Chapter 89: The Only S+
Rachel modestly smiled, “It’s not me. It’s been a while since I got an S+.”
“It has to be you! Did you do the additional special tests?” another girl asked.
“I did. There was still time left, so I attempted the extra credit, but it was pretty tough. I doubt it’s me.”
“It’s impossible. It has to be you,” the girls surrounding her insisted. “Besides you, who else at our law school could possibly ace that question? Rachel, you’re amazing! No wonder you’re the president of the Elite Club.”
“Rachel, let’s celebrate tonight by going out to eat.”
“Sure! If I got an S+, I’ll treat the whole class.”
“Wow!” The excitement spread through the entire class.
Rachel seemed to remember something and turned to Paige, “Joss, join us tonight.”
“Thanks, but I’m busy,” Paige declined, not wanting to engage.
Rachel looked disappointed for a moment. The girl beside her immediately spoke up, “Rachel, why bother with someone like her? Even Professor Hodge says she’s trouble, just a transfer student. Who knows exactly how she got here.”
“Don’t make baseless accusations,” Rachel gently scolded the girl. “Even though Joss transferred when the school was coincidentally investing in new buildings, you can’t speculate like that.”
Her words sobered everyone up. Yeah, when Joss appeared, the school was indeed constructing new buildings. She must have come in with money.
People looked at Paige with disdain.
Seeing the strange looks from everyone, Rachel frowned, displeased. “Stop it. Don’t act like I’m deliberately encouraging your guesses.”
But isn’t she? Paige smirked inwardly, not bothering to argue, and casually took out her book.
Rachel stood up again. “No matter how Joss transferred here, her courage to expose Senator Clarke’s true face is something none of us can match.”
“Don’t exclude her just because I admire Joss.”
“And about yesterday, I know who tampered with Joss’s exam. I’m giving you face by not exposing you publicly, but don’t let it happen again.”
The room quieted down. A girl pulled Rachel back gently, “Okay, okay, we won’t talk about it anymore. She’s indifferent to you, yet you’re defending her.” Rachel sit back down, still not very pleased, seeming genuinely disgusted by everyone’s idle chatter.
Paige chuckled to herself as she twirled her pen. Rachel is quite good at pretending, isn’t she?
The classroom fell silent as Professor Hodge entered with a stern expression. Several girls excitedly surrounded Rachel, “Here he comes, it’s announcement time! Rachel, you’re truly the pride of our law school.”
At these words, Rachel couldn’t help but look towards Professor Hodge with anticipation.
Professor Hodge walked to the front of the room, picked up a small microphone, and began the class without mentioning anything about the exam.
It had been two years since the law school had seen an S+. Wasn’t this occasion worthy of celebration?
After a few minutes, a girl couldn’t resist standing up, “Professor Hodge, we heard that someone got an S+ in this exam. Can you tell us who it is? Is it Rachel?”
Professor Hodge glared fiercely at the girl.
“Professor Hodge, is it Rachel?”
“It’s not Rachel, it’s Joss! Satisfied?” Professor Hodge snapped.
“What?” The entire class erupted in surprise, all eyes turning to Paige.
“I can’t believe she’s that good!”
“Which school did she come from before? I’ve never heard of her. Did she study abroad?”
Discussions buzzed around the room.
Rachel sat there, looking somewhat stiff.
The girls beside her dared not speak, watching Rachel cautiously.
A few seconds later, Rachel stood up, clapping her hands and smiling back at Joss. “Congratulations, Joss.”
“Can I join the Elite Club now?”
“Of course.” Rachel’s gaze was sincere. “Shall we go after class?”
Paige nodded.
Rachel smiled and nodded back at her, then sat down.
Just as Professor Hodge was about to skip over this and continue the class, the students spontaneously started applauding, the applause enthusiastic and passionate.
Students who had initially suspected Paige of being some rich kid now looked at her with admiration. “Joss, you’re amazing!”
“You’ve brought honor to our law school!”
The applause continued for a long time…
After class, Rachel indeed came over to invite Paige to the Elite Club.
Paige wanted to join the Elite Club for more opportunities to climb higher, but upon arrival, she discovered that the Elite Club was even more formidable than Nick had described.
In the university campus, the Elite Club owned a separate building, exquisitely designed, with a sculpture fountain at the entrance, quite magnificent.
Paige couldn’t help but look around. Rachel seemed genuinely welcoming. As they walked, Rachel introduced, “Actually, there aren’t many members in the Elite Club, just thirteen of us including me. Most are from the math department. It’s been a long time since we’ve had new members. I’m really happy.”
Entering the lobby, she pointed to photos of various elites hanging on the high walls. “These are photos of our predecessors in the Elite Club. We strive and work hard with them as our role models and goals.”
Rachel continued to walk, pointing to doors on either side as she introduced, “Over here is the media room, where you can relax in the future. It’s equipped with world-class audio equipment. And here’s the conference room where we discuss during meetings.”
“Mm-hmm,” Paige nodded along.
Rachel led her upstairs and opened the door marked with “Chairman’s Office,” revealing a gorgeously decorated office inside.
“Come, Joss, have a seat. I’ll process your membership paperwork,” Rachel said warmly, pouring her a glass of water.
“Thanks.” Paige sat down at Rachel’s desk and placed the water aside, without taking a sip.
Rachel retrieved a document from her desk drawer and opened it in front of Paige. “This is the membership application form. Please fill it out.”
Paige took it and started filling it in. Rachel continued, “Once the paperwork is done, I’ll go get the Elite Club badge for you. This badge is for life. Having it will give you a boost no matter which direction you choose to pursue.”
“Got it.” Paige nodded, focusing on the form.
“I heard we finally have a new member. Let’s take a look,” a clear and serious male voice suddenly came from the doorway.
Paige turned around to see several men and women standing there, all handsome and beautiful.
Leading them was a tall young man in Capital University’s uniform, exuding a serious and upright demeanor, his hand casually in his pocket as he coldly eyed Paige.
“Carl,” Rachel stood up upon seeing them, smiling as she introduced Paige, “Joss, let me introduce you. This is our current Vice Chairman, Carl Watson, from the Mathematics Department.”
Carl’s gaze shifted from Paige to Rachel’s face, softening instantly. “Rachel, how could you not inform us about such a major event?”
“But you’re here now, aren’t you?” Rachel smiled.
A girl crossed her arms and looked at Paige with a sarcastic smile. “Oh, the new girl…”
Paige swiveled in her chair, her gaze icy as she looked at the girl. “I don’t like making enemies, because once I do, I’ll make sure to crush them to pieces.”
The girl stared at her speechless.
“Let me take a look at this S+ achiever’s application form,” Carl picked up the form Paige had filled out and glanced at it. “Why didn’t you fill out your previous school? Did you study abroad? Which school, what qualifications, how many international competition awards?”
Paige smirked coldly. “It seems like the only requirement to enter the Elite Club is having an S+.”
Carl’s expression grew colder as he continued examining her form. “What does ‘no parents’ mean?”
“No father, no mother.”
Upon hearing this, everyone’s expression changed, even Rachel looked at her in astonishment.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
Carl sneered coldly, “Transfer student, looks like you don’t know yet. There’s another rule to enter our Elite Club: new members must provide three generations of family history, bank statements, and pay a membership fee of 1 million.”
Paige’s gaze shifted slightly as she looked at Rachel. “What does that mean?”