"The second round of the ultimate showdown is about to begin…", "Team leaders, please choose your preferred final format?"
Still in last year's cultural center, a gray-haired old professor presided over the Math Olympiad competition.
It was already 6:30 PM, and the competition had reached the championship final.
Standing on the stage were the defending champions, Medford High, and the challengers, Marymount Academy.
It must be said that Marymount Academy, having lost the championship last year, certainly came back with a vengeance this year.
"Our side chooses the best-of-three final format." Mike glanced at Nell, and to ensure victory, ultimately chose the best-of-three format.
Six months of Math Olympiad knowledge had not turned Nell into a Math Olympiad master. It was precisely because she answered a spatial geometry problem incorrectly during the previous alternating answer round that the final proceeded to a second battle.
"We also choose the best-of-three final format." The newly appointed captain from Marymount also gave a conservative answer.
There were two competition formats for the second round of the final: one was sudden death, where each side sent one person, and one game decided the winner. The other was where each team selected three people for a best-of-three series.
Compared to the stable best-of-three format, the sudden death format had too much unpredictability. Marymount Academy, it seemed, had learned its lesson from last year.
"Then, both teams, please select your opponents. Marymount, you go first." The old professor moved the competition along.
"We choose Paige and Sheldon…"
Following the principle of picking the easiest targets first, Marymount easily selected two opponents.
There was no helping it; Paige and Sheldon's appearances were simply too deceptive.
Then, the Math Olympiad captain of Marymount Academy scanned the nameplates in front of Tam and Nell twice before saying, "For the third opponent, our side chooses student Nell."
Compared to Tam, who was fully specced into tech-nerd attributes, Nell looked much easier to bully.
"Our side chooses Robert, James, and Joseph…" When it was Medford's turn to pick opponents, Mike looked at the opposing players and casually called out names from left to right.
Joseph, who was in the middle of the opposing competition area, was the captain of Marymount Academy's Math Olympiad team.
It could be said that Mike's manner of picking people, like choosing cabbages, already showed his arrogance.
Therefore, the Marymount team members, feeling underestimated, all showed expressions of indignation.
Unfortunately, the Math Olympiad competition was not about anger levels.
This final's outcome was already sealed when Marymount chose Paige and Sheldon as their opponents.
The subsequent matches unfolded exactly as Mike had anticipated. Despite Nell losing the first game, Medford High, relying on Paige and Sheldon, their two "secret weapons," ultimately secured this year's Math Olympiad championship once again.
"Let's congratulate Medford…"
With all matches concluded, the old professor announced the final results.
"Woohoo—! Great job!! We're the champions!!!"
Upon hearing the results, Tam excitedly cheered, immediately wanting to high-five his teammates in celebration.
However, unlike his excited demeanor, Mike and the others remained quite calm.
Of course, Nell, on the side, had no mood to celebrate, having dragged the team down twice before.
Seeing his teammates' "indifferent" reactions, Tam gave an awkward laugh and withdrew his arm.
Nevertheless, Medford High's near-dominant victory in this year's Math Olympiad left a deep impression on the "audience" below.
Following this, waves of applause erupted in the cultural center.
Among them, Ms. Sharon, seated in the front row, and a group of Math Olympiad team reserve members, all wore expressions of shared pride.
Their applause was the most enthusiastic in the entire cultural center.
At 8 PM, Mike and the others, having received their championship souvenirs, boarded the return bus organized by Ms. Sharon.
"Everyone performed exceptionally well this time. The school will thank you for your contributions later…" Ms. Sharon, who had led the team to win the Math Olympiad competition again, seemed to be in a very good mood.
After a few words of encouragement, she put away her smile and reminded them, "The year-end grand test for this academic year is in two days. I hope you don't neglect other subjects because of the Math Olympiad team. So, please review diligently when you go back and strive to achieve good results in the year-end subject grand test as well."
