The school regulations stated that if you take part in the school competition, you can get class points, but an out of school competition, one at a higher-level, didn't qualify. This kind of thing only happened once a year, so the school didn't have it as part of the rule book.
If a student won a prize at the Mathematical Olympiad, the school would reward him or her, but the reward just didn't include class points.
Molly was going crazy. Wasn't it more interesting for Sophia to get the Mathematical Olympiad prize and the attention of prestigious universities than class points?
Class points were just a school management system. If a class's points were high, they were higher in the school's weekly list. It was just a school-wide distinction and didn't have much importance.
It didn't even begin to compare with the Olympiad awards at all.
Sophia sighed, "Our class was deducted one point because of me last time. I haven't yet had a chance to make it up."
Molly was totally speechless.
She was focusing on the wrong bit! They were talking about Mathematical Olympiad, one of the most prestigious math competitions!
But once Sophia had mentioned it, Molly suddenly got an idea, "Well, Boss, if taking part in the Mathematical Olympiad can help to get class points, will you have a go?
Sophia thought for a while and said, "Maybe…"
"OK. Wait for me!"
Molly rushed to Director Bull's office, where Director Bull was looking at some school papers. Seeing Molly come in, he looked up and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Director Bull, I'd like to discuss something with you." Molly walked over to him, "If someone in our class can win an Olympiad prize, can you give our class some points?"
Director Bull was confused, "Class points? Are the two comparable? That's like an athlete wanting a sticker from their coach having won a gold medal at the Olympics?!"
Molly sighed, "I know, but listen to Director Bull, can you promise me that if someone in our class wins the Mathematical Olympiad award, you will give us some class points?"
Director Bull laughed, "I really don't know what you are thinking about… Which class are you from?"
"Class seventeen!"
"That's a liberal arts class? Well, fine. If someone in your class can win a Mathematical Olympiad prize, I'll give you whatever points you want. How about one hundred points?"
Director Bull said all this casually because he really didn't want to tangle with Molly.
In his view, the student who would eventually make it through the qualification trials would have to be Kurt Weller. No student from class seventeen would even qualify for the Olympiad. So how could they risk getting an award?
Molly was satisfied. Director Bull managed the school points system. He had the right to decide what merited points.
"Oh, by the way, please may I have one more application form."
When Sophia arrived at school the next day, the first thing she saw was Molly coming toward her. She felt worried.
"I've sorted it, just like that! Director Bull has promised to give our class one hundred points if you can get a good score in the Olympiad! With that, we'd be able to top the list for the whole school year!" Molly grinned and handed her the form, "Fill it out now!"
"One hundred points? Are you kidding me?" Sophia was doubtful about the number.
"He said it himself, and I recorded it!" Molly shook her phone proudly, "Aren't I smart?"
Sophia didn't know what to say.
She picked up her pen and wrote her name on the form.
Molly was afraid she would regret saying yes, and as soon as Sophia was finished with the form, she took it away from her, "I'll hand it in for you!"
It was Thursday, and the monthly exam would be held in the afternoon. For most students, it was just an ordinary monthly test, and there was nothing to be nervous about, just a way of checking their progress over the last month. Only a handful of students were vying for a spot in the advanced class, and they, of course, did revision and tried to prepare.
Before the exam, Melissa ran over to ask Sophia, "Where are you going to spend your holiday, boss? My mum wants to sign me up for an overseas tour. You can come with me if you want to?"
After the exams, they would be a holiday for ten days.
Speaking of travel, Sophia had an idea, "I want to go to Bridge Town."
She had never traveled in her alternate life because of her mobility issues. Once she saw a promo video for Bridge Town on TV and had wanted to go there ever since.
Albert Pearson had actually suggested they go there together several times in her old life, but Sophia, knowing she would be less convenient to travel with, had never agreed.
Now, none of that was a concern, and it wouldn't even cost much to get there. She wanted to go right away.
Melissa changed her mind at once, "I want to go to Bridge Town with Boss. That will be much more fun. I don't know what my mum was thinking…"
Sophia didn't know what to say about this quick turn around.
Melissa quickly told Mariah and Carol about it, and they immediately decided to travel with Sophia too.
Sophia thought of Kevin. She wanted to take him with her to relax. After all, with his sister's death and the ruckus, Linda was causing a lot of pressure on him. It would be nice to take advantage of the opportunity to hang out.
In her alternate life, Kevin had never had much chance to travel as he wanted to stay close to her. She wanted to make up for that now. This was her chance to get rid of that old regret.
When she told Kevin, he agreed right away.. There was a sense of inexplicable inevitability about traveling with Sophia as if it was just meant to happen.