Zhou Tingting stared at Fu Zhi’s back, gnashing her teeth and clenching her fists so tightly that her knuckles were turning white.

  The students in the corridor were slowly returning to their respective classes one after another.

  Her countenance did not get better until she went downstairs and submitted the registration form to the academic affairs office.

  The English Competition held by No.1 High School was a large-scale event. She wanted to show Fu Zhi that she was better and more qualified than her to become the foster daughter of the Lu Family by participating in the competition.

  *

  The first class in the afternoon was Mrs. Zhou’s English class. She had a fiery temper and was well known as a hellcat among their English group.

  The moment Zhou Tingting flipped open her book, she heard Mrs. Zhou shout from the podium, “Who is Fu Zhi? Stand up and let me have a look.”

  Fu Zhi quit her game and rose to her feet. She was wearing a white school uniform with blue lining, and a small portion of her fair skin was exposed when she lowered her head.

  She looked like a well-behaved girl and she was good-looking. She did not seem like a kid that had grown up in the orphanage to the teacher.

  Sun Xia observed her for a little while longer, as she was clearly stunned by Fu Zhi’s beauty. Then, she distributed the competition number for the English Public Speaking Competition to Fu Zhi and said, “Since you’ve signed up for the competition, you’ll have to work harder.”

  She stared at the girl with her steely gaze and added, “This time, the English Public Speaking Competition will be a whole new ballgame. We received a sponsorship from the FZ Research Institution in the capital, and the first prize winner will be given a ticket to visit the institution.”

  A commotion broke out in Class 21 as soon as Sun Xia finished speaking.

  “The FZ Research Institution? Isn’t that the most advanced research institute of the Fu Corporation, the largest aviation group in China?”

  “That’s a national research institute! I heard that it’s extremely tough to get in there, yet they are giving the first prize winner a chance to visit the institute?”

  “I used to follow a professor on Weibo before. He applied to enter the institute once, but his application was turned down.”

  “Oh my, I can foresee that the competition is going to be very intense this time!”

  “Hmm, I don’t think so. Zhou Tingting has been winning the competition for many years, so I guess the same will happen this year as well.”

  Sun Xia knew Fu Zhi came from a small town, so she did not have many hopes for her. Therefore, she comforted her halfheartedly. “Don’t worry so much, Fu Zhi. Even though the FZ Research Institution is out of your league, you can still work for the…… Well, all participants will be given a consolation prize. I think you can work to get that!”

  Fu Zhi was both speechless and confused.

  The consolation prize aside, she was the boss of the FZ Research Institution, so she did not understand why it was out of her league.

  It went without saying that Sun Xia did not know what Fu Zhi was thinking. She had placed all her hopes on Zhou Tingting.

  In her opinion, Zhou Tingting was the entire opposite of Fu Zhi. She had received a sponsorship from the Lu Family when she was young. Not only could she speak fluent English, but she had also picked up many skills, such as ballet and playing the violin.

  As for Fu Zhi, she had just been taken in by the Lu Family not long ago. She had missed the best age to learn some skills and acquire talent and she would not have the time to do so either, as high school was busy.

  In comparison, Zhou Tingting looked more like the adopted daughter of the Lu Family than Fu Zhi.

  With her head hanging low, Fu Zhi took a look at the number and said, “I appreciate your encouragement, but I didn’t sign up for the competition.”

  “What do you mean you didn’t sign up for the competition?” Sun Xia frowned. She checked the registration form again in confusion and said, “But your name is on the list……”

  Before she could finish speaking, Zhou Zihuai’s clear voice wafted into her ears. “Teacher, I signed up……”

  Sun Xia was stumped. Then, she turned to Zhou Tingting and asked, “What is going on, Tingting? Can you give me an explanation?”


  The Mysterious Heiress: Researcher In Disguise  

  Chapter 51: I Don’t Want You To Look Too Bad When You Lose

  “I’m sorry, Mrs. Sun. I must have mixed up the names when I was filling the registration form.”

  Pulling her hair behind her ears, Zhou Tingting lifted her chin and looked at Fu Zhi gently.

