Mr. Tan, the history teacher and Miss Lee, the chemistry teacher entered the teaching staff room.
"What's with the stunned looks," Mr. Shui, the mathematics teacher asked, and the teachers around turned to them just as they sat on their respective seats.
"Do you know," Miss Lee tapped her fingers on her table full of files. "Jiang Meiying?"
Some teachers snorted, but Mr. Shui let out a small scoff.
"She's repeated class in her final year. That girl knows nothing more than staying first line to buy lunch at the cafeteria!"
"I was thinking the same thing too. But I think she's been putting on an act the entire time!" Mr. Tan joined In the conversation.
"What do you mean?" Another teacher asked, curious like the others.
"I conducted a test today," Miss Lee cut in before he could could start. "And she made a perfect 56."
Most of the them fell speechless, but the arrogant maths teacher asked.
"What was the total score?"
"80!"
Everyone gasped.
"Are we even talking about the same Jiang Meiying that can't spell most words."
"Yes. That Jiang Meiying!!!"
"I didn't give any test, but the look of seriousness on her face, and the questions she berated me with left me so speechless. It was like she had done some advanced research on the topic before our class." Mr. Tan added.
The Mathematics teacher refused to be budged or astounded like the others. He took off his glasses and cleaned it a bit before placing it on to balance on the bridge of his nose again.
"Well, I have a class with them after their lunch break and they're well aware of the test we're having. I'll see what this Jiang Meiying girl has done to make you two praise her like this!"
Meanwhile, in the cafeteria,
Jiang Meiying sat alone on a bench, munching on a simple egg salad she had ordered for in the cafeteria. She tried not to look at the greasy burgers or peanut butter sandwiches and sweets that the other students were devouring. She was just about done with her food when she felt a presence and looked up to see Li Fu and Hai Bo.
"You're late." She simply said, just as they sat down.
"I got you this." Li Fu said, stretching his hand out.
Jiang Meiying looked down to see Li Fu politely dropping a new jotter pad right Infront of her tray.
She was surprised, but a bit touched at their thoughtfulness. However, she said nothing more and gave them instructions on how they were going to treat each crucial topic on every subject they wanted lessons on.
They started with the area of concentration for the mathematics test coming up.
They were alert, ready and waiting to see her stutter and make a fool out of herself but she was astounding!
They sat there hypnotized and watched her brush them up on the particular topic like she's been learning it for years.
The swift movement of her hands writing sums and equations on the paper was something they couldn't get their eyes off.
Due to so much shock and surprise, they didn't even understand much of what she was saying, but they seemed satisfied that they didn't waste their time believing her earlier.
"Any more questions?"
Jiang Meiying already stabbed her fork in her salad, waiting to stuff it in her mouth while waiting for a reply.
"Jiang Meiying. We have a math test after break. Can we study more topics we've learnt so far underneath it." Hai Bo begged and Jiang Meiying was more than happy to help them study.
Jiang Ming was seated across the table enjoying the envious gaze of girls and the heart-shaped eyes gaze of the boys while she quietly ate her food, playing the calm, respectful, young lady.
Her gaze however darkened to an unmeasurable amount when one of the Liu twins said,
"What are they doing, seating with the school's fatty?" Liu Fang asked herself in mock disgust.
Liu Rong turned and her lips parted open in surprise.
"Let's check it out! They're probably bullying her. This is our chance to get our revenge for what she did to us last night."
Jiang Ming was unwilling to go after the knife incident last night but after much persuasion, she went along with her friends, taking care to let Liu Rong walk ahead of her like she was the ring leader and she was just backup Incase she threw anything else.
Jiang Meiying and the two boys looked up when someone shut her book closed.
Her gaze turned spine-chilling on seeing Liu Fang's smug smile.
"What do you want?"
Students in the cafeteria didn't hesitate to look at the scene, craving intense drama as usual.
"We just wanted to check what you're reading. It's possible you've gotten a migraine from looking at many words."
Liu Rong grabbed the book from her sister just as Jiang Meiying reached up to grab it.
"Oh Look. It's her maths book. I'm sure she's studying for the Math's test coming up!"
Seeing as Li Fu and Hai Bo were present and would back her up Incase Jiang Meiying tried to be violent again, Jiang Ming scornfully asked,
"Why do you even bother Jiang Meiying?"
"Why do you care?" Jiang Meiying shot back at her and the two boys looked from one girl to another.
They were expecting Jiang Meiying to finally cower under the three notorious female bullies in school but she looked ready to beat them up!
"Give my book back or I'll make sure you won't be able to touch another book again!" Jiang Meiying threatened and Liu Rong couldn't help but feel a cold chilling sensation run down her spine on meeting Jiang Meiying's cold, black eyes just as she stood up.
She didn't hesitate to throw the book to Li Fu who caught it without hesitation.
"I suggest you tear it up Li Fu, and save her the trouble of reading just to fail again." Li Fang pointed out, and a good number of students began laughing.
They all anticipated the girl trying to get her books from the boys, and get kicked to the floor as usual but Jiang Meiying just sighed and lowered herself onto her chair, holding onto her head with one hand like it was about falling off.
The boys — to the amazement of everyone — rounded her up, pushing the flabbergasted girls aside.
"Jiang Meiying, are you okay?!"