1st in Class Hides Regression - Chapter 66

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Ranked 1st in School Hides Her Regression
Episode 66
“Insane. Kang Da-hye’s average is 100.”
“What does that mean?”
“She didn’t get a single question wrong. Perfect score in every subject.”
“Huh? Is that even possible?”
“She’s lost it.”
Every eye in the hallway swung toward me. They looked like they were staring at some legendary creature.
As I walked toward the Ranking Board, students shuffled aside to clear a path.
It was a bit embarrassing.
I cleared my throat and looked up at the board.
‘Ji-su’s in second.’
99.6—that meant she’d missed maybe one or two questions total?
Ji-su had always been a strong student, but she’d never placed second before. She must have really ground through these exams this time.
Everyone below her was separated by just one or two points.
That’s the lesson: trying to beat others doesn’t work. The only answer is getting everything right.
While I was absorbing this wisdom, whispers rippled through the crowd around me.
“Wow, that’s really incredible.”
“Isn’t she a genius at that level?”
“Poor Ji-su. 99.6 points and still second place.”
“Can’t help it. Kang Da-hye’s a monster.”
I’d gotten first place myself, but I couldn’t understand why everyone in our class was so proud. I scanned the crowd for Ji-su, spotting her among the others basking in vicarious satisfaction.
I’d worried she’d feel bad with everyone openly comparing her to me like this.
“Da-hye, congratulations.”
She completely ignored the whispers and linked her arm with mine.
“I really studied hard this time too, but I guess I just can’t match you.”
“No, you did incredibly well.”
“But it’s still second place, right?”
But there was a voice that shattered this warm moment in an instant.
“Anyone who tries that hard and still can’t get first is just stupid.”
Park Su-hwan raised his voice deliberately for all to hear, then flicked his bangs as attention turned toward him.
“Even a stray dog would get first if you studied it like that.”
“What the hell, you—”
“Wait.”
I grabbed Bang Eun-ji’s arm before she could finish hurling insults.
Hold back. Look at this guy’s face. You can see it written all over him—he’d hit a woman without hesitation.
I’ll handle him.
“Am I wrong? Come on, argue back.”
I responded coolly to Park Su-hwan’s taunting.
“You’re right. I studied like crazy.”
I studied twice, three times what everyone else did just to barely pull off first place. Terrible return on investment.
“But so what? Does your transcript show your study hours?”
I tapped the Ranking Board.
First place. Kang Da-hye. Average 100.
Only three things were written there.
“Your transcript doesn’t show whether I’m an idiot who studied a hundred hours to get first, or a genius who got second after thirty minutes of work. It just shows that I’m first.”
……
“If you hate investing time, keep getting second place with good efficiency for your effort. I’ll keep dying over my books and stay first.”
……
“Wait, you’re not second place, are you? Let me check—where does our Su-hwan rank?”
I dragged my finger down the board. Naturally, Park Su-hwan’s name wasn’t there. I looked at him while wearing the same smug expression.
“Not there?”
Pft.
“Park Su-hwan’s throwing a fit.”
One of our classmates who’d been watching let that slip out. Once they started, everyone chimed in.
“This guy was literally cursing out rich kids who get better tutoring as they move up grades. If he knows so much, why didn’t he even crack the top thirty?”
“Didn’t Park Su-hwan lose his Class President position to Da-hye and he’s been holding a grudge ever since?”
“Park Su-hwan lost the Class President election?”
“Ugh… Hey!”
“What.”
Seo Jae-gyeom stepped forward in front of Park Su-hwan, who’d been shouting at someone defenseless.
“Hey, Park Su-hwan. I tried hard and still ranked 13th. Are you saying I’m worse than a dog?”
“Seo Jae-gyeom. Don’t hit him.”
“No, let me go. I’ll show you what friendship means.”
“What are you talking about….”
And you didn’t even try that hard.
I grabbed Seo Jae-gyeom’s elbow as he windmilled his arm wildly. Once I had his arm, he started whining theatrically.
“Come on, buddy. Just let me land one hit.”
“Don’t call me that. You sound like a school delinquent.”
“Jae-gyeom is so cute.”
From behind, someone’s sincere murmur reached my ears.
Then, breaking the lightened mood, came a sudden click—the sound of a camera shutter.
It was Jung Eun-seong, who’d appeared without a sound, photographing my name at the very top of the Ranking Board with his cellphone camera.
“Me too!”
Seeing that, Bang Eun-ji suddenly grabbed her cellphone and rushed over.
Why are you taking pictures of that too…….
