novelxo Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Everyone simultaneously looked at Juliana and Hanley
Feeling the collective gaze, Juliana straightened up and flashed a smile at
Hanley, asking, “What if Cordelial starts hounding you?”
Hanley lifted his chin with an air of finality. “Our engagement is set. It's not
changing for anyone.”
With that, Juliana relaxed,
She and Hanley had grown up together, their relationship always teetering on the
edge of something more. Now, with their engagement on the horizon, she trusted
that Hanley harbored no feelings for Cordelia.
Their conversation was neither hushed nor loud, but just enough for the
onlookers to overhear.
A few snide voices began to mock Cordelia, “Being the top of the class doesn’t
mean you can win Hanley’s heart, huh?”
“If I were her, I'd stay well away. How shameless can you get, always hovering
around Hanley..."
Cordelia cooled her gaze but before she could speak up, Merry interjected,
“Some folks really have nothing better to do than to poke their noses into others*
business!”
Merry had a sing—song quality, even when she was hurling insults.
The teasers promptly shut their mouths.
Merry then glanced at Juliana and Hanley with a snort, “And some people really
have the gall!”
The classroom fell silent. When it came to quick wit, no one could outdo Merry.
Seeing that Merry had defused the situation, Cordelia nodded to show her thanks
and made her way to her seat, but Merry turned and headed for the door.
The class president called out, “Merry, class is about to start, where are you off
to?”
Merry looked back, blowing a bubble with her gum, “Arcade.”
Cordelia blinked in surprise.
Merry didn’t return for the rest of the day.
Soon it was time for the afternoon study period.
Hanley packed up his books, ready for his tutoring session. Juliana stood up as
well, heading to her physics. competition prep class in room 302, right next to the
math classroom.
As they reached the door, Juliana caught a glimpse of Cordelia rising a beat
slower and heading in their direction. She couldn't resist asking. “What if she
talks to you? It would be rude to ignore her, right?”
Hanley paused, seemingly conflicted, “That's true...
H
He slowed his pace. By the time Cordelia caught up, they were at the stairwell.
As they hesitated on whether to acknowledge her, Cordelia walked past them
without a glance, not even sparing them a greeting.
Hanley and Juliana stopped in their tracks, enveloped in an awkward silence..
Cordelia entered the classroom to find only a handful of students had shown up
She found a seat. Soon after, Latham walked in. He discussed a few competition
problems and set the class to work on them before approaching Cordelia with a
test in hand, “Try this out, I want to gauge where you stand.”
I
Cordelia nodded and got to work.
Hanley watched her from a not-too—distant seat, unable to keep from monitoring
her progress.
The test Latham handed to Cordelia was standard competition level, Hanley, a
seasoned math competitor, had gotten them all correct.
Cordelia worked quickly, finishing the two-hour test in one, causing a twinge of
concern in Hanley.
Latham graded the test on the spot, announcing the result, “Failed! All wrong!”
Hanley breathed a sigh of relief. A sense of superiority bloomed within him.
After all, excelling in regular math didn’t guarantee success in competitions,
which were more complex and demanded higher logical reasoning.
Besides, it was just an off day for him at the last test. He was sure to reclaim the
top spot next time.
On the other hand, Cordelia stared at her test, marked with three red wrong signs
and asked, puzzled, “How could they be wrong?”
Latham spoke in a low voice to not disturb the others, “You got the answers right,
but in a formal competition, everyone will mark these as incorrect. Do you know
why?"
Cordelia shook her head.
Latham sighed, “Calculus is a college subject. Where did you learn it?”
Cordelia simply replied, “Self-study.”
Latham was silently impressed, then he explained, “The high school math
competition tests logical reasoning, which means you need to solve these
problems with high school knowledge. Your answers are correct, but
your
method is beyond the syllabus, not using the designated knowledge points.”
Cordelia looked up, her misty eyes filled with confusion. This was unexpected.
some notes for
Latham reassured her, “Don’t worry, it's good we caught this early. There's still
time. I'll compile so you to review.”
Then he added, “If you have any questions, you can also ask Hanley.”
Cordelia just murmured, “Oh.” She glanced at the test on her desk.
These problems were new to her. Without college knowledge like calculus, they
indeed seemed challenging, but she found them intriguing!
The double period ended quickly, and Latham dismissed the class. Cordelia
packed her belongings.
Hanley, standing by the door, couldn't help but follow her with his gaze.
Cordelia’s figure was slender, her steps light, and her neat ponytail swayed with
her movement. In the glow of the sunset, her figure was attractive...
Juliana emerged from her physics class to find Hanley staring intently in a certain
direction. She crept up to tease him, but as she followed his gaze, she saw
Cordelia..
Juliana furrowed her brow, her grip tightening on her textbooks.
Cordelia was the first to the school gates, waiting in the car for half an hour
before Juliana appeared, her expression stormy, setting a tense tone in the car.
Cordelia, unbothered, asked Larry to stop by the Midnight Scent to pick up some
coffee beans.
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The box that once held coffee beans
was exquisite, a genuine antique by
: )
any standard. Cordelia couldn't help
“
but marvel, “Such a gorgeous box. It
almost seems a shame to waste it on
» .
coffee beans.” The content is on
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chapter there!
Everard, still draped in his signature black attire, twitched the corner of his mouth
slightly, saying in a tone laced with hidden meaning. “Ever heard of missing the
forest for the trees?”
Cordelia looked up slowly, confused. She sensed he was speaking in riddles, but
she didn’t dwell on it. After all, how could a hundred bucks worth of coffee beans
compare to the forest?
Her ride was waiting outside and she couldn't linger. “See you tomorrow,” she
said briskly and made her exit.
Juliana, who had been waiting with mounting impatience, scowled as Cordelia
climbed into the car. “Why do you always have to make a production out of
everything? Hurry up already!”
Cordelia ignored her.
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As the car pulled into the Delaney
family and came to a stop, Juliana
bolted out and slammed the door
behind her with a force that echoed
her fury. She stormed into the foyer
without looking back. The content is
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chapter there!
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Cordelia, taking her sweet time,
carried the coffee box out of the car.
Yet, before she reached the door, she
spotted a familiar figure sitting by the
entrance, her hair a dignified silver,
her poise elegant and intellectual
Mathilda? The content is on
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chapter there!
Confused, Cordelia approached and asked, “Grandma, what are you doing sitting
out here?”
A bitter expression crossed Mathilda, “Lia, that coffee beans