Not only did the other people in the lecture hall think that this year’s spots for the research institute had been decided, even a few lab heads believed that this year’s candidates had already been chosen...
Violetta Hoffman furrowed her brows and looked again toward the last row.
The front was so noisy and lively.
Yet the people in the last row seed not to have heard a thing, not even glancing their way.
Her heart was a chaotic ss; she pressed her lips together and said to the others in a low voice, "There are still 20 minutes, let’s wait a bit longer."
The head of the Level 2 laboratory glanced at her, hesitated, but finally said nothing and nodded in agreent, "Yes, there’s still ti, let’s wait a little longer. Maybe soone will finish, you never know."
Each year, about 5 to 6 people manage to complete the experint and proceed to the second round of the mock assessnt.
This year, there were over a dozen fewer people in the second round than in previous years, so they estimated only about 3 to 4 people might complete the experint.
With Therry Kingsley like a shining pearl ahead, most people believed it was impossible for another miracle to happen.
But according to the institute’s rules, as long as there’s ti, it ans the assessnt hasn’t ended, so they couldn’t just walk away early.
Throughout the next 20 minutes, people continuously finished their experints.
Quite in line with the lab heads’ estimation, the number of people who completed the experint added up to about four.
Watching ti slowly tick away.
Therry Kingsley was the first to finish but didn’t rush out; instead, he tidied up his workstation while waiting for Nathalie Quinlan’s results.
He originally thought that Nathalie Quinlan wasn’t faster than him, at least she should be the second or third to finish the experint, but as he waited and waited, right until the end, the girl there still hadn’t reacted.
It seed she hadn’t finished yet.
Therry Kingsley wasn’t sure if Nathalie Quinlan really hadn’t finished or if she simply couldn’t do it.
...
Ti flew by, with only one minute remaining until the assessnt ended.
So of the people in the large lecture hall who hadn’t completed their experints already gave up struggling, letting their hands fall away from their computers, looking dejected.
Only the girl in the last row was still calmly typing on her keyboard.
Violetta Hoffman could hardly keep her composure now, frequently checking the ti.
She watched the second hand move halfway; several other heads began packing up; her expression was grave, nerves taut.
With only 10 seconds remaining.
Violetta Hoffman’s heart raced quickly, nearly giving up all hope.
Therry Kingsley also began packing his things, doubts dissipating from his mind, a confident expression erging on his handso face, a smile starting to creep up his lips.
The last 5 seconds.
Even the few determined individuals peeked at the ti and chose to give up glumly; they looked around to see if anyone else hadn’t given up and just spotted Nathalie Quinlan in the corner.
"Why is she still working?"
"Ti’s almost up; even if she continues, it’s no use, so why persist?"
"Maybe she’s unwilling to accept it. After all, she did so well in the first round, and to fail in the second round is quite disheartening."
"Ti’s up."
...
Just as the lecture hall was buzzing with discussions, the girl hit the Enter key, lifted her hands from the keyboard, and nonchalantly placed a duckbill cap on her head, speaking with ease, "Report to the teacher, I have finished."
At that mont, only 2 seconds remained until the end of the assessnt, with the second and minute hands nearly overlapping. The girl’s voice echoed through the large lecture hall, so sudden, like a clap of thunder, halting everyone about to leave in their tracks.
At this point... completed?
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