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nTranslator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

nThe instant Xiang Huai looked over, he stiffly passed the phone over to him. “Boss, I suddenly recalled that we haven’t ordered stocks for our provision store. I’ll go take a look outside!”

nHe hastily escaped right after.

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nWhen Xiang Huai saw this message, he was taken aback for a second. His dark-brown eyes sparkled with shock, but he soon regained his composure. He subconsciously tapped his fingers against the tabletop and his sharp features softened. After a short while, he chuckled under his breath.

nThe little kid seems obedient and sensible, but it turns out… that’s actually not the case.

nNot adding me on WeChat is likely her protest against “be in love or die.”

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nWith regard to Xiang Huai’s friend request, Xue Xi did not accept or reject it. What would she do if her heart ached because she angered him?

nShe was not a puppet that would allow anyone to do as they pleased with her. She would definitely find a way out of this.

nFor tonight, she washed up and slept early.

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nThe next day.

nAll of the contestants gathered on the first floor before they boarded the bus to the examination hall.

nOld Liu waved to Xue Xi at the entrance. When she neared him, he said softly, “This examination is non-official and there is no limit on the key knowledge points. You will be marked correct as long as you get the correct answer.”

nXue Xi’s eyes sparkled when she heard this.

nHer grades in the Olympiad class were unfavorable because she always could not avoid using knowledge from the university-level to solve the question. After all, who would use a stupider method when there was a shortcut?

nSince the Math Star Competition did not mind this, then that’s amazing!

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nHer eyes sparkled as she nodded her head.

nAfter Xue Xi and the rest of the candidates entered the examination hall, Mr. Zhang, who had sent the First High’s students over, approached Old Liu. He grinned. “Old Liu, I heard that your school’s Xue Xi stayed in the presidential suite last night!”

nOld Liu was surprised. “Is that so?”

nMr. Zhang coughed and could not help saying, “Liu Liyuan said that she chases after the rich and despises the poor. Apparently, she had kept picking on her after they entered the room. In the end, she upgraded her own room and chased Liu Liyuan back. Look at this mess. Kids these days only know to indulge in pleasure and comfort whenever they have money. Moreover, she has never participated in any academic competitions before. How can such a person get good grades?”

nUsually, those who aspired to rely on academic competitions to obtain a free pass to college or additional marks for the national exam would enroll in the competitive classes once they entered high school, and, hence, they would have taken part once in their Junior Year.

nFor instance, Fan Han had obtained the Provincial Second Prize in his Junior Year. Although he was halted before the national competition, the teachers already had an impression of him and had great expectations for him this year.

nOld Liu was not clear on what exactly happened, but he still defended his own student without any hesitation. “Mr. Zhang, we cannot listen to a child’s one-sided story. As for your claim on indulging in pleasure, I beg to differ. Are you purporting that being wealthy is a crime? Why don’t you go stay in a motel if you guys do not want to indulge in pleasure and comfort?”

nMr. Zhang was made speechless by this and turned to point his finger at Old Liu, chiding, “Look at yourself. Money is every part of your speech. Are you setting an example as a teacher?! Old Liu, as teachers, we cannot place too much emphasis on money…”

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nFinding the situation baffling, Old Liu promptly turned around and left.

nXue Xi is not going to stay with anyone from their school anyway, so why is that person still being so bossy? He thinks he is great just because he is in charge of the Mathematics group!

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nThe Math Star’s examination was the same as the Olympiad—they were both separated into two rounds.

nThe first round had a time limit of 80 minutes, and the questions were a mix of fill-in-the-blank questions and open-ended questions. There were more questions here.

nThe second round had a time limit of 150 minutes. There were only four highly-challenging open-ended questions.

nAfter the first round, the students had time for free movement. They even had the energy to chit-chat, then they continued to the second round.

nThe second round was clearly much more quiet and solemn. Only the sound of pen against paper could be heard in the examination hall.

nThe four open-ended questions were very challenging and difficult. The tested knowledge was even slightly outside of the syllabus.

nAfter the examination, the students were basically all defeated.

n“Aren’t this year’s questions too hard?”

n“Yes. I don’t even have an inkling for the last two questions, and I’m not sure if I’m even right for the first one.”

nXue Xi walked over to Old Liu amid such discussion.

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nThe latter was currently asking Fan Han, whom others had the highest expectations of, “How did you feel about it?”

nFan Han pursed his lips and frowned lightly. “I got two correct, but I’m not too sure about the third and fourth questions.”

nOld Liu nodded. “That’s already pretty good. This year’s exam is apparently exceptionally difficult! You should be able to obtain the First Prize if you managed to do two questions.”

nHe then turned to ask the rest in sequence. When Xue Xi walked over, he asked, “How was it?”

nXue Xi thought for a moment, then slowly answered, “I did everything.”

nA wide smile spread on Old Liu’s lips. “Alright, let’s all get onto the bus. We shall have a good meal this afternoon.”

nWhen everyone had boarded the bus, Liu Liyuan sneered. “Does she think this is a history or politics class where you’ll get marks just because you answered everything?”

nShe pointed at Xue Xi to the person beside her. “Do you see that? That’s her. The one who stays in the presidential suite for just an exam, as though she’s afraid that other people don’t know that her family is rich. This kind of person places their attention on other places and will definitely not get good grades…”

nA few students from First High nodded and had a mocking expression.

nMr. Zhang even snorted. “Bin City’s competition still rests on our shoulders. Alright, get on the car and let’s go back!”

n…

nOld Liu had intended to allow the students some free time before they returned the next day.

nHowever, Xue Xi had no intention of shopping. Hence, she informed Old Liu and went back to the hotel. The car Ye Li had sent to fetch her was already here, so she directly returned home.

nTime quickly flew by and it was the end of August. September was near. The freshmen and juniors were also about to start their school year.

nIt had been roughly ten days since the Math Star Competition, and the results were about to be announced.

nMeanwhile, the international school’s forum was in an uproar:

nI’m waiting for a certain someone’s results!

nYou can’t cheat in the Math Star Competition. The real results can be seen only this time!

nHave you heard? Hearsay, Xue Xi had flaunted her riches on the day of the exam and offended Liu Liyuan from First High! Liu Liyuan has already announced that she will be using her grades to exact her revenge because the money belongs to parents and only grades belong to yourself!

nExcited!

nToday was Tuesday, and the results were released online at 10 AM.

nYe Li had repeatedly reminded her before she went to school, “It’s fine. It doesn’t matter what your results are. Xixi, don’t be nervous!”

nXue Xi: “…Oh.”

nHowever, after she had boarded the car, Ye Li then took out the examination ID number she had copied. When she saw Xue Sheng leaving, she was a little stunned. “Where are you going?”

nXue Sheng: “To work!”

nYe Li yanked him over. “Why would you go to work? Go after we’ve checked the results at 10 AM!”

nHearing this, Xue Sheng turned around and changed out of his shoe. “Fine, I’ll wait with you. But I shall say this first: one has to be nurtured from a young age for the Mathematical Olympiad. Xixi has never gone through any structured training and will definitely not get good results this time. Don’t have overly high expectations.”

nYe Li sighed. “I just find it to be a pity. If we had not lost her and she had grown up by our side, with her brains, she would have been so outstanding. Sigh!”

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