Chapter 128: 749, the Top Scorer?
Brooke York looked at Chloe York’s confident expression and let out a cold snort. She had absolutely no intention of checking her own score. After all, she’d skipped an entire subject, so her score would probably only be in the 600s. There was no point in looking.
Soon, with her phone connected to the large screen, Chloe York navigated to the official score-checking website and entered her student ID number.
The entire hall fell so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone stared intently at the large screen. They didn’t know why they were so nervous—it wasn’t their score, or even their children’s.
Chloe York didn’t try to hide anything. As soon as the page loaded, she went straight to her results.
points. ’Just one point shy of a perfect score. Compared to my last life, I’ve finally fulfilled my wish.’
Everyone was stunned when they saw Chloe York’s score.
"My god, she scored 749!"
"Yeah, that’s just one point away from a perfect score!"
The entire banquet hall erupted in praise. These guests had come to this so-called "college acceptance banquet" for two reasons: one, to look for business opportunities, and two, because they thought they were celebrating Brooke York. They had never imagined it would be for Chloe York.
After all, anyone who had attended these banquets before knew what Chloe York’s grades used to be like.
They knew the "real" daughter who had returned a few months ago had excellent grades, so they had subconsciously assumed the party was for Brooke York. They never expected Chloe York to improve so rapidly and score a 749.
Unless another student managed a perfect score of 750, Chloe York was this year’s top scorer for the college entrance exam.
Brooke York was equally shocked that Chloe York had scored so high. Her hand gripped her wine glass so tightly it seemed she wanted to snap the stem.
’How could this be? 749... During the first mock exam, I scored a 720 and didn’t even dare to dream of a score like 749. How did Chloe York manage to get it?’
Seeing the color drain from Brooke York’s face, Alice Cole quickly grabbed her hand. "Brooke, let’s not get upset. Don’t be angry."
’We’re still in the banquet hall, with so many people watching,’ Alice thought. ’If Brooke gets angry, these vultures will start gossiping everywhere, and my daughter’s reputation will be ruined all over again.’
After seeing the score, everyone’s first reaction was to congratulate Miles York.
"Mr. York, congratulations!"
"Yes, congratulations, Mr. York."
Miles York hadn’t expected Chloe York to actually make him this proud. He was overjoyed, graciously accepting everyone’s congratulations.
Cutting through the chorus of congratulations for Miles York, Chloe spoke up.
"Thank you, everyone, for attending my college acceptance banquet. In the future, after I graduate and start my career, I hope that if any opportunities for collaboration arise, you won’t dismiss me for being young and inexperienced. I’d love to work with you all, and we can all profit together."
Miles York’s expression soured. He hadn’t expected Chloe York to say something like that. This was a clear sign she intended to strike out on her own after graduation.
"Of course, future Mr. York. I hope we’ll have the chance to work together," Mr. Cole said, taking the lead and raising his glass.
Chloe York raised her own glass to the first person who had supported her, clinking it with Mr. Cole’s in a mid-air toast.
With Mr. Cole leading the way, others were eager to follow. ’After all, Chloe York is sure to be the top scorer in the entrance exam. 749 points! A person like that is bound to succeed in business. She’s still young, too. If she starts her own company, she might even surpass many established enterprises!’
"Chloe York, what is the meaning of this?" Miles York was grateful he hadn’t let the reporters in at the beginning, otherwise, he would have been utterly humiliated.
He couldn’t believe Chloe York was already thinking of setting up her own shop. ’I was planning to use her fame to boost my company’s growth!’
’But no, Chloe York had to go and try to get ahead herself.’
"I mean exactly what you heard. Didn’t you say this college acceptance banquet was being held for me? I thought you were paving the way for my future. Are you saying that’s not the case now?"
"You..." Miles York was so taken aback by Chloe York’s retort that he was left speechless.
’If I tell her she can’t use this to pave her own way, it’ll be obvious I’m only thinking of myself and this banquet isn’t really for her. She might make a scene right here and now. And even if she doesn’t, I’m afraid she’ll go around spreading rumors.’
’She’s a public figure now; people are watching everything she says and does. I can’t afford to offend her, or the gossip will spread and affect my company.’
"By the way, didn’t you say there would be reporters? Where are they?" Chloe York asked, looking around for them.
"The reporters will be in shortly," Miles York said, his tone curt. He turned away and took out his phone to make a call.
Chloe York didn’t care about Miles York’s tone. She was only focused on making a name for herself.
’In my last life, after becoming the top scorer, I got into the best university. But new talents were always emerging, and I was too busy just racking up credits and working part-time jobs to get by.’
’I made no effort to maintain my popularity online, and I quickly faded into obscurity. Once I entered the workforce, the hype was completely gone, because every year the entrance exam produced more talented people, some with even higher scores than mine.’
’And I could only grind away at my desk, day after day, just to keep my job and hopefully make something of myself at the company.’
At Miles York’s call, all the reporters were let in.
As soon as they entered, they saw Chloe York’s score on the large screen and immediately began taking photos and recording video.
Once they had their shots, they began searching the room for Chloe York herself.
The moment they spotted her, they swarmed forward to begin the interview.
"Ms. York, how did you go from scoring a zero on the first mock exam to becoming the top scorer in the college entrance exam?"
"By cramming. Whenever I had free time, I just did practice questions. My score slowly improved."
"So how do you feel about scoring 749?"
"I’m very happy and very excited."
"Did you expect to get this score, or was it a surprise for you as well?"
"It wasn’t a surprise. It was within my expectations," she said, as reporters scrambled over each other to get their questions in.
Watching Chloe York surrounded by a throng of people, Brooke York felt her stomach churn with resentment.
"Brooke, you should check your score too!" Alice Cole said, unwilling to let Chloe York have the spotlight. She urged Brooke to check her own results immediately.
"I don’t think I’ll check mine," Brooke York resisted. ’She got a 749. What’s the point of me checking? I’d just be humiliating myself. Besides, I skipped a whole subject.’
"It’s fine, just check it. It can’t be that low. What if your score is actually pretty good!"
At Alice Cole’s urging, Brooke York began to hesitate. She still clung to a sliver of hope. ’What if my score really is pretty good?’
’Even without the score from the subject I skipped, I should still have over 600 points. That’s not too bad.’
"Fine, I’ll check!"
A pleased look appeared on Alice Cole’s face when she heard Brooke York agree. "Then hurry and check!"
Brooke York opened the score-checking website, entered her student ID, and searched for her results. The page loaded quickly. She expected to see her scores, but instead, all she saw were zeroes!