I pressed my forehead.
To cut to the chase, the whole score disclosure ended up being nothing more than a minor incident.
A handful of parents with some sense lodged complaints with the School.
(This doesn’t mean Ji-su’s mother was one of the unreasonable ones.)
The Parent-Teacher Association, which had been strongly insisting on full disclosure, seemed to lose interest the moment the scores actually went public, and the postings on the Ranking Board quietly vanished one day.
I was left looking like the only one bragging about a perfect score.
Lesson from this Midterm Exam: Since you never know when your grades might be publicized, give your all on every test.
“I’m honestly so relieved. I only got 29th because I happened to guess a few right on this one, so I had no confidence I could keep it up next time.”
“Same here. If you added my Final Exam score to mine, it’d drop drastically. I’m terrible at P.E. and music.”
“Se-in, your name doesn’t even appear in the top 30 normally.”
“I was just pretending to exist…….”
Se-in’s shoulders drooped dejectedly.
In celebration of finishing the exams, I was eating Injeolmi Shaved Ice and Chocolate Green Tea Shaved Ice with my friends in front of the School.
We’d originally planned to go to the Han River and eat ramen, but the girls changed the location out of consideration for me, since I had to get home early to look after my mother.
Su-ah, who’d just gotten a refill of condensed milk drizzled over her shaved ice, glanced around and lowered her voice.
“But hey, was that really true?”
“What?”
“That… about Jung Eun-seong’s parents not being around.”
“Oh.”
I lowered my eyes, sucking on my spoon.
‘Yeah. It’s time this came up.’
It seemed the girls had been quietly bothered by the shocking remark Jung Eun-seong had casually dropped during modern history class.
How could anyone not be bothered? His parents don’t exist!
“Maybe it was just a joke? To shut Geun-sa up.”
“Even so, would you joke about your parents not being here?”
“Da-hye, do you know anything?”
“Um… I don’t really know either.”
“Right. It’s not like we can just ask outright.”
“Yeah. Our best bet is probably to just pretend we don’t know.”
“Actually, we can’t even pretend to know. We barely ever get to talk to Jung Eun-seong.”
“Doesn’t Jung Eun-seong, like, deserve to give everyone a high-five when they arrive in the morning?”
“Jung Eun-seong at arrival, Seo Jae-gyeom at departure.”
“Can I be honest?”
“About what?”
“I literally got home from the opening ceremony and collapsed in bed after seeing Seo Jae-gyeom for the first time…… And the day I first saw Jung Eun-seong too.”
“You too?”
“Me too!”
“We don’t get to see that many handsome guys…….”
Se-in fidgeted. Su-ah made a solemn declaration.
“A woman faints three times in her life. The first is when she sees Seo Jae-gyeom on opening day, the second is when she meets Jung Eun-seong as a second-year student, and the third is after graduation when she’ll never see him again.”
“Sigh….”
Surrounded by friends singing the praises of good looks, I simply scraped the remaining condensed milk with my spoon.
…….
Jung Eun-seong.
You’re really such a good friend, Eun-ji.
Thoughtful, hardworking, and surprisingly funny too.
Now that I think about it, you were the same before the Regression.
‘What were we like back then?’
We weren’t as close as we are now, but we’d still talk while doing club activities together, and we’d greet each other in passing. I think we exchanged messages the night before the College Entrance Exam, wishing each other luck.
What if I hadn’t failed the exam back then?
What would have become of us?
“So you’re heading to the hospital, Da-hye?”
“Oh, no. Home. Mom’s already been discharged.”
“Already?”
“Is that wise? I thought traffic accidents can have serious aftereffects.”
“I said the same thing.”
Mom doesn’t have the money to cover the hospital bills.
I didn’t want to burden my friends with my problems, so I brushed it off.
Fortunately, my friends were gracious enough to let it slide, just as they’d tactfully moved past the subject of Jung Eun-seong’s parents. They’re thoughtful people.
Anyway.
‘Since Mom hurt her wrist, the shop will have to stay closed for a while.’
Can we even manage our living expenses in the meantime?
I still need to sign up for the summer school special lectures too.
But asking for money in this situation feels…
…….
I guess I’ll just have to spend more time at the Library.
“Is there a handsome university student out there who’ll tutor me for free?”
In dramas and novels, someone always shows up at times like these.
If you’re waiting for the right moment to make your entrance, it’s now.
Ladies and gentlemen~
Six foot three, apple-shaped face, sculpted physique—may I introduce my tutor!
(And no one appeared.)

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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