Chapter 77 – Top-Student Goddess

The next day, Zhao Xinning went to find Lin Xi as usual so they could go to school together.

Only this time, she made an excuse that she was a little thirsty and wanted to go into the living room for a glass of water.

While Lin Xi was pouring it for her, Zhao Xinning planted a miniature listening device under the dining table in the living room.

That way, when Shi Yu and Lin Xi ate together, she would be able to eavesdrop on their conversation clearly.

“Here, Xinning.” Lin Xi handed Zhao Xinning the glass and noticed that she looked a little worn out. “Did you not sleep well last night?”

Zhao Xinning took a sip of water. “Sigh, I really did have insomnia.”

What she had overheard yesterday had shaken Zhao Xinning far too much.

She never would have imagined that the girl she spent every day with was both a witch and one of the bank robbers.

Anyone would have had a hard time accepting that.

Zhao Xinning was not afraid. She still liked Lin Xi an absurd amount. What troubled her was how to eliminate that wicked woman Shi Yu.

Kill Shi Yu, then bring Lin Xi back onto the right path and properly purify her…

“If you can’t sleep…” Lin Xi offered Zhao Xinning some advice. “You can listen to crosstalk.”

“When I get insomnia, I listen to Guo Degang1 and Yu Qian2‘s crosstalk.”

“Oh, right, make sure you pick audio without any singing.”

“Old Guo or Uncle Yu’s singing can seriously jolt you awake from the sweetest dream.”

Zhao Xinning: “…”

“Mm. Next time I can’t sleep, I’ll definitely try it.”

Zhao Xinning set down the glass and impatiently took Lin Xi’s hand. “Come on, let’s go to school.”

Lin Xi had long since gotten used to Zhao Xinning holding her hand, like little kids walking to school hand in hand.

This must be what friendship and bonds were all about…

…

The moment Lin Xi entered the classroom, she once, twice, thrice-yet again-became the center of attention.

She was already used to this kind of treatment.

The first one to gather around her was the class academic rep, Su Xiangxue.

Back when they met on the rooftop, Su Xiangxue had said she wanted to turn Lin Xi into a super idol from among the ordinary students on campus.

She wanted Lin Xi to be just as glittering and heart-throbbing as Xia Xun.

Su Xiangxue was beaming with joy, while Lin Xi had no idea what was going on.

She thought about it and was pretty sure she hadn’t done anything flashy lately, right?

Smack-

Su Xiangxue slapped a form onto Lin Xi’s desk.

“Miss Lin Xi, are you cheating with hacks or what?”

“Your grades shot straight up to second in the entire school, right behind Xia Xun!”

The form was the ranking sheet from last week’s monthly exam.

Lin Xi picked it up and looked. It really was true.

Their school graded exams by computer. After the teachers finished marking the papers, they entered the students’ scores directly into the computer, and all the statistics and rankings were automatically generated by the school’s grade management system.

After finishing the exam last week, Lin Xi had felt pretty good about it.

But charging all the way up to second in the grade was honestly unexpected.

She had to admit, she owed it to the fact that what was taught in high school in this parallel world was about the same as in her original world.

She also had to thank her past self in her original world for studying hard.

Lin Xi had only transmigrated to this world after going through the baptism of senior year and the college entrance exams.

The biggest problem right now was that it would be hard to explain why her grades had improved by leaps and bounds.

The former Cuddle Witch had only ever thought about cuddling, and her grades in every subject had remained impressively average.

For them to suddenly soar so much would indeed shock people.

If it was hard to explain, then she simply would not explain. Lin Xi put on a profound expression and said, “I merely used the time others spent drinking coffee to study.”

“Whoa-” Lin Xi’s statement drew a wave of admiration from the surrounding students.

Lin Xi already had the halo of someone who did not fear the might of the Discipline Committee, and now she had gained another halo on top of that:

Top-Student Goddess.

“Miss Lin Xi, not only are you the sun who subdued the Discipline Committee and blessed the entire school, you’re also a Top-Student Goddess. From now on, we’ll call you the Sun Goddess,” that student said with a wave of their hand. “Everybody, all together!”

“Study hard from the Sun Goddess, and improve every day!”

“Loyal! Faithful!-“

Lin Xi: “…”

“Um, everyone, I propose that from now on, anyone who starts spouting nonsense in class gets tossed out.”

“All in favor? Anyone opposed?”

Under Lin Xi’s “gentle” gaze, those abstract classmates all became very concrete indeed.

Lin Xi had done so well on the exam that Su Xiangxue was delighted. “This is the power of ordinary people, Miss Lin Xi! Lead us ordinary people to dominate Z City No. 1 Middle School!”

“Guards!” Lin Xi shouted. “Hurry up and toss the study rep out!”

Su Xiangxue: “…”

“Sorry, I got carried away. No more nonsense. Let’s talk business.”

“Miss Lin Xi, first of all, you were amazing. You shot all the way up to second place in the grade and brought honor to our class.”

“Before this, the top five on the rankings were always Xia Xun and the others from the elite class.”

“You’re the only exception now, Miss Lin Xi!”

“With your own strength, you broke through the shackles, shattered the myth that the elite class was unbeatable, and set an outstanding example for all of us ordinary students.”

“Loyal!-” Lin Xi glared at the classmate who was about to shout “Faithful,” and that classmate grinned as he swallowed the word back down.

“Miss Su Xiangxue, aren’t you exaggerating a little?” Lin Xi was genuinely embarrassed by all the praise. “When it comes to studying, if you work hard enough, an iron pestle can be ground down into a needle.”

“If everyone works hard together, none of you will be any worse than me.”

Her classmates were all moved by Lin Xi’s humble words. If the “Sun Goddess” hadn’t opposed nonsense, they absolutely would have shouted “Loyal! Faithful!” in unison.

Everyone crowded around Lin Xi, pestering her to share her study insights and methods.

What kind of shortcut could there be to studying? You just studied like your life depended on it. In her original world, Lin Xi had simply buried her head in books and worked hard.

“In the mountain of books, diligence is the path; on the boundless sea of learning, hardship is the boat.”

“Everyone, as long as you’re willing to suffer, you’ll have endless suffering to eat-ah, no, I mean, you’ll be able to succeed!”

“Remember, from now on, don’t secretly play with your phones in class, read novels, scroll short videos, or anything like that. Put your mind into studying, and your grades will improve by leaps and bounds too!”

Lin Xi’s “speech exhorting everyone to study” received a round of enthusiastic applause.

Su Xiangxue quietly told Lin Xi, “The number of people in the Lin Xi Fan Club is definitely going to skyrocket today.”

Lin Xi waved it off. She didn’t care about that. Fan clubs and whatnot-Su Xiangxue could do whatever she wanted.

At long last, Lin Xi sat back down on her “throne” by the window in the back row and let out a breath.

Why was she starting to miss the days when she used to be practically invisible more and more???

At the end of the day, Lin Xi was still a socially anxious person who hated being in the spotlight…

“Miss Lin Xi,” said Yang Shanshan, the ultimate socially anxious girl sitting behind Lin Xi. Just now, she hadn’t dared to join the other classmates in crowding around her. “Lady Sun Goddess-“

Lin Xi gave Yang Shanshan a smile that didn’t reach her eyes and had her start over. Yang Shanshan said,

“Miss Lin Xi, in my eyes, your only flaw is that you’re too modest.”

“You know, it’s all thanks to you teaching me how to study. I’m not at the bottom anymore. I shot all the way up to the middle of the pack in one go.”

“Really?” Lin Xi praised her. “Then that’s all thanks to your own hard work, Miss Shanshan. Internal factors determine external factors.”

“No,” Yang Shanshan insisted. “You, the external factor, influenced my internal factors. My progress is all thanks to you.”

“Uh… think whatever you like,” Lin Xi said with a smile. “Anyway, congratulations on improving.”

“Same to you.” Yang Shanshan smiled back.

She was happy, but also a little lonely.

Lin Xi was becoming more and more popular. Yang Shanshan was afraid that the time she had to talk with her alone would become less and less…

If only… Miss Lin Xi belonged to me alone…

Footnote:

• Guo Degang(郭德纲): A highly popular and influential Chinese crosstalk (Xiangsheng) comedian and the founder of the Deyun Society. He is known for his sharp wit and for revitalizing this traditional performance art in the modern era.

1. Yu Qian (于谦): A renowned Chinese crosstalk performer and Guo Degang’s longtime stage partner. In their duo, he serves as the “straight man” (penggen), providing the necessary reactions and rebuttals to Guo’s jokes.