Huo Yao picked up her pen and wrote her name down on the test paper before she began.
The first half of the paper’s questions were a combination of arts and sciences and covered a broad spectrum. This section tested not only her memory but also her understanding. Anyone with lesser knowledge might not even be able to comprehend the questions.
A lot more time was allocated for the heats than the previous exams. The contestants were given three hours to finish this paper.
An hour into the contest, most of the students were still working on the comprehension and multiple-choice questions, but Huo Yao had already started working on the trickier questions at the back.
The invigilator kept walking around the room and checked on the students from time to time.
Huo Yao was the only girl in the exam hall. She seemed particularly calm and was miles apart from the other nervous looking students. Hence, the invigilator could not help going over to check on her.
A look of surprise emerged on the invigilator’s face when he saw Huo Yao already attempting the last section. He couldn’t help but check his watch.
Did she finish the other questions in an hour?
Her speed… was simply phenomenal.
The invigilator remembered the examiners saying that the questions were too hard and the students might not have enough time to complete this paper.
Even school teachers might be incapable of completing the contest in the allotted time, let alone these contestants.
The invigilator glanced at the name on the answer sheet curiously.
Huo Yao.
Since the invigilator was one of the people in charge of the contest from the beginning, he was well familiar with Huo Yao’s name.
Huo Yao had ranked first during the preliminary contest, city heats, and finals…
Due to Huo Yao’s mind blowing performance, she had already garnered a lot of attention from the teachers who were involved in the organization of this contest.
If she could maintain her performance in the heats and finals, she stood a high chance of becoming the national champion this year.
The invigilator felt excited just thinking about it, and his eyes burned with hope when they landed on the top of Huo Yao’s head. However, he only stood there for a while before walking away with his hands behind his back, out of fear that he might disturb her.
Huo Yao put down her pen an hour later.
The main questions at the back had certainly been challenging. Also, she had to come up with a solution keeping in mind the middle school syllabus. Hence, she spent extra 30 minutes using more indirect solutions.
Eventually, Huo Yao turned in her answer sheet an hour before the allotted time.
All the other students were stunned to see Huo Yao submit her script so early. The contest worked on an elimination basis, and only the finest students in the country had made it into the nationals. Huo Yao’s actions had undoubtedly placed immense pressure on them.
*
Huo Yao walked out of the exam hall.
Since it was Saturday or perhaps due to special arrangements, she barely encountered any Tsing University students after she went downstairs.
The administrative area was right next to the teaching building. This is where all the teachers were waiting there for their students.
The office door was open, and there was a large window by the side, so everyone had a clear view of what was going on outside.
The Dean was interacting with teachers from other schools.
“Hmm? Did someone hand in their script early?”
