Students competing in the later rounds were all trendously strong, with two guaranteed admission slots distributed in just the seventh round alone.
B University, which had not yet offered any spots, finally gave one away in this round, while the other slot was taken by F University.
Six more rounds remained, with the competitors’ strengths increasing as they proceeded.
Prior to the seventh round, teachers and students were relieved to see only two slots awarded, not realizing that the upcoming competitors would be so strong, which left many feeling panicked.
City No.1 High School was scheduled for the twelfth round, whereas F High was in the very last one.
Soon, it was ti for the eighth round, featuring seven student competitors.
These seven students learned from previous rounds, remaining composed as they worked on their problems, steady in their writing despite the sweat on their foreheads.
Even Bai Wenxing, who had been resting with his eyes closed, now sat upright, attentively observing the rivals on stage.
With only so many admission slots available, strong early competitors undoubtedly disadvantaged those following unless they perford exceptionally well.
Old Wu stood in the middle of the aisle, speaking with teachers from City No.1 High School; the seriousness on their faces clearly indicating their disadvantage in being the last to compete.
As expected, two more slots were awarded in the eighth round, once again by B University and F University.
Thus, after eight rounds, F University had two spots left, B University had three, and Q University still had four.
By the ninth round, with eight competing students, the atmosphere grew even tenser.
Qingran’s nervousness remained constant, focusing intently on the large screen displaying the problems, betraying her initial intent to conserve energy by not checking the problems.
Sitting quietly beside her for a while, Xie Ying’an suddenly broke the silence: "Li Qingran, are you certain about choosing Q University?"
Qingran turned, looking at him with surprise.
The blush on the youth’s face had faded slightly, but his sickly pallor was still evident.
Even so, he was no longer slouching weakly against Qingran’s shoulder; he sat upright, his gaze serious and fixed on Qingran, waiting for her answer.
Amid the tension, Qingran had not really decided which university to choose.
When her brother asked her about her preferred university, she did ntion Q University as her top choice, but she would certainly not pass up a guaranteed offer from B University either.
After all, both Q University and B University were top institutions in the country, and it was still undecided which was number one or two, right?
Qingran didn’t want to deceive Xie Ying’an at such a mont, and she turned back to watch the stage: "Q University and B University, it depends on the situation."
With Lin Zhou at F University, she wouldn’t consider it.
Xie Ying’an stared at her for a mont longer, his deep eyes shimring between light and darkness.
So it goes, won are truly fickle!
Unexpectedly, all eight students of the ninth round were eliminated.
Having been distracted by Xie Ying’an for a mont, Qingran hadn’t managed to fully grasp the three problems presented on stage, let alone the reason for their collective failure.
After the ninth round, the tenth round quickly comnced, the rapid succession of rounds leaving no ti for respite.
There were nine students in the tenth round, equal to the number in the eleventh.
Qingran resud solving problems along with the tenth round; the head teacher in the front and Old Wu turned their attention back to Xie Ying’an.
Xie Ying’an remained nonchalant throughout, seemingly indifferent to the outco of the finals.
When the answers were displayed on the big screen, Qingran’s solutions matched those shown, her calculations unaffected throughout multiple attempts.
Only then did Qingran finally breathe a sigh of relief.
In the tenth round, only one student received a bye.
They weren’t too far from the judges’ seats, and Qingran saw clearly when the fat professor reached for the microphone, Lin Zhou, sitting beside him, suddenly pressed down on the mic, seeming to shake his head at the fat professor with a barely noticeable gesture. However, for so reason, Qingran caught it all.
The student who received a bye in the tenth round was admitted to Q University.
By the eleventh round, the ti had reached 12:35 PM, and the atmosphere on-site had reached an unprecedented climax.
The seniors, usually chatty and noisy, were uncharacteristically quiet today, watching the stage with the sa tension as the contestants.
Two students received byes in the eleventh round.
These students were admitted to Q University and B University, respectively.
Imdiately after, it was City No.1 High School’s turn to prepare for the stage.
Right before going on stage, Bai Wenxing turned his head and gave Qingran a mysteriously amused smile. The smile seed courteous, but it was fully provocative.
Qingran crossed her arms over her chest, her chin slightly raised and leisurely leaning back in her chair – her face expressionless, but with every move, she conveyed four words to Bai Wenxing – just wait and see!
Not long ago, Bai Wenxing had said they were destined to be rivals, and today they would go on that stage as rivals, fighting for their own futures and for the honor of their school.
Coincidentally, Qing Mo saw Bai Wenxing’s smile from behind Qingran, and seeing soone who looked like they were hitting on his sister when he was already in a bad mood due to the competition, he instantly bristled—
"Pretty boy, what’s so funny? Smile at my sister again, and I’ll knock your teeth out!"
His voice wasn’t quiet, and many turned their heads in confusion. Even Old Wu glanced back and saw the troublemaking kid shaking his leg with a "co at " attitude. Old Wu grimaced for a second, then turned away, choosing to ignore it.
Bai Wenxing paid no attention to Li Qingmo and turned to head to the stage.
Only Xie Ying’an turned around and gave Li Qingmo a thumbs up, praising: "Protecting your sister, well done!"
However, perhaps because he had been feverish for too long, Xie Ying’an’s voice was even huskier than before.
Li Qingmo held his head high with pride: "Of course, I’d like to see who dares to flirt with Li Qingran in my presence!"
Qingran: "..."
The one flirting with her was far on the horizon, yet so close at hand.
Xie Ying’an, who goes about flirting with her every day so blatantly, if Li Qingmo is blind, shouldn’t he still be able to see through it by now?
Xie Ying’an seed to chuckle lightly, and whether guilty or not, he stopped talking and turned back with a thoughtful look at Qingran.
Qingran felt a bit uneasy under his gaze, and since there were no questions on the display screen at that mont, she turned her head to et Xie Ying’an’s gaze: "What are you looking at for?"
Their eyes t; a serene and clear light shimred in the girl’s almond-shaped eyes.
Xie Ying’an chuckled again, leaning forward suddenly, closing the distance between them. Qingran couldn’t react in ti, and the young man’s straight nose briefly brushed hers before quickly pulling away.
Perhaps in response to their situation, so excited whistles suddenly erupted from behind, which were promptly silenced by security: "Quiet! Whistling is not allowed on the venue!"
Li Qingmo also craned his neck forward, utterly without any guard against Xie Ying’an, annoyance on his face: "What secrets are you two whispering behind my back?"
Qingran: "...No secrets."
Her brother is truly useless, hopeless.
Li Qingmo, unconvinced, turned back to Xie Ying’an.
Xie Ying’an displayed the deanor of an open and honest gentleman, not the least bit sheepish. He spoke with indifference: "The competition is about to start. I wanted to make a bet with my little sister, but she doesn’t want to."
Li Qingmo’s eyes lit up, suddenly interested: "Li Qingran doesn’t want to bet, then bet with , I’ll take you on!"
Xie Ying’an glanced at him: "...I don’t want to bet with you!"
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