Novel Squares
Chapter 106
Scott wasn’t trying to belittle Mirabella. When the preliminary test scores came in, he thought Mirabella showed promise and was worthy of recommendation. However, after a detailed interrogation, he discovered that she was a recent transfer from a small town.
Perhaps Mirabella’s foundational skills were solid, but could the teaching standards of a small town really match those of the big city?
She answered beyond the syllabus in the prelims, showcasing her sharp wit, but there were so many top–notch students from all over the country competing. What made her stand out?
Having witnessed many underdogs rise to the occasion in his years of experience with the competition, Scott realized that being impressive wasn’t necessarily indicative of international competition potential. So, he held his tongue, offering no further comment.
On the other hand, Mirabella found Wade’s remarks somewhat novel, a playful smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she inquired, “Will there be a veritable gathering of maestros at the international competition?”
Wade watched Mirabella, momentarily taken aback, before nodding subconsciously. “That’s a given.”
The normally silent Hammond quietly observed Mirabella, noticing the spark of competitiveness on her face, and couldn’t help but stroke his chin thoughtfully. It seemed the international competition stage was about to get lively this year. He was genuinely curious about the true extent of this young lady’s abilities.
After a brief exchange with Mirabella, Scott and Wade didn’t press her with further questions, sending her to her classroom.
Once she left, Scott set down his cup, turning to Wade, “Wade, you seem rather optimistic about Mirabella.”
Wade offered a smile, simply stating, “She’s promising.”
“But her? In the international competition?” Scott was skeptical, especially since she was a humanities student.
“Don’t underestimate anyone,” Wade said with a penetrating gaze, then shifted his attention to Mr. Hammond, his tone suggestive, “You seem to have good fortune on your side.”
Mr. Hammond smiled in agreement, nodding nonchalantly. “I tend to think so, too.”
Scott’s gaze flitted between the two, his curiosity piqued. Was there really something extraordinary about this student? As he sipped his water, Wade suddenly remembered, “Oh, doesn’t Parkside High School have a campus celebrity who entered the competition?” Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
Mr. Hammond raised an eyebrow. “Are you referring to Summer?”
“That might be the name,” Wade vaguely recalled. He looked back at Scott. “The Chairman mentioned her to me. How did she fare?”
“She did quite well, let me check.” Scott pulled out his phone and soon reported, “186 points, ranking tenth.”
Hearing this, Wade’s interest in Summer waned, though he politely remarked, “That score isn’t too shabby. There’s hope she might make it to the national finals.”
Scott, recalling the Chairman’s instructions, opened his mouth to speak, “Well”
But before he could continue, Mr. Hammond interjected. “Summer’s performance has always been stable, but she seems to be focusing on other pursuits. What really matters is that she’ll learn from this experience.” Mr. Hammond commented nonchalantly.
“That’s true. Perhaps pursuing stardom offers a brighter future,” Wade chuckled, then turned back to Scott, “You were about to say something, Scott?”