After Huo Yao stopped chatting on her phone, she checked the time and noticed that it was getting late. She recalled the school assignments which needed to be completed and got up from the sofa.

  She said, “Brother Xiang, I have homework pending. I will go and finish it now. You should also rest early.”


  Then she headed upstairs.

  Huo Xiang watched his sister’s receding back. He snapped out of his daze when she said she had homework to complete.

  Despite him being a senior, his little sister seemed more confident and mature than him, especially when her countenance became serious.

  He still could not believe his reaction when she had grilled him about the medicine.

  He was such a wuss.

  ***

  Before long, the National Quiz Contest results were due for release.

  Technically, this round ought to have been the provincial level contest. However, the questions in this paper were a lot harder than those expected at the provincial level. This was because City S was a first-tier city. Hence, all shortlisted participants after this test would advance directly into the National Quiz Contest finals.

  Though the questions were a lot tougher, the required passing marks were also higher than that required in the provincial level round, for the sake of fairness. This meant that a lot more people would get eliminated after this round.

  At 10:00 am, the results for shortlisted participants were published on the official website. This time there was no need to enter a candidate’s number to find out whether the contestant made it or not.

  Meanwhile, in the Rocket Class.

  Lu Xia felt so nervous that she did not dare to check the results after opening the official website.

  The questions for this round had been really tough. Also, she never got the opportunity to finish studying the notes which her father’s friend from the Education Association had given her. That brat Lu Ziming stole them! Hence, she had been anxious when she sat for the quiz and remained unsure about how she fared in the heavier weighted questions.

  “Xiaxia, did you check your score?” asked Chang Yingying. She had not logged into the site yet.

  Lu Xia composed herself and replied calmly. “I’m checking now.”


  She clicked on the banner at the top of the official website for the results as she spoke.

  She sensed her heart tightening in that instant.

  First – Huo Yao – 150 marks.

  Second – Yi Lianfan – 148 marks.

  Third – Cheng Jie – 140 marks……

  th – Ding Qing, Yue Yihan and Lu Xia – 120 marks.

  The maximum marks to be obtained were 150, and the passing cut-off was 120.

  Lu Xia’s hands trembled as she looked at the results. She stood last? How did this happen? If she scored one mark less, she would have gotten eliminated.

  Huo Yao was first yet again with full marks.

  Lu Xia’s eyes turned sullen. Even Yi Lianfan did not get full marks. Huo Yao had to spend money to get into high school when she lived in the county. How could she surpass Yi Lianfan?

  It made no sense.

  “Xiaxia, congrats for making it into the nationals,” commended Chang Yingying. But her voice was not as thrilled as it used to be.

  After all, Huo Yao kept defeating everyone. They used to think that Huo Yao was a loser, but she astonishingly ended up victorious. Despite Lu Xia’s extraordinary performance, it paled in comparison.

  Lu Xia detected the change in Chang Yingying’s attitude and could not help feeling frustrated.

  Lu Xia’s lips parted but before she could speak, her phone vibrated. She lowered her eyes and looked at the screen. The girls band and her agent’s chat were lit up with messages.