Full marks

The other classes had their own countermeasures too. Ryuuen went around bluffing and swindling, Ichinose set up the Friendly Exchange Society, and Horikita and Ayanokoji had recently been going back and forth with Nanase.

After their regular classes ended, Lezheng and Ichinose headed to the Student Council Activity Room to clock in.

A boy and a girl stood outside the activity room. As Lezheng looked at their faces, their corresponding information surfaced in his mind. The boy was Utsunomiya Michi, with an A rating in physical ability. The girl was Tsubaki Sakurako, whose highest rating was C+. Both were members of Class 1-C.

"Are you students in need of help?" Lezheng asked.

"No, we're here to submit our membership applications." Utsunomiya handed over two forms.

"Come in and have a seat."

Lezheng opened the door and sat at the head of the table. Ichinose took the first seat to his right, while the other two sat to his left.

"What motivated you to join the Student Council?" Lezheng asked.

"I want to become someone as strong as you, President," Utsunomiya replied.

"You don't become strong by becoming the Student Council president. Only someone strong can become the Student Council president," Lezheng corrected him.

"I heard the previous president recruited you into the Student Council right after you enrolled. I wonder if there are any students like that in our year?"

"We haven't found any so far."

"Can I take that to mean that if we were in the same year, you would be better than all of us, President?"

"That's not the right way to think about it. There were special circumstances behind my joining the Student Council, but I can't tell you about them right now."

"All right, we understand. Sorry for bothering you both." Utsunomiya and Tsubaki left.

The days passed just like that. Before the exam began, Mr. Mashima had warned everyone in class that the final question in each of the five subjects was beyond what current university students could solve, and he hoped they would not waste their time.

Despite the teacher's warning, there were always people who wanted to take on the challenge. But when the results were announced, they clearly recognized their mistake.

On the day the results were announced, Mr. Mashima entered the classroom with a smile.

"No students were expelled in this special exam."

Although Class A had strong academic performance, the penalty of expulsion had still put them under considerable pressure. Mashima's words finally put everyone at ease.

Sixty percent of Class A's pairs placed in the top thirty percent of groups across the school. Sakayanagi's group ranked second, and Katsuragi's ranked third.

"No way! Look at Lezheng's scores!" someone exclaimed.

"Didn't they say every subject had a ten-point question outside the syllabus?"

Everyone was stunned by Lezheng, who had ranked first.

Japanese: 100

Mathematics: 100

English: 100

Integrated studies: 100

Social studies: 100

Lezheng had earned full marks in all five exams, which was also why Mashima was so pleased.

As soon as the bell rang to end class, everyone gathered around Lezheng to ask him questions. As a helpful, good president, Lezheng naturally answered every one.

"So you actually had more than one way to solve that problem near the start of the school year?" Sakayanagi asked.

"Showing one solution was enough to let everyone know I could solve it. There was no need to reveal too much of my ability just to show off," Lezheng said.

Sakayanagi felt that Lezheng was like a mine: the more she dug, the more she found. She knew perfectly well that one hundred points was only the paper's limit, not his.

Since the school had not expected anyone to earn full marks in all five subjects, it added a special reward. Not only would Lezheng receive 110,000 private points and 50 class points, but the school also awarded him an additional 1,000,000 private points.

In Class 1-A, Kyo Ishigami fell silent as he looked at Lezheng's published exam results on his phone. He had originally thought Lezheng was a brute who relied solely on force, just as Miyabi Nagumo had described him. Now it seemed that he truly deserved to be called the strongest president in the school's history.

Lezheng's photo and his scores were prominently displayed in the most conspicuous spot on the School Forum. This was clearly the work of a certain Chairman.

Thanks to the school's publicity, this exam washed away the slight negative impact Lezheng's violent enforcement had had on his reputation. Even the first-years who were usually too afraid to greet him became enthusiastic.

Who would not admire someone who excelled in both academics and combat, was handsome, and held the title of the strongest president? As the saying went, when one person rose to prominence, even their chickens and dogs ascended to heaven. The friends and loved ones close to Lezheng gradually became sought-after too.

Each class's points after the cross-year paired written exam:

Class A: 2487

Class B: 1116

Class C: 720

Class D: 200

In a certain room, two girls and a boy were holding a quiet meeting.

Nanase: "We failed to get him expelled this time."

Yagami: "If it were really that easy, he wouldn't be called the masterpiece."

Amasawa: "That Student Council president is pretty interesting too."

Yagami: "There's no need to discuss anyone outside the mission."

Amasawa: "Tsukishiro's already left anyway. Don't be so impatient, Yagami. Our main focus now is experiencing life."

Yagami: "Suit yourself. I'll prioritize completing the mission either way."

Nanase: "Haven't you been having a lot of fun chatting with Kushida lately?"

Yagami: "Ahem, that's for the sake of completing the mission."

Having scored full marks in every subject, Lezheng once again became the students' center of attention. Aside from some girls deliberately pretending to trip in front of him and people secretly taking photos everywhere he went, he did not really have any troubles.

"Sorry for the wait, Lezheng." Shiina appeared beside him.

"Not at all. I only just got here myself," Lezheng said.

"Let's go. We'll visit the same photography studio as last time." Shiina slipped her arm straight through Lezheng's.

Romantic gossip already attracted plenty of attention, and with Lezheng as the male lead, the interest in the two of them grew even greater.

"Not Karuizawa, and not Ichinose either. This Student Council president certainly has extraordinary luck with girls." Amasawa studied Shiina with an inquisitive gaze.

Amasawa began her daily stalking routine.

Inside the photography studio, Lezheng changed into the outfit he would wear for the shoot in the changing room provided by the shop. It was a medieval Western detective outfit.

Shiina had also chosen a detective outfit, though hers was a different style from Lezheng's. They had each picked out an accessory for the other as well, agreeing to help each other put them on after changing.

Dressed in their detective outfits, the two examined each other in front of the photography backdrop.

"Sherlock Shiina Hiyori, it's an honor to meet you." Lezheng extended a hand.

"Hello, Philip Lezheng Youyan." Shiina smiled and took his hand.

"This is what I picked out for you. How could a detective go without a hat?" Lezheng gently tidied Shiina's hair and placed a beret on her head.

"Hehe, I spent ages picking out this monocle." Shiina took out an unusual eyepiece and helped Lezheng put it on.

A professional photographer was very good at capturing those striking moments.

"Look this way, you two."

Drawn by the voice, both turned their heads at the same time, and the camera captured that very instant.

(I had to catch a train yesterday, so I didn't have time to write after work. There'll be another chapter later. I need to look into the upcoming battle royale exam on the Uninhabited Island.)