Chapter 463: Chapter 463

The final farce ended with solemn apologies from An Meiqi and Jin Xiaomei to Jiang Xiaoxiao.

Of course, the next day it also led Dean Zhang to issue a second major demerit.

This time both An Meiqi and Jin Xiaomei received major demerits.

An Meiqi was ordered to withdraw from school.

With two major demerits, no school would accept such a student; it indicates poor conduct.

Jin Xiaomei was almost scared out of her wits.

Jiang Xiaoxiao was truly baffling; every encounter with her led to misfortune.

Jin Xiaomei deeply suspected that Jiang Xiaoxiao was here to specifically deal with her.

From then on, she only dared to speak ill of Jiang Xiaoxiao behind her back and never again confronted her directly.

She didn’t want to get expelled.

It wasn’t easy for her to come to school.

She definitely didn’t want to go back to that small mountain village and live a life of hardship.

Jiang Xiaoxiao’s days were calm and comfortable, and her name was well-known throughout the school.

The list of newcomers one shouldn’t mess with couldn’t exclude her.

Of course, there were students in their circles who were displeased.

These were naturally the elite children of various families who hadn’t met Jiang Xiaoxiao, but were indignant, wondering what made her so arrogant.

Wasn’t she just an unlicensed quack?

They all speculated that the Song family had specifically made a move to protect their reputation.

Everyone knew Elder Meng’s prestige and status, but there was no one in the Song family to inherit his mantle. Simply put, no one in the Song family achieved enough in medicine to fully inherit from Elder Meng.

Once Old Mrs. Song was gone, the Song family’s descendants would be like the setting sun over West Mountain.

Now, a granddaughter-in-law, Jiang Xiaoxiao, suddenly became famous.

As a freshman given this much attention, how could anyone be unaware?

Wasn’t the Song family just trying to create a new rising star?

A single Jiang Xiaoxiao was nothing to fear.

Even if she was innately talented, she was only twenty.

After marriage, women often become burdened with family, and when they have children, they get bogged down further, unable to manage much.

Even the most intelligent talent can’t overcome this, leaving them just wasted potential.

They were all waiting to see Jiang Xiaoxiao make a fool of herself.

The medical school was full of talent; it was not a place to secure one’s footing with background but with ability.

Competence made you a king.

If you lacked skills, not even the King of Heaven would deem you worthy of attention.

This was the fairest competition ground.

Jiang Xiaoxiao had no idea she had already become a magnet for disdain.

She attracted the ire of a group intent on challenging her.

How would they compete?

Of course, through academic performance.

Their medical school students struggled; monthly exams were normal, not to mention the frequent weekly and pop quizzes.

Jiang Xiaoxiao hadn’t studied university-level content, at least not systematically, especially topics like medical calculus and physics which she had little exposure to.

Now starting over, it was truly a struggle.

With subjects like pharmacology, theory, and anatomy, she excelled, but calculus and physics were really her weak spots.

Thus, by the end of the first semester.

Jiang Xiaoxiao was notably on the ranking list, barely passing.

Eight months pregnant, she was already a sight on campus.

Everyone knew she was the only pregnant student.

Wherever Jiang Xiaoxiao went, she was a subject of conversation.

Jiang Xiaoxiao sighed; though she didn’t care much for others’ gossip, constant attention was uncomfortable.

Thankfully, the first semester was ending, but seeing her grades was another headache.

Fortunately, next semester she would get to subjects like pathology, medical theory, and pharmacology, which she excelled at.

At least it would be better than the current focus on calculus.

Summer break would be the most comfortable time, with her due date at the end of it.

Jiang Xiaoxiao wondered if teachers would find her annoying.

During the previous semester, the eyes of her calculus and physics teachers were deep with concern, trying to reason with her, afraid to upset her, yet helpless.

Her reputation was ruined.

Everyone knew Jiang Xiaoxiao was a struggle academically.

Jiang Xiaoxiao also felt aggrieved; the energy of a pregnant woman was really limited, she tried so hard.

Yet, this was her shortcoming, something she couldn’t deny.

Song Moting protected her as they went home.

Throughout the way, they heard malicious gossip.

"Did you see, Jiang Xiaoxiao is just a pretty shell, touted as a medical prodigy, but really just a dunce."

"Ha, I could score that well with my eyes closed. Yet, they call her Elder Meng’s granddaughter-in-law and a once-in-a-century talent? What luck? If she’s a prodigy, what am I? Uniquely gifted, clever, unparalleled."

"My friend, better mind your words; otherwise, Dean Zhang might come looking for you. Don’t you know how many protect her? Mr. Wu, Mr. Feng, Old Song, Elder Meng—all tough figures. Best not say what you know; that’s the key to survival."

"No matter who, how could they forbid speaking the truth? Medicine seeks truth. She didn’t do well on exams; she can’t blame us. We weren’t the ones taking them for her, after all."

"Sure, just because she has protectors, doesn’t mean I scored as poorly as her. I truly wonder how she even got into this medical university."

"What good is suspicion? She’s the new favorite at the medical school, whether you like it or not. Haven’t you noticed how Dean Zhang often calls her over?

"New favorite, my foot! If it weren’t for her being heavily pregnant, I’d have already gone to her for a showdown. Clearly, she’s a dunce prancing as top brass.

Just wait; once she delivers, come the next semester, there’s going to be a showdown. I want her to realize this circle isn’t about reputation but real ability. Without that, stop posing big."

"Okay, okay, just remember that many will challenge her next semester, not just you."

"Together then! This woman dares flaunt without merit—her scores stand for nothing. We’ll make her a stepping stone for our own rise; we may be unknown, but defeating her makes me the prodigy here!"

"Anatomy class is next semester; these girls will probably panic one by one. This is our specialty. We’ll show that woman what true skill looks like.

The real prodigy isn’t one talked up with words but proven through ability."

The conversation was intended for Jiang Xiaoxiao’s ears.

Jiang Xiaoxiao smiled wryly, wondering who she had offended to become a public enemy.

Song Moting clenched his fist, wanting to turn back and confront someone.

He was stopped by Jiang Xiaoxiao.

"Where are you going?"

"To shut them up. They clearly don’t know the facts—I need to show them the consequences of slander."

They were besmirching his wife’s abilities. Jiang Xiaoxiao’s medical skills were evident to everyone.

He had witnessed them firsthand.

Jiang Xiaoxiao smiled softly, brushing his cheek and holding his hand.

"Fists can’t stop their mouths. Aren’t they all waiting to crush me next semester? Once I have the baby, we’ll see who beats whom. Didn’t they say that a medical prodigy isn’t one talked up with words but proved through skill?"

"Surely you’re not worried your wife lacks that skill?"

Song Moting gazed at Jiang Xiaoxiao, her sunny demeanor; in his eyes, a doting glow.

"Very well, let my love show them the power of true ability."