"I'm out of money. Give me two hundred bucks!" A man's voice came from her cell phone, rude and tough.
"You wish!" Mrs. Lee said coldly.
A man's roar came from the phone. She ignored it and hung up.
***
A visitor came to the guard room when the school was almost over.
"Hi. I'm from Glinton University. I'm Thompson." The man was very polite.
The doorman hurriedly called the president. Glinton University was the best university in the country. It was no small matter for Colin High School that someone from Glinton University visited. The president himself should receive him.
The principal answered the phone and said lightly, "Director Bull can receive him!"
The doorman had already expected that, and reluctantly hung up and called Director Bull.
"I'm coming." Director Bull said and hung up.
Director Bull showed up in the guard room in one minute. He reached out to Professor Thompson enthusiastically, "Nice to meet you. You must be Professor Thompson, right? I have heard your lecture! It was great!"
Professor Thompson smiled, "Thank you. I'm here today for one thing."
"Let's go to my office." Director Bull said enthusiastically, "This way, please!"
Professor Thompson went to the office with Director Bull and sat down. Director Bull made him tea.
Then, Director Bull asked, "Is there anything I can do for you, Professor Thompson?"
Professor Thompson smiled, "I come for a student. My friend Professor Wilson had a heart attack while invigilating an exam. A student in your school happened to know some first aid knowledge and saved him. And because of that, she delayed her examination. I had applied for her to retake the exam, but the Mathematical Olympiad Committee rejected it. Unexpectedly, she entered the second round of the exam. Now, I come to thank her."
Once he said that Director Bull immediately knew who he was talking about. Only one student took the exam, that was Sophia Green.
"Sophia Green?" Director Bull was surprised, "You mean… without finishing the test, she entered the second exam?"
Professor Thompson nodded, "There were several questions that haven't been done! I had thought there was no hope to enter the second exam. And Professor Wilson had always been sad. When he heard the good news, he almost had a heart attack again… I read the test paper. The last question was designed by Professor Wilson. It was so difficult that I had to work hard to solve it. Among the examinees, Sophia was the only one to work it out. She is really a mathematical genius!"
Director Bull couldn't help giving out a pride look, "I see. I had wondered why she got such a low score. It seems that she has the chance to win the first prize in the Mathematical Olympiad!"
"Not only the first prize, but she may also be in the first place!" Professor Thompson laughed.
There were dozens of Mathematical Olympiad first prize winners, but only one person in the first place or a few people in parallel.
Director Bull stood up from his chair excitedly and rubbed his hands, "Our school hasn't got a good place in the Mathematical Olympiad Competition for a long time. This is really good news. Oh..."
He picked up his phone and dialed a number, "Ms. Acheson, ask Sophia to come to my office!"
Acheson was confused, "Sophia? Did she make any trouble?"
Sophia didn't do well in the exam last time. So, Acheson thought Director Bull must be very angry, but he didn't feel the anger from his tone.
Director Bull smiled, "No. Ask her to come, please."
"Oh… I'll call her right now."
Later, Sophia arrived at the office and saw Professor Thompson.
She had dealt with Professor Thompson when she was working at Glinton University. They got along well. But then, she had to pretend not to know him.
"Here, Green!" Director Bull walked to her and introduced her to Professor Thompson, "Professor Thompson, this is Sophia Green!"
Professor Thompson stood up and smiled, "Nice to meet you, Miss Green! I came to thank you for saving Professor Wilson. That old guy has a heart attack and is always trying to be brave... If it hadn't been for you, he would have died in the examination room."
Sophia knew that Professor Thompson and Professor Wilson were friends for many years. Thus, Professor Thompson would say those words. "No problem." Sophia said with a smile, "I happen to know something about first aid, and anyone would do that in that case. No matter how important the exam is, it is not as important as human life!"
"What a modest kid! That's good. I'm here today to ask if you need anything. As long as you say it, Professor Wilson and I will try our best to do it for you!" Said Professor Thompson.
Sophia thought for a while. There was one thing she really needed: Professor Thompson's help.
"I want a pass from Glinton University… can I?" Sophia asked. "I'd like to audit courses at Glinton University when I'm free."
Of course, she lied. She wanted to go to Glinton University to make several more visits to the laboratory to investigate the fire case at that time.
Professor Thompson was rather touched and said, "Is that all you want? That's easy! No wonder you did so well in the study. A child who loves studying so much will certainly get good grades. I wish you a good result in the second exam. This year, the math department of Glinton University will take a student without taking exams. They may enroll the best one in this Mathematical Olympiad Competition. I hope you will be the lucky one!"
Director Bull laughed, "It would be great if you could take the first place in the exam."
He thought about it and said, "You saved someone. That's a good deed. You deserve a reward… Since Professor Thompson told me about it, I'll give one point to your class."
Sophia was delighted but still tried to strive for more. "Can… can we have two more points?" She asked weakly.
"No!" Director Bull flatly refused, "Rules are rules. Doing a good deed will only earn your class one point."
"Oh…"
Director Bull was really strict.
"Keep working. Win glory for Colin High School!"
"Yeah…"