"Next is the second round of the ultimate showdown..."
"Captains, please choose your preferred method for the finals."
Still in the same Cultural Center as last year, a gray-haired old professor presided over the Math Olympiad competition.
It was already 6:30 PM, and the competition had reached the championship finals.
Standing on the stage were the defending champions, Medford High School, and the challengers, Marymount Academy.
It must be said that Marymount Academy, having lost the championship last year, was indeed coming back with a vengeance this year.
"We choose the three-round finals format."
Mike glanced at Cavanaugh, and to ensure the winning rate, he ultimately chose the best-of-three format.
Half a year of Math Olympiad study hadn't turned Cavanaugh into a master. In the previous round-robin questions, it was precisely because she got a spatial geometry question wrong that the finals went to a second round.
"We also choose the three-round finals format."
The newly appointed captain of Marymount also gave a conservative answer.
There were two ways to compete in the second round of the finals: one was sudden death, where each side sent one person for a winner-takes-all match. The other was for each team to select three people for a best-of-three format.
Compared to the stable best-of-three, the unpredictability of a single sudden-death match was too high. Marymount Academy had obviously learned their lesson from last year.
"Then please, both teams select your opponents. Marymount chooses first~"
The old professor pushed the competition process forward.
"We choose Paige and Sheldon..."
Acting on the principle of picking the softest persimmons first, Marymount easily selected two opponent slots.
No choice, Paige and Young Sheldon's appearances were simply too deceptive.
Then, the Marymount Math Olympiad captain's gaze patrolled over the nameplates in front of Dan and Cavanaugh twice before saying: "For the third opponent, we choose student Cavanaugh."
Compared to Dan, whose tech-nerd attributes were maxed out, Cavanaugh obviously looked easier to bully.
"We choose Robert, James, and Joseph..."
When it was Medford's turn to pick opponents, Mike looked at the players opposite him and casually called out names from left to right.
And Joseph, located in the middle of the opposing competition area, was the captain of the Marymount Academy Math Olympiad team.
You could say Mike's manner of picking people like picking cabbages had arrogance written all over his face.
Therefore, the Marymount team members, feeling underestimated, all had looks of indignation on their faces.
It's just a pity that the Math Olympiad competition isn't about anger levels.
This final, when Marymount chose Paige and Young Sheldon as opponents, had already declared the result.
The subsequent matches went exactly as Mike thought. Even with Cavanaugh losing the first round, Medford High School, relying on the two "secret weapons" Paige and Young Sheldon, ultimately won this year's Math Olympiad championship again.
"Let us congratulate Medford..."
The competition ended completely, and the old professor announced the final result.
"Woohoo~ Great job!! We are the champions!!!"
Hearing the result, Dan cheered excitedly and immediately went to high-five his teammates.
However, unlike his excitement, Mike and the others acted very calmly.
Of course, Cavanaugh on the side was in no mood to celebrate because she had dragged the team down twice before.
Seeing his teammates' "cold" reactions, Dan smiled awkwardly and withdrew his arm.
However, Medford High School winning the Math Olympiad championship again this year in an almost crushing manner left a deep impression on the "audience" below.
Following that, bursts of applause rang out in the Cultural Center.
Among them, Ms. Sharon sitting in the front row, and a group of Math Olympiad reserve members, all had expressions of shared glory on their faces.
Their applause was the most enthusiastic in the entire Cultural Center.
Time reached 8 PM. Mike and the others, having received the championship souvenirs, got on the return bus organized by Ms. Sharon.
"Everyone performed very well this time; the school will thank you for your contributions later..."
Ms. Sharon, having led the team to win the Math Olympiad championship again, looked to be in a very good mood.
After encouraging everyone with a few words, she put away her smile and reminded: "The end-of-year exams for this academic year are in two days. I hope you won't neglect other subjects because of the Math Olympiad team. So please review seriously after going back, and strive to achieve good results in the end-of-year subject exams as well."
This year's Math Olympiad competition was stuck on December 20th, just a few days staggered from the winter break exams before Christmas.
