“Juniper—” The professors from Sundale University tried to make her a firm offer over the phone, hoping to cut Era University outpletely.


    But before he could, Juniper cut him off. “Era University called me six minutes before you did," she saidnguidly. "If you waste any more time, you might really be toote."


    The line went dead.


    Juniper put down her phone, ready to resume eating, only to find four pairs of eyes staring at her.


    "What?" She arched an eyebrow, azy, casual smile ying on her lips. "Is there a problem?"


    "Nope."


    The four of them shook their heads in perfect synchrony. There was no problem with her. The problem was with them. How could their brains be so different from hers?


    "Let''s eat," Queenie said, nudging the others with a faint smile. "There''s a good show to watchter."


    Everyone knew exactly what show she was talking about.


    Half an hourter, the door to the coffee shop swung open. A group of men in suits, carrying briefcases, hurried inside.


    The sound of camera shutters filled the air. Seeing the professors from Era University''s Genius Program, the waiting reporters scrambled to their feet, aiming their cameras at them and Ynda, snapping pictures wildly.


    The sudden shes nearly blinded the admissions officers. Combined with the relentless clicking of shutters, it sounded like a machine-gun barrage. They had already been speeding to get here, and this double dose of "surprise" left them momentarily stunned.


    "Professors, we''ve been waiting for you!" The reporter from Timespan Weekly, faster than anyone else, secured a prime position and raised his camera excitedly. "The person you''re looking for is right here."


    The professors followed the reporter''s pointing finger and saw a young woman, blushing and looking at them nervously.


    "We''re here to find-"


    "This year''s top scorer," the reporter interrupted again. "She is this year''s top scorer."


    So that young woman was Juniper Payne? From where the admissions officers were standing, they couldn''t see anyone else besides Ynda Besides, Juniper herself had given them this


    Location So, this had to be


    the girl they were looking for.


    “Sorry we''rete,” one of the professors said, recovering hisposure and


    approaching with a broad smile. "We heard on the way that Sundale University also called you?"


    “Huh?” Lost in her own joy and excitement, Ynda''s mind went nk. Sundale University? She hadn''t received a call from them.


    "But no matter," the professor continued quickly. "Whatever Sundale can offer you, we can offer it too."


    "Thank you, professors. It''s my


    honor," Ynda said, tilting her head up, her face a mixture of shy pride These were professors from the Genius Program! How could she possibly be so lucky? She wouldn dare ask for more.


    "It would be Era University''s honor to have a student as exceptional as you," the professor said, his excitement palpable. "I''ve never personally met a student who achieved a perfect score on every subject."


    A perfect-score top scorer was a rarity in history. Thest one was the current CEO of Schwartz Group, Shanley.


    A perfect score? Hearing those words, Ynda felt even more dazed. This didn''t feel real. She had checked her answers and knew


    she''d gotten several question no


    wrong How could she be the perfect-score top scorer? Was the answer key wrong?


    The reporters live-streamed the entire exchange.


    [Holy cow, Ynda isn''t just the top scorer, she''s a perfect-score top scorer?]


    [Can it be fake? It''s a live broadcast! The professors from the Genius Program walked straight to her, terrified she''d get snatched up by Sundale University.]