Master of Score Control: Dania's Wild Dash to the Passing Line

In the strength testing area, the moment the referee called out Dania's name, the entire arena fell into an eerie silence.

All eyes were on the pink-haired girl in the yellow duck T-shirt.

On the podium, Moning adjusted his glasses.

"Point all backup cameras at test station number three and set the frame rate to the highest."

She refused to believe she couldn't find something on Zhou Yu.

Dania walked up to the giant force gauge that was taller than her. Its metal surface gleamed coldly. She glanced back at Zhou Yu on the sidelines.

The latter was leaning against the barbecue grill, slowly wiping a bamboo skewer, and gave her a thumbs-down gesture.

Don't use too much force.

Dania nodded obediently, took a deep breath, and recalled Zhou Yu's instructions. The black wristband on her wrist was inconspicuous in the sunlight.

She clenched her fist and weakly swung it at the thick sensor panel.

Thump.

A soft sound, like a tap on the crack in the door with knuckles.

The force gauge's huge screen flickered briefly before settling on a still image.

[0].

The audience was initially deathly silent, then erupted in laughter.

Zero points? Is she giving a massage to a machine?

"This is hilarious, is this supposed to be a comedy?"

Linnai and Aimis covered their faces.

Sigelica tightened her grip on the broom, wishing she could rush up and punch her instead.

Only Zhou Yu remained unmoved. He put down the bamboo skewer, held up a finger to Dania, and made a chewing motion with it near his mouth.

Speak silently using mouth movements.

"One serving, braised pork."

Dania's eyes lit up instantly.

Dania: (O_O)?

She seemed to understand.

The strength of a braised pork belly dish...

She stood in front of the dynamometer again, closed her eyes, and the image of the plate of braised pork piled high, glistening with oil and exuding a sweet aroma, appeared in her mind.

My mouth feels like it's about to water.

She suddenly opened her eyes and threw a punch.

This time, there was no sound.

The moment the fist touched the sensor plate, the entire force gauge emitted an unsettling metallic groan, and the numbers on the screen started from zero and skyrocketed at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye.

1000...5000...20000...

The numbers were jumping so fast that only afterimages remained on the screen, heading straight for the red line at the very top.

The alarm inside the machine blared shrilly, and the red light flashed.

"It's going to explode!"

The recorder cried out in alarm.

The entire audience stood up, staring in horror at the machine on the verge of collapse.

Moning's pupils dilated behind his glasses, and a look of "I've got you" had just appeared on his face.

Just a second before the number was about to break through the critical value, a figure flashed to the side of the force gauge like a ghost.

Zhou Yu didn't even glance at the wildly beeping screen. He pulled a form stamped with a red seal from his vest pocket and lightly slapped it onto the machine's inspection cover.

Smack

The screen of the old-fashioned digital watch lit up faintly.

[Rule determined in effect: The sensitivity error of the testing instrument has been forcibly calibrated.]

The wildly soaring numbers seemed to be held down by an invisible hand, trembling violently just a millimeter before hitting the red line, then rapidly falling back, shakily stopping at an incredibly glaring number.

[60].

Not too much, not too little, just enough to pass.

The entire room fell silent.

Moning rushed down from the stage, pushed through the crowd, and stared at the piece of paper pasted on the machine.

Her fingers traced the edge of the stamp on the application form, then she reached out and patted the side of the force gauge—it was cool, intact, and the vibration feedback of the internal structure was exactly the same as the factory parameters; there was no trace of tampering.

She looked up at Zhou Yu.

Zhou Yu met her gaze and nodded politely.

"Director Moning, according to Article 11 of the 'Instrument Use Regulations,' the calibrated scores are protected by the Academy Assessment Committee. If there are any objections, you can apply for a review, which will take approximately three working days."

He paused for a moment.

The physical fitness test ended today; I don't know if I'll make it in time.

Moning: (ꐦ°᷄д°᷅)

She gripped the data terminal, the veins on the back of her hand bulging, unable to utter a single word.

Legitimate.

Compliance.

The referee was stunned for a moment, then cleared his throat.

"Dania, the strength test results are valid."

Dania ignored the reactions around her and jumped up happily, rushing towards Zhou Yu like a little bird.

Dania: (⁄⁄>⁄▽⁄⁄<⁄⁄)

Zhou Yu! I passed!

"Seafood buffet! Huge lobsters! Let's go now!"

Zhou Yu caught her steadily and casually pushed down the tuft of hair on her head.

"What's the rush? The last project isn't finished yet."

He shoved a bottle of chilled juice into Dania's hand, looked over her head at Moning, whose face was ashen, and calmly took a sip from the thermos.

"Zhou Yu," Dania gripped the juice bottle, tilting her head back, "Can I win the last project?"

Zhou Yu looked down at her, his eyes calm.

"As long as you don't smash the machine, you win."

Dania nodded thoughtfully, gripped the juice bottle tightly, and looked extremely serious.

"Then I promise I won't smash it."

Zhou Yu didn't speak, but gently pushed away the stray hairs that had stuck up with her fingers.

Meanwhile, the three cleaning staff were completely dumbfounded.

Linnai tossed the winnowing basket aside.

Linnai:(¬_¬)

"How does this guy manage to be so infuriating every time, yet completely impossible to deal with?"

Aimis wiped the sweat from her brow and leaned against the railing.

That's called professionalism.

"We can't learn how to professionally combat involution."

Sigelica slammed the broom into the ground, stared at the deep hole Linnai had created, then glanced at the outstanding balance on her bill, and gritted her teeth.

Sigelica: (╯°□°)╯┻━┻

"I've made up my mind. Once he pays me back, I'll go to the Logistics Department and become his apprentice!"

Zhou Yu calmed the excited Dania down and told her to wait in the rest area.

He tightened the lid of his thermos, leaned against the railing, and quietly watched the center of the field.

Most students have finished their individual projects; now, it's time for the main event of this test.

The old-fashioned digital watch vibrated again, and a new notification appeared on the screen.

[The final stage of the annual physical fitness test: the teamwork and stress resistance test, is about to begin.]

[Random matchmaking complete: Replica of... Lahai-Roi Defense Line.]

[Survival Difficulty Assessment: Nightmare Level]

Zhou Yu's gaze calmed down, and his fingertips rubbed the cool watch face.

On a bench in the rest area, Dania was drinking juice with her head down when she inadvertently looked up and met his eyes across the noisy crowd.

She waved the bottle in her hand at him and smiled, her eyes crinkling.

Zhou Yu looked away.

The battlefield where Dania once prepared to sacrifice herself is still waiting for today's battle.

The real year-end exams are only just beginning.