Xanthia never expected that completing the "Top 1 of the Css" challenge would bring such unexpected joy.

  Although she didn’t gain much personal happiness from it—having long become indifferent to academic achievements due to her past life as a diligent student worn down by society's expectations—she acknowledged the undeniable benefits of good grades, especially during one’s student years.

  The real surprise was the unintended consequence of her so-called "studious" behavior, which earned her a significant amount of "pain points" from her cssmates.

  For example, not only did the normally composed Dematero break down and release a rge number of "pain points," but even his seatmate, Jimmy, was deeply affected by Xanthia's exceptional exam performance.

  Jimmy, who had always looked down on "poor students," was particurly devastated. To witness a student he had underestimated achieve such a high score in a school-wide exam struck a blow to his pride.

  This underdog was unexpectedly formidable!

  He vividly recalled lecturing Xanthia with a patronizing tone, convinced that she had nothing to offer beyond her looks. Now, with the exam results in, his face was metaphorically spped swollen with embarrassment.

  He couldn’t even summon the courage to speak to Xanthia now, fervently hoping for the teacher to change his seat and pce him far away from this girl who had shattered his confidence.

  Moreover, he had grown quite resentful of his seat, living in constant fear of losing control of his bdder out of sheer anxiety…

  Nevertheless, the "pain points" Jimmy generated were undeniably fewer than Dematero’s. Jimmy had actually improved his css rank from 19th to 17th this time, though his overall grade rank had slightly declined due to the overall drop in Css 3’s performance. Perhaps having Dematero as a scapegoat for everyone’s frustration helped mitigate his own breakdown.

  In contrast, Xanthia’s backseat cssmate, Crissante, maintained a positive attitude. Having become friends with Xanthia, the two often shared snacks and good times.

  Crissante knew Xanthia was a very approachable girl, always cheerful and fun, spreading joy to those around her. Therefore, even though Xanthia topped the css, she never looked down on those who scored lower.

  Whenever Crissante struggled with difficult questions on her test, she would ask Xanthia for help and always received satisfactory expnations, sometimes finding Xanthia’s expnations clearer than the teacher’s.

  After unlocking the "Study Expert" trait, Xanthia activated it and quickly discovered its incredible utility for her student identity. It felt like a divine skill, significantly enhancing her approach to studying, memory techniques, problem-solving strategies, and test-taking skills.

  Unlike the "Wisdom Root" trait, which improved overall comprehension and could be applied to various areas, the "Study Expert" trait focused on detailed, specialized academic skills. It made studying feel effortless and intuitive, improving her performance across the board.

  While the "Wisdom Root" trait was broader, enhancing various skill levels beyond academics—including her rapid progression in singing to Level 2—Xanthia greatly valued this trait and was determined to maintain a state of "the prudent heart stay away from stupidity called love."

  Now, Xanthia’s new status as the "Top 1 Student" was recognized by her cssmates. Her natural talent and hard-earned skills were undeniable. No one could cim she achieved her exam scores through cheating or luck.

  Yet, among those cssmates who didn’t know her well and had a narrow perspective, skepticism remained. They believed her "top 1 of the css" status was too good to be true and that her true nature would eventually be exposed.

  One evening after self-study, in the girls’ dormitory of Css 3—

  "Hey, do you think Xanthia’s exam scores are really her own doing?"

  "I find it hard to believe. Don’t forget how she dressed that day when we returned to school. She didn’t look like someone who studies seriously in private!"

  "Truth can’t be faked, and falsehoods can’t st. I bet she won’t score this well next time!"

  "The proctors were pretty x during this exam, and there were no signal jammers. A skilled cheater could sneak a phone in, look up answers online, and score big."

  "I can accept Luciel’s second pce because we all know how hard she works. But why Xanthia? That girl only reads comics... ah no... what is it again? Oh yes, manga!"

  "Elena, what do you think? You were the top girl among us st time, but now this poor girl beat you. It’s so unfair!"

  Elena wasn’t participating in the gossip session; she was listening to music and taking selfies. Her hobby was creating various videos, meeting new friends, sharing her life, and enjoying the adoration and attention she received.

  Regarding her performance in the recent monthly exams, Elena was quite satisfied. She wasn’t the type of girl who always had to be first in everything. Ranking fifth in the css and maintaining a consistent grade rank were enough to put her at ease.

  With these results, she could once again make her parents a little more satisfied, which brought her some small happiness.

  Elena’s familia had been well-off during her childhood, but their current situation was far from ideal. The familia was heavily in debt, and she had a younger brother three years her junior. Both her parents were considered defaulters.

  When she attended university, she would definitely have to apply for a student loan. Unlike the student loans in her previous world, these were akin to those in Uncle Sam or the Republic of Korea, where repayment could stretch over decades, a testament to the "superiority" of capitalist systems.

  Since her familia’s financial downfall, Elena had matured quickly and learned to package and utilize herself effectively. Without taking a single penny from her familia, she thrived in school, maintaining a polished appearance. Everyone assumed she came from a schorly familia, a testament to her skills.

  When Elena overheard her gossiping roommates dragging Xanthia into their conversation and then turning their focus on her, she felt irritated. She detested how people talked about who was rich and who was poor, as if being poor meant everything you did was wrong, even breathing.

  What had Xanthia done wrong? Just because she was poor? What kind of nonsense was that?

  Why did society insist on dividing people into csses based on wealth?

  Having experienced both wealth and poverty, Elena felt increasingly disillusioned with the world.

  "Heh, I don’t need you guys to fight my battles," Elena said with a cold smile. "If you have any skills, why not learn from Xanthia? Regardless of how she got her grades, why can’t you admit that she’s strong?"

  "Elena, you sound a bit skewed. How can cheating make someone strong in academics?"

  "Exactly! Our Elena is the real deal—good grades, wealthy familia, branded clothes, luxury skincare products, and all the boys see you as their ideal."

  Elena continued to smile, but it was devoid of warmth.

  It was clear that her dormitory cked a strong leader like Luciel, making it a typical dysfunctional environment filled with backstabbing and petty jealousy.

  Such a peaceful world of girls.

  In their dorm of eight girls, who knew how many secret groups they had formed to talk behind each other’s backs?