The Court of the Girl

Episode 17's

Hoping that the high school library was big, Jordan and Juliette went to the study area. It was Friday and the library was almost empty.

They found a secluded spot and sat facing each other.

Juliette pulled out a thick workbook, put on wireless headphones, and started listening to English audio.

Jordan cannot concentrate. Her gaze uncontrollably kept on Juliette's face.

The girl slightly lowered her head, fully immersed in her task. The orange-colored sunlight from the setting sun shone on her face, highlighting her soft and bright skin.

Every feature of her face was very smooth, amazingly beautiful.

Jordan clasped his pen tightly and slowly said, calling out softly, "Juliette."

The girl continued to smoothly signal the answer on her paper, without pause or any sign that she heard it. It was as if he had not noticed or heard it at all.

Jordan hesitantly raised his voice, calling out loudly, "Juliette!"

However, he still did not react.

His heart raced with excitement, his throat became dry. He looked at the calm girl sitting before him, focusing on his lesson.

After a long time, she spoke in a low but clear voice, "Juliette, you are so beautiful."

He added, "And this is not just words, but sincere."

Juliette heard it, but there was no pause in her actions. The volume on his headphones wasn't too loud. He had heard Jordan call him from the beginning, but it was all a test.

After Jordan finished speaking, he hurriedly lowered his head, clasped his pen tightly, and nervously lined up his book aimlessly.

It was only a disguise for her anxiety, even though she knew Juliette had not heard it.

Despite that, expressing her feelings so openly and without hesitation made her feel uneasy and embarrassed.

To Jordan, today seems to pass faster. Maybe because every minute spent with Juliette feels like a stolen, lie-filled and limited moment.

As a result, every minute passed by so quickly, sliding quickly.

Although the five-hour duration looked long, on Juliette's side it felt very short. Jordan could not even concentrate enough to finish one sheet of paper.

Suddenly, five hours had passed. Juliette glanced at her watch and said, "Jordan, time's up. I have to go."

Jordan nodded, trying to appear indifferent. However, the pen in his hand remained inactive, unable to touch the paper. Instead, his gaze was fixed on Juliette.

There was no sign of yearning on his face, just a cold freedom as if completing a task.

He stood up, collecting his things. When he put the pen back into his bag, he paused for a moment and looked at Jordan. "I'll buy coffee. Do you want to?"

Jordan shook his head.

Juliette said, "So, can you keep the stuff for me? I'll be right back."

With those words, he turned around and walked towards the vending machine outside.

Despite Jordan's refusal, Juliette still brought him a can of coffee. Putting it on the table beside her, she smiled gently before leaving.

He hoped the high school ability exam would arrive on time.

The exam is scheduled to start at 08:40 this morning. As the exam time drew near, the teacher entered the room with sealed paper.

The exam bell rang, and papers and answer sheets were distributed to the students.

After receiving the paper, Juliette quickly took a look at the matters. A faint smile flashed across his lips as he picked up his pen and started to answer casually.

This process went quickly and smoothly, because only a few unknown problems, which he already knew.

The exam went well all day. When she finished, Juliette returned to the classroom with her backpack.

There were only a few people in the room, and Xeldous was sitting on his desk with his hands folded in front of him, his eyes fixated on the entrance as if waiting for someone.

Upon seeing Juliette enter, a faint smile appeared on her thin lips, revealing a seductive smile and a sense of triumph in her eyes.

Juliette raised her eyebrows, realizing that Xeldous should pass well in the exam.

Xeldous held onto Juliette's wrist with one hand while grabbing the delicate shopping bag beside her chair with the other, then gave it to her.

Juliette lowered her head and opened the bag for a moment. Inside is a healing ointment to facilitate blood circulation, along with gauze and plaster to cover bruises and scars.

Xeldous laughed lightly. "No need to thank too much. I have prepared it before for you. This healing ointment works amazing."

A faint smile was engraved on Juliette's lips, without being interrupted. He thanked her gently, then said, "Xeldous, I'll keep it for you. When you need it, I'll make sure to send it to you beforehand."

The two thrust each other's weaknesses unhesitatingly, refusing to admit defeat.

However, this time Xeldous did not show excessive anger because he was full of confidence.

Jordan's record did help, he felt much smoother during the exam this time around. There were hardly any problems he was difficult to encounter when answering questions.

He was full of confidence, believing that this time he would easily surpass Juliette. He is convinced that it is Juliette who will lose and learn from her mistakes.

"really? Then I'll wait, Juliette."

Juliette smiled faintly and came face to face with him. "Well, I wish you a happy weekend, take care of yourself."

With that, he picked up the shopping bag that Xeldous had given him and left the class.

Monday is the day when the results of the Hope High School level exam are announced. Until the second school bell rings for the next class, the class remains crowded and full of activities.

The teacher came in, clasping the exam answer sheet. His face was not as cheerful as usual. He stood in front, looking at the room, and unexpectedly his eyes met with Juliette.

Face-to-face with Juliette's calm gaze, the teacher turned her gaze calmly, then clapped. "Everything's quiet. Listen."

The waves of conversation in the classroom slowly became silent, and silence filled the room as everyone returned to their seats, eagerly awaiting the announcement of their grades.

The teacher opened the folder and glanced at the score sheet inside. Before getting into the classroom, he already knew the scores and rankings of all the students in the examination of this level.

That's why his expression is like this. He placed his finger on the highest score sheet for a moment before lifting it up, his eyes dropped, meeting Juliette's eyes. He said softly, "Juliette, first champion."

Hearing that, the classroom became silent for a few seconds, until suddenly someone clapped and exclaimed with excitement, "Wow, did Juliette get the first champion this time? Really true?"

"That's amazing!"

"Very impressive!"

Jordan, the main object of hatred that constantly ranked first, this time finally changed, making the heirs of rich families and elite children unable to contain the excitement, he said, they spontaneously clapped and shouted cheers for Juliette.

Shortly after it was announced that Juliette had ranked first, only seconds had passed, but to Xeldous, it felt like it had been centuries, so long and tense.

His body became tense, and his hands hanging by his side began to tremble unwittingly. He did not dare to imagine what he would face when he returned home.

Juliette getting first place means that even if she performs outstandingly, surpasses Jordan, and gets second place, she will still lose.

Even in the midst of desperate study attempts, investigating Jordan's records closely, she still lost to Juliette, her father would not grant her any mercy.

Xeldous bit his lips and subconsciously looked sharply at Jordan, who was sitting far away there. All his anger was directed at him.

Jordan's records are completely useless to him!

She still lost, still losing to Juliette!!!

Xeldous knew that when he returned home, he would face more cruel and violent treatment than his father. Fear and pain seeped into the depths of his heart.

Why, why did Juliette never forgive him!

Like a shadow that could not be erased, it haunted him every day, like a nightmare.

Xeldous's expression turned cold and evil. This is Jordan's fault!

This arrogant, despicable, and disgusting worm insisted on making a deal by using a few notes, which only made him even more arrogant and satisfied with himself.

This eventually caused her to lose to Juliette, and the indifferent frost in her eyes felt heart-piercing, suppressing all of her anger.

However, Jordan was not interested in what thoughts Xeldous might have in mind; he was shocked and could not believe this fact for a long time.

She had completely lost to Juliette and could not rank first, which meant she would not receive a scholarship for this semester.

Although he was still qualified to obtain a second-rate scholarship, the difference when compared to the highest number was simply too great.

How could he possibly accept this?