Chapter 663

Did Charlotte really think that just because she aced her exams, she could win this competition too? Knowing facts in theory was one thing, actually doing it was something else entirely. She was still just a med student, not even through her basic training yet. Honestly, she was way too confident.
Molly glanced over at Charlotte and let out a quiet sigh. She’d find out soon enough how tough it was to even crack the top ten.
The atmosphere shifted as the exchange event officially kicked off. Kingswood University ended up drawing the last slot, meaning they’d go up against The Cabinda University and a few other schools. When the lineup was announced, a collective groan spread through the Kingswood students. The five on their team just shook their heads, all that confidence vanishing in an instant.
The Cabinda University was basically the gold standard for anatomy. Their speed and precision were on another level. And it wasn’t just them, either. All the other schools in this round were way ahead of Kingswood when it came to anatomy.
So before anyone even set foot on stage, it already felt like a lost cause.
“Don’t worry about the speed,” Glenn told his downcast students, his voice serious. “Anatomy isn’t about being fast. The most important thing is to finish the procedure properly, not to rush through it.”
“When you’re up there, just focus. Block everything else out.”
“Yes, sir,” the students answered quietly.
He was right, of course. But everyone knew The Cabinda University was a powerhouse in both speed and skill.
After speaking, Glenn glanced at Charlotte in the corner. She hadn’t said a word, just stood there looking pale. He frowned, thinking she was scared out of her mind. He had no idea she just had a stomachache. Being afraid wasn’t even on her radar.
The earlier rounds wrapped up soon after. No surprises there—the traditional medicine students from other schools had all finished at the bottom. So when the Kingswood traditional medicine class took their places, the energy was at rock bottom. No one even bothered cheering them on.
Charlotte looked up and caught Letty watching her, a smirk tugging at her lips.
This round was for graduate students, and Letty was paired with Olivia. Letty had trained the freshmen before the competition, so they worked together seamlessly. Watching Olivia’s smooth technique, Letty shot her a look and said, “The Cabinda Medical Branch is here today. If you do well and catch their eye, you could get chosen for special training. You might even have a shot at joining them.”
Olivia knew all about this, which was why she’d practiced over and over, determined not to mess up.
“Yes,” she answered, steady and focused.
Letty picked up a white mouse, secured it to the table, and grabbed a shiny scalpel. Before she started, she glanced across at her opponents.
Molly was already a bundle of nerves-this was her first competition, and now she was in the same group as Letty. She was so flustered she couldn’t even remember how to begin.
Charlotte just stood beside her, looking lost. The whole situation was painfully awkward.
Letty’s lips curled into a cold little smile. “Looks like Kingswood University is going to be dead last again this year,” she said.
Olivia shot Charlotte a look, her eyes full of scorn. So what if Charlotte scored at the top of her class? Now she was just standing there, clueless.
The task was to observe how the mouse’s heart changed after an injection. Everyone else moved quickly and confidently slicing open the mouse’s abdomen and exposing the organs inside. Letty was the fastest, every movement swift and sure.
A little distance away, the people from The Cabinda Medical Branch watched and nodded, clearly mpressed. Letty really was league of her own. Her chances at the international Medical Alliance selection were looking pretty good.
While everyone was focused on Letty, someone muttered, “What are those two from traditional medicine even doing?”
Suddenly, all eyes were on Molly and Charlotte. Molly was gripping her scalpel, shaking so badly she couldn’t even start.
The students from The Cabinda University started laughing out loud.
“So this is the level at Kingswood’s research institute?”
“Those traditional medicine kids must spend all their time looking at herbs.”
“Can we just ban them from future competitions? It’s such a downer.”
“At this rate, she won’t even have made the first cut by the time the rest of us finish.”
The Cabinda Medical Branch people all frowned. Glenn was especially tense, Sweat breaking out on his forehead. The first four students hadn’t done well, and now this
On stage, Charlotte adjusted her gloves and shot a glance at Molly, noticing how
pale she looked. She lowered her voice and asked, “Are you okay?”
“I don’t feel well,” Molly whispered, sniffling. “I got my period, and my stomach’s killing me.”
She hadn’t really felt it before, but now that she was nervous, the pain was stabbing right through her. She couldn’t concentrate, let alone make a cut.
Charlotte’s brow furrowed. She glanced at the clock. Only fifteen minutes left.