Exam Ends

In this environment where everyone is on edge and competition is fierce, that silent, risky helping hand was incredibly precious.

For the rest of the exam, Yuefeng performed more smoothly. Though there were still difficult questions, his mindset remained steady, and he did his best to leverage what he had reviewed.

When the bell rang to signal the end of the exam, Yuefeng put down his pen, feeling as if he had fought a hard battle. His mind and body were exhausted, but there was also a sense of relief at having completed the task.

Students handed in their papers and left one after another. The auditorium was filled with sighs of relief and low murmurs about the questions.

"It's over, it's over—I didn't understand that last big question at all!"

"I didn't even review that philosophical school!"

"Class C is probably doomed this time..."

"The monsters in Class A and Class B definitely had no problem."

Yuefeng silently packed his things and followed the crowd out of the auditorium. The sunlight was a bit dazzling, and he squinted.

"Yuefeng-kun." A soft voice sounded beside him.

It was Hiyori Shiina.

She was holding her stationery pouch, standing not far away. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the sunlight, and her eyes held a hint of subtle concern.

"Shiina-san." Yuefeng walked over. "How did you do?"

"Not bad," Hiyori Shiina said softly, not dwelling on herself. Instead, she asked, "What about you, Yuefeng-kun? That last big question... was a bit tough."

Looking into her clear eyes, Yuefeng nodded. "Yeah, thankfully... my train of thought turned around in time." He deliberately phrased it vaguely, but his gaze carried sincere gratitude.

Hiyori Shiina seemed to understand his implication. Her cheeks reddened a little more, and she lowered her head slightly. "I'm glad I could help." Her voice was so soft it was almost drowned out by the surrounding noise.

They walked side by side for a while without speaking, but the atmosphere wasn't awkward.

"Yuefeng." A calm, flat voice came from the other side, breaking the silence.

Yuefeng and Hiyori Shiina turned their heads at the same time.

Kiyotaka Ayanokoji had somehow walked up beside them, still wearing that same expressionless face.

He first looked at Yuefeng, then his gaze lingered on Hiyori Shiina's face for half a second.

As if scalded by something, Hiyori Shiina immediately averted her eyes. The blush on her face hadn't faded, but now there was an added layer of tension.

She nodded hastily at Yuefeng. "Then... I'll go now. See you, Yuefeng-kun." With that, she quickened her pace and left, almost as if fleeing.

Yuefeng watched her flustered back, then looked at the unflappable Kiyotaka in front of him, sighing inwardly.

Was this guy's mere presence enough to put invisible pressure on people?

"The exam is over," Kiyotaka stated.

"Yeah, it's over," Yuefeng replied, waiting for him to continue. Kiyotaka wouldn't have come over just to say that.

Kiyotaka's gaze swept over Yuefeng's slightly tired but clear-eyed face, then fell on the back of his admission ticket, which was covered in notes.

"The questions were as expected," Kiyotaka said.

"Yeah, thanks to your heads-up earlier." This time, Yuefeng's thanks were sincere. Kiyotaka's "question-type prediction" had been a huge help, even if his motives were a mystery.

Kiyotaka nodded but didn't take up the thread.

He was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly asked a question that caught Yuefeng off guard:

"Hiyori Shiina—for the last question, she used a variant of 'contract theory,' combined with a utilitarian correction."

Yuefeng was startled.

Kiyotaka had noticed even that? Had he been observing Hiyori Shiina too? Or was he just inferring from her answering state?

"Maybe. I didn't pay much attention," Yuefeng said vaguely, not wanting to drag Hiyori Shiina into this.

Kiyotaka didn't seem to care about his answer. He just looked at Yuefeng with those deep brown eyes and said slowly:

"Her logic was very clear, but in her derivation, there was one presupposition that was too idealistic. She overlooked the interference factor of 'irrational agents' in the case study.

If the grader is strict about deductions, she'll lose points there."

Yuefeng was stunned. Was Kiyotaka... critiquing Hiyori Shiina's answer? And so specifically and professionally? What was he trying to say?

"However," Kiyotaka shifted the topic, his tone still flat, "for a first-year student, being able to think to that level is already good enough. She'll pass the exam without issue."

Yuefeng was even more confused.

Had Kiyotaka come all this way just to analyze Hiyori Shiina's performance with him? What did that have to do with "understanding each other's environment" or "Class C's atmosphere"?

"You..." Yuefeng hesitated.

"Results will be announced in three days. Those who pass will receive a special notice about the rewards and subsequent arrangements." Kiyotaka cut him off, as if that analysis had just been an offhand remark.

He looked at Yuefeng and added one more sentence, which made Yuefeng's nerves tighten again:

"Given my father's personality, he might contact you."

With that, Kiyotaka didn't linger. He gave Yuefeng a slight nod, turned, and merged into the departing crowd, disappearing quickly.

Yuefeng stood there. The afternoon sun was warm, but he felt a chill.

The exam was over, but Kiyotaka's words had dropped like a stone into the lake of his heart, stirring up ripple after ripple.

Hiyori Shiina's subtle help, Kiyotaka's terrifyingly precise observations and meaningful "warnings"...

And the possibility that "Father" might get in touch.

Yuefeng looked up, gazing toward the distant Administration Building, where the School Board and certain "special authority" offices were located.

Passing the exam, securing resources, increasing his leverage in Class C... this was only the first step of the plan.

But the shadow of "Father," along with Kiyotaka's unfathomable intentions, seemed to be the real hurdles in this game of "survival of the fittest."

"Three days from now..." Yuefeng muttered to himself, tightening his grip on the stationery pouch in his hand.