Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Black Horse Prince

Innovation High School was bustling beside the bulletin board, students crowding in from all sides. Everyone was chattering away, as if a flock of sparrows had discovered a field of grain and were swooping in to claim their share.

Six large sheets of red paper were posted inside the board, covered with densely written names. Three sheets listed the Stars of the Top Hundred—those who ranked among the hundred highest in this round of exams—while the other three featured the Stars of Progress, those who had made the most significant improvements. Each grade had two sheets: one for the Top Hundred, one for Progress. At this moment, the largest crowd was gathered around the two sheets for the senior year.

“Hey, did you hear about Wang Yuqing?” said a boy standing by the board, his hair greasy.

“How could I not? She got second place in the whole school in this exam, transferred into Class One,” replied another student beside him.

“Yeah, everyone knows her now. She recited that poem on the campus broadcast last time, remember? Her voice—amazing,” chimed in another.

Now, at Innovation High, hardly anyone didn’t know Wang Yuqing. Even the cleaning lady and the security guard at the gate had heard there was a beautiful girl in Class One, and her academic record was impeccable. Previously, Wang Yuqing had been remembered for her striking looks and melodious voice, but this time was different. Innovation High was packed with high-achieving students; even the weakest among them would be considered top-tier elsewhere. For these students, only academic excellence could command true respect. No matter how attractive you were, they might admire you, but they wouldn’t be impressed. Wang Yuqing’s outstanding performance left them speechless. Now, to the boys, she was a goddess, pure and simple. The girls, too, couldn’t help but admire her; such grades demanded respect.

Meng Ranran was searching for her own name on the board. When she found it at the very end—ranked ninety-fifth—her mood soured. Hearing those around her lavish praise on Wang Yuqing only fueled her jealousy, distorting her once charming face. Even her carefully applied makeup seemed to burn with the heat of envy.

“Wang Yuqing, ever since you arrived, everything that once belonged to me has been snatched away. You’re a disaster, and I will take back what’s mine. Just wait,” Meng Ranran thought bitterly.

Meng Ranran was beautiful, but compared to Wang Yuqing, she lacked refinement and grace. Whenever she found someone more beautiful or talented, she would stop at nothing to ruin them. Though she presented herself flawlessly in public, only she knew the true nature of her heart.

“Look! Everyone, look! Xiao Lin made it onto the Top Hundred list this time—I can’t believe it!” exclaimed a student who had spotted something surprising.

“What? Xiao Lin? That’s impossible,” others echoed. “Yeah, that can’t be right.” Many gathered to search the red sheet for his name. Xiao Lin was famously known throughout the school, but not for positive reasons; his grades were notoriously bad. That alone wouldn’t make him memorable, but he had entered Innovation High as the top scorer. That detail gave his story extra weight.

“Uh, he’s really here,” a student confirmed. “I see it—ranked twenty-ninth. The name’s Xiao Lin.”

“Are you sure it’s the Xiao Lin from Class One, not someone with the same name?” asked another student, still dubious. For them, seeing someone once ranked dead last suddenly break into the top hundred was as rare as a comet striking the earth.

The student’s question was met with scorn; how could they all have made the same mistake? Besides, the class was listed beside the name. There was only one Xiao Lin in Class One.

“Hey, look at this! Xiao Lin is ranked first on the Progress Stars list,” a girl exclaimed.

“Of course—from last place to top hundred. If he isn’t first in progress, there’s no justice,” a boy replied.

“Who would have thought Xiao Lin was so impressive? He’s like the real-life King Zhuang of Chu—silent for years, then suddenly astonishing everyone,” remarked a girl from the humanities class.

“Tsk, tsk. Innovation High is about to get lively. Wang Yuqing, Chai Yuan, Xiao Lin, Gao Zheng, Lin Xudong… Looks like a new battle is brewing! A war without gunpowder,” said a boy, his face alight with excitement, imagining the scene of these students vying for the top spots.

“Don’t you feel that the biggest dark horse this time isn’t Wang Yuqing, but Xiao Lin? I heard Wang Yuqing was already a star student at her old school. Xiao Lin’s situation is different—he entered with top marks but has been practically dormant these past two years. His sudden leap is shocking to everyone!”

“That’s right. I heard the director of the academic office personally questioned the proctor to check if Xiao Lin had cheated. He couldn’t believe Xiao Lin had scored so well.”

“Prince of the Dark Horses, truly the Prince of the Dark Horses!” a girl sighed sincerely.

“What did you say? Yuqing got second in the whole school, just two points behind Chai Yuan?” Gao Zheng was looking at his own score sheet when he heard Zhao Mingliang mention Wang Yuqing’s impressive four-hundred-and-fifty-point score. Normally calm, he stood up in surprise. This was far beyond his expectations—he himself had only ranked ninth this time and knew how difficult it was to break into the top three.

“Yes, young master. I just checked in Class Three; Chai Yuan is working through test papers, probably feeling the pressure now.”

“Yuqing has really startled me this time. She’s the most outstanding in this round of exams. Excellent—I like it. The people I admire are bound to be exceptional,” Gao Zheng laughed heartily, clearly in high spirits.

“Young master, you’re mistaken. The biggest dark horse this time isn’t Miss Yuqing, but someone else,” Zhao Mingliang said, smiling wryly as he saw Gao Zheng’s joy.

“What? Not Yuqing? Who could it be? Is there anyone greater than her?”

“Young master, the real dark horse is Xiao Lin. He leaped from the bottom of the school all the way into the top hundred. Everyone’s eyes have been opened wide. Outside, people are calling him the Prince of the Dark Horses—he’s the talk of the town,” Zhao Mingliang replied, his mouth twitching. He could hardly believe it himself, but facts were facts.

“Xiao Lin, top hundred in the school? Zhao Mingliang, are you joking?” Gao Zheng asked, incredulous.

Seeing Zhao Mingliang’s bitter smile and nod, Gao Zheng collapsed into his chair.

“How is this possible? It’s too unbelievable…”