Therefore, Mike and the others had ample time to prepare for the final exams.
Of course, for Mike, Paige, and Young Sheldon, who were proficient in all subjects, whether they prepared or not didn't make much difference.
In the following days, the three of them easily handled the final exams.
With the end of the final exams, next was the school's Christmas party.
Mike, who didn't plan to show off at the Christmas party again this year, turned down the performance invitation, and then he became idle again.
"Oh ho, today's dinner is so rich, are we celebrating Christmas Eve in advance?"
In the Cooper family dining room, Meemaw Connie looked at the table full of delicious food and couldn't help but exclaim.
It was only one day until Christmas Eve.
"It's Mandy; she decided to move in and live with Georgie."
Mary, busy setting the table, had a joyous expression on her face.
The girl agreeing to move in meant she had forgiven Georgie.
This also finally lifted the heavy stone from George and Mary's hearts.
"That is indeed worth celebrating~"
Her eldest grandson's personal affairs being settled brought a smile to Meemaw Connie's face too.
During this period, business at the arcade at the intersection was booming, and both Meemaw Connie and Georgie made a lot of money from it.
It could be said that the two were in a "honeymoon" period of "you're good, I'm good, everyone's good."
Back at the Cooper house, when Mary finished decorating the dining table, Georgie smugly led Mandy in.
Current Georgie could be said to have harvested both career and love, becoming a "hateful" winner in life.
Unlike Georgie's high spirits, Mandy, who hadn't shown her face for nearly two months, had swollen quite a bit due to pregnancy, and a trace of worry lingered between her brows.
It could be said that the girl's "glamorous" aura had faded during this time, completely turning into an ordinary "housewife."
"Mandy, welcome. This is your home from now on. If you have any difficulties, you can tell George and me."
Mary, who had specially prepared a welcome feast, expressed her kindness.
Looking at her future daughter-in-law's current appearance, she seemed to feel a bit of heartache too.
"Yes, if Georgie dares to bully you in the future, you can also tell me. I'll deal with him..." George Sr. followed up.
"Thank you, Georgie treats me very well."
Mandy, feeling the warmth of the family, said politely.
After both sides showed friendly attitudes, the atmosphere of this family dinner became relaxed.
"Meemaw Connie, I want Mandy to help at the arcade; what do you think?"
Near the end of dinner, Georgie asked for an opinion.
"Are you sure you're willing to let Mandy go out to work?" Meemaw Connie asked back.
Mandy, who had been pregnant for more than two months, although her belly wasn't obvious yet, was a pregnant woman after all, and there were many inconveniences.
"It's fine with me watching, and Mandy also wants to go out for some fresh air." Georgie answered.
Pregnant women within three months actually don't have obvious bellies; wearing loose clothes, they are almost no different from normal girls.
Moreover, appropriate normal social interaction is also beneficial for relieving prenatal depression in pregnant women.
"Is that so..."
Meemaw Connie thought for a while, stared at Georgie, and said: "I have a proposal. If you can take out twenty thousand dollars, I can transfer that arcade to you. As for how you want to run it, it's up to you."
Although the arcade made money, it also had many trivial matters and was very energy-consuming.
Meemaw Connie, who liked pleasure and freedom, had been busy in the arcade for more than two months, and the novelty had long passed.
Transferring the arcade at this time was partly to free herself, and partly to leave a livelihood for Georgie and Mandy.
"Are you sure you want to transfer the arcade?" Georgie asked in surprise.
In Georgie's view, an arcade that could easily make money was definitely a hot cake, a hen that laid "golden eggs."
Ordinary people wouldn't have the way even if they wanted to buy it.
"Of course, provided you have twenty thousand dollars." Meemaw Connie gave a definite answer.
"Okay, I'll take the arcade."
Georgie spoke boldly, then negotiated: "But I can only pay you ten thousand dollars first; I hope to pay the remaining ten thousand in installments."
In these two months, Georgie had indeed made a lot of money from the arcade. But having just got back together with Mandy, he would also have many places to use money next.