Everyone's eyes lit up."Celia, who's the calculus teacher you were talking about?"
Amid the curious and eager gazes, Celia slowly rose from her seat and walked to the podium. Her delicate face seemed to glow, her clear eyes sparkling with determination.
"Don't worry," she said with a calm smile. "You've got me."
What?Her?
The entire class stared at Celia in disbelief. In that instant, it felt as though she was standing beneath a halo of light, radiating quiet confidence.
This time, the advanced calculus exam for Tsinghua University was prepared by the head of grade. He was an avid admirer of the mysterious prodigy and had long enjoyed analyzing every problem she had ever designed. Naturally, the exam was far tougher than usual.
Peng Li was thrilled when he heard the news. After all, the harder the test, the clearer the divide between the best and the worst. The top students would shine even brighter, while the weaker ones would be completely crushed.
The Rocket Class students were overjoyed. At noon, Yara Lu and Ning Xiner led a group to block the entrance of Class 28, their expressions full of arrogance.
"You've heard how difficult this exam is, right?" Yara sneered. "It's not too late for you to admit defeat now."
Just then, Celia walked out with her classmates. Her calm gaze swept across Yara and the others.
"We won't admit defeat," she said clearly. "This time, Class 28 will take first place in the entire grade."
What?Class 28, first place?
The Rocket Class burst into laughter. Ning Xiner laughed so hard she nearly doubled over, wiping tears from her eyes.
"Celia, how dare you say that? First place has always belonged to us. You must be dreaming."
But Celia only smiled, the corners of her lips curving ever so slightly. Her bright eyes gleamed like starlight.
"Then let's make a bet."
"Oh, a bet?" Ning Xiner leaned forward mockingly. "Fine. If Class 28 takes first place in the advanced math exam, every student in Rocket Class will run laps around the school wearing banners that say We lost to Class 28!"
Celia clasped her hands behind her back, arching a brow with playful defiance. "No need to humiliate everyone. Just the boys in Rocket Class will do."
At that, Yara Lu sneered. "And if we win, Celia—you'll run laps around campus with a banner saying I lost to Rocket Class!"
The Rocket Class students laughed loudly, clearly relishing the thought.
Li Yuting immediately protested. "Celia is being considerate by only asking your boys to do it, but you're demanding she humiliate herself? That's too much!"
Zuo Ming chimed in, frowning. "Yeah, Celia, don't agree to this nonsense!"
But Celia knew this wasn't just about pride—it was about morale. If she wavered now, the fighting spirit of Class 28 would collapse before the exam even began.
Her voice rang out firm and steady. "Fine. I accept. If Class 28 loses, I'll do it."
The Rocket Class erupted in laughter. "Great! Then we'll wait and see you admit defeat!"
With smug smiles, Yara, Ning Xiner, and their group left.
The moment they were gone, Zuo Ming turned to Celia, anxious. "Celia, how could you really agree to them? What if we lose…"
"There is no 'what if,'" Celia interrupted him calmly. Her bright eyes swept over the students of Class 28 as she extended her hand.
"I believe in you. You won't let me lose. So let's fight together."
Her voice struck a chord deep in their hearts.
One by one, every student placed their hand over hers. Their eyes blazed with determination as they shouted in unison:
"Class 28—let's go!"
Their voices thundered through the campus, carrying a spirit no exam could crush.
From a distance, Li Guoxiang stood silently watching. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
These kids… it seemed they had finally grown up.
From a distance, Li Guoxiang stood silently watching. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
These kids… it seemed they had finally grown up.
And Celia—the confidence in her eyes was not just bravado.
Hidden in her schoolbag were several notebooks filled with problems she had designed herself, each one harder than the last. They weren't just practice questions; they were the very same style that the head of grade admired and often used for exam references.
She had already guessed how this test would be written.
Which meant… Class 28 might really stand a chance.