With that said and disregarding whether Gary had understood what she said, Nicole pulled back her
hands from the table and walked slowly back to her place.
The entire class was silent.
Gary looked at Nicole’s back.
Even if she leaned back lazily, her back was still straight, unlike the pretentious pride of Raine and Snow.
Nicole’s pride was not showy but subtle and in her bones.
But her pride could be felt in her behavior, look, and action.
Maybe he was indeed wrong this time.
But when thinking of Nicole’s zero-score test paper, a determined look appeared in Gary’s eyes again.
Mr.
Louis had once said that Nicole was talented, and he would not want Nicole to be barred from taking part
in the Math Olympiad competition from now on.
He must help her win the bet.
Thinking of this, Gary glanced at Nicole and then said coldly to Jack, “You come with me.” Jack looked at
Gary in bafflement, wondering if he had offended him.
After Gary and Jack left, the class fell into a dead silence.
Instead of dealing with Nicole, Gary chose to call Jack, who was the source of the problem, out.
Everyone, especially the girls, looked at Nicole with jealousy in their eyes.
Vivian looked at Nicole frostily as if she was to poke a hole in Nicole’s body with her gaze. But Nicole did
not look at her.
In her eyes, Gary was the crux of all the problems.
Fixing Gary and the others would automatically fall in line. The school bell rang, and everyone pulled
back their attention from Nicole, acting as if nothing had happened.
Ms.
Emerson walked in and saw Gary and Jack not being in their seats.
She frowned but said nothing After class, Ms.
Emerson called Nicole out alone, handed her two exercises, looked at her, and said, “I have pondered
about it and think that you are not someone who would say something irresponsibly.
These are the original math papers authored by Mr.
Hancock from previous Math Olympiad competitions.
Take them back and study them.” Nicole looked at her and felt a little surprised.
It seemed that Ms.
Emerson really thought so when she saw Ms.
Emerson’s sincere look on her face.
So Nicole did not decline but took the two exercises.
“Thank you, Ms.
Emerson.”
“Go now.” Ms.
Emerson smiled at her. Nicole walked away, but Ms.
Emerson stood there, looking at Nicole, and whispered, “All the best, Nicole.” She had been thinking
about it all these days.
Nicole was just trying to prove herself.
She should not have suspected Nicole.
As a teacher, she should have encouraged her students. Back at the office, Ms.
Emerson had just sat down when Mr.
Kennedy came over with a thermos cup in his hand.
“I heard that your student, Nicole, who couldn’t even help herself, wanted to give the second-to-last
Austin tuition.
I just want to remind you that Austin is in twelfth grade and his poor academic performance is not
something that Nicole can help.
You have got to look after this ‘Math Olympiad genius’ of yours.
Don’t forget, we still have a bet.”
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda