On Monday, Liza arrived at class as usual, but the atmosphere felt different. She quickly learned that Serena had applied for leave. Could it be that yesterday’s events hit her harder than I thought? Liza mused, shaking her head. Tsk tsk, her mental resilience is really poor. “Teacher, the English test is this afternoon. Aren’t you going to say something to motivate us?” the class monitor of Class 3 asked, his tone tinged with exasperation as he glanced at Liza. “Ah…” Liza blinked, only just recalling the test. It was an English translation exam, focusing on rendering foreign literature into precise and elegant language. Unlike other universities, Li City University emphasized holistic development and international engagement, which often led to unconventional exams like this one. Translation itself wasn’t difficult for someone experienced, but conveying the nuances of a sentence, especially with unfamiliar terms or regional dialects, was challenging. A strong grasp of foreign cultures was essential for success. The exam seemed timed to identify candidates for the prestigious International Real-Time Translation Competition. Thinking of the competition reminded Liza of her own invitation, and her enthusiasm waned. She waved dismissively at the class monitor. “Just do your best on the test. It’s not a big deal.” The class monitor frowned. “Teacher, have you forgotten about our bet with Ava? Even if the odds are against us, we don’t want to lose without putting up a fight.” Liza’s eyebrows arched. “Who said the odds are against you?” She smirked. Did they think she, the reigning champion of the competition, wore the title as mere decoration? All the assignments she had given them over the semester were carefully designed to strengthen their fundamentals for this very challenge. Though they seemed basic, these exercises laid a solid foundation. If her students trusted their preparation, there was nothing to fear. The class monitor, unaware of how intentionally Liza had trained them, was stunned by her confidence. He wanted to protest that she was expecting too much of them when an interrupting voice echoed from the doorway. “I’ll ace this test and watch you fail, Liza!” Ava sneered, stepping inside. “Get ready to kneel and down to to me. I can’t wait to see you humiliate yourself.” Liza turned calmly toward her challenger, a sly grin playing on her lips. “And what if we get full marks instead? Shouldn’t you kneel and bow to to me? Oh, and don’t forget to call me ‘Daddy.’” For a moment, Ava was stunned. Then she burst into laughter. “Full marks? Are you out of your mind? Do you even know who I am? I’ve always been ranked first in English. What makes a loser like you think you can compete with me?” Liza’s smile didn’t falter. “How would I know unless I try?” Ava’s laughter died down, and she eyed Liza with an incredulous expression. Finally, she nodded, her tone filled with mockery. “Fine, but if you lose, you’ll kneel at the university gates and admit to everyone that you’re worthless. You’ll also confess that you’ll never measure up to Serena!” The surrounding students exchanged uneasy glances. They were well aware of Class 3’s reputation—it was consistently at the bottom of the rankings. How could they possibly outshine Ava, the cohort’s English prodigy? To them, Liza’s confident retort seemed reckless, almost as if she were inviting humiliation. “Let’s not take this too far. It’s just a test—there’s no need to blow things out of proportion,” someone suggested, attempting to ease the growing tension. “Exactly. Why involve kneeling and humiliation? Whoever loses can just buy the winner something nice. Girls love makeup and handbags—how about a luxury gift instead?” another chimed in, trying to lighten the mood. Ava scoffed at the suggestion, her expression laced with disdain. “Luxury goods? Do you even know how Liza gets her money? I wouldn’t want anything bought with her dirty money. Let’s stick to the original terms. Liza, are you even brave enough to go through with this? Answer me!”Liza remained unfazed, meeting Ava’s glare with calm indifference. “Of course, I dare. Didn’t I already say it? If you lose, you’ll kneel and kowtow to me, calling me ‘Daddy.’ Let’s just be clear about one thing—there’s no backing out. Unlike you, I take responsibility for my words and actions. But people like you always find excuses when things don’t go your way. If you lose, you’ll probably act pitiful and spin some sob story to get sympathy. Just imagining it irritates me.” Liza’s tone was firm, her gaze unwavering. If there was going to be a bet, she wanted all terms set in stone. No escape routes, no tricks. Ava, brimming with overconfidence, didn’t even flinch at Liza’s demands. “Fine! Let’s do this,” she said with a smirk, certain of her victory. The class monitor, however, was horrified by how things were escalating. Was their exam now tied to their teacher’s dignity? The pressure was overwhelming, and he wasn’t sure how the class could handle it. As the weight of the situation settled on him, Liza gave his shoulder a reassuring pat. Her tone was lighthearted, as though nothing significant was at stake. “Don’t worry about it. Just take the test like you normally would. There’s no need to stress.” The class monitor stared at her, dumbfounded. ‘No need to stress?’ How could anyone not be nervous in this situation?