Standing Next To You-Chapter 276: Top Rank

If their exemplary student needed rest and respite, they were willing to grant it. Throughout this period, they allowed Bei Sangyun to be lethargic.

However, with exams approaching, concerns arose that Bei Sangyun might persist in her languid ways and procrastinate.

Teacher Ong summoned Bei Sangyun to her office to address the matter.

"How have you been, Sangyun?"

"I’ve been doing well, thanks to you and our teachers." Bei Sangyun recognized the teachers’ leniency toward her despite her lackadaisical attitude in class.

She hadn’t thought much about it before, but since being with Fei Chuan, Bei Sangyun’s perspective on the world and its people had undergone a significant shift.

Her consistent napping in class and diminished dedication to schoolwork may have offended the teachers, a realization that dawned upon her now.

The past Bei Sangyun wouldn’t be this considerate and empathetic, but the present Bei Sangyun could see some of it now.

"Is this about me sleeping often in class? I apologize if I have offended you, teacher. I’ll try my best not to sleep in your class anymore." Although it was disappointing that she could no longer enjoy as much sleep as she desired, she couldn’t continue being disrespectful.

Fei Chuan detested people who were disrespectful of others’ time.

"No, no. I didn’t call you for that. I and the other teachers understand how demanding your heirship lessons are. We are fine with you resting in class," Teacher Ong clarified immediately.

"We don’t restrict you from resting. But..." Teacher Ong appeared uncomfortable and hesitated to continue. It seemed she found it difficult to voice her concerns.

"It’s okay, you can speak freely, teacher. I’ll understand," Bei Sangyun encouraged.

Teacher Ong smiled and continued, "To be honest, I noticed—actually, not just me, the other teachers also noticed that your performance this semester has declined significantly." Teacher Ong retrieved a folder from her desk and laid out its contents.

Bei Sangyun’s exam results and quizzes were there, marked with a lot of red ink, and her scores didn’t even reach half of the total marks. The first page had answers, but the subsequent pages were blank, as if the student had given up.

Bei Sangyun observed her exam results in silence.

"Your score is the lowest in the class. But I won’t include this score in your overall grade. I fear it would tarnish your grades and ranking. I’m willing to make an exception this one time because I understand your situation, but please be aware that you can’t be this lackadaisical in the next examination, especially the upcoming standardized test. I hope you’ll perform well on that day."

Bei Sangyun remained silent, making Teacher Ong slightly nervous.

Had she been too harsh?

As Teacher Ong pondered, Bei Sangyun finally spoke.

"...Teacher Ong, I’m not sure if I can do well in the next examination," Bei Sangyun honestly expressed her thoughts. "Truthfully, I don’t remember much of the lessons anymore, and I don’t think I can perform as I did before."

For Bei Sangyun, a lifetime had passed. It was impossible for her to recall the detailed knowledge she had acquired during her high school years. She couldn’t even remember some memories in her life, let alone recall the school lessons from several decades ago.

Even if she did recall them now, it wouldn’t be the same as the past her who could almost perfectly ace the entire exams.

Bei Sangyun’s honest answer left Teacher Ong speechless.

Struggling to find her words, Teacher Ong finally managed to speak, "...C-can’t remember? I mean... why can’t you perform like before? Did something happen?"

Bei Sangyun blinked. She couldn’t explain that a lifetime had passed, which was why she couldn’t remember. Teacher Ong might think she was just making excuses.

"I... I bumped my head and got amnesia," Bei Sangyun offered, her voice not faltering and seemed serious.

Teacher Ong: "...."

Bei Sangyun blinked innocently. It was the most plausible explanation she could think of at the moment.

Seeing Teacher Ong rendered speechless, Bei Sangyun couldn’t help but add, "But don’t worry about my performance. Someone will be able to maintain our number one rank. Perhaps, he can create a legend that I wasn’t able to make before."

Bei Sangyun understood Teacher Ong’s concerns. The school’s rank relied on her, but she was no longer dependable. Fortunately, there was a hidden genius present who could resolve the situation immediately.

Teacher Ong was still trying to process Bei Sangyun’s excuse of ’amnesia’ and asked dumbly, "...Someone? Who?"

"The person who rightfully deserves the top rank," Bei Sangyun replied with a smile, her eyes earnest and bright.

*****

Inside the faculty room, Teacher Ong scrutinized the exam results intently.

On her desk lay Bei Sangyun’s previous exam scores and her current results, which were miles apart.

Another teacher entered and spotted Teacher Ong. Teacher May approached her, "I just saw our model student in the hallway. Did she come from here?"

Teacher Ong didn’t respond; she seemed too engrossed in the papers in front of her.

"Teacher Ong." Teacher May tapped her, causing Teacher Ong to startle.

Teacher May laughed, "What’s wrong with you? Didn’t you hear me coming?"

"I didn’t," Teacher Ong sighed.

Teacher May noticed the papers on her desk, "Oh, so you did summon Lin Sangyun. Is it because of her recent exam results?"

Teacher Ong seemed to find someone she could confide in and turned to Teacher May urgently, "Teacher May, have you also noticed Bei Sangyun’s changes in her academic performance? What do you make of it?"

"Well, she’s been performing exceptionally in my language class. She’s actually improved a lot compared to before. When she speaks, even I am amazed by how fluent she is. It’s like talking to someone with twenty years of experience ahead of me," Teacher May remarked.

Teacher May sighed dejectedly as she thought about it. Not only did Bei Sangyun and her partner, Fei Chuan, had done a great job in their literature project, but Bei Sangyun also excelled in every language course.

Sometimes, Teacher May even felt that she was lacking compared to Bei Sangyun, who seemed to have mastered the course. That’s why Teacher May was more lenient in allowing Bei Sangyun to sleep in her class.

Teacher Ong was stunned. "She performs better in your class?"

"Yeah," Teacher May nodded honestly.

"...Then why in mine..." Teacher Ong abruptly picked up Bei Sangyun’s papers. "Look at this, her performance in my class has declined. Not only in my class, but also in Physics, Chemistry, and other classes as well. The other teachers told me."

"Really? But I heard she excels in her entrepreneurship class."

Teacher Ong: "...."

Teacher May noticed her expression wasn’t right and couldn’t help but comfort her, "It’s normal for students to have their favorite subjects and least favorite subjects—"

Teacher Ong glared at her. "She’s not bad at my subjects. In fact, she’s always been the top rank in my class, except for this semester. She must have indeed had amnesia."

"Huh?"

Teacher Ong placed Bei Sangyun’s test results back into the folder. "When she bumped her head, she must have forgotten most of her favorite subjects."

Teacher Ong had no choice but to accept that ridiculous excuse. That was better than being labeled as the subject the top student ’disliked’.

Teacher Ong was done accepting Bei Sangyun’s reasoning. She turned to ask Teacher May, "Ah, right. I need to ask for your opinion. Other than Lin Sangyun, is there any student who deserved the top rank?"