What startled her was Shi Yao’s reaction: after seeing the online storm, he hadn’t distanced himself. Instead, he’d escorted her to the exam hall, stood unflinching beside her before cameras, bold and unashamed.

Alarieka offered Shi Yao a light laugh. This smile held far more audacity than her previous one.

“Nothing surprising. Once National College Entrance Examination results are out, my name will echo through every street anyway.”

Shi Yao grasped her meaning instantly.

A low chuckle escaped him, relaxation softening his features. “You really are arrogant.”

“But you’re only eighteen. Arrogance suits you.”

Alarieka gave a faint smile. “Heading in.”

Exactly as Alarieka predicted, every exam paper mirrored her past life—identical questions across all subjects. She flew through each test without pause.

Exiting the exam hall, she found the school gates jammed with students and parents, a solid wall of bodies. Yet through the crowd, Alarieka instantly spotted Jaylene, Tamika Coldberg, and Nie Guanyu waiting aside. Her steps halted. Seeing Jaylene wave, she moved toward them.

“Why are you all here?”

Jaylene grinned. “Your exams are over! How could we miss it? Congrats on freedom!”

Tamika took her pencil case. “Come on! I’ve simmered Golden Milk and cooked a feast at home. Everyone’s invited–no standing on ceremony!”

Jaylene hooked an arm around Alarieka’s neck. “Perfect! I’ve missed your cooking, Auntie. Nie Guanyu’s one lucky guy.”

Nie Guanyu simply nodded quietly nearby.

Alarieka dipped her head with a soft laugh. Letting Jaylene steer her away, she swept a glance over the crowd outside the gates. Shi Yao was nowhere in sight. She looked back, murmuring responses to Jaylene’s chatter.

“Hey! Leaving already? Did everyone forget me?”

Alarieka froze mid-step, whirling around.

Shi Yao leaned against a tree trunk, bent double and gasping for breath. Sweat beaded his forehead, his expression thunderous.

Jaylene blinked. “Mr. Shi? You came too?”

“My student took the national exam! Why wouldn’t I?” He took several gulping breaths before stomping over. Seeing Alarieka’s innocent surprise only fueled his irritation. “I’m barely late, and you ditch me?”

Alarieka parted her lips. “You said you weren’t coming. Your exact words.”

Shi Yao glared at her, turning unreasonable. “So you just leave? Am I still your teacher or not?”

Alarieka: ?

Jaylene immediately stepped in to mediate: “Alright, alright, let’s all go together. It’s a happy occasion, no need to argue.”

Tamika’s eyes darted between Alarieka and Shi Yao twice before lighting up. She clapped her hands: “Exactly! I cooked plenty for everyone. Come eat before it gets cold.”

Shi Yao turned obedient toward Tamika: “Okay, Auntie. Let’s hurry then.”

Alarieka smirked without warmth: “You flip moods fast.”

Shi Yao retorted: “Takes one to know one.”

A month and a half later, just as Alarieka predicted, her name flooded nationwide news reports. Alarieka had delivered a staggering, record-shattering performance.

Out of the 750-point National College Entrance Examination, she scored 734 – crowning her as that year’s National Exam Top Scorer. Her lead was crushing, beating the second-place candidate by thirty full points.

Overnight, the internet buzzed with Alarieka’s name and jaw-dropping achievement. Her school promptly hung blazing red banners congratulating their National Exam Top Scorer. Media outlets and university admissions offices tracked down her contact, flooding her phone with calls.

Alarieka ignored every call except those from Ivy League universities. She did, however, share her triumph with Reyna, Paloma, and others. Yes, she’d secured admission to an Ivy League computer science program, with explicit welcome from their admissions office.

While the nation reveled in exam result euphoria, only Rose – residing at the Argent’s villa for months – and her online entries stood apart. By now, Rose’s pregnancy showed prominently, her due date two months away.