Chapter 3The Ugly Duckling's Revenge

First mock exam.

My name hung high on the honor roll.

The only person above me was the school heartthrob, Liam.

He was the son of a school board member, a violin prodigy who could've gotten into Juilliard easily.

But Liam refused to live in his parents' shadow. He wanted to get into college on his own merit.

And he was succeeding.

For a long time, Liam was number one.

Until I stopped worrying about money and quit my part-time jobs.

I used that time to study.

Liam and I traded first place back and forth.

I glanced at the cutoff scores and walked away.

As long as I hit the score for my dream school, being first didn't matter.

But Liam found me during break.

"Jane, Liam is looking for you," Bella said, eyes burning with jealousy.

I walked out under her gaze, hearing the system chime: [+$5,000].

Insulting me in her head again~

In the hallway, Liam was waiting.

His white shirt sleeves were rolled up, revealing toned forearms. Gold-rimmed glasses perched on his high nose. He looked like a refined villain.

Seeing me, he frowned.

"Jane, why didn't you do the last question?"

The last big question?

I recalled.

I had seen that type of question several times before, so I was too lazy to solve it again.

I have a quirk: if I see a difficult problem three times, I won't do it again.

Not wanting to lie, I told the truth.

"Too lazy."

Unexpectedly, he frowned deeper and grabbed my wrist.

"I can understand your poor morals, but how can you lie about an exam?"

"The last question..." He lifted his head arrogantly, light glinting off his glasses. "I calculated for twenty minutes to solve it. I should be the only one in the school who got it."

"You couldn't do it. No need to lie."

"Yeah, yeah," my deskmate chimed in. "Jane just wants to save face."

Fine.

I was speechless.

I suddenly understood the loneliness of genius.

Just as I opened my mouth to defend myself, Bella rushed in.

"The City Dance Company is here for auditions!"