Chapter 88: The Top Student

When Li Mochen was heading to the gymnasium with high expectations, the person he was eager to meet was in a teacher's office at Linden Academy, looking at a test paper in her hands. Her lips pouted, full of reluctance.

"Another A, right?"

Louise Linden crossed her arms: "To be honest, I completely can't understand your behavior, Angela."

She had gone straight to the teacher's office after the exam to look at a student's test paper.

"It's a perfect A! Six exams, five perfect scores. Especially that trigonometry problem in math—I couldn't even solve it."

Angela said helplessly: "I thought after transferring to Linden Academy, I could be the top student, trample the whole school under my feet. How wonderful would it feel to stand at the pinnacle? So, do you understand how I feel now?"

"Wow, got crushed too hard at Stellar Veil Noble Academy, then came to our school to find a sense of superiority? And then got crushed again, dream shattered?"

Louise couldn't help but laugh: "These six papers surprised me too. Even if Andrew entered Stellar Veil, he should be a formidable guy. I couldn't solve that trigonometry problem either."

"I think the exam committee in Atlanta made the history, nature, and geography questions too simple."

Angela continued grumbling: "This simply can't showcase my level."

"I feel the same way."

Louise nodded in agreement. She knew her friend was better at literature and had an incredibly powerful memory.

Being able to memorize a quarter of the school library's collection in less than a year after entering Stellar Veil Noble Academy was not something an ordinary person could do.

"But unless they want the average GPA of most students in Atlanta to drop by ten to twenty percent. You wouldn't want that, would you, Angie?"

"I understand, I understand!"

Angela sighed, then her expression gradually turned solemn: "Louise, can you tell me now? How many were killed or injured this time?"

Louise was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly: "You haven't mentioned it since you left the scene yesterday. I thought—"

"It's impossible not to care, Louise!"

Angela's expression darkened slightly: "The reason I haven't asked is because I know you've all been busy, and I didn't want to cause trouble. You and Rosia must have arranged the compensation and pensions properly, leaving no loose ends. But since you're here now, the cleanup must be over, right?"

"Do you have to know?"

Louise was silent for a moment, then decided to tell the truth: "We should be grateful that Atlanta's buildings are of good quality. The property damage is about 170 million gold shields, but fortunately most buildings were insured. There are 947 injured, 47 of them seriously injured and still under observation. The death count isn't finalized yet, but 327 are confirmed dead, and 230 are missing, with bodies not yet found."

Angela's eyes went blank, her face pale as paper: "So many?"

"This has nothing to do with you, Angie!"

Louise admonished firmly: "It's those assassins targeting you—they were utterly insane. This time, it's not just your fault; it's a security failure across all of Atlanta. You didn't want this, did you?"

"But if I really cared about them, I shouldn't have been at Russell Park at that time. At this time yesterday, I should have been in my room practicing piano."

Angela absently twirled her hair: "See? This is the price of willfulness. I knew it, I knew it. Someone told me long ago that while I enjoy the glory of the Medici family, I am also a source of disaster, unless I die one day. But I still gave them the chance—"

"Angie!"

Louise's eyes held anger, but her voice was calm: "I know you're guilty and in pain now. But for people like us, kindness and mercy are the least needed. You'll have to get used to life and death. If you really feel guilty and sympathize with the dead, and don't want this to happen again, then stand higher and never let such tragedies recur. Or die here now, willing to be trampled into mud!"

Angela was startled again, turning to meet Louise's gaze. After a long moment, she laughed self-deprecatingly: "If I talk about guilt and sympathy now, don't you think it's hypocritical? Stand higher? How many more will die?"

Louise was about to continue persuading, but Angela stood up from her seat with a normal expression: "Let's go to the fighting club. I didn't teach Andrew yesterday. I wonder if that guy missed me?"

This time, Louise was stunned for a moment, then frowned slightly.

Was it her imagination? She felt that her friend seemed overly concerned about that Andrew.

Speaking of him, Louise remembered their unfinished agreement from yesterday. She wanted to resolve the scholarship dispute early and improve the atmosphere in the club.

But after her gaze lingered on Angela's back for a moment, she finally gave up. She thought she'd wait a bit, until Angela wasn't at the club.

...

In the meditation room temporarily used as a classroom, Li Mochen was almost certain that Angela, who was teaching him today, was different from usual. Although the girl was diligently giving her lesson, her limpid eyes kept sweeping over him intentionally or unintentionally.

At first, Li Mochen thought something was wrong with him. After a few minutes, he realized that the black-haired girl was probably observing and scrutinizing him.

Then he began to speculate: Could it be that he had left clues about yesterday's incident, and the girl had guessed his identity?

If so, it made sense. The reason no police had come today was likely related to the black-haired girl before him. Maybe Angela had helped cover his tracks, or used her family's influence to pressure the police. In short, the girl had done something for him.

Once he understood this, Li Mochen completely relaxed. He thought, let her look if she wants; he wouldn't lose a piece of flesh.

As for what the girl was really thinking, Li Mochen adopted an attitude of 'don't want to know, don't respond.'

The original owner of this body had been completely subdued by this girl. But Li Mochen felt that as the 'Divine Firmament Ultimate Void Purple Immortal King,' he had to maintain his own posture and dignity. He couldn't simply surrender so easily.

He needed to have a comprehensive understanding of the girl's worldview, character, and conduct, right? If he only relied on first impressions, that would be too casual and irresponsible.

The original owner was a hot-headed youth who couldn't resist beauty, but Wenjian Taoran had long passed the age of judging women solely by their looks.

Li Mochen thought that even if one day he really fell for this girl, it would have to be when he was willing.

As for now, it was far from the time.