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“What happened to your face?” Lucy asked, her voice filled with concern as she noticed the bruises and swelling.
Carlisle quickly rubbed his sore face, grimacing as he spoke through slightly slurred words. “The chains on my bicycle broke on the way here… I fell.”
Lucy didn’t press further, but her frown deepened. Instead, she offered a comforting smile and said, “The invigilators are from the county. Don’t stress yourself too much—just take the exam with a calm heart.”
Carlisle nodded quickly, trying to mask his nervousness. “Alright!”
Lucy gave his shoulders an encouraging pat, her expression softening. “You should go in. I’ve already prepared a congratulatory gift for you. I’m just waiting for the day your results are released!”
Carlisle chuckled, shaking his head. “I was only joking with you. Did you really take my word seriously?”
Lucy’s face became serious. “I wasn’t joking. I told you I’d prepare a gift, and I will keep my promise.”
Carlisle smiled at her determination. Over the past month, he’d noticed changes in himself—he had become one of the rare candidates with a real shot at Riverland University.
“Alright. I’ll definitely make you proud!” he said with a grin.
“Good luck!” Lucy cheered, raising her hands as Carlisle straightened his back and walked into the exam hall with newfound confidence.
Inside, he found his designated seat and settled in. The bell rang, signaling the start of the exam, and the invigilators began distributing the papers. Carlisle quickly flipped through the questions, bypassing most of them until he reached the essay portion.
The essay topic was “Variety is the spice of life.” It was a weighty part of the exam, and it carried significant marks. Carlisle smiled slightly as he scanned the question. It was exactly what he had been hoping for.
In his past life, he would have panicked at such a crucial exam. But now, with his preparation and calm mind, he felt no pressure at all. He was confident, almost amused at how easy the question seemed.
Within an hour, he was the first to finish. His paper was neatly completed, and Carlisle handed it in before leaving the school.
As he stepped outside, he noticed a crowd of parents holding umbrellas, standing outside the entrance, waiting for their children. He overheard some of their conversations.
“Why did he come out so early? Probably handed in an empty test paper!”
“He doesn’t look like he’s competent either. I feel bad for his parents!”
“Lucky he’s not mine. I’d probably break his legs if he did something like that.”
Carlisle heard these comments as he made his way to the gate, feeling the sting of judgment in the air. He didn’t care about the words, but one man’s voice stood out.
“Hey, Gordon, that looks like your son,” a bearded man said, tapping a parent on the shoulder.
Gordon, who had been nearby, was taken aback. He was part-time at a shop nearby and had taken time off to wait for his son. The sight of the boy’s face from a distance didn’t seem familiar.
“That’s not my son. My boy isn’t that fat,” Gordon said, shaking his head. “He didn’t leave the house like that this morning.”
But as Carlisle got closer, Gordon’s heart sank. It was his son, and the bruises on his face were unmistakable.
“Holy shit, that’s him!” Gordon gasped, his eyes widening in disbelief.
He rushed toward Carlisle, standing on his tiptoes to wave. “Carlisle!”
Carlisle spotted his father and quickly walked over, a mix of emotions running through him. “Dad, what are you doing here?”
Gordon’s expression shifted from shock to concern, his eyes narrowing. “What happened to your face? Who did this to you?”
Despite his stern expression, there was a deep pain in his voice. The sight of his son hurt—he couldn’t imagine someone else hurting him. His protective instincts flared.
Carlisle quickly explained, “The chains on my bicycle broke, and I fell this morning.”
Gordon sighed deeply, patting Carlisle’s head, his voice filled with guilt. “It’s my fault. I should’ve driven you to school this morning.”
But then his face darkened, and he added in a sharp tone, “Why did you come out so early? Did you hand in an empty paper?”
Carlisle, feeling the pressure, tried to reassure his father. “No, I finished it all. It’s done.”
