Chapter 201: Was she ready?

Exams week is called hell week for a reason. However, all things had their beginning and end. After a stifling and nerve-wracking exam week, the end of it finally arrived.

"I’m very nervous about the result," Lily expressed as she dragged her chair around Penny’s desk. "I’m worried. Ginnie, are you also worried?"

Ginnie, who also dragged a chair around Penny’s desk, sat down. "Yes, I’m really worried. I need to keep my grades up. Penny, how about you?"

"Hmm?" Penny blinked adorably, looking at the stressed look on her friends. ’It’s easier than having to cut down my snacks.’

"Very hard. I’m very nervous." She smiled like an angel, watching her friends sigh in both relief and nervousness. "It’s okay, guys! You studied hard, so I’m sure your exam results are going to be okay!"

Ginnie and Lily tried to smile in appreciation for her attempt to cheer them up. However, their worries lingered. The fact that maintaining to be in the top section was already a pressure for all of them. What’s more, Ginnie had to keep her good grades as a scholar student, and the fact that Patricia bullied her in the past, Ginnie had to have a high score on this final exam as a last push to keep her grades high.

"Hey, hey!" one of their classmates approached them enthusiastically. "President, do we have plans for next week’s foundation week?"

Lily glanced up and blinked. "Foundation week? Oh, right... we have that now."

In the Academy, after the final exam, the following week would be a week-long event before the summer break. It was a treat for students who worked hard during the exam week and it was the school’s way of letting the students have some fun while waiting for the results.

Almost like giving candy before handling the bitter truth.

Thinking about this, Penny’s face scrunched up. ’After tiring their students, they would hold this event, only for some students to cry at the end of the week if they saw their grades.’

"Since we are in the fan club and everyone in here is a part of it, we were wondering if we should integrate the club and our class section’s booth!" said the classmate enthusiastically. "What do you say?"

Lily, who was still trying to recharge from the exam, pondered about it. After a second, she seemed to quickly forget her worries a second ago.

"That’s not bad!" she perked up and turned to Ginnie. "Ginnie, it’s a great idea, right?"

Ginnie nodded with a smile, seemingly deciding to forget her worries for now.

"Penny, do you have any ideas for the foundation week?" Lily asked, and all of them turned to Penny. Their eyes twinkled, waiting for her answer.

"Ah... he he..." Penny laughed awkwardly as she darted her eyes between their eager faces. "About that... I’m not... I mean..."

"Penny?"

Suddenly, Miss Sandford’s voice was heard coming into the classroom. Everyone intuitively turned to their homeroom teacher, who was strutting toward the front of the classroom.

"Yes, Miss Sandford?" Penny enthusiastically rose from her seat, seeing this as an opportunity to do the planning for them.

Miss Sandford smiled upon noticing Penny’s enthusiasm. "The headmaster is summoning you to his office."

"Oh?" Penny furrowed her brows slightly but didn’t ask more questions. She simply faced her friends and grinned. "Lily, you can decide on what we should do on the foundation week. I have trust in you~"

"Uh, okay..." Lily trailed off, watching Penny take her things in a hurry.

All they could do was watch Penny run out of the classroom while saying, "Miss Sandford, I’m going to the headmaster’s office now~!"

*

*

*

When Penny was far from her classroom, her quick pace slowed down until she walked at a normal pace. On the way to the headmaster’s office, she finally had the time to wonder what the headmaster wanted from her this time.

’Did I do something wrong? Or did I answer the exam so fast that it looks suspicious?’ she wondered to herself, brows furrowed. ’Nah, that’s impossible. We just finished our exam and there’s no way the teachers already checked them.’

Penny shook her head and tossed whatever thoughts at the back of her mind. There was no point in wondering or giving herself unnecessary worries.

With that thought in mind, Penny soon reached the headmaster’s office. After one knock and stating her presence, she heard the headmaster’s voice from the inside.

Gaining permission to come in, Penny quickly stepped inside.

"Penny," the headmaster called as he rose from his desk, motioning a hand for Penny to sit on the couch in the office.

Penny obediently sat on the long couch, her bag on her lap. Meanwhile, the headmaster sat down in the wing chair while taking off his reading glasses. He was holding a handful of files, which he put on the table.

"Penny," called the headmaster again, his gentle smile already told her it wasn’t bad news. "Did you guess why I called for you?"

Penny shook her head.

"Professor Singh reached out a few days ago and was inquiring about you," he summarized, and that alone was enough for Penny to understand what this was all about. "I’ve also received your request to leap to a higher level early on. Upon checking your records, I can confidently tell you that your chances of moving up and graduating are high."

Penny pursed her lips as she somehow held her breath, a mix of anticipation in her heart.

"And with Professor Singh wanting to nurture a young genius — as what he called you — early, you can," the headmaster’s tone turned solemn, looking at her in the eye. "As the headmaster, your credentials are very impressive. To be honest, they’re more impressive than those from the star section. However, there’s only one thing I’m worried about."

Her brows rose curiously, blinking as she waited for the headmaster to finish whatever he wanted to add.

"Are you truly prepared for this?" he asked, only to see her smile.

"Yes, Headmaster." Her answer was quick without a second hesitation. "This is what I want."

The headmaster rocked his head. "But an internship under Professor Singh might need a separation from your family. I’m not trying to pry and whatever decision you have, I’ll respect it. After all, your father told me that whatever your decision is, he’ll support it as your guardian."

"Penny, I’m simply worried since you’ve only reunited with them," he explained. "I’m not trying to talk you out of it, but Charles, your father is like a good son to me. So, I want you to be very sure of it. Were you really ready?"

This time, Penny didn’t answer, and the decisive smile on her face faded.

Was she