After breakfast, Xu Zhou set off for school.
Although Li Ruoxi was on the same route, she showed no intention of walking with him and left early.
This didn't surprise Xu Zhou; since middle school, Li Ruoxi stopped walking with him, seemingly because she disliked his short stature and slow pace.
Of course, after the third year of middle school, Xu Zhou's development quickly took off, and he has now grown to 1.75 meters, though still quite skinny.
At this moment, Xu Zhou was walking down the street, still pondering ways to make money.
"Teacher Cao once said that school tasks and the Top 100 list can both earn a lot of cash..."
The tasks released by the school are mostly for upperclassmen, and they carry a certain level of danger.
As for the Top 100 list, Xu Zhou had heard of it long ago. There are a total of three lists, and each grade has its own list.
For instance, Li Ruoxi is on the Top 100 list for the third year and consistently ranks in the top three.
However, Xu Zhou wasn't clear about how much of a reward came with getting on this list.
What Xu Zhou does remember is that throughout high school, Li Ruoxi earned a good amount of money to support the family, part of which was used for his medical treatments, often running into thousands.
This money either came from the rewards from school tasks or the Top 100 list.
Thinking about this, Xu Zhou couldn't help but feel a bit emotional.
His sister is actually pretty good; he just doesn't know why she always seems so disdainful of him.
...
Two hundred meters behind Xu Zhou.
Li Ruoxi was also following him slowly from behind.
"Dad is really something, this guy is already in first year high school, and he still wants me to follow him." She complained helplessly.
Because Xu Zhou was weak and sickly since childhood.
He was frequently bullied by others at school.
So, following her father's instructions, Li Ruoxi had been secretly keeping an eye on Xu Zhou since middle school, to prevent him from being bullied on the way to school.
Such tasks, in fact, Li Ruoxi did not outright reject.
But the main issue was, every time Xu Zhou got bullied, he never even thought about fighting back.
This made Li Ruoxi feel that Xu Zhou was a hopeless weakling.
Physical weakness could be remedied, but a weak character was hopeless.
"S-grade talent? Still just a weakling."
Li Ruoxi looked at Xu Zhou's retreating figure and waved her small fist lightly, "Back in the first year of high school, I could have floored him with one punch."
"When on earth is this guy going to grow up?"
For this brother who needed her protection everywhere, Li Ruoxi felt both bothered and somehow attached.
From childhood to adulthood, she had secretly helped him numerous times.
Many times, she didn't want to bother, but she worried that Xu Zhou might end up badly hurt.
After all, they spent so many years growing up together. To say there were no feelings at all, that's impossible.
Of course, Xu Zhou was unaware of all this.
Li Ruoxi also didn't want Xu Zhou to know, as it would only make her feel awkward.
...
Li Ruoxi's thoughts were unbeknownst to Xu Zhou.
After arriving at school, he didn't go to the classroom but headed straight to the sports ground.
On Mondays, the school routinely held an all-school student and teacher assembly.
The sports ground was already packed with people.
All students from the three grades of Linjiang First High School were present, many with expectant expressions, discussing eagerly as if something significant was about to happen.
Xu Zhou also looked slightly puzzled.
He found his class, and upon reaching it, Wen Yuehui ran over excitedly.
"Xu Zhou, are you ready for your speech on the podium later?"
"On the podium?" Xu Zhou was slightly taken aback.
Wen Yuehui nodded: "After every awakening ceremony, the school holds an awakening gala. Students with a B-grade talent or higher all stand on the podium and give a speech!"
"Do you see those seniors? They're actually eager to see you with the S-grade talent!"
"After today, you're going to be famous!"
Wen Yuehui was a bit envious; even with his A-grade talent, he was somewhat overshadowed in front of Xu Zhou!
Xu Zhou suddenly understood.
No wonder the sports ground was crowded early this morning.
Could they all be here for his S-grade talent?
As time passed, the student and teacher assembly officially commenced.
First was the flag-raising ceremony, during which everyone solemnly watched as the Yan Country flag slowly ascended.
The flag was embroidered with twelve stars encircling a blazing fire.
Symbolizing the Twelve States of Yan Country, forming the Yan Country Federation together.
After the flag-raising ceremony, the principal took the podium to give a speech.
