Chapter 140: A Draw
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
He coughed to attract everyoneâs attention.
The students froze in unison and looked at him with their chopsticks raised. Dissatisfaction was written on their faces as if Zhou Qiu had committed a grave sinâ¦
It took them two minutes to remember that class had not ended yet. Zhou Qiu was still their teacher, and he was in charge, so they quickly checked themselves.
Zhou Qiu could no longer go against his conscience, giving He Jing a lower score. He could only pretend to be in a difficult position. âFull marks to Student He Jing for her dish!â
If both scored full marks, how would Zhou Qiu determine the victor?
Zhou Xueâer could not hide her exasperation. âTeacher, what nonsense are you talking about? He Jingâs pan-fried fish canât be better than mine. How is it fair that she gets full marks?!â
No sooner had she spoken than she felt a wave of disdain from around her. Her mind buzzed, and she was stunned.
âIs He Jingâs pan-fried fish better than mine?â she asked with her eyes wide open.
No.
She could not believe it.
A pan-fried fish was a pan-fried fish. How good could it be?
Shen Qiuyu relied on her domineering style to scare her classmates. She ate almost an entire piece by herself. She licked her lips in satisfaction and sneered. âHow can your cooking compare with Sister Jingâs?â
She had accidentally picked up a piece of Zhou Xueâerâs fish and almost threw up.
She had not felt it tasted bad when she had eaten Zhou Xueâerâs fish. It was barely to her liking. However, after eating He Jingâs pan-fried fish, she felt that Zhou Xueâerâs fish was trash in comparison. The meat was tough and smelled pungent beside He Jingâs fragrant fish. It was as if the fishmonger had sold her a rotten fish to cook. There was nothing pleasant about its taste to speak of.
She finally understood how Yan Hanxi must have felt when he ate that half-cooked pear-shaped pastry that Cheng Yi had bought. Who would want a rock when there was a pearl next to it? He Jing outclassed Zhou Xueâer in all aspects.
Zhou Xueâer could not accept Shen Qiuyuâs words at all. She picked up the wine-red pan-fried fish and took a bite. She swept the plate clean and swallowed, seemingly unconvinced till the last moment when her expression changed.
Everyone looked at her and watched as she slapped herself in what must have been disbelief. None of her previous schadenfreude or smugness remained. No one sympathized with her. The collective thought running through their minds was: âShe deserves it for being so vicious, expecting He Jing to kneel and apologize! â
Zhou Xueâer paled, and she could not suppress the shudder that wracked her
body.
She had lostâ¦
She had lost!
But she did not want to quit school.
Who would have thought that He Jingâs fish could be so delicious?
With no other options, she cast a pleading look at Zhou Qiu.
Only Zhou Qiu could save her. As long as he sided with her, she would be safe.
Zhou Qiu knew what he was about to do would come back to bite him, but he gritted his teeth and followed through. With an inward sigh, he lied through his teeth, saying, âAlthough Student He Jingâs fried fish is better than Student Zhou Xueâerâs, I have already given her full marks. I can only blame myself for being short-sighted. Student He Jing, I shall judge this contest as a tie.â Shen Qiuyu laughed when she heard that. âTeacher, your bias is showing. Zhou Xueâer instigated this PK. Since her cooking is not as good as Sister Jingâs, she should fulfill her end of the bargain and drop out of school.â
âShen Qiuyu!â Zhou Qiu shouted, using his status to cow this unruly student. âMy word is final. What right do you have to overturn my judgment? This PK was a game, nothing more. There has never been a case of a student dropping out of Yin High School after losing a childish bet. What do you take the school for? Whatever grudge students He Jing and Zhou Xueâer have, it will be settled collectively by the disciplinary and education departments..â