A Warm Marriage After Rebirth

Chapter 116: Chapter 116: First Glimmer of Light (Part 1)

”Hey, you! Are you having trouble understanding me, or is there something wrong with your ears? Did you not understand what our president just said? If not, I can repeat it for you. This winter camp isn’t just for the high schools in Sanford anymore—it’s a national, even international, exchange conference! Do you really think a bunch of country bumpkins like you are fit to be seen here?”

Crystal Marshall spoke caustically, her eyes filled with scorn and contempt. ”If you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave quietly. Don’t wait for the school to kick you out! The student representatives from all over the country will be arriving soon. If they see a bunch of country bumpkins like you, they’ll look down on us for it! They’ll think Sanford ran out of people and had to let in sheltered students like you!”

Crystal Marshall’s words reignited the students’ fury, but Seraphina Sterling simply gave her a cool glance. ”It seems you’re a participant in this winter camp, then?”

”That’s right!” Crystal Marshall’s tone was vicious.

”If a student as prejudiced as you can participate in this winter camp, then every single one of us here is absolutely qualified to attend!” A faint smile played on Seraphina Sterling’s lips.

”All you do is call people ’country bumpkins,’ but don’t you know that if you go back three generations, your own family were farmers? The very ’country bumpkins’ you despise are your own great-grandfathers! You can’t even respect your own ancestors—what does that say about your moral character? Sanford First High School certainly lives up to its prestigious name. Its selection criteria are so... distinctive. It’s been a real eye-opener for us!”

Seraphina Sterling’s smile grew even brighter. ”If Sanford First High School has truly run out of candidates, there are plenty of students out on the field. I’m sure any one of them would have more character, more integrity, and more class than *this* student here!”

”You—shut your mouth!” Crystal Marshall shrieked, her face contorted with rage. As the principal’s daughter, she was used to throwing her weight around in class. She couldn’t stand being publicly belittled and mocked. She raised her hand to slap Seraphina!

Just as the slap was about to land on Seraphina’s cheek, at the very instant Crystal Marshall’s hand was about to make contact, Seraphina ducked. Crystal’s hand swiped at empty air! Her momentum sent her stumbling forward a few steps, and she nearly face-planted on the ground.

Seraphina, however, simply offered a small smile, the dimples on her cheeks deepening charmingly. ”Whoops, sorry. My shoelace came undone.”

The crowd: ...

’It was so obvious she dodged that on purpose! Are we all blind or something? Her shoelace came undone? Seriously? Couldn’t she at least come up with a more believable excuse?’

”You’re the student council president, right?” Seraphina shifted her attention to Marshal. ”Would you mind sharing your selection criteria? How is it that someone like *her* is allowed to participate in the winter camp, while you’re trying to send us home? Is it simply because we come from town high schools?”

Marshal looked at the girl before him. She had a gentle smile and a soft voice, but her questions were incredibly sharp. He felt a profound sense of caution. ”And what if I said yes? What would you do?”

”Oh, nothing much,” Seraphina said with a bright smile. ”But we made such a long and tiring journey to get here. If we can’t attend the winter camp, we should at least get our moment in the spotlight, don’t you think? I’m sure the reporters from the local TV stations and newspapers would be delighted to interview us—the students who were forcibly sent away—and hear our thoughts on this winter camp!”

Involving the media! Marshal’s brow furrowed. ’This girl is going to be a problem,’ he thought.

”After all, this is Sanford’s first-ever international high school exchange, and it’s focused on promoting traditional Apex culture. An event this high-profile is bound to attract a lot of attention! Getting interviewed by reporters would mean our trip to Sanford wasn’t a complete waste. Wouldn’t you agree, Mr. President?”