Perfect Score, Shattered Lies

Start Reading

The day my SAT scores came out, several Ivy League admissions officers showed up at my house, all competing to recruit me.

My high school teacher, Ms. Peyton -- a woman who worshiped male students -- deliberately said when she learned I'd gotten a perfect SAT score:

Jenna, I'm so happy for you! I can't believe you actually slept your way to getting the test answers and still managed a perfect score! Oh my, I'm just joking. It slipped out. Don't mind me. Just tell me quietly -- how many test writers did you sleep with this time?

In my past life, I cried and explained that I'd studied hard for the exam myself.

She sneered: "Right, right, you studied for it yourself. If you didn't seduce male teachers and get the answers ahead of time, then why are you so upset right now?"

That statement made the Harvard and Stanford admissions officers suspicious, and they rejected my application on the spot.

In the end, I wasn't accepted by any university. Three years of hard work went down the drain, and I eventually died from depression.

Meanwhile, the male student Ms. Peyton favored most stole my admission spot.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day the Ivy League admissions officers came to school.

Without hesitation, I chose to call the police: "Officer, I've been assaulted, and the witness is my high school teacher."

The moment those words left my mouth, Ms. Peyton's expression changed instantly.

She never expected that I -- usually introverted and timid -- would actually call the police in front of so many people.

She lunged at me, reaching for my phone. I stepped back, and she nearly fell to the ground.

"Jenna, what are you doing? It's such a small matter. Is it really worth calling the police?"

"What witness? I just heard it from someone else. I can't testify for you!"

I froze, staring at her intently. "A small matter? Spreading sexual rumors about me and accusing me of cheating -- that's a small matter?"

"You knew the Ivy League admissions officers were coming to my house today. Why would you say something like that?"

Ms. Peyton looked as if I'd exposed her, her face turning ugly.

But the next second, she laughed dramatically, accusing me of being too sensitive.

"I didn't know the Ivy League admissions team was coming to your house today. I didn't mean to bring up your... impropriety."

"I'm just worried that if you got into an Ivy League school through these means, you won't be able to handle the academics there. Your teacher is just looking out for you!"

"After all, you're a girl who became the top science student in the state. Who knows what underhanded methods you used?"

She cleared her throat and suddenly raised her voice.

Everyone's attention was drawn back to her, even my mom looked at me with suspicion.

"Dear admissions officers, I know this child, Jenna. When she first enrolled, she was at the bottom of the class. Then she transferred to the science class -- which was full of male teachers -- and suddenly her grades shot up."

"Don't you think that's strange? And I've caught her going in and out of hotels with male teachers multiple times. As her teacher, it's hard for me not to think in that direction!"

In my past life, Ms. Peyton said exactly this, making the admissions officers deeply disappointed in me.

She relied on her position as my high school teacher, knowing no one would question a teacher's character.

She made everyone believe her lies, and no one wanted to hear my explanation.

Not only did the Ivy League schools reject my file, preventing me from attending any college.

Even my parents were implicated and ridiculed by relatives and friends.

Three years of hard work were destroyed. They disowned me. I couldn't defend myself. In the end, I died from depression.

When I opened my eyes again and returned to this day, there was no way I'd let her play her tricks and ruin my college dreams again!

"A hotel?" My mom looked at me in disbelief, her lips trembling slightly.

"That's right, Jenna's mom. You didn't know, did you? Jenna is a regular at the hotel by the school gate. The first time I saw it, I couldn't believe she was that kind of person!"

After saying this, Ms. Peyton quickly covered her mouth, pretending it was an accidental slip.

"Wait, no, no. Oh my! Why did I say that out loud? Just pretend I was talking nonsense. Don't overthink it!"

"I came here today to celebrate Jenna getting a perfect SAT score and bringing honor to our school, even though her methods were a bit... unclean..."

All the admissions officers exchanged glances and began discussing among themselves.

"I can't believe she's that kind of person. Our school can't admit someone like this..."

Even my mom didn't trust me, frowning as she questioned me: "Jenna, is what Ms. Peyton said true?"

"Did you really go to that kind of place? Tell me. How many times did you go?"

