Chapter 139

The worksheet was tough. Shirley spent the whole evening study period just trying to finish it, and even then, she had to guess on a few questions.
“Charlotte, I finished, but I’m not sure if any of these are right
Charlotte took the paper, glancing over it with a relaxed air. Her eyes sparkled as she pointed things out. “Here… and here. You used the wrong formula.”
“This one should be A. That question’s answer is two. Everything else looks good.” Shirley blinked in confusion. “Huh?”
Charlotte rattled off her feedback, then stood up and shoved her jacket into her backpack. She looked down at Shirley, who still looked completely lost. “So, do you think you can get first place on the test this time?”
“First place?” Shirley’s jaw dropped, her eyes going wide. She’d once won gold at the National Physics Olympiad. If she hadn’t been framed during the school’s entrance exam, she would have scored highest in physics. Ever since then, she’d held back on purpose, just to avoid drawing attention.
“No confidence?” Charlotte raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, I’m confident.” Shirley smiled, relaxing a little. Physics was the one thing she could always rely on. “I’m just worried I didn’t really help you much, Charlotte.”
“You helped a lot.” Charlotte gave a small, easy smile. She reached into her bag and pulled out a little box, shaking out a white candy and holding it out. “Here, a reward for you.”
Gum? Shirley took it without hesitation, popping it in her mouth. A cool mint flavor spread over her tongue. It was fresh and a little unusual, but in a good way.
“Let’s go.” Charlotte stood and glanced at Andrew, who was passed out at his desk. She tapped the tabletop with her finger.
“Charlotte?” Andrew lifted his head, squinting, hair sticking up everywhere.
“Let Shirley help you with the worksheet.”
“More worksheets?” Andrew slumped in his seat, groaning. “My brother already gave me five more. I’ll never get through all of them. I’m doomed.”
“He won’t do anything to you.” Charlotte’s voice was light, but firm.
How would she know? She didn’t even know his brother. Could she really speak for him?
By the time Andrew processed what she’d said, Charlotte was already gone. He looked over at Shirley.
“If I don’t do it, are you going to snitch on me?”
Shirley had already picked up her pen, ready to help. “Charlotte asked me to teach you, so I will. If you don’t study, Charlotte might get mad tomorrow
Andrew fell quiet.
“Most of these are basic questions. If you pay attention, you’ll get the hang of it in thirty minutes.”
“You sure?” Andrew grumbled, dragging himself over to Charlotte’s desk and tossing his pen down. “Alright, let’s get this over with.”
“Okay.” Shirley used to be
intimidated by Andrew, but after
She actually felt a bit gratsnet
today, she realized he wasn’t so bad.
So, for this one you need to.
him.
Shirley breezed through two questions, explaining them clearly. Andrew frowned,
looking at her. “Wait, how come you’re not stuttering anymore?”
Shirley froze, then looked up,
startled. He was right. She wasn’t stuttering. Just a little while ago… She paused thinking Was i
because of the candy Charlotte gave her? Since she ate it, her words had come out smoothly. That little candy was magic.
The sky glittered with stars, and a gentle breeze brushed past.
As soon as Charlotte walked out of the school gates, she spotted a sleek Bugatti Veyron tucked under a big tree. A tall figure was leaning against the car door, phone in one hand, the tip of a cigarette glowing between his fingers.