Chapter 0213

“Who do you think will win?” Sandy asked.

Silas replied, “So far, it looks like Bryan has the edge.”

Sandy didn’t say anything, but it was clear she agreed.

By the fifth minute, Miranda finished the fourth problem and moved on to the fifth. Bryan got stuck on the fourth question for a few seconds, putting him slightly behind.

Miranda overtook him, but her lead wasn’t significant.

At the sixth minute, both of them were stuck on the final question.

At six minutes and 50 seconds, Miranda wrote down her answer and finished.

With a light sheen of sweat on his forehead, Bryan also said, “Done!” Unfortunately, he was ten seconds behind Miranda.

He let out a breath as he wiped his sweat and grinned, “No worries. It’s not just about speed, accuracy counts too, and I’m confident with my answers.”

However, when the results were revealed, Miranda got all the answers right, while Bryan had one wrong.

Bryan was stunned. “What?” The defeat hit him like a whirlwind!

Even so, he had to admit Miranda’s capabilities. “Miranda, your speed calculation skills are incredible. Did you really only learn this as a kid?”

Silas watched closely and couldn’t help but nod in approval.

Miranda’s skills were impressive, but what was even more notable was her calm demeanor. She kept her composure under pressure, and that alone gave her the upper hand.

Sandy teased with a smile, “Are you convinced now, Bry?”

Bryan responded immediately, “Yes, yes–skill wins every time. I can’t argue with that!”

He expected to lose to Silas, given Silas was a veteran in the lab and a speed calculation expert. But losing to Miranda, a mere undergraduate, was something Bryan never saw coming.

Sandy patted Bryan on the shoulder reassuringly and said, “Wins and losses are part of the game. Just try again next time. But remember, you can’t push dinner to the next time, alright?”

It was clear what she was conveying.

Bryan chuckled, “I’m a man of my word. Dinner’s on me tonight! But Miranda, how did you solve the last question so fast?”

He thought his method was already pretty quick, but Miranda’s was even faster.

Miranda didn’t hold back and generously shared her approach with him.

“It can be done like that?” Bryan asked; the realization finally hit him.

“Why not? As long as it gets the job done, it’s all good. I guess I’ve learned something new today.”

Still intrigued, Silas asked again, “You really never formally learned speed calculation?”

Miranda shook her head while meeting his curious gaze. “No, never.”

She recalled how, as a child, she noticed her mental math abilities outshined others. All the answers her deskmate needed five minutes to calculate, she could say almost instantly.

“I have a set of notes on speed calculation that I’ve put together myself. Are you interested?”

Sandy couldn’t help but tease, “Silas, aren’t those notes your prized possession? You’ve refused everyone who’s asked, so why the sudden generosity?”

Silas waved it off casually. “Good notes deserve a good match. The best should go to those who can appreciate them, right?”

Miranda felt a bit flattered. “Are you sure that’s okay?”

Silas smiled. “Just tell me if you want them or not!”

Miranda eagerly replied, “I want them!”

Hesitating, even for a second, would be disrespectful to free knowledge.

Bryan, who had never even heard of these notes, was dumbfounded. “What about me? I guess I’m not worthy…”

Oh well, it was just how things went.

Sandy grinned, “So, should we talk about what we’re eating tonight?”

“Are we going out to eat?” Before anyone could answer, another voice came from the entrance.

Everyone turned to look.

Paul, dressed in a shirt and slacks, was pulling on a white lab coat while walking in. “So, have you all decided where to eat?”