chapter917

Even though it was called a freshman academic competition, the questions were way beyond what first-year students had learned so far.

In the first round, a huge math problem popped up on the main screen. If anyone could solve it, they were supposed to write down their answer and submit it through the electronic system.

Lucinda stared at the formula, her mind spinning. She just... blanked.

Over in the medical building, the tension was even thicker.

Their first round started with a question on the giant screen too, but this one was on a totally different level.

"Do you think you could be a doctor who actually helps people over the next ten, twenty, or thirty years? Could you lower the global cancer death rate? What's your plan? By how much do you think you could reduce it?"

The whole room went silent. Every student and teacher just sat there, lost in thought.

Most of the students gave up right away.

Not answering meant dropping out of the competition, but the question was way too much for first-years. Honestly, they were just starting out. Who knew what field they'd even end up in? Plus, cancer death rates around the world were still so high. It was one of the biggest puzzles in medicine.

Sure, they all had dreams of helping others. Some probably even imagined curing cancer one day. But right now, that goal just seemed so out of reach. Even a decade or two down the line, it still felt impossible.

Lydia looked at the question, a tiny smirk on her lips, but she didn't write a thing.

Fiona and Monica didn't even try.

"This is way too much for us," Monica whispered. "Not our problem."

"Yeah," Fiona agreed. "Let's just see what the real geniuses come up with."

Daisy, on the other hand, looked like she'd been waiting for this. She was all confidence. The Rivers family had been pouring themselves into cancer research for years. This was her territory.

Cancer was insanely complicated. Genetics, cells, environment so many factors. So many types, each with its own causes, behaviors, and reactions to treatment. Finding a cure was almost impossible, which was why the death rate hadn't dropped much.

Daisy picked up her pen and started writing, smooth and steady, a little smile on her face. Zero stress.

Lydia was doomed! That's what everyone thought. The question basically had Daisy's name on it.

If this was just about talking big, most students could probably fake an answer. But this wasn't the kinds of question you could just bluff. That's why almost no one even tried.

Everyone watched Daisy writing away while Lydia's pen never even left the table. Heads shook all around.

See? Lydia was in way over her head.

No way she'd get through this, let alone the more hands-on rounds still to come.

"What's up with Lydia?" someone whispered. "She made such a huge bet, but now she's just sitting there?"

"She hasn't been to class all semester. No way she can answer this."

"Why'd she have to act so tough, making a bet with Daisy? Now she's just embarrassing Capital Med."

Fiona sneaked a glance at Lydia, who still

quidn't moved. She couanet

quietly Lydia Daisy's almost fifted up her first page.

Lydia just made a small sound, then finally picked up her pen and wrote a single word: Yes.

Right after she scribbled a string of formulas and symbols Fiona

couldn't make sense of. At theel

she wrote: 50 percent.

Fiona just stared. What did that even mean?

Was Lydia saying she could cut cancer deaths in half?

Was that for real?

Before she could even ask, Lydia pulled out her phone, snapped a photo of her answer, and submitted it online.

Someone in the room caught on quick and blurted out, "Oh my god, Lydia just submitted her answer!"