Noreen scratched her head, feeling a bit awkward in the role of a student again. "I checked it three times."


    Halley snorted. "And I suppose I should praise you for that?"


    Noreen fell silent, not daring to respond. She''d said that because, in the past, she used to turn in her exams after checking them only once, and she always finished early. After Halley had caught her several times, he''d given her a strict rule: she had to check her work three times from beginning to end and was not allowed to submit it more than forty minutes early. Today, she had pushed it right to the limit.


    If it weren''t for her afternoon exam, Halley would have given her a proper lecture. He let her off with a warning this time. "You are not to finish early this afternoon!"


    "Understood."


    With that, Halley continued on his rounds, his hands sped behind his back. As Henry followed, he passed by Noreen and shot her a disdainful look, a cold, mocking smile ying on his lips.


    In terms of academic credentials and knowledge, Biancapletely outssed Noreen. He had read Bianca''s papers during her time at the business school. Her work was of an exceptionally high professional standard, often used by his own professors as case studies. This time, Noreen was bound to fail spectacrly.


    Noreen hadn''t even left the university grounds when she saw Dn. He hade inside after all and hadn''t left. He had even anticipated she would finish early and was waiting for her outside the exam hall.


    "I''ve booked a restaurant. Let''s go get some lunch."


    "Okay," Noreen agreed readily. They walked out together, chatting andughing.


    As they crossed the small quad outside the examination building, they ran into Seth''s group, who were presumably there to wait for Bianca. It was quite arge, imposing entourage. Noreen and Dn paid them no attention; Dn didn''t even bother to greet them as they walked past.


    Only Lillian red at Noreen as she passed, but Noreen didn''t even look her way. Lillian could have stared until her eyes popped out, and no one would have noticed. Jude, remembering a piece of gossip he''d just heard, decided to share it with the group. "I just ran into a friend who''s a teaching assistant here at Rivercrest. He''s a couple of years older than Noreen. He told me something interesting. Want to hear it?"


    Lillian was the most enthusiastic. "Is it about Noreen? Spill it!"


    "My friend said that back in college, Noreen once ranked deadst in her year."


    "Deadst?!" Lillian was shocked. "Then where does she get the nerve to apply for Professor Joyner''s graduate program?"


    Jude let out a short, mockingugh.


    Just then, Bianca emerged from the


    exam hall


    and walked over to them.


    "What are you all talking about? You look so happy." Content Belongs


    Lillian couldn''t wait to share the


    bombshell gossip. "Jude''s frien


    said Noreen used to always rank in her year at university.


    Bianca froze.


    "First from the bottom! Hahaha!"


    Bianca managed a smile. "Deadst? Then how did she get into Aurelion Group?" Even though Aurelion was a smallpany back then, Seth had always valued talent. Everyone who had helped him build thepany was a top performerin their field.


    "She used underhanded methods, of course!"


    Jude was the expert on this topic. He was the primary source!


    Lillian, who didn''t know the whole story, pressed him eagerly. "What kind of


    methods? Tell us everything!"


    She was desperate to know every sordid detail of Noreen''s past, ready to broadcast


    it to the world.