Chapter 263: E55 Vouchers
“How can they do this? They have not concluded their investigation into the cheating incident. How can they publish the honor roll now?” Natalie protested indignantly.
Some students recognized Natalie and her group and could not resist mocking them. “Are you suggesting that the collective decline in performance among Prof Lawson’s team members this time is due to cheating by other candidates?”
Natalie argued back defiantly. “Yeah, so? Prof Lawson’s teaching abilities are evident to everyone. His students have always dominated the honor roll all these years. In my view, certain individuals, driven by jealousy and unable to compete on merit, have resorted to unscrupulous means in an attempt to advance themselves. Mark my words. Justice will be served!”
“Is she nuts?” someone murmured. Then two students turned and left.
The rest of the crowd continued talking.
“I think she’s nuts. Who doesn’t know that exam halls have surveillance cameras? If anyone is caught cheating, not only will their exam results be forfeited, but they’ll also be slapped with massive disciplinary demerit points,” one guy murmured.
“That’s not all. I heard that students caught cheating in the main papers are permanently barred from exams and face expulsion. With such dire consequences, who would take the risk?” another added.
“Yep!” A third nodded knowingly.
“What a sore loser…” One student turned back to glance again at Natalie and her group. “I thought Prof Lawson’s team members were exceptional. Seems like they are overrated…”
“How embarrassing! To actually accuse others of cheating. They are simply laying themselves open to ridicule!” One student began sniggering.
“Are they suggesting that Josie Pearson also cheated?”
“Hahaha…” At this point, the crowd broke into laughter.
“Hey!” Natalie became incensed and wanted to argue back, but the crowd had begun dispersing.
Aiden felt so humiliated that he wished a hole in the ground would swallow him up.
He yanked Natalie back brusquely. “That’s enough! Say no more. Isn’t it humiliating enough? Or will you only be satisfied when everyone comes to ridicule me?”
Natalie looked aggrieved and upset. “I was just… Please don’t be angry, Aiden. I was just mad that those people were trash-talking about you and wanted to stand up for you. Don’t worry. Once the university gets to the bottom of the matter, you will reclaim your first place. No one can surpass you. We’ll see who gets the last laugh!”
Aiden lowered his head and gave a self-deprecating laugh. “And if it turns out that they didn’t cheat after the investigation is over, how am I supposed to face the public after what you have done today?”
Aiden would never tolerate a second loss of dignity. At the end of the day, Natalie still could not hold a candle to Josie. She couldn’t even remain levelheaded over such a trivial matter. Although he still believed that no one could surpass him, Josie did make a valid point when she said that before the facts had been ascertained, one should not shoot his mouth off lest he be proven wrong later. Aiden would much rather use facts to win arguments than let others show him up with facts.
In his view, someone who made himself look good by putting other people down was downright immature and lacking in integrity. He wouldn’t be able to go far. Aiden was thoroughly disappointed with Natalie. She simply couldn’t compare with Josie, who would just quietly get her work done.
As Aiden’s face clouded over, Natalie began panicking. “That will never happen, never! Aiden, you must believe in yourself. No one can surpass you. In my eyes, you are the best…”
“Enough!” With a frosty expression, Aiden shook his arm free from Natalie’s grip. “Do not interfere in my affairs anymore. If you have so much free time, you should study more. Though you are placed second, the gap between you and the first-placed student is more than 10 points. Do not forget that the top student in our cohort is Josie Pearson.”
Natalie was at a loss for words.
The frostiness on Aiden’s face became more pronounced as he surveyed the faces around him. “I won’t be joining you guys for this meal. I’ll pay for it. Consider it a farewell lunch for Kyle. Enjoy your meal, everyone.”
With that, he stalked off without even a glance at Kyle Langton, who would soon leave the university.
“Aiden…” Undeterred, Natalie tried to go after Aiden, but was held back by Kyle.