  Then, in a pleasant voice, she said, “Fu Zhi, this is a chance for us to show other people that Class 21 is not inferior to the other classes. If you withdraw from the competition right now, one entry quota will go down the drain, which is going to leave a bad impression. Therefore, as a member of our class, I’m sure you won’t let that happen, right?”

  Sun Xia turned to look at Fu Zhi and got lost in thought.

  The sunlight cast a warm yellow halo around the girl. She licked her lips, and her lovely eyes were veiled under her long, neatly-arranged eyelashes.

  As she stared at the girl’s slender and tall figure, which was silhouetted against the sunlight, Zhou Tingting had no idea why but she felt her heart skip a beat.

  It took her quite a while to come back to her senses and add, “You work very hard in class, and the competition is quite simple. I’m confident that if you put more effort into your preparation, it’ll be a breeze for you.”

  “I know that,” Fu Zhi replied, drawing out her vowels. She raised her head and looked straight at Zhou Tingting, her unreadable expression sending a shiver down the latter’s spine. Then, she added in a faint voice, “I’m just worried that you won’t have a chance to shine if I participate.”

  Zhou Tingting had heard about Fu Zhi’s background from Lu Yumo.

  She had been kicked around from one orphanage to the other like a ball before finally ending up in a poor family. There had been no one to pay for her education, so she had never received any quality education before.

  Therefore, Zhou Tingting was genuinely stunned. The growing fear in her heart dissipated, and she was tickled pink by Fu Zhi’s statement. She couldn’t help letting out a chuckle. “You’re worried that I might not have a chance to shine if you participate?”

  Fu Zhi nodded and replied simply, “Yeah.”

  Su Xing exclaimed softly beside Fu Zhi and felt a glow of pride in her heart.

  However, Tian Nuo reacted differently. Her expression darkened, and she smashed her textbook against the table. “Hmph! Peasants are all the same. They are like the ignorant frog who glanced at the sky from the bottom of the well. They think they have the whole world to themselves, but what they don’t know is that the world is much bigger and there are many things that they have never seen before.

  “Tingting has practiced her English from a young age, and she’s never scored less than 120 in an examination. How about you, Fu Zhi? What makes you think that you’re better than Tingting? Do you dare tell us your score?”

  Zhou Tingting pulled at Tian Nuo and said hesitantly, “That’s enough, Nuonuo. Perhaps Fu Zhi is really better than me. We’re all in the same class, and so long as we can bring glory to our class, I don’t really care who’s the winner.”

  Tian Nuo sneered, “Tingting, please don’t lower yourself to her level. You’re more capable and better than her. She’s nothing but a clown.”

  “Silence!” Sun Xia smacked the table to stop the conversation. Then, she scolded her, “Do you think this is a wet market? Let’s start the lesson now. As for you, Fu Zhi, if you have any questions regarding the competition, come see me in the office after school.”

  ****

  The public speaking competition would start in three days. Xu Wei heard from Lu Chuwan that Fu Zhi was going to take part in the competition. Therefore, she called her into her room to take her measurements, as she wanted to make her a dress.

  Xu Wei would be turning 38 years old this year. She had a slender body, and her skin was fair. Since she took good care of her skin, she had the exuberance of a 20-year-old girl.

  She was wearing a maroon qipao with golden flower embroidery that accentuated every curve and line of her body. Her hair fell naturally over her shoulders in silky curls and added to her charm, making her look positively bewitching.

  Fu Zhi obediently raised her hands as she allowed Xu Wei to take her measurements.

  “Even though it’s just a school competition, this is the first time mommy watches you from the audience seats. Therefore, we must treat it with great delicacy.”

  Xu Wei put the measurement tape away and handed her draft to Fu Zhi.

  It was a picture of a tulle bellflower dress.

  Xu Wei said, “Mommy will add some rhinestones to your dress. I’m sure that you will be the most beautiful participant in the competition!”

  “That sounds good to me,” Fu Zhi replied softly. “But I’m going to take part in an English public speaking competition. It has little to do with being beautiful.”

  Xu Wei was speechless.

  Then, with her brows tightly furrowed, she said, “I understand, but mommy doesn’t want you to look too bad when you lose the competition.”


  The Mysterious Heiress: Researcher In Disguise