Chapter Forty: The Changing of the School Beauty Rankings

Time erodes everything—no matter how sensational a topic might be now, or how unforgettable a love once was, or even those hatreds etched into one's bones. As the days pass, all of it fades from memory; if you don’t revisit these matters often, they slip away like the wind, leaving not a trace behind.

It had been three days since the results of the second joint entrance exam were released. The heated discussions stirred up by the exam had gradually dissipated, replaced by new topics of interest. Apart from Wang Yuqing, who shone brilliantly because of the exam, and Xiao Lin, who left a deep impression, the campus as a whole was slowly returning to its usual tranquility.

At this moment, a new ranking sheet began circulating quietly among the students of Innovation High School—a list of the latest campus belles, campus heartthrobs, and influential figures. In an instant, it ignited a fresh wave of excitement.

This ranking was simply three sheets of letter paper, each printed with a different list: the Campus Belle Ranking, the Heartthrob Ranking, and the Current Influential Figures. The list was updated every two months, originally concocted by a group of bored students, but over time it had become more formalized—eventually evolving into a longstanding tradition at Innovation High School, handed down from one class to the next. There was even a student review committee responsible for gathering the latest gossip, compiling profiles of the school’s belles and heartthrobs, and writing them up on these sheets. Hundreds of copies were printed and sold—not given away for free. Each sheet cost ten yuan, and demand always exceeded supply.

“Haha, I got them! I got them! Isn’t your class president amazing? I managed to buy thirty copies in one go. Line up to get yours in a bit! Oh, and I used class funds for this—no objections, right?” Liu Xiaoming burst into the classroom, his round face drenched in sweat. He was so excited that his words tumbled out in a stammer. As he spoke, he waved a stack of printed sheets in his hand.

“Wow, our class president is the best! No objections, give me one!” Before Liu Xiaoming had finished his sentence, several boys leapt from their seats, crowding around him like a pack of hungry wolves.

“President, don’t forget us girls! We want one too!” a few girls called out, chattering noisily.

“Alright, alright, no pushing! Line up, everyone,” Liu Xiaoming said loudly, raising the stack above his head. Realizing they couldn’t snatch them, the students quickly formed a long line.

Interestingly, they followed the rule of letting the girls go first. At the front was none other than the lively Tan Linlin, who was always the most enthusiastic about anything fun.

“There aren’t many copies, so after you’re done reading, pass them around. And be smart—don’t let the homeroom teacher see you,” Liu Xiaoming added. He was joking, but if the teacher did find out, as class president, he’d be the first to take the blame.

Wang Yuqing noticed the crowd forming at the front and heard Liu Xiaoming’s announcement. She couldn’t make sense of the excitement—what had Liu Xiaoming bought with class funds that had everyone so worked up?

“Xiao Lin, what’s going on? What did the class president buy? Why is everyone so excited?” Wang Yuqing asked, turning to Xiao Lin beside her.

Hearing her question, Xiao Lin glanced around the classroom. Only three or four students remained in their seats; the rest were lined up around Liu Xiaoming. He chuckled softly and explained the origins of the various school rankings to Wang Yuqing.

When he finished, Wang Yuqing’s mouth hung open, her long lashes fluttering. Her bright eyes were wide with surprise. She never would have guessed that this was what everyone was clamoring for. It seemed so pointless—how could such a prestigious high school in the capital have something like this?

Catching Wang Yuqing’s astonished look, Xiao Lin said playfully, “You’re curious, aren’t you? Well, the bigger the forest, the more birds there are. In this big world, anything can happen.”

“Hey, Xiao Lin, have you ever been on one of these lists?” Wang Yuqing ignored his quip. Resting her chin on her hand, she blinked at him inquisitively.

At her question, a rare blush flashed across Xiao Lin’s fresh, handsome face, but he quickly gathered himself and replied with a straight face, “Yes, I made it onto the Influential Figures list once.”

“Really? I knew it! You’re so outstanding—you had to be on there,” Wang Yuqing clapped her hands in delight.

“Uh… well, it wasn’t for anything good. I was listed for my poor grades. I still remember what it said: ‘Xiao Lin, ranked at the bottom of the class. A regular in the teacher’s office. Epitome of indifference.’—meaning I don’t care about anything.” He chuckled. “There were some anecdotes about me, but I’d rather not repeat them.” Xiao Lin rubbed his nose and fell silent.

Seeing Xiao Lin’s awkwardness, Wang Yuqing grinned mischievously. “Imagine that—the famous genius Xiao, embarrassed at last! Come on, tell me more. I want to hear!”

Just as Xiao Lin was about to retort, a high-pitched soprano rang out, loud enough to make the classroom tremble, “Yuqing, you’re on the front page!”

Before Wang Yuqing could react, Tan Linlin, like a whirlwind, was already at her desk. The soprano was, of course, Tan Linlin. She slapped a pink sheet of paper onto Wang Yuqing’s desk so forcefully that her palm smacked the desktop with a sharp crack, but she didn’t care about the pain. Face flushed with excitement, she waved her hands wildly. “Yuqing, you’re the new campus belle! The campus belle!” She seemed even happier than if she’d won the title herself.

Hearing Tan Linlin’s shout, Wang Yuqing and Xiao Lin looked at the still-quivering sheet on the desk. At the top of the pink page, in large embossed gold letters, it read: Campus Belle Ranking. Beneath was a printed photograph of a girl with a schoolbag—her face flawless, her lips a delicate pink, her nose exquisitely upturned, pearl-like ears, and eyes as bright as black pearls, sparkling with intelligence. The girl in the photo smiled gently, dimples showing, with long dark hair cascading over her shoulders and a smooth forehead where a few strands of hair strayed. Who could it be but Wang Yuqing?

Below the photo was a brief description: Innovation High School’s new campus belle, ranked first overall. Wang Yuqing, female, lives in Donghai City, exact address unknown. Height and weight: 90 jin. Other measurements: unknown. Currently a student in Class One, Senior Three. Stunning beauty. Once recited a poem on the school broadcast, voice pure and melodious, nicknamed “Campus Nightingale.” In her second joint entrance exam, though recently transferred, she placed second in the entire school, causing a sensation. Approved unanimously by the review committee and with input from teachers and students, she has been chosen as the new campus belle. Several anecdotes about Wang Yuqing followed.

Beneath that was another photo of a pretty girl—this one ranked second, a sophomore. Each Campus Belle Ranking selected three girls, one from each grade, and then chose the top among them. Wang Yuqing, leading the list, was naturally number one.

“It’s true! Haha, our classmate Wang Yuqing is this year’s campus belle—we can finally hold our heads high!” another boy who had gotten a copy shouted.

“I saw it too! Meng Ranran’s run as top campus belle has finally been broken. The ranking has changed—this is a rare event!” a bespectacled boy said excitedly. In an instant, the classroom was in an uproar again.

Wang Yuqing was stunned. How had they gotten her photo, and so much information? Her mind was a complete blank.