Chapter 3

That pile of "garbage" I assembled from scrap metal ultimately couldn't escape being failed.

Professor Evans gave me an "F" in front of the entire class.

Amid the mocking laughter of Tyler and Zoey, I stared expressionlessly at the failing grade sheet in my hand, my heart calm.

Final exam month arrived, and the final written test for Advanced Micro Dynamics was this afternoon.

I knew this was my last chance to get course credit.

And precisely because of that, Chloe would never let me succeed.

So she deployed her most lethal bait—her fiancé, Cole.

As the law school's number one celebrity and heir to a billionaire fortune, Cole suddenly launched a fierce offensive toward me. He threw expensive resources I'd never even seen at me.

He thought that handsome face and deep pretense of affection would make this "little white flower from the slums" completely fall for him.

So when the exam bell rang across campus this afternoon, I indeed didn't appear in the exam room.

Deep in the corridor, I leaned against the wall, listening to the conversation just around the corner a few steps away.

"Mission accomplished, Chloe." Cole's voice carried a hint of pride. "I took her to Newport Beach. She didn't go to the final exam at all. She's completely finished now. You can rest easy."

"Well done, darling." Chloe rewarded him with a kiss. "You should have seen how self-righteous that poor trashy girl usually is. And now? She's not only a plagiarizing dog with a vulgar sour smell, she's about to be swept out by the academic committee."

I stood in the shadows, quietly listening to this engaged couple's "victory celebration," and didn't walk out to expose them.

They didn't know I had deliberately missed the exam.

The phone in my pocket vibrated. I looked at the screen showing "California Technology Innovation Bureau" and pressed answer.

"Miss Davis, congratulations!"

"Your micro kinetic energy high-conversion structure has been fully acquired by Silicon Valley's 'Star Atlas Technology' for three million dollars! Not only that, the review committee unanimously decided to award you this year's 'National Engineering Innovation Pioneer Award'!"

I looked at my clunky plastered arm: "Thank you. When can my prize money be claimed?"

"We're on our way to your school right now!" The other party was enthusiastic. "With your prize money check, trophy, and the interview team from Wired magazine. By the way, Miss Davis, according to the highest academic regulations of the Ivy League, students who receive this level of national innovation award not only receive full scholarships automatically, but all final examinations related to your major will automatically receive A+ exam exemption privileges!"

"Got it. I'll wait for you at school."

I hung up and walked out of the shadows.

As I crossed the plaza, the harsh sound of braking suddenly rang out behind me.

A Land Rover suddenly swerved, maliciously running over the standing water at the roadside.

"Splash"—murky, icy muddy water instantly drenched me.

The window slowly rolled down, revealing Chloe's face, along with Professor Evans and Tyler sitting in the back seat.

"Oh! Oops!" Chloe covered her mouth exaggeratedly. "I didn't see there was a pile of garbage by the road. Did you piss your pants from fright, you plagiarizing dog?"

Tyler leaned out halfway, holding an unfinished fast-food bag, and threw it directly at my chest.

"Garbage should stay with garbage!" Tyler laughed loudly. "Elana, you couldn't afford even one tire on this car in your lifetime. Even if you sold your junk as scrap for a hundred years, you'd only be qualified to stand in the mud and look up at us!"

Even Professor Evans looked at me coldly, straightened his tie and said: "Miss Sterling, let's go quickly. We still need to go to the main engineering building to welcome the big boss from 'Star Atlas Technology.' Don't waste time on an academic disgrace who doesn't even dare take the final exam."

"You're going to welcome 'Star Atlas Technology'?" I looked up.

"What, you feel wronged and want to appeal to the academic committee again?" Chloe stepped on the gas triumphantly. "Save your tears for crying in the slums. You've already been eliminated!"

Just as the Land Rover's engine roared, ready to speed away.

The main campus suddenly fell into dead silence. Three Cadillacs drove into the plaza, directly blocking Chloe's Land Rover.

A dozen security personnel quickly got out, followed by several executives wearing high-level badges from the National Innovation Bureau and Star Atlas Technology, walking quickly toward the crowd. The lead executive was even holding a crystal trophy.

Chloe's and Professor Evans's eyes immediately lit up as they excitedly pushed open the car doors.

However, the Silicon Valley executive didn't even glance at them, but instead stopped a law school student who had long been dumbfounded by the roadside.

"Excuse me, do you know where the genius inventor, Miss Elana Davis, is right now?"