My High School Nerd Rival - Chapter 4

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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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Chapter 4
A look of disbelief crossed his face, but Ivy pressed on regardless.
“Especially about you not following Lights-Out Time.”
Quinton’s brow furrowed as if to say, ‘What nonsense is this?’
“We’re in the same dormitory, aren’t we?”
“We are?”
He objected immediately.
Right, ‘we’ was pushing it. Definitely.
“The point is, let’s try to get your Conduct Points in good standing. For the sake of healthy competition, if nothing else.”
Yes, there was no reason for both of them to lose points over something so trivial.
Ivy offered the sort of refined smile she’d once used in royal circles. She knew it didn’t suit her now, but surely it was better than a frown.
“So about Lights-Out Time, if we could discuss it again…”
“No need to listen. Quinton, best to let it go in one ear and out the other.”
The conversation Ivy had finally mustered the courage to start was cut short by an unexpected intruder.
“The Floor Leader came running the moment she saw her points drop.”
Ivy turned her gaze. A girl in elegant black heels was approaching with a crisp, deliberate click-clack of footsteps.
Joy Carter.
Her roommate, whom Ivy had regarded with poorly veiled disdain this very morning.
Was there anyone at this school to whom the phrase ‘only daughter of a distinguished family’ suited better than her?
She didn’t even wear the standard-issue uniforms the school provided to everyone. The family seamstress had tailored hers to her specifications, and the cut alone was utterly different from what Ivy wore.
Joy didn’t wear it the same way twice either. She changed her headbands and accessories daily, creating what amounted to a fashion portfolio centered on the theme of ‘school uniform.’
And then there was the important fact.
Joy didn’t speak to Ivy or Quinton.
Rarely to the other students, for that matter.
Which meant her interruption was an extraordinarily significant event.
Naturally, all the 3rd Dormitory students in the Dormitory Hall had turned their attention this way.
This was not good.
Ivy forced a smile toward Joy.
“Hello, Carter. It seems there’s been some misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding? Floor Leader, you should speak plainly.”
Joy closed the distance and deftly plucked the Conduct Rules Printout from Ivy’s hands.
“For everyone’s point improvement? Oh, what a shame—if only intentions could be hidden so well.”
Ivy’s grip tightened on the stack of papers.
“They said you got called out for your Floor Leader work in the Counseling Room? The upperclassmen waiting outside said your voice carried right through the walls and echoed down the corridor.”
“…!”
“So are we supposed to live like clergy now? To protect our Floor Leader’s precious points?”
A cold, hostile gray gaze pierced through Ivy like a blade.
“What I meant was…”
Ivy started to raise her voice but stopped, releasing a small sigh before speaking in gentler tones.
“I just thought we could get along. The rules aren’t difficult, after all.”
“Get along?”
Joy let out a hollow laugh.
“That’s rich coming from a roommate who looked at me with pity just this morning.”
“Carter.”
“Not just me, either. You’ve been looking down on everyone in this dormitory all this time, haven’t you?”
“That’s not… it’s not like…”
“It’s not like what?”
Unable to keep pace with the rapid onslaught of words, Ivy found herself without a response.
“I’m… I’m sorry, Carter.”
Ivy chose to apologize instead. There was no point denying it—over the past few months, she’d been indifferent to the 3rd Dormitory.
No, worse than indifferent. She’d looked at them with cold eyes.
“You don’t need to apologize, Floor Leader. We’ve been looking down on you just the same—the way you’re obsessed with points.”
Joy tore the Conduct Rules paper in half with a sharp, deliberate rip.
“Don’t come here now playing parent. It’s annoying.”
Joy hurled the torn pieces at Ivy and strode past with quick steps.
The other students followed in her wake, throwing the Conduct Rules Printouts back to the floor in rough handfuls before disappearing from the hall.
The hall, moments ago bustling with students, emptied in seconds, leaving printouts scattered at Ivy’s feet like festival flyers trampled in the dirt.
Ivy gazed at them for a moment, then silently crouched down and began gathering them up.
The thought that a whole day’s work had become trash was deeply unwelcome.
“Underwood.”
Quinton, the only one who hadn’t returned to his room, held out one of the Conduct Rules papers to her.
“…”
‘When has he ever cared about anyone else’s problems?’
No—she needed to stop thinking like that. Not if she’d learned anything from what Joy had just said.
“Thank—”
As she reached out to receive the paper with genuine gratitude, Quinton pulled a pen from his pocket and drew a red circle on it.
