allonlinenovel Chapter 146 Fairness
Chapter 146 Fairness
Shen Xi learned about the competition after the second period. Jiang Ci hadn't returned to the classroom yet. As soon as get out of class ended, the homeroom teacher summoned her to the office.
Has something big happened?
She walked down the corridor to her office and knocked on the door.
"Teacher, you wanted to see me."
A complex look flashed in Jiang Yue's eyes. The boy who had just left said the same thing when he came in.
She still felt somewhat guilty. Although she knew her choice might be a bit pragmatic, she knew that as the homeroom teacher, she had to think more about the overall interests of the class.
Did Jiang Ci mention anything about the competition to you just now?
Jiang Yue was actually a little scared. She had chosen a time difference. When Jiang Ci returned, he would already be in class. They probably wouldn't talk privately during class, so she called Shen Xi over as soon as get out of class ended.
Let's sign the contract first, just in case.
Shen Xi found this strange. Jiang Ci hadn't returned during class, and now the teacher was bringing it up again. Could it be that the problem was serious this time?
The office window wasn't closed tightly, leaving a small gap, but a gust of cold wind managed to blow in through it.
Shen Xi shook her head and said no.
When Jiang Yue heard Shen Xi say this, she slowly felt relieved. She briefly explained the selection criteria for the International Mathematics Cup, only mentioning in passing that she had to give a thank-you speech in English when receiving the award.
Shen Xi took the competition documents from Jiang Yue and carefully read them from beginning to end.
Shen Xi remained silent for a while after listening. She wasn't stupid; Jiang Ci had arrived earlier than her, which meant that the teacher favored Jiang Ci more in this competition.
Jiang Ci's absence from class further confirms the whole story. He had never skipped class before.
She didn't understand. If they were ranked solely by their math scores, they would indeed be tied for first place, but when she looked at the entire school's ranking list, the number one spot belonged to her, Shen Xi.
She wasn't being petty; she was just thinking, what if the school had even a little bit of fairness in its eyes?
Shen Xi looked directly at her homeroom teacher, her eyes showing less respect. She spoke frankly and without reservation, "Teacher, if I may ask a question, was Jiang Ci your first choice at the very beginning? I'd like to ask why?"
At this point, Jiang Yue realized that the whole situation had spiraled out of her control.
She quickly explained, "It's like this, the organizers have a restriction on the English language used for the final speech, I think..."
"You're thinking that Jiang Ci received an elite education from a young age, and his basic English speaking skills are more than enough, so you chose him."
Shen Xi stared intently at the speechless teacher in front of her. She interrupted the homeroom teacher and continued, "But you didn't expect that Jiang Ci would be even angrier because you chose me, so he will probably tell you that we have all refused to participate in this competition."
As she spoke, a fire burned even hotter inside her, but when she saw the displeased look in Teacher Jiang's eyes, it was as if a bucket of water had been poured over her head, and she fell silent instantly.
Jiang Yue seemed to get angry now. Her choice was for the students' and the class's sake. Was she wrong?
These kids will never grow up!
"Shen Xi, you're making a mountain out of a molehill..."
Shen Xi's gaze suddenly blazed with fury, like an anti-aircraft gun suddenly bursting from its barrel. She spoke clearly and distinctly.
“Teacher Jiang, at the beginning of the semester you took action to oppose formalism and were more inclined to do practical things for the students. But why can’t you focus on the students? I’m not angry about losing this spot, I’m angry about the unfairness of your leadership as a teacher.”
The document clearly states that math scores will be considered first, and if math scores are the same, then ranking will be considered.
Shen Xi didn't think this competition was very important to her. If she were to participate, she would definitely give it her all. Otherwise, it didn't matter and she could take a break.
But what she did was disgusting. She bypassed her and went straight to Jiang Ci. After Jiang Ci rejected her, she immediately came to her to try and win him back.
So, no matter how you look at it, she was just a backup option in this homeroom teacher's heart.
Shen Xi walked out of the office, but instead of returning to the classroom, she walked along the stairwell, where it was windy and there were few people.
Shen Xi has experienced countless injustices since childhood. When she was young, she went to school in the town. In elementary school, she was looked down upon because she was a student receiving financial aid. She was judged and robbed of scholarships and poverty relief funds that she was entitled to for no reason.
When asked, the teacher always makes excuses.
Shen Xi will never forget the words that came from inside the office not long after she left when she was a child.
"How can a little girl who is receiving financial aid compare to the principal's niece?"
Another teacher advised, "Just give it to her; she seems to meet the criteria, isn't that unfair?"
Suddenly, a sentence struck her young heart like a thunderbolt: "Where do the poor get fairness and dignity?"
Since then, Shen Xi has stopped asking about these things. She strives to become stronger so that she can gain more influence.
Even now, Jiang Yue's words seem like a slap in the face from when she was a child.
This time, however, she had the right to say no.
Shen Xi sat at the entrance of the stairwell, a cool breeze blowing on her continuously. Her gaze lingered on the only window in the stairwell.
She seemed to see sunlight shining from there.
"What... what's wrong with you?"
The quiet environment was broken by a timid voice. Shen Xi turned around and saw Yan Nuo standing at the top of the stairs with his shoulders hunched over, wearing black-rimmed glasses. A hint of worry was in his eyes.
Shen Xi casually patted the empty space beside her, only to realize afterward that the steps must be a bit dirty. She had been so angry that she hadn't cared about the dirtiness before sitting down.
We mustn't go and cause harm to others now.
She withdrew her hand, and a shadow fell.
Yan Ruo obediently tucked her legs in and sat down next to her.
"Can you move your arm now?" Yan Ruo's gaze lingered on the girl's slender arm, seemingly unintentionally.
Shen Xi said, "It's much better now. As long as it's not heavy, I can touch it. Just don't use too much force."
Yan Ruo made two "oh" sounds, her clear black and white eyes quickly glanced at her and then instantly looked away.
His voice was muffled. "You seem a little unhappy."
If it wasn't because of an injury, then what was it because of?
Shen Xi looked at Yan Ruo in surprise. She never showed her temper on her face; she would just be a little quieter than usual, which was hard for most people to detect.
Yan Ruo was quite perceptive at this point.
She patted the dust off her trouser legs. "Those academic issues weren't even affecting me, I could have just watched the show. But now they're hitting me right in the face, how can I not be angry?"
Yan Ruo nodded as if she understood, but Shen's words were quite profound. But she would definitely be very angry at this moment.
He lowered his head and thought for a moment, wanting to say something to comfort him, but he was too clumsy with words. His mind kept going over and over the same sentence, "Don't be angry."
"I don't need comforting. I just need to relax and I'll be fine in a bit. I'm angry every day. I'm like a gas cylinder that never runs out of gas."
Shen Xi found it somewhat amusing to watch him struggle to come up with words of comfort, and even found it funny that he could actually make a joke about it.