This year's Math Olympiad competition was held on December 20th, conveniently a few days before the winter break grand test before Christmas.
Therefore, Mike and the others had ample time to prepare for their final exams.
Of course, for Mike, Paige, and Sheldon, who were proficient in all subjects, preparation made little difference.
In the following days, the three of them easily handled their final tests.
With the final tests concluded, the school's Christmas party followed immediately.
Mike, who had no intention of stealing the spotlight at the Christmas party this year, declined invitations to perform and then became idle once again.
"Oh, wow, tonight's dinner is so rich! Are we celebrating Christmas Eve early?" In the Cooper family dining room, Connie couldn't help but exclaim at the table full of delicious food.
It was now only one day until Christmas Eve.
"It's Mandy; she decided to move in with Georgie." Mary, busy arranging dishes, had a joyful expression on her face.
The girl agreeing to move in meant she had forgiven Georgie.
This also allowed the big weight in George's and his wife's hearts to finally drop.
"That's certainly worth celebrating." Connie's face also broke into a smile, now that her grandson's personal matter was settled.
During this period, the arcade business at the street entrance was very prosperous, and both Connie and Georgie had 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."
At the Cooper family house, as Mary finished decorating the dining table, Georgie smugly led Mandy in.
Georgie could now be said to have achieved success in both career and love, having become an "annoying" winner in life.
However, unlike Georgie's high spirits, Mandy, who hadn't appeared for nearly two months, had become significantly bloated due to pregnancy, and a hint of worry lingered in her eyes.
It could be said that the girl's "glamorous" aura had faded during this period, and she had completely transformed into an ordinary "housewife."
"Mandy, welcome. This will be your home from now on. If you have any difficulties, you can tell George and me." Mary, who had specially prepared a welcome dinner, expressed her goodwill.
Looking at her future daughter-in-law's current appearance, she seemed to feel a bit of sympathy.
"Yes, if Georgie dares to bully you in the future, you can also tell me. I'll deal with him…" George Dad followed up.
"Thank you, Georgie treats me very well." Mandy, feeling the warmth of the family, politely said.
After both sides expressed their friendly attitudes, the atmosphere of this family dinner became relaxed.
"Connie, I want Mandy to help out at the arcade, what do you think?" Towards the end of dinner, Georgie asked for her opinion.
"Are you sure you're willing to let Mandy go out to work?" Connie counter-questioned.
Mandy, who had been pregnant for over two months, although her belly was not yet obvious, was still a pregnant woman and had many inconveniences.
"It's fine with me watching her, and Mandy also wants to get some fresh air." Georgie replied.
Pregnant women within three months usually don't have obvious baby bumps; wearing looser clothes makes them almost indistinguishable from normal girls.
Moreover, appropriate normal social life is also beneficial for relieving prenatal depression in pregnant women.
"Is that so…" Connie thought for a while, then stared at Georgie and said, "I have a suggestion. If you can come up with 20,000 dollars, I can transfer that arcade to you. As for how you want to run it, that's up to you."
Although the arcade was profitable, it also involved many trivial matters and was very energy-consuming.
Connie, who loved pleasure and freedom, had been busy at the arcade for over two months, and the novelty had long worn off.
Transferring the arcade at this time was partly to free herself and partly to provide a livelihood for Georgie and Mandy.
"Are you sure you want to transfer the arcade?" Georgie asked in surprise.
In Georgie's opinion, the arcade, which easily made money, was definitely a hot commodity, a hen that laid "golden eggs."
Most people who wanted to buy it wouldn't have the connections.
"Of course, the premise is that you have 20,000 dollars." Connie gave a definite answer.
"Okay, I'll take the arcade." Georgie said generously, then discussed, "However, I can only pay you 10,000 dollars first. I hope to pay the remaining 10,000 in installments."
In these past two months, Georgie had indeed made a lot of money from the arcade. But having just reconciled with Mandy, he would also have many places where he needed money in the future.