No Ulterior Motives C19

Chapter 19: Science Genius Jiang Xiao ning

The placement test, as the name suggests, is an assessment for every student.

According to the homeroom teacher, Yang Mei:

“The high school entrance exam is one thing, but high school is another. What I need is the most direct understanding of your academic performance.”

Through this test, Jiang Ning got a glimpse of the strength of City No. 1 High School.

The exam papers created by the teachers, despite covering middle school knowledge, were noticeably harder than the actual high school entrance exam.

As a result, when the scores were released, out of a total of 700 points, only five students in the class scored above 600.

If this test had been given at her old school, No. 3 High, even finding students scoring above 550 would have been rare.

Among those who scored over 600, Jiang Ning was the only one from an outside school.

This caused quite a stir in the class.

For the students who had come up from No. 1 High School, their feelings toward this intelligent and beautiful girl were mixed.

At the same time, some academically focused boys started looking at Jiang Ning with unexpected enthusiasm.

However, Jiang Ning herself was surprised by her results.

She had expected that, even if she excelled in science and wrote excellent essays, her lack of proficiency in rote memorization for humanities subjects would drag her score down.

But due to the difficulty of the test, many students who were originally good at science ended up scoring lower.

This directly led to Jiang Ning standing out in science.

In math, physics, and chemistry, she was indisputably the top scorer in the class. In fact, she ranked among the best in the entire grade.

While Jiang Ning’s impressive performance stunned everyone, her deskmate Luo Shanshan, on the other hand, looked utterly devastated as she stared at her 88-point math score, full of regret.

“What should I do? With this score, my dad is going to kill me when I get home!”

“He probably won’t kill you, but selling you off as a concubine might be an option,” came Sun Qian’s teasing voice from behind.

The joke immediately provoked Luo Shanshan, who turned around, ready to retaliate, only for Sun Qian to dodge effortlessly.

Just as the two were about to start a scuffle, the math teacher, Ma Hongwei, who was writing problems on the board, turned around and warned them:

“What’s with all the noise? Focus on your test papers.”

With that, he turned back and continued writing on the blackboard.

Luo Shanshan, now unable to fight back, clenched her little fists and shook them threateningly at Sun Qian.

Then, as she turned back, her expression changed from fierce to pitiful in an instant.

“Xiao Jiang, please teach me how to study math.”

“It’s so hard.”

How to study?

Jiang Ning looked up at the blackboard.

She could instantly see which formulas should be used to solve the problems written there.

Then, lowering her gaze to her own test paper, where she had scored 148 points, she suddenly didn’t know how to explain how to study math.

At this moment, Ma Hongwei finished writing the problem and turned back to the class.

“This is the last major problem from the test.”

“In the entire class—no, in the entire grade—only one student solved it correctly.”

As soon as he said this, Jiang Ning instinctively lifted her textbook, trying to hide her face.

“And that student is our very own Jiang Ning.”

“Now, let’s have Jiang Ning come up and explain her solution to the class.”

???

How was this any different from a public execution?

Jiang Ning was filled with regret, even wishing she hadn’t scored so high in math.

The same thing happened in the subsequent physics and chemistry classes.

The subject teachers seemed especially fond of Jiang Ning, always calling on her first whenever a difficult question came up.

She only got to sit quietly and peacefully during humanities classes.

“This is unbearable.”

On the way to the cafeteria, Jiang Ning grumbled like a resentful woman.

Beside her, Qi Wen chuckled, seemingly amused by either Jiang Ning’s complaints or her frustration.

“That’s because your scores are so high. The teachers love you for it.”

“Yeah, right! You scored way higher than me in humanities, but the teachers don’t fawn over you like this!”

“Ah, but humanities are different.” Qi Wen grabbed Jiang Ning’s arm and shook it playfully.

“Alright, don’t be mad. I’ll treat you to a big meal at lunch!”

At the mention of food, Jiang Ning’s expression instantly turned serious.

“I want drumsticks!”

“Alright, I’ll get you drumsticks.”

“I want two!”

“Fine, two it is!”

Seeing Qi Wen agree so readily, Jiang Ning’s eyes flickered mischievously. She nudged Qi Wen’s arm and added,

“I also want milk.”

That single sentence instantly shattered Qi Wen’s gentle demeanor. She furrowed her brows and glared.

“Who are you calling a cow?!”

Laughing and bickering, the two of them arrived at the cafeteria.

But just as they sat down and were about to eat, a voice interrupted them.

“Two beautiful ladies, may I have the honor of joining you?”

“No,” Jiang Ning answered bluntly, not even bothering to lift her head or see who it was.

Qi Wen, in contrast, was more polite. She looked up at the fairly handsome boy and smiled.

“Sorry, we’re not used to eating with boys.”

Hearing the rejection, the boy’s expression stiffened, but he forced a smile and retreated to another table.

This wasn’t the first time this had happened.

At first, Jiang Ning was a bit flustered by the attention, but after experiencing it multiple times, she got used to it.

After all, they were just high school students. As long as she refused, things never escalated too much.

Afternoon.

PE Class.

Despite it being autumn, the sun was still blazing.

Yet, the PE teacher still chose to conduct the basketball lesson on an open court with no shade.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

Thanks to experience from her past life, Jiang Ning’s dribbling was flawless—better than some of the boys.

This naturally sparked the competitive spirit of some male students, who started challenging her to one-on-one matches.

Jiang Ning didn’t hold back either. Scanning the group, she picked a former classmate she remembered playing with in her past life and tossed the ball toward him.

“Come on.”

The class erupted into excitement.

A goddess playing basketball?

And in a one-on-one match?

This was a rare sight!

In no time, the entire class—both boys and girls—gathered around the court.

Their commotion also caught the attention of a group of rich kids playing on the other side.

“Hey, go check out what’s happening,” Tao Tao said, nudging a short boy beside him.

The boy quickly ran over and returned moments later, panting.

“It’s… it’s a one-on-one match.”

“A guy versus… a girl.”

At first, the boys in the group didn’t react much. Some kept shooting hoops, others kept resting.

But when they heard the last part, they exchanged glances.

“Alright, let’s take a break and watch,” one of them suggested.

Tao Tao smirked.

“Let’s go.”

As soon as they arrived, they saw a graceful figure weave past their field of vision.

Behind-the-back dribble, spin move, crossover, layup—

A smooth sequence of movements, executed flawlessly.

It was eye-catching.

And when Tao Tao saw the face of the girl dribbling—

His phoenix-like eyes lifted slightly with intrigue.

“Interesting…”