Emmanuel was briefly taken aback by Jimmy's question. He couldn’t simply say that some people are born in Rome while others are born as horses.

  To excel as a "horse" in one’s career, one must study diligently during their student years. Only then will they become valuable enough to be exploited by conglomerates or capitalists.

  Of course, if you are truly exceptional, then confront this unjust world boldly and with all your strength.

  At that moment, Dematero, feeling annoyed with Jimmy, shot back, “Are you having issues with your eyes? I sit near Xanthia, and I didn’t see her reading manga!”

  He despised those who, despite struggling themselves, would drag others down. To him, that was an ultimate betrayal.

  No matter what, Xanthia was someone Dematero wholeheartedly considered a friend, and he would defend her without hesitation.

  Dematero then assured the css teacher, Emmanuel, “Xanthia pays attention during self-study sessions, I guarantee it!”

  Emmanuel nodded, choosing not to expose Dematero’s lie but instead smoothing things over.

  Softening his stance, Emmanuel firmly yet sincerely advised Jimmy, “There are people I don’t interfere with because they don’t need my involvement. Their futures are bright. If you have that kind of confidence too, I’ll ignore you as well, as long as you don’t affect other students. If you choose to indulge in ziness, that’s entirely your choice.”

  Though Emmanuel was a responsible, old-school teacher, he wouldn’t bother with students he found utterly disappointing. That, in a way, was his way of giving up.

  For students like Xanthia, being disregarded in css was perhaps the most convenient arrangement. On holidays, her family’s gifts to the school never ceased.

  At times, Emmanuel even felt a sense of relief. At least Xanthia wasn’t one of those troublesome heirs from influential familias who constantly caused issues. Compared to that, her behavior was far less of a headache.

  After this, Emmanuel remained in css until the self-study session ended, successfully calming the cssroom’s earlier disruption.

  However, Jimmy’s disturbance left an unintended consequence. Cssmates who previously didn’t think much about Xanthia’s academic performance now seemed to collectively conclude that her grades weren’t good.

  Luciel, however, scoffed at this new “consensus.” As Xanthia’s companion in private study sessions, she was well aware of her true abilities.

  Luciel didn’t put much weight on Xanthia’s poor assessment performance. She knew Xanthia was naturally lively and pyful. Over the summer break, after their high school entrance exams, Xanthia had likely enjoyed herself thoroughly. Then, shortly after high school started, the school conducted an unexpected assessment, catching her off guard and leading to her poor results.

  As Luciel’s bond with Xanthia deepened, her loyalty to her friend only grew stronger. She found herself instinctively defending Xanthia in all circumstances.

  During the long break following self-study, while Xanthia and Luciel were out together, Dematero turned to Jimmy and sternly said, “Don’t you think you owe Xanthia an apology? At the very least, admit you were wrong. She was just reading manga quietly, not bothering anyone, and yet you insulted her.”

  Jimmy’s deskmate, Crissante, agreed. “Dematero’s right. It’s bad enough you got caught, but dragging Xanthia down with you? That’s a low blow.”

  In school, most cssmates despised tattling to teachers. It was an unspoken rule among peers.

  After calming down, Jimmy began to feel remorseful. Still, he argued defensively, “I didn’t target Xanthia intentionally. I just can’t stand the double standard. I saw her reading manga during self-study, and yet nothing happened. This isn’t the first time either. Why should I accept that? It’s unfair!”

  Dematero frowned. “Listening to you, it does seem like Sir Emmanuel overlooks Xanthia. Even when she sleeps in css, she’s never caught. I used to think she was just good at it, but now, thinking about it, maybe there’s something else at py.”

  Jimmy’s eyes lit up. “Exactly! This is too strange. Sir Emmanuel is so strict with everyone else, but so lenient with Xanthia. Isn’t this the treatment only top students get?”

  Dematero countered, “Top students are usually called upon to answer questions in css when necessary. Xanthia has never been called upon. That’s not favoritism—it’s neglect.”

  Hearing the term “neglect,” Jimmy suddenly felt a pang of crity. What he’d perceived as “privileges” now seemed more like abandonment. Sympathy repced his previous irritation. He realized being “completely ignored” would be unbearable.

  Jimmy, who had ranked 19th in the st assessment, wasn’t exceptional at Thessaloniki First High School, but he’d been a top student in junior high. He felt a newfound appreciation for his teachers’ attention.

  “If that’s really the case, Xanthia is in a pitiful situation. Damn it, I misunderstood everything. I’ll apologize as soon as she gets back. I was wrong!”

  Dematero shared simir sentiments. Emmanuel’s neglect felt excessive, even if Xanthia’s grades and attitude toward studying left much to be desired.

  Crissante chimed in, “Could Xanthia be the daughter of a wealthy familia with a special background? Maybe the teachers are afraid to discipline her.”

  “Impossible!” Dematero and Jimmy excimed in unison.

  Dematero expined, “I’ve sat near Xanthia for ages. She doesn’t act like a rich girl. Her stationery and things are all pretty ordinary. Most of the manga she reads are about underdogs standing up to the rich and powerful. Would a wealthy heiress really be into that?”

  Jimmy added, “Girls from rich familias don’t have Xanthia’s personality. Just look at Hera La Andronikos in our css—she’s got that haughty attitude that screams wealth. It’s annoying! And there are always people who ftter her. It’s pathetic.”

  With this reflection, Crissante reconsidered the rumors surrounding Xanthia. Cims like “she’s very insecure” and “too poor to afford meals” had already been debunked. Picturing her as a wealthy heiress was even more far-fetched.

  Crissante concluded, “It seems the teachers have decided Xanthia is ‘beyond help.’ That’s incredibly irresponsible.”