She Stuns the World - Chapter 75: Chapter 75
You are reading She Stuns the World, Chapter 75: Chapter 75. Read more chapters of She Stuns the World.
After Zoe thanked her parents, teachers, and classmates, everyone thought Zoe had finished her speech.
But just as the applause began to die down, she suddenly turned to Athena and, with heartfelt sincerity, said, "From elementary school all the way through high school, the person I'm most grateful for is my best classmate and greatest rival—Athena."
The crowd was stunned, all eyes turning to Athena, thinking, 'Why is Zoe thanking her? Are they really that close?'
The teachers and students from Kitmore City High School exchanged confused glances, their expressions filled with curiosity.
Athena put down her phone and met Zoe's gaze with a smile that seemed to say, "You're welcome."
"Many of you might not know this," Zoe continued, scanning the room with confidence, "but Athena and I first met in elementary school. Later, we were in the same class throughout middle school and high school. We've had a long and deep connection."
The crowd murmured in low voices, unsure of where she was going with this.
Zoe went on, "Before graduating from elementary school—and even during kindergarten—I was always number one, whether it was exams, sports competitions, or artistic contests. No one could beat me.
"At that time, I was young and full of myself, convinced I was a genius and the best at everything.
The crowd chuckled, finding her self-reflection more endearing than boastful.
But Wesley and his family couldn't shake a sense of unease.
Athena, still smiling, calmly reassured them, "She's just telling a story. Let's just listen."
"Then," Zoe continued, looking at Athena with genuine fondness, "Athena showed up, and from that moment on, I never came in first again."
She paused and sighed softly. "Unless she didn't participate, no matter how hard I worked, I could only manage second place."
The crowd was genuinely surprised. "Is she exaggerating? I can't believe she never beat Athena even once from elementary to high school."
But the students from Kitmore City High School quickly chimed in, "We were in their class. It's true—throughout high school, whether it was exams or competitions, Athena was always first, and Zoe was always second."
"Even on Valentine's Day, Athena received the most flowers and chocolates, with Zoe coming in second."
"Athena is known as our school's genius. She barely seemed to study, often skipped class, but still aced every test. Even in sports like running, swimming, and shot put, she always came out on top. The teachers often joked that there was nothing more they could teach her."
"I wasn't in their class in high school, but I was in middle school with them, and it's true—Athena was always first. I don't remember Zoe ever beating her."
The others were amazed. "Athena is really that incredible?"
"But you have to respect Zoe. She's openly admitting that she was never as good as Athena—that takes real grace. In that sense, she's even better than Athena."
Meanwhile, the unease in Wesley's family only deepened. They thought, 'What exactly is Zoe up to?'
Zoe continued, "Because of Athena, I realized that there's always someone better out there and a higher mountain to climb. From that point on, I stopped being arrogant and pushed myself even harder.
"For all these years, my biggest goal has been to surpass Athena, which is why I've always studied so diligently. Even though I never reached number one again, my overall performance improved significantly.
"I'm certain that without Athena, my best friend and strongest rival, I wouldn't have achieved such high scores on the SAT.
"So, I'm truly grateful to Athena. Athena, would you stand up and accept my thanks?"
But just as the applause began to die down, she suddenly turned to Athena and, with heartfelt sincerity, said, "From elementary school all the way through high school, the person I'm most grateful for is my best classmate and greatest rival—Athena."
The crowd was stunned, all eyes turning to Athena, thinking, 'Why is Zoe thanking her? Are they really that close?'
The teachers and students from Kitmore City High School exchanged confused glances, their expressions filled with curiosity.
Athena put down her phone and met Zoe's gaze with a smile that seemed to say, "You're welcome."
"Many of you might not know this," Zoe continued, scanning the room with confidence, "but Athena and I first met in elementary school. Later, we were in the same class throughout middle school and high school. We've had a long and deep connection."
The crowd murmured in low voices, unsure of where she was going with this.
Zoe went on, "Before graduating from elementary school—and even during kindergarten—I was always number one, whether it was exams, sports competitions, or artistic contests. No one could beat me.
"At that time, I was young and full of myself, convinced I was a genius and the best at everything.
The crowd chuckled, finding her self-reflection more endearing than boastful.
But Wesley and his family couldn't shake a sense of unease.
Athena, still smiling, calmly reassured them, "She's just telling a story. Let's just listen."
"Then," Zoe continued, looking at Athena with genuine fondness, "Athena showed up, and from that moment on, I never came in first again."
She paused and sighed softly. "Unless she didn't participate, no matter how hard I worked, I could only manage second place."
The crowd was genuinely surprised. "Is she exaggerating? I can't believe she never beat Athena even once from elementary to high school."
But the students from Kitmore City High School quickly chimed in, "We were in their class. It's true—throughout high school, whether it was exams or competitions, Athena was always first, and Zoe was always second."
"Even on Valentine's Day, Athena received the most flowers and chocolates, with Zoe coming in second."
"Athena is known as our school's genius. She barely seemed to study, often skipped class, but still aced every test. Even in sports like running, swimming, and shot put, she always came out on top. The teachers often joked that there was nothing more they could teach her."
"I wasn't in their class in high school, but I was in middle school with them, and it's true—Athena was always first. I don't remember Zoe ever beating her."
The others were amazed. "Athena is really that incredible?"
"But you have to respect Zoe. She's openly admitting that she was never as good as Athena—that takes real grace. In that sense, she's even better than Athena."
Meanwhile, the unease in Wesley's family only deepened. They thought, 'What exactly is Zoe up to?'
Zoe continued, "Because of Athena, I realized that there's always someone better out there and a higher mountain to climb. From that point on, I stopped being arrogant and pushed myself even harder.
"For all these years, my biggest goal has been to surpass Athena, which is why I've always studied so diligently. Even though I never reached number one again, my overall performance improved significantly.
"I'm certain that without Athena, my best friend and strongest rival, I wouldn't have achieved such high scores on the SAT.
"So, I'm truly grateful to Athena. Athena, would you stand up and accept my thanks?"
End of She Stuns the World Chapter 75. Continue reading Chapter 76 or return to She Stuns the World book page.