Chapter 38

Elysia stared blankly at the flurry of tagged replies popping up online.

Justin: [Elysia didn’t even write her essay; who do you think she copied from?]

Elena: [You can’t spread such rumors without evidence. Are you trying to stir up trouble for yourself? If you really need to vent, come by the student council—I’ll do my best to help you out!]

Eric: [How dare you claim that she cheated? What’s with your sour attitude? And to all the people commenting, I seriously doubt your IQ—what a bunch of idiots!]

Besides these, other Class 6 students defended Elysia, fighting back against the haters.

As Elysia read the replies, a flicker of warmth filled her heart. She glanced at her classmates and quietly said, "Thank you."

Thanks to Justin, Elena, and Eric's comments, the barrage of doubt and criticism aimed at Elysia lessened. They weren't people you'd want to cross; they were well-respected in school.

Most haters were just blowing off steam, trying to feel superior. If they truly thought they could take on the school's top-tier influencers over something so trivial, they were foolish!

"Elysia! You're amazing! So many people are defending you. And the biggest surprise is Elena backing you up; she's like the queen of cool and rarely gets involved in these issues. How do you know her?" Ava exclaimed, her eyes wide with admiration.

Feeling uneasy under Ava's gaze, Elysia recalled their first meeting at Amour Café. Elena had helped her, but that was their only interaction.

"It was a coincidence. We're not really close," Elysia replied.

"Not close?" Ava looked at Elysia incredulously. She couldn't believe that Elena would intervene if they weren't friends. "Come on, we're talking about the 'cool queen' here!"

"Yeah, not really. We just met once," Elysia clarified.

"Just… once?" Ava raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.

Elysia nodded slightly, unsure how to explain. Ava thought to herself, Whatever, maybe it's true! What if Elena has a soft spot for pretty girls like me?

Determined to join the fight, Ava pulled out her phone to connect with Class 6, ready to confront the trolls for Elysia. As Elysia's first friend in Class 6, Ava couldn't sit back and let others push her around.

But as she opened the school forum, a headline caught her eye: Levi himself was stepping in to clear the air for Elysia. Wait, Levi is actually getting involved? This is off the charts! He's the kind of guy who wouldn't post on the forum for ages, and here he is! Ava thought, grinning ear to ear, 'Elysia is legit! She doesn't even have to lift a finger, and so many are stepping up for her. It's like she's radiating goddess vibes! How awesome is that?'

"Hey, Elysia! Look! Levi just posted to clear your name!" Ava exclaimed, shoving her phone in front of Elysia's face, practically bouncing with excitement.

Elysia merely glanced at the screen and replied with a nonchalant, "Hmm."

Is she serious? The principal! Levi is standing up for her! Come on, Elysia, give the principal a little respect! Ava thought.

The online drama settled down after Levi's post. Things had gotten heated, but with so many people supporting Elysia, and especially with Levi refuting the rumors, anyone who still had something to say was left holding their tongue.

The main reason for the drama was the lack of proof against Elysia. Those rumors alone weren't enough to convince anyone.

Landon, who had been skeptical, finally believed Levi's earlier assurances. Elysia had earned her place in Class 1 through hard work. He regretted not recognizing her potential sooner.

1/3 12:01 PM Chapter 38

If he had known how capable Elysia was, he would have done everything to keep her in Class 1. She was definitely a gem!

If the forum rumors were true—that Elysia had aced everything without even submitting her Language and Composition essay—then she had a solid shot at becoming the best in Sivro!

If Elysia did become the top student in Sivro, it would reflect well on Landon as her teacher. Too bad she's not in his class anymore. He couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.

This was Elysia's first Language and Composition class after moving to Class 6. As the teacher entered, clutching her textbook, she glanced at Elysia, who was at the back of the room.

With Elysia's grades—top of the school and A+ in every subject except Language and Composition—it was impossible to miss someone that impressive. But she didn't seem to have an issue with Language and Composition, so why was her score less than stellar? Why did she even leave Class 1? What a waste! She's so smart, but she doesn't see the big picture. She's destined to crash and burn in Class 6.

The atmosphere in Class 6 was a far cry from Class 1. The bell had rung, and the teacher had entered, but the students continued chatting and playing around. The last straw? Elysia, who had just claimed the top spot, was snoozing away! This was outrageous!

Normally, the Language and Composition teacher wouldn't interfere much because these kids came from influential backgrounds and didn't really want to learn. As long as she completed her teaching obligations, she was fine.

But today was different. Elysia was a bright spark, and the teacher couldn't let such potential slip away or allow her to get lost in the crowd.

"Enough! Everyone, quiet down!" the teacher bellowed from the podium.

Time seemed to freeze. The chaos halted, and every student stared at the teacher. This was the first time she'd ever raised her voice like this.

But within moments, they resumed their chatter. It was as if nothing had happened.

"Could everyone please be quiet!" The Language and Composition teacher insisted.

Everyone paused, but some started making playful remarks. "Come on, if you want to lecture, just go ahead. We won't disturb you," Eric said, casually propping up his leg.

"Exactly!" Students from the back chimed in.

Elysia slowly woke up, rubbing her sleepy eyes. Is sleeping in class even a crime here?

Noticing Elysia was awake, the teacher cleared her throat and looked at her. "Elysia, why are you sleeping during class?"

"Is that not alright?" Elysia replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Others might sleep, but you can't! You're different from them. You have a bright future ahead; you shouldn't waste it like this!" The mood shifted. The students felt like the teacher was calling them out.

Elysia frowned. Since transferring to Class 6, she had been hearing people say it wasn't suitable for her. But to her, everyone was pretty nice—at least, they were kind. Must they always be ranked by their grades? Academic performance isn't the only measure of worth. Isn't everyone inherently equal? But where is the absolute fairness in this world?

"That's a bit harsh, don't you think?" a voice piped up.

"Yeah! What do you mean Elysia is different from us? It feels like you're looking down on us!"

"We've always respected you. Don't you have a conscience?"

The teacher surveyed the scene, her patience wearing thin, just as she was about to unleash her anger, a cool, clear voice resonated throughout the

2/3 12:01 PM Chapter 38 room. Everyone fell silent, eyes wide as they turned to see who had spoken.