A trace of delight flashed in Ms. Peyton's eyes, but I showed no sign of panic.

"Ms. Peyton, are you sure you saw me? Then I must have been drugged unconscious, because I don't remember it at all!"

"When the police arrive, you must clearly state the time and location so they can catch the person who assaulted me as soon as possible!"

Ms. Peyton was stunned. The current me was completely different from the me she knew.

She never expected I'd be so serious about this -- not only showing no shame but practically wanting the whole world to know.

"Dear Ivy League admissions officers, I believe Ms. Peyton's words. She must not be joking!"

"But I truly don't remember any of this. I definitely wasn't there willingly. With Ms. Peyton here, she can definitely find the culprit and clear my name!"

I gripped Ms. Peyton's hand tightly, speaking earnestly.

She recoiled in disgust and immediately shook me off. "You -- what nonsense are you spouting, child?"

"How shameless can you be? Tell the truth. A month ago, did you or did you not check into the hotel by the school gate?"

"And you weren't the only one who checked in! Admissions officers, if you don't believe me, you can check the registration records. I swear on my twenty years as a teacher!"

At those words, all the admissions officers' gazes fell on me like countless knives.

"Miss Lynn, did you really use despicable means to get the SAT answers and score so high?"

"No wonder she scored more than ten points higher than second place. In twenty years, no one has scored this high. So that's how..."

The fruit platter in my mom's hands fell to the floor, fruit scattering everywhere.

She looked at me with tears in her eyes, her voice filled with anger and shock.

"Jenna, tell your mother. Is what Ms. Peyton said true? Did you go to a hotel?"

"Did you -- did you really use those methods to get your grades today? Say something! Are you trying to kill your mother?"

"Your father and I poured everything into raising you. How could we have raised a daughter like you?"

Ms. Peyton looked at me triumphantly, a smug smile on her lips.

I suddenly remembered that before the SAT, I did go to the school hotel. Dylan Cooper had asked me to meet him there.

But as soon as I entered and went upstairs, I sensed something was wrong and left through the back door.

Only now did I understand -- this was a trap set by Ms. Peyton and my classmate, Dylan Cooper.

She was determined to have Dylan Cooper take my perfect SAT score.

After all, the school's reward for the top student was a full hundred thousand dollars!

To achieve her goal, she was willing to stake her twenty years of teaching reputation.

Ms. Peyton knew exactly how to manipulate teachers and parents. She understood that the truth didn't matter -- public opinion was enough to crush a person.

Once the admissions officers left, they would spread the news.

And then what awaited me would be slut-shaming.

In this life, not only would I be unable to attend college, I'd even repeat the tragic fate of my past life.

"I did go." Three words slowly left my mouth.

My mom nearly fainted from anger on the spot, and the admissions officers clamored to leave.

"However, I didn't enter any room. I left through the back of the hotel."

Ms. Peyton burst out laughing: "Ha ha ha, who would believe that? Jenna, you usually look so pure and honest, but only I, as your teacher, truly understand what kind of person you are!"

"I didn't deliberately smear you in front of the admissions officers. I just don't want to see you go down the wrong path and make mistake after mistake!"

"As long as you admit your error, we'll void this year's results, and you can prepare properly for the SAT next year. I'm willing to tutor you for free!"

She spoke with such sincerity, like a good teacher. Only I knew how much she worshiped men and loved spreading sexual rumors about female students.

In high school, Ms. Peyton treated male and female students completely differently.

When male students asked for leave, she'd approve without checking the reason. But when female students were in so much pain they fainted, she'd just think they were faking.

When male students didn't wear their uniforms properly, it showed boldness and masculinity. But if a female student dared take off her jacket, she was a shameless slut trying to seduce men.

She would spend an entire class period scolding female students, treating all the girls in class like enemies.

I took out my phone and called the hotel by the school gate: "Could you please check the back door surveillance footage from around 8 PM a month ago?"

The front desk quickly sent me the surveillance from that time.

It clearly showed me entering through the front door and leaving through the back door less than a minute later.

Everyone watched the surveillance footage. Ms. Peyton's face showed a moment of surprise, then she also called the hotel front desk.

A few minutes later, a year's worth of check-in records was displayed for everyone to see.

