“So, to clear things up, and fairly test Zaylee’s real ability… Why don’t we verify it right here?”

“Verify? Right here?” Gunter repeated, confused.

“Yes,” Rylie replied, her lips curling into a quiet, unsettling smile. “If Zaylee truly mastered Advanced Honors-level problems written by several teachers and scored near-perfect in a short time, then solving similar — or even easier — questions shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

She didn’t even glance at Letty, whose face had turned ghostly white. Her focus remained on Zaylee, her presence pressing down like a weight.

Rylie said softly but firmly, “Zaylee, do you dare answer a few questions right now? They won’t be harder than the average level of this test. Maybe even easier. If you answer them correctly, you’ll clear your name — and defend Dr. Carter’s honor. What do you say?”

The room buzzed to life again.

Live questions and answers! This was even more exciting than a written test. All eyes turned to Zaylee — curious, tense, and hungry for drama.

Zaylee’s body froze. Her face went white again, even paler than before. Her lips parted, but only a dry sound came out. Her terrified eyes darted to Letty, silently begging for rescue. Answering questions from Rylie, here and now? That was asking for a miracle.

Letty’s heart dropped. She knew exactly what Rylie was trying to do — publicly crush her. Her temples pulsed with rage as she snapped, “Rylie! What do you think you’re doing? This is a public examination hall, not your personal classroom! You don’t have the right to test my student on the spot! Do you even have a teaching license? Are you qualified to make those questions?”

Rylie replied calmly, “Then test me. Ask your own questions to check if I’m qualified.”

Her voice was slow, unbothered. “If I can answer every question you give, Dr. Carter, then surely I’m fit to examine Zaylee. Or… Are you scared?”

Her lips curled into a slight smile, laced with mockery. “Are you scared that your doctorate might not hold up against a ‘useless tutor’ who ranked bottom of her class in high school?”

Letty’s face twisted with fury. Those words — “useless tutor” and “scared” — cut deep. Her pride in her degree had been stomped on. Murmurs swept through the crowd.

“Ms. Carter, test her!”

“Yeah! Show us what a doctorate can do!”

“Why won’t you ask her questions? Is she right?”

“Did you buy that degree or what?”

Every voice stabbed at Letty like a needle. Her face turned red, her chest rising and falling quickly. Rylie stood calm and unshaken while Letty stood trapped, challenged by a study slacker and humiliated in front of everyone. She had no choice.

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