Chapter 107: Chapter 107: Let’s See How You Brag Now
"What’s this about treating us? You scored such good marks, shouldn’t you treat us?"
"Yeah, you ranked in the top twenty in the province, provincial ranking!"
The class monitor was stunned for a moment and then said, "You must be mistaken, I didn’t even make it into the top fifty, let alone the top twenty."
Everyone was immediately taken aback.
"That’s strange, if not the class monitor and not May Lee, then who made it into the top 20 in the province? In our class, only the two of them have a chance to be in the top twenty."
Their class never publicly ranked scores, only the top position.
Every time a test was over, the rankings would be sent to their individual phones, but only their own ranking.
Their homeroom teacher felt that rankings were personal privacy and wanted to respect everyone’s privacy.
When there was only a month left until college entrance exams, the homeroom teacher didn’t even reveal the top rank to avoid causing anxiety and delaying review.
When Ashley Shaw arrived, the ranking was no longer disclosed, not even the top position.
Before that, the top of the class alternated between the class monitor and May Lee.
So, they couldn’t immediately think of anyone else who could surpass the two of them and enter the top twenty in the province.
Everyone looked at each other, but someone couldn’t help but speak, "Come on, who is it? Stop hiding."
"It’s not me."
"It’s not me either."
"Could it be a mistake? Our class doesn’t have anyone in the top twenty; maybe it’s someone from another class?"
"Impossible."
The student who first got the news said, "I personally heard our math teacher say it, just didn’t hear who it was."
"So who is it?"
"I don’t know..."
"Is there someone who doesn’t want to treat us and is deliberately hiding it, so mean!"
Ashley Shaw originally didn’t want to cause a scene before graduation, but hearing everyone incessantly asking, she had to raise her hand.
"It’s me."
As soon as these words came out, everyone turned to look towards Ashley Shaw.
When they saw Ashley raise her hand, the classroom suddenly fell silent.
"Ashley Shaw? It’s actually her in the top twenty of the province?"
"Isn’t she the one in a relationship? How does she have the mind to study?"
"She didn’t get anywhere with Warren Prescott, just a crush maybe. Could be she turned her misery into motivation to study?"
"Now that you say it, ever since she came to our class, she’s been at her desk studying from day until night."
After a brief silence, whispers erupted like a flood.
But everyone was just whispering.
Even a monk respects the Buddha; even if you scold a dog, you have to consider its master’s face.
No matter what, Ashley is the Prescotts’ foster daughter.
Warren Prescott may not care about Ashley Shaw’s affairs, but the rest of the Prescott Family might.
If Ashley Shaw complains to the Prescotts in a fit of anger, they can’t afford to offend them.
Just then, a female voice pierced through the chatter—
"You? Did I hear that right? Ashley Shaw, even bragging has its limits, okay?"
Ashley instinctively looked up and saw the speaker was May Lee, who never liked her from the start.
May Lee’s deep brown eyes were openly mocking and sarcastic.
Ashley Shaw didn’t know where May Lee’s grudge against her stemmed from.
She didn’t even remember when she had offended May Lee before transferring to this class.
But at this age, one’s feelings are most sensitive; dislike or like often needs no reason and perhaps just a look can make someone dislike another person.
"I’m not bragging. Believe it or not, it’s up to you."
Ashley Shaw no longer concerned herself with her, passing the volunteer form from the front to the side.
She had already filled it out, so there was no need to waste a volunteer form.
However, seeing her actions, May Lee immediately acted as if she had caught something, standing up and saying, "If what you’re saying is true, why not fill out your volunteer form in front of us? Are you afraid of filling in a third-rate university and being found out?"
Ashley ignored her, pretending she hadn’t heard.
Seeing she didn’t retort, May Lee immediately concluded that Ashley Shaw was lying.
"Oh my God, there really are people who lie without thinking. Who exactly in our class scored in the top twenty, quick, expose her lies."
Just as she finished speaking, Mr. Coleman walked in from the door.
"Ashley Shaw, come out for a moment." Mr. Coleman said, waving for her to come outside.
Ashley nodded, got up, and walked toward the back door.
Once Ashley was outside, Mr. Coleman approached and said in a low voice, "Ashley, it’s as you said, someone came to ask me which university you applied to, and after knowing it, to tell him."
"I told them what you said, that you filled it in advance, applying to Aethelgard University."
"It’s this person, right... The teacher doesn’t know if you want to tell them the truth, if you do, you can explain it to them now."
Ashley nodded and asked, "Who was it?"
Mr. Coleman awkwardly uttered a name, "Warren Prescott."
"..."
This was unexpected yet somehow expected.
That’s why she had said those things, to prevent Warren, and it seemed like she had anticipated it correctly.
No wonder Mr. Coleman had such a stiff tone.
Thanks to May Lee, the love letter she wrote to Warren Prescott had spread throughout the entire grade, Mr. Coleman was aware of it too.
So when he mentioned Warren Prescott, he had shown that awkward expression.
During their studies, Mr. Coleman naturally opposed them dating early, but now they were graduating, he didn’t want to be the one to break them up.
So he had specially found Ashley Shaw to mention Warren Prescott, fearing it might prevent them from being together.
But apparently, Mr. Coleman didn’t know Ashley Shaw’s current mindset.
"Thank you, teacher, I understand now."
"Okay, I just wanted to let you know. Head back inside. The school is organizing an assembly to distribute scholarships, you’re one of the three recipients, get ready to give a speech."
"Thank you, teacher." Ashley thanked him again and walked back into the classroom with Mr. Coleman through the front door.
On her way back to her seat, she passed by May Lee.
May Lee slightly parted her lips, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Mr. Coleman is here, let’s see you keep bragging."
Ashley Shaw acted as if she didn’t hear her words, ignoring the thick sarcasm in her eyes and returned to her seat expressionlessly.
What’s the point of getting angry with a clown?
She was only thinking about one thing in her mind.
Warren Prescott had actually gone to ask Mr. Coleman about her volunteer application, and did it so early.
Once seated, she heard Mr. Coleman’s voice from the podium.
"Did everyone get their volunteer forms?"
Amid a drizzle-like response of "got it," May Lee’s voice suddenly stood out.
"Mr. Coleman, Ashley Shaw hasn’t received hers yet."
As she spoke, she sent an ambiguous expression from behind.
Her eyes were full of provocation.
Ashley Shaw treated it as non-existent, focusing intently on Mr. Coleman at the podium.
Mr. Coleman then said, "Ashley Shaw doesn’t need one, she already filled it out in advance with me."