Chapter 3

While Elise went on bragging, the whole class became increasingly restless with excitement.

"Oh my God, El! Every answer you gave was correct. You're definitely getting a perfect score in math!"

"At this rate, never mind your average top-tier schools. Even the most elite ones would be begging you to come."

Hearing all the flattery, Elise couldn't stop the smugness from spreading across her face.

Then someone suddenly asked, "El, how did you see the answers? We're classmates. If there's really some miracle way, you can't keep it secret. I saw your post online—you ate poisonous mushrooms to see the exam answers, didn't you?"

Elise didn't deny it.

Instead, she admitted it openly. The whole class looked at her with burning excitement.

"There's still one more exam tomorrow. If we eat those poisonous mushrooms too, wouldn't we all get perfect scores?"

The room ignited. Everyone was staring at Elise like she was their only hope.

"El, where did you buy those mushrooms? Get them for me. I'll pay whatever it costs."

At first, Elise wanted to refuse.

But the moment the students offered to pay five times the original price, her eyes lit up greedily.

After collecting the money, she confidently promised everyone that she would get the mushrooms as quickly as possible.

Then she suddenly turned toward me.

"Nova, I can help you buy some too. I'll even give you a discount."

I refused without hesitation.

"No thanks. My grades are what they are. Even if mushrooms somehow got me into a top university, I'd just flunk out anyway."

I paused briefly before adding, "Besides, maybe you only saw the answers this time because you got lucky. What if the mushrooms stop working after repeated use?"

The moment I said that, the students who had been blinded by excitement instantly calmed down.

Then reality set in. What if they got poisoned and didn't see any answers? What if the mushrooms just made them sick and completely wrecked their exams? Suddenly, half the class was demanding refunds and backing out.

Elise's face twisted into a mask of pure rage as she watched her easy earnings disappear before her eyes.

"Nova, I never expected you to be this kind of person. Just because you can't afford poisonous mushrooms yourself, you're trying to ruin everyone else's future too."

I lowered my head and pretended to look wronged.

"El, I'm only worried about you guys. What if someone gets poisoned and can't even get into college afterward?"

Elise let out a cold snort.

"I ate those poisonous mushrooms, and I'm perfectly fine, aren't I? If you don't want them, then forget it. Less competition for me."

Seeing how confident Elise looked, the students started wavering again.

Several of the worst-performing students immediately transferred a large amount of money to her and begged her to buy those mushrooms for them.

Elise agreed with a smile, then turned back to the rest of the class. "Anyone else want some?"

The remaining students looked back and forth between Elise and me before ultimately shaking their heads.

Elise sneered and pointed directly at me.

"Fine. Believe Nova if you want, but don't come crying to me when you're stuck repeating senior year."

That night, every student who had bought poisonous mushrooms from Elise posted identical photos online.

Each post featured a plate of poisonous mushroom stew.

As they all raced toward their own doom, I calmly set my phone aside and turned my attention to tomorrow's exam.

The following day, Elise and the other students who had consumed the mushrooms walked into the exam hall like victorious conquerors.

After the exam ended, a crowd immediately gathered around Elise in excitement.

"El, I actually saw the answers right there on the test! Because of you, I'm getting into my dream school!"

"I thought I was doomed to community college. But thanks to you, I've got a real shot at a proper university now!"