Novel Palace
Chapter 60
Chapter 60
Cordelia was never one to sweat the small stuff, especially when it came to exams. Her real passion was learning, not the accolades that came with it. So when the results day for the Intest test rolled around, she got ready for school as if it were any other day.
Downstairs, Laurinda and Juliana could no longer openly sneer at her as they used to. At this mome Laurinda was lecturing, “Juliana, you’ve got to stay humble. Always trying to outdo myveryone leaves no ro for others and that’s how you make enemies. Look at Cordelin, Some were so bent on taking her down a peg and delayed her for a half hour on an eighty–minute test. Such a shame.”
Juliana chuckled, glancing at Cordelia as she descended the stairs and finished her last bite of toast, “Granny, enough about that. Cordelia aced the Galaxy Math Whiz Competition and took national first place. If bombs the National League, people might question her math competition scores.”
Lorna stepped out of the kitchen with breakfast ready for Cordelia and advised with a concerned frown, “Lia, this test isn’t the end–all–be–all. Everyone knows you had a incident. Don’t let their words get to you.”
Cordelia glanced up indifferently. “What words?”
Lorna was speechless. She found Cordelia’s strength almost inhuman, as if there was never a need for her help. It filled Lorna with pride but also a deep ache.
At eighteen, while other girls were playing coy and running to their parents at the slightest hardship, Lia had long since learned to rely on herself, erecting a wall between her and the world.
Lorna simply smiled and dropped the subject.
Ever since the tension between Cordelia and Juliana had surfaced, Lorna had arranged for a separate car for them. Now, neither had to wait for the other.
Her daughter wouldn’t have to suffer any unwarranted grievances.
After Cordelia left, Laurinda scoffed, “All this fuss about math and physics competitions… You really spoil her. Aren’t you afraid she’ll get greedy? Look, she can’t even get first place now.”
Juliana pressed her lips together, but said nothing.
Lorna spoke up. “The National League is just a stepping stone, not the actual Olympiad. A top prize is enough to get into the winter camp, which can lead to scholarship opportunities and college credits. That’s all that
matters.”
Laurinda snorted.
Lorna turned to Juliana, taking the offensive, “Juliana, you might want to focus less on others and more on your upcoming physics competition this weekend. Don’t take it lightly or you might miss out on that top prize and the associated perks
Juliana fell her face at the remark.
Lorna was becoming more assertive, which silenced Juliana completely.
Cordelia, true to routine, hopped out of the car in front of Midnight Scent to grab breakfast with Calvert and Everard
Over a month and a half, they had grown comfortably close.
After devouring a blueberry muffin, Cordelia remembered something and texted her tutor, Mr. All– Round, “National League results come out today”
The reply was almost instant
Cordelia faintly blinked and saw Everard’s deft fingers pick up his black phone. His languid movements were calm as he read the message, typed a response, and set the phone aside
Her phone buzzed.
She glanced at Everard again. He polished off a pancake in three bites. Despite the simplicity of the action, he made it look elegant, as if feasting on a gourmet meal.
He licked his lips casually, his gaze indifferent but with an undercurrent of intensity.
Cordelia’s heart skipped a beat, and she forced her eyes back to her phone while sipping her soy latte.
Mr. All–Round said, “Looking forward to hearing your good news.”
Cordelia raised an eyebrow. Having lost half an hour of exam time, she wasn’t entirely sure she could snag first place, but somehow, it felt like he believed in her more than she did herself.
She chose not to reply.
Just then, Calvert, absorbed in his phone, looked up abruptly. “Did you see the post online?”
Cordelia, with a puzzled look, shook her head, moisture still clinging to her eyelashes.
Calvert was at a loss for words.
He would not pay attention to this small post. It was his boss who asked him to pay attention to the league post that Calvert just saw it.
But now Cordelia obviously didn’t know about it. Was he going to tell the boss?
Could the boss do something terribly wrong when he was jealous?
When Calvert was lost in his thoughts, he felt the cool sight belonging to the boss. Calvert forced a smile and handed his phone to Everard, “Boss, take a look.”
Everard glanced down at the phone
The post was titled “OMG, I’m shipping this couple hard! Keen and Cordelia, the math geniuses, are so sweet together
With over two thousand likes in a niche community, the post was buzzing. A photo showed a smirking boy leaning towards Cordelia, whispering something. The sunlight streaming through the window bathed the pair in a picturesque glow.
Calvert saw Everard tighten his grip on his phone ever so slightly
Calvert inwardly winced, hoping his phone would survive
Just as he was about to mourn his beloved device, Everard set the phone down with his usual nonchalance. Calvert snatched it back relieved. “Should I delete it?”
“No need,” Everard said, as indifferent as ever. His tone was as casual as someone chatting over a beer, but it sent a chill down Calvert’s spine. Then the boss let out a chuckle, “Why would I sweat the small stuff with a young boy?”
Calvert was at a loss for words
In his mind, he lit a candle for that poor guy named Keen or whatever.
Cordelia, clueless about the tension, didn’t ask any questions. After dinner, as usual, she took Everard’s hand and they left the diner
But as they reached the doorstep of the Midnight Scent, a voice made them pause, “Hold up a second
Cordelia stopped and turned around.
Everard, one hand nonchalantly tucked into his pocket, strolled up to her
The tall man exuded an overwhelming presence as he came close, then suddenly bent down to whisper in her ear Girl, hope you ace those tests
““Girl,
Cordelia blinked, puzzled. Why the need for secrecy? Couldn’t he have just said that out loud? Original from NôvelDrama.Org.
She took an uneasy step back and gave a soft response before walking away.
Calvert, who was sitting inside Midnight Scent, watched the whole scene in disbelief.
He had just seen a classmate taking pictures of Cordelia!
Everard must have seen it too. He was so slick!
Sure, five minutes later, the internet was buzzing with a fresh post, “Exclusive: Snaps Confirm Cordelia’s Toy Boy!”