensive sophomore exam in just half an hour, and you expect me to believe Seraphina Sterling’s blockhead self could do it? Tch! She could study for another ten years and still not reach that level!"
Aria Cheney was at it again, showing off her daughter who was so good at studying and taking tests. It had become a conditioned reflex for her; if there was an opportunity, she had to show off!
Even with all her self-restraint, Kimberly Jennings couldn’t take it anymore. But just as she was about to retort, the teacher in charge of announcing the results arrived.
"Director Cheney, you’re here too! The start of the school year must be your busiest time. What brings you here to check on the transfer students?" Dana Lowell was the director for the junior year, and she was in charge of all new student affairs.
Before Aria Cheney could answer, Dana Lowell said excitedly, "You won’t believe it, but we’ve really found a gem this time! In all my years of admission exams, this is the first time I’ve ever seen a student get a perfect score on everything. Now we have another student who can aim for a top-tier university!"
Although the school’s college acceptance rate was good, it still couldn’t compare to the city’s top high schools when it came to getting students into prestigious universities. That was why Dana Lowell was so excited!
"This year’s senior class has my Zoe holding down the fort. With her grades, if she works hard for her senior year, getting into a top university will be no problem at all! As for the next class, it’s hard to say. This is just an entrance exam, and it only covers sophomore material. There are still two years to go, and anything can happen. Still, getting a perfect score to get in is impressive. Though they’re still a little behind my Zoe, I suppose they’re a diamond in the rough! You’ll have to put some effort into polishing them!"
’Zoe Jennings’s grades are excellent, but she’s never gotten a perfect score in every subject! This transfer student is way more outstanding than her!’ Although Dana Lowell disagreed with Aria Cheney’s point of view, she didn’t say so out loud. The teachers at school were all too familiar with Aria’s habit of showing off her daughter to anyone who would listen.
"Parents, students, this year, twenty students have passed the entrance exam. I will now announce the names of these students. When your name is called, please stand to the right. Afterward, you will follow me directly to your new class!"
Everyone stared at the white paper in Dana Lowell’s hand, wishing they could snatch it away and see the results for themselves.
"Bruce Cole, Class 12!"
"Saul Hanson, Class 12!"
"Lynn Wade, Class 11!"
...
As the names were called one by one, the number of remaining spots dwindled, and the parents and students grew more and more anxious, terrified that their child wouldn’t be able to enroll.
Everyone hoped they would be the next name called. Those whose names were announced were visibly thrilled, while the remaining students waited for the next spot with even greater tension!
"Mindy Linton! Class 6!"
"Thank God, I finally passed! I finally passed!" Mindy Linton let out a sigh of relief.
Only one spot left. Kimberly Jennings gripped Seraphina Sterling’s hand tightly, looking at Dana Lowell with fervent hope that the last spot belonged to Seraphina.
"So much for ’the questions were simple.’ I see you just couldn’t answer them at all. Such shameless bragging!" Aria Cheney’s face was a mask of gloating satisfaction. Her mind was already fantasizing about the scene of Kimberly Jennings and her daughter begging her for help!
"The final student is admitted with a perfect score across all subjects and will be placed, by special exception, into the top honors class, Class 1. Seraphina Sterling!" After the announcement, Dana Lowell carefully scanned the students below. She was determined to see for herself just who was so brilliant.
"Seraphina, this is wonderful! You’re amazing!" Kimberly Jennings was overjoyed, not even sparing a glance for Aria Cheney, who stood there as if she had been struck by lightning.