“Here, and here.”
He’d circled the words ‘Jo Yeong’ and ‘Tung Geum’—typos for ‘Jo Myeong’ and ‘Tong Geum’ respectively.
“Check things before you print large quantities from now on.”
Now that was advice worth its weight in gold.
Ivy gave Quinton a light glare instead of thanking him.
Of course, he showed no reaction as always, simply returning the stack of papers and leaving the hall.
That infuriating glasses-wearer really did make her want to scream.
* * *
When Ivy returned to the dormitory room, the air was so stifling she could barely breathe.
Joy was on the phone with someone and spoke openly and plainly.
“I don’t know, it’s so annoying. My mom’s just like this too.”
This tide of criticism extended beyond the hall—it continued in the unofficial Anonymous Community used by dormitory students.
3rd Dormitory Anonymous Message Board
[HOT]
floor leader is actually hilarious lol
Author: Anonymous | 19:47
seriously tho what’s up with suddenly handing out conduct rule flyers lmao
did she really do a total 180 the second her points dropped?
she was looking down on us just this morning and now it’s funny af lol
[Anonymous 1]
acts all cold usually but suddenly goes into kindness mode when her own score is at risk haha
[Anonymous 2]
the forced memes all stuck on there are so cringe
[Anonymous 3]
but yo the typos lmaooo ‘jo yeong’, ‘tung geum’ lol
[Anonymous 4]
am i the only one who feels kinda bad for underwood..?
└
[Anonymous 1]
nah just u. honestly that dude’s got a scary vibe
[Anonymous 5]
carter ripping it up was lowkey cool. who else would reject like that lol
[Anonymous 6]
but fr tho why does the floor leader care so much about being #1?
└
[Anonymous 7]
just a perfectionist freak i guess?
3rd Dormitory Anonymous Message Board
[POLL]
is the 3rd dorm okay like this?
Author: Anonymous | 21:15
the atmosphere’s been totally messed up because of the floor leader. vote pls
1. change floor leaders
2. just leave it alone
[Anonymous 1]
option 1 lol i can’t take it anymore
[Anonymous 2]
option 2.. don’t wanna deal with conflict
[Anonymous 3]
but who’s gonna do it if we change lol not many ppl care about points
└
[Anonymous 1]
fr nobody’s gonna do it
[Anonymous 4]
i wish we could get carter to do it. she’s the most aloof
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[Anonymous 5]
carter would never lol. she doesn’t give a damn about school or people
The comments were multiplying at a rapid pace, and Ivy couldn’t bring herself to read all the way through. She covered the screen.
She considered posting a new comment to defend herself somehow, but thought better of it. There was no point.
The claim that she’d emphasized the rules for points—it was all true.
After scrolling through more newly posted comments, she tossed her phone onto the bed. When she checked the clock, Lights-Out Time was almost upon them.
Since she’d said she’d act as Floor Leader, she figured she should at least try to do what the other dormitory leaders did. So she stepped out into the darkened Dormitory Corridor.
Ivy made her rounds through the 3rd Dormitory Corridor like a sentry.
Some students who spotted her murmured things under their breath, but she tried not to listen.
Or rather, she tried to make herself not listen.
“The dorm supervisor will be making rounds soon. Would you mind dimming your desk lamps and closing your curtains?”
It felt awkward, but it did have an effect. The students, despite their irritated expressions, complied with her request.
She could easily imagine what was being posted on the anonymous board right now.
Well, what could she do. Karma, perhaps.
As she passed room after room growing dark, Ivy spotted a window still pouring with strong light.
Knock-knock.
When she tapped on the firmly closed door, it opened a moment later.
The person who opened it, with a deeply furrowed brow, was…
“Quinton.”
“What is it?”
He made no attempt to hide his displeasure at being interrupted from something important.
“Lights-Out Time is approaching, so I came to give you a heads-up.”
At her words, he checked his wristwatch. He’d apparently lost all sense of time.
Truly remarkable.
She’d heard that there were rare individuals in the world who enjoyed studying, but she’d never known they could become so absorbed they’d lose track of time entirely.
“If you’re going to keep studying, dim the lamp. That way the dorm supervisor will let it slide.”
Dimming the light would make reading harder, but since the textbooks were also available on a Tablet, it wouldn’t affect his studies.
“No.”
“Whether you like it or not, it’s a dormitory rule. I’d appreciate it if you’d at least make a show of following it.”
“I’m telling you again.”
Quinton adjusted his glasses and answered in an even tone.
“No.”

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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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