novelxo Chapter 35
Chapter 35
Merry’s voice cut through the chatter in the classroom, drawing every eye in her
direction.
Was the result a cause for celebration or commiseration?
While the students were pondering, Cordelia’s brow furrowed, and her surprise
was evident. She had felt confident in her answers. How on earth had she lost 12
points?
The sight of her expression made a wave of relief wash over Juliana, her heart
brimming with a sense of schadenfreude. Maybe Cordelia had only scored in the
fifties, so Merry’s shock meant a dismal failure. After all, Cordelia had aced the
previous math quiz.
Juliana could barely conceal her glee and shot Hanley a sly glance, her voice
dripping with faux sympathy. “Cordelia, don't beat yourself up. We're talking
about the math competition here. It's brutal. Plenty of folks are thrilled to even
score in the fifties.”
Latham, who had harbored hopes for Cordella, paused at Juliana’s words,
swallowing his disappointment to offer consolation. “Cordelia, chin up! There's
always next time.”
On the other hand, Hanley smirked with self-satisfaction. He had lost to her in
the last quiz due to a fluke, but not this time. Surely, Cordelia would recognize his
superiority.
Some classmates, eager to see Cordelia knocked down a peg, bit back their
snide remarks, recalling her commanding presence in earlier classes. Instead,
they ducked their heads and anonymously hit the school's online forum with their
phones.
[Live update. Scores are out! Someone's world just got rocked!]
[Waiting for her result!]
[So much for the know-it-all, huh?]
[Drop the score!]
The forum buzzed with gossip as Merry remained in shock. The same group of
girls who thrived on rumors swallowed hard.
Scoring an 88 on a math competition test was no small feat for the average Joe!
Juliana teased, “For all we know, some people are happy to scrape by with
barely double digits. So, Cordelia, how many points did you get?”
Cordelia remained silent, but Merry could hold back no more and blurted out.
“288!"
“What? Did I mishear, or did you misspeak?”
“Did you accidentally add a hundred? I'd believe 188, maybe.”
“288? You're pulling my leg! Merry, you're full of it!”
“You mean 88, right?”
Hanley and Juliana’s eyes widened in disbelief, thinking Merry must have made a
mistake.
Already on his feet, Latham rushed over to Cordelia with a look of eager
anticipation. “Cordelia, how much did
you score?”
Cordelia handed her phone over peacefully. Latham grabbed it, his eyes
widening before scrubbing at them as if to clear away any illusion. The small
phone screen was clear enough, though, and the number was unmistakable.
288!
Ignoring the buzzing of her classmates, Cordelia drawled, “Should I be worried?
Did I do terribly?”
Latham was speechless. Struggling to contain his excitement, Latham explained,
“This isn't a regular test. Since its inception, the Galaxy Math Whiz Competition
has seen a national high of 271 points by a genius who
nearly clinched a gold medal at IMO.”
As he spoke, Latham couldn't bear to return the phone, staring at the number
repeatedly, his hands trembling with excitement.
Then, a loud ringtone cut through the air
Latham fished out a no-frills cell phone from his pocket and answered the call. It
was Zack, the head of the math department, his voice booming through the
phone as if on speaker. “Latham, how did Hanley score?”
Latham paused, “212”
Zack chuckled. “Not bad, a first prize for sure! But it looks like Jake from our
school has snagged the top spot again with 224 points!”
Latham replied almost reflexively, “Congrats.”
Zack continued, “What's there to congratulate? First place is surely at our school.
That Greenmeadow International School of yours getting a first prize is a miracle.
But, Latham, I've got to say you've got the math chops to coach our competition
team, yet you went for the fat paycheck at Greenmeadow International. It's a
shame. As teachers, shouldn't we take pride not in how much we earn but in how
exceptional our students become?”
Under normal circumstances, Latham would have hung up.
It was evident Zack was calling to gloat, but Latham stood tall this time, his voice
brimming with confidence. “You're right, Zack. But about that first place, you
might want to think again.”
Zack was stunned. “What do you mean?”
Latham couldn't help but smirk, “Oh, I forgot to mention. My student Cordelia
scored 288."
“What?”
Out on the schoolyard, the Flame Union assembled, their ranks seated in a neat
line on the steps, each with a phone in hand.
Yates stood with one foot propped on a step, announcing, “I've got two hundred
insults printed here. We're eight strong but need to come at them like we're eight
hundred. Got it?”
“Got it!"
With Yates’s command of “Go!” they dived into the forum.
[She probably just scored in the fifties, right? Show the scorel] Someone
sneered.
Yates replied, [Crap, you think you could score eight? Oh, my bad, you don't
qualify for the test.]
[Scores are out. Get ready, and you'll be blown away!]
“Here come the scores!”
Flame No. 1 shouted nervously. “Get ready to flood the chat! We have to bury
their trash talk! Here's the spam line. “Even if she fails, she’s still better than you!
Type it out, copy and paste it. Save on typing time when it's go—time. Now, flood
it!”
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The Flames went to work, their
fingers flying, hundreds of posts in
under a minute, pushing the score to
reveal down the thread. The content
is on Novelxo.org! Read the latest
chapter there!
Mid—flood, someone noticed something off. “Hey, where are all the trolls?”
Another asked, “Did you guys see the score?”
The chat, once a battleground of insults and bravado, was then a scene of
stunned allence
Flame One's voice crackled over the walkie talkie, “Keep up the lookout In
heading back to check the score”
After he had navigated the winding trails back to the main hall where they posted
the scores, Flame One was shocked.
Yates nudged him with a boot. “Well, spit it out, man
“It's just.. I mean, there's no way Lia only got an 8, right?
Flame One swallowed hard “288”
Flame Six, not up to speed on the grading scale, interrupted, “Out of what,
exactly?”
Flame One replied with a heavy pause, “300”
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A hush fell over the group on the
field, the sun beating down on them
so fiercely it seemed as if Lia was
bathed in a halo of brilliance, her
stature growing immensely in their
eyes. The content is on
Novelxo.org! Read the latest
chapter there!
Lorna keyed in the examination number with trembling fingers in the Delaney
family’s living room.
Sanderson stood by her side, chuckling. Relax. I told you Lia was just warming
up
It was easy to say, but he fixed his eyes on the tablet screen.
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Laurinda scoffed from across the
a ) . .
room “Like she's going to rank high.
)
What's there to be nervous about?
, 5
Unless you're worried that she scored
ay .
so low that it's embarrassing. The
content is on Novelxo.org! Read
the latest chapter there!