"Last week, the first year's awakening tests concluded, and we have some truly outstanding talents among our students once again!"
The principal, with a tone of joy, said, "These prodigies are the future of our school, they will..."
The principal talked about a lot of things on stage.
However, the expected awakening gala did not occur, much to the disappointment of many students.
The so-called awakening gala is when students with a B-grade talent or higher stand on the podium to be admired by everyone!
In previous years, this had always been something everyone looked forward to.
This year, the anticipation reached unprecedented levels, with even several external schools paying attention.
All because this year, Linjiang First High School had an S-grade talent!
Everyone wanted to see who that S-grade talent student was, what they looked like, and what their current abilities were.
However, after finishing his speech, the principal announced the end of the assembly.
There was no mention of the awakening gala at all.
This left the thousands of students present somewhat dissatisfied.
Especially the seniors of the second and third years, who had quite a few words to say.
"Wasn't it said there's an S-grade talent among the freshmen this year? Why can't we see them?"
"Yeah, I wanted to see if the junior was handsome!"
"Why can't we see them?"
As the principal and teachers were still there, the students whispered among themselves.
At this point, a senior laughed and said, "S-grade talent? Probably just a rumor!"
His words seemed to open Pandora's box, instantly leading people to make associations.
"A rumor? Really?"
"Thinking about it, S-grade talents are so rare; how could one appear at our school?"
"Could it really be a rumor?"
People were engaged in heated discussion and gathered on the sports ground, showing no signs of dispersing.
The place was filled with the sound of debates.
Listening to the rising murmurs, the faces of the students in Class Eight of the first year turned unpleasant.
Finally, Wen Yuehui couldn't hold back and loudly refuted, "Rumor? The principal didn't want to make you feel inadequate!"
With that, the other students from Class Eight also started to refute.
"We saw the S-grade talent with our own eyes, so many teachers were there, and you still say it's fake?"
"I think you're just jealous!"
To the students of Class Eight, Xu Zhou's S-grade talent was a matter of class pride.
Now to have it questioned as fake, how could they tolerate it?
All of a sudden, many engaged in verbal disputes right there.
Amid the crowd, Xu Zhou looked on in shock, genuinely not expecting these people to argue over his talent!
He quickly pulled his classmates aside, not wanting further escalation.
He knew the principal and the teachers hadn't left yet!
However, hearing these exchanges seemed to irritate the upperclassmen a bit as well.
"The principal didn't want to demoralize us? Ridiculous!"
Someone huffed, "We're in the third year; even an S-grade talent can't catch up with us in a short time!"
Class Eight's students were unfazed, continuing their retorts: "So what if you're third-years? You think you're so great just because you've trained two years more?"
"Right, just because your batch didn't have an S-grade talent doesn't mean ours doesn't!"
"You little punks! Do you want a beating?"
"What, want to try? Bring it on!"
The conflict between both sides grew increasingly intense.
The exchange of insults was escalating!
Eventually, it even reached a point of physical confrontation!
"Everyone stop it!"
A teacher stepped up to scold them, face extremely stern.
The principal and all the teachers were still there, and these students were acting out as if they were about to flip the sky over their heads!
At that moment, numerous teachers stepped up to reprimand students from each class.
It was only then that a large-scale conflict was averted.
Yet the upperclassmen still whispered privately, believing there must be some trick regarding the S-grade talent reported this time.
Otherwise, why wouldn't the principal hold a gala?
In Class Three of the third year.
Li Ruoxi frowned, glancing at the class where Xu Zhou was.
"The S-grade talent is fake?" Li Ruoxi contemplated, then shook her head, "Xu Zhou wouldn't lie, unless he was deceived."
She furrowed her brows, considering many possibilities; could there really be an issue with this S-grade talent?
...
In Class Eight of the first year, Xu Zhou watched what was happening in front of him with helplessness.
His classmates were perhaps a bit too loyal, willing to confront upperclassmen head-on for his sake!
However, Xu Zhou also began to feel doubt within himself.
With things getting to such a point, why hadn't the principal come forward to explain?
Moreover, why was this year's awakening gala, held every year, suddenly canceled?
Was there some hidden reason?
Meanwhile, below the podium, the principal was in discussion with a group of teachers.