"Jenna, the surveillance video only proves you didn't go this time. It doesn't mean you never went before!"

"This is the check-in record from the past year that I just had the front desk send me. Look for yourself -- how many times have you checked in this year?"

"Tsk tsk tsk, so shameless at such a young age. I'm truly ashamed for you as your teacher!"

"Dear admissions officers, look at what kind of person she really is! Tell me, how could a student like this possibly get a perfect SAT score through her own efforts?"

Suddenly, my dad, who had just returned home, saw all of this.

He raised his hand and slapped me: "You -- how could you do something so disgraceful!"

"Go turn yourself in right now, or I don't have a daughter like you!"

My face immediately burned with pain, half of it swelling up.

My parents were both furious and shocked. The way they looked at me was complicated.

I covered my face, holding back tears. Ms. Peyton's smile grew even more triumphant.

I'd studied hard for three years, finally going from the worst student to the top student, and even my parents didn't believe me.

"Don't -- don't hit the child! I'm sure Jenna just had a moment of confusion. Otherwise she wouldn't have done such things for six years!"

"I only found out about this from her middle school teacher. Otherwise I wouldn't dare believe I'd have such a student!"

My dad clutched his chest in anger, his face flushed red, pulling out his belt and pointing it at me.

"Jenna Lynn! You -- you did this disgraceful thing for six whole years! Let's see if I don't beat you to death today!"

He charged at me with the belt. I ran everywhere to escape.

My mom's tears wouldn't stop flowing, her eyes red from crying: "Jenna, you've disappointed your mother so much!"

Seeing me getting beaten, Ms. Peyton almost laughed out loud but forcibly suppressed it, pretending to stop my dad.

"Jenna's dad, don't get so worked up! No matter what, you can't hit your child!"

The admissions officers also shook their heads in disappointment at the scene.

"Miss Lynn, we have doubts about your SAT results and cannot approve your application."

I froze and immediately explained: "Do you believe what she's saying too? The SAT is fair and secure. How could the answers possibly be leaked?"

"Mom, Dad, calm down! Think carefully -- I'm just an ordinary student. How could I possibly know the test writers?"

"And leaking SAT answers is a criminal offense with a ten-year prison sentence. Who would dare leak them?"

My dad lowered the belt in his hand. My mom stopped crying too.

Everyone realized this wasn't realistic. The SAT had military-level security. Even the most powerful person couldn't get the answers.

Suddenly, Dylan Cooper walked in: "Then how do you explain this?"

He pulled out a report. My parents were shocked when they saw it.

"Jenna, you -- you're pregnant? Early intrauterine pregnancy, six weeks! What do you have to say for yourself?"

Ms. Peyton quickly snatched the report and hid it, scolding Dylan Cooper: "Why did you come here? I wasn't planning to tell them about this. After all, it's not honorable for a girl..."

"Everyone, just treat this as fake, as a joke. Don't believe it!"

Dylan refused to back down: "Why not? Why should someone like her be the top student!"

"Jenna Lynn is a shameless slut. She's always taking birth control pills at school. The whole class has seen it!"

With those words, the whole room exploded.

My dad wanted to kill me. My mom had a heart attack and fainted on the spot. The admissions officers turned to leave.

"How did I give birth to a slut like you! You're even -- even pregnant with some bastard's child!"

My dad grabbed a kitchen knife and came at me like a madman.

The scene descended into chaos. Ms. Peyton and Dylan calmly watched the show from the side.

"I'm not pregnant! They forged that report! They're deliberately trying to harm me. Dad, please calm down! Admissions officers, don't leave!"

I desperately explained, completely despairing, but now no one was willing to believe me.

My dad couldn't hear anything. The knife came straight at my neck.

The next second, a large number of police officers burst through the door.

"We heard a report about SAT answer leaks? I'm the SAT inspection team leader. This matter is serious. We immediately launched an investigation upon receiving the report."

"After examination, student Jenna Lynn's results are legal and compliant. The test writers and papers were all under strict monitoring, with no leaks whatsoever."

"We are now lawfully arresting Peyton and Dylan Cooper for spreading rumors. Please come with the police."