Chapter 54: Such an Exam_1
It must be said that this kind of exam was quite unique and innovative. As Shangguan You arrived, everyone in the classroom fell silent. They watched the girl with a serene face walk in, so delicate and clean, that they couldn’t help but secretly doubt: could she really be cheating?
The principal and some officials from the Education Bureau sat in the front row. Yang Liwen, Shen Jia, Li Ruo, Gao Yuanyuan, and Liao Sisi, as the instigators of the incident, also naturally sat there, where they could clearly see Shangguan You’s every move.
"Youyou, I believe in you," Gui Mo said, his peach-blossom eyes lifting as he offered Shangguan You an encouraging smile. Then, he swaggered to a seat in the front row.
"Youyou, don’t be nervous; believe in yourself," Lan Xuan said with a gentle smile, also taking a seat in the front row. Han Yachu shot Shangguan You a meaningful, chilly glance before quietly sitting next to Lan Xuan.
"Shangguan You, this exam is being conducted publicly," Deputy Director Feng began. "Every answer you give can be witnessed by everyone present and even the entire nation. The questions were set by the Director of the Education Bureau and all his colleagues, with a difficulty level equal to the college entrance examination. The entire question-setting process was filmed, and none of the participants left during this time, so there’s absolutely no possibility of leaks. There are two sets of questions; you may choose one." As he spoke, he took a notebook from the Director, entered a password in front of everyone, and opened the test for her to choose a set.
"The exam duration is five hours, and you may only leave after you have finished," Deputy Director Feng added. This was half the time allotted for a normal college entrance exam.
This was an inherently unfair test. With only half the usual time and all operations dependent on a computer, the difficulty was significantly increased. Shangguan You remained calm, sitting before everyone and allowing the TV station to aim its cameras directly at her for a live broadcast. Her hands lightly maneuvered the mouse, selecting answers on the screen. As she completed each question, those watching would see it graded instantly, and her scores would appear immediately.
Below, the constant CLACKETY-CLACK of her keyboard, as she typed words and wrote answers, filled the room. Everyone couldn’t help but develop a sense of admiration for Shangguan You, a first-year high school student who could operate a computer so adeptly. Each time she answered a question or filled in a blank, her precision was unmistakable, and her arguments were remarkably clear.
With every question she completed, someone’s expression darkened. As the minutes passed, the only sounds in the quiet classroom were Shangguan You moving the mouse and typing on the keyboard.
In a luxurious villa halfway up Mingyue Mountain, Long Hua and Chu Yi were lounging lazily on a leather sofa. Today, the two had a tacit understanding: they wouldn’t go anywhere and would leave all matters to their subordinates. Watching the calm and focused figure on TV, they exchanged a glance. They had never imagined that the person who beat them up last night was a high school student—and one of the "problem students" causing a sensation in B City.