Byungho also scrambled to get the final answer, his brow furrowing with every step he completed.
The more he solved, the closer it leaned toward Zeno’s answer.
Meanwhile, the professors couldn’t believe their eyes.
“Unbelievable,” one muttered.
“Is it right?” the crowd began to discuss.
“Eh, it must not be. He made up the answer.”
Eli, too, didn’t know if Zeno’s answer was legit. However, the combination of numbers and letters didn’t seem to be a joke.
The host walked over to the professors’ seats.
“Is it right?” he asked.
“… yes.”
The crowd gasped in shock.
“They actually got it right?”
“What the heck? Someone from Medicine beat Byungho and Taek?”
“How could he answer that question in just forty seconds?”
Eli was the most shocked out of all of them. What was this? What happened to his academically average friend?
Was he hiding his talents all along?
“So, the one million won is ours, right?” Zeno asked, breaking the shocked atmosphere.
He stared at the envelope of money on the table before glancing at Eli, who was still wide-eyed.
“W—what? H—how?” Eli stammered.
“Don’t think too much about it,” Zeno whispered.
Then, he was about to go down the stage to claim their prize money when Byungho exclaimed loudly.
“You!”
They all turned to Byungho, who appeared angry. Taek couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him.
As much as he wanted to personally beat him, this was still good. The two of them were beaten by an unknown guy!
Byungho was the type of guy who was used to winning, so seeing his angry expression was such a satisfying sight!
Byungho couldn’t believe that he lost to someone like this guy. He had lost in international competitions but never in national ones.
This guy must be older than him—that was the only plausible reason.
“You’re not from here, are you?”
Zeno pursed his lips, ignoring him before turning to Eli. “Come on,” he said. “Let’s take the prize money and bolt.”
However, Byungho was having none of that as he held onto Zeno’s shoulder.
The crowd gasped, sensing the tension between increase.
The host awkwardly chuckled, trying to ease the situation. “Come on now,” he said. “This is a friendly math competition. No need to argue.”
“Who are you?” Byungho asked, not minding their reactions.
Zeno glanced at the professors, and they were casting their eyes away. It seemed they, too, didn’t dare to mess with Byungho because of his father’s status. They wanted to protect their positions.
Fortunately for Zeno, he didn’t need to do anything like that! Byungho was yet another tool he used to finish his quest efficiently.
“This is an open competition,” Zeno responded. “Everyone is allowed to join.”
“Everyone from THIS school is allowed to join,” Byungho emphasized through gritted teeth.
Zeno couldn’t help but chuckle. Byungho had no problem accepting them into the competition a while ago because he thought that he and Eli were an easy target.
However, now that they had lost, he had a problem with it.
Truly, excessive pride was one of the banes of existence.
“Hey man, let’s say you just won,” Zeno lightly said, patting his shoulder. “I just need the one million won right there,” he pointed toward the table.
Somehow, that made Byungho feel worse.
The crowd chuckled at Zeno’s lighthearted comment, but they quickly zipped their mouths when Byungho glared at them.
Zeno was about to leave once more when Byungho spoke again. This time, he talked loudly, making sure everyone around them could hear what he was saying.
“I saw this guy earlier,” he started off. “He was in line at the accounting office, and he said he was here to pay for his nephews’ tuition.”
“Nephew?” the others began to discuss.
“So, he’s old?”
“Eh, that’s unfair then. What if he’s a professor, too?”
“I’m young,” Zeno quickly defended.
Meanwhile, Eli turned to him and whispered, “Nephew, really?”
Zeno merely chuckled and wrapped one arm around Eli. “My nephew and I are the same age because his father, which is my brother, married early,” he said.
“My father is an only child, you bastard,” Eli muttered.
Meanwhile, Byungho and the others weren’t buying it.
“Well, it is true that only those enrolled in Y university could compete,” the host said, wanting to put an end to it.
Zeno cursed under his breath. He was so close to getting the money!
“Well, this guy is from this school,” Zeno said, referring to Eli. “So, that means we are qualified.”
“Now, if you excuse us, we will leave with the prize money.”
Zeno walked swiftly. However, at that moment, Byungho held onto his hood and pulled it away.
Along with that, his mask fell to the ground from the force of Byungho’s pull, revealing his face to the students of Y University.
“No use in hiding your face, old man,” Byungho smirked.
At that moment, the sun shone down on him like the gods were on his side. Or, in this case, against his side.
Zeno didn’t question it anymore.
“Shit,” he muttered.
The crowd’s shock had tripled. First, because someone had beaten Byungho and Taek in a math competition. Second, Zeno Han was in front of them. And third, Zeno Han was smart?
Things escalated quickly. The crowd began to squeal as Zeno placed his hood back on.
Byungho and Taek were confused by the sudden commotion since they couldn’t see Zeno. All they could see was the back of his head, which, strangely, appeared quite handsome, too.
“It’s Zeno Han!” the people began to exclaim.
“Zeno Han is in our school!”
“Omo, he’s more handsome in real life.”
“What is he doing here?”
“I don’t know, but let’s ask for a photo!”
Zeno could sense the impending danger. Just then, he felt Eli’s hand on his wrist, dragging him away from the scene.
At the same time, he had revealed himself to the other contestants, making them freeze in shock.
Byungho had to step back once he saw Zeno’s face. Zeno smirked at him and even gave him a teasing wink, causing all the color to drain from his neck.
He hadn’t been beaten by a middle-aged man but by a handsome young one? Byungho wanted to get swallowed by the ground in embarrassment!
The news that Zeno Han was at Y University quickly spread, and before they knew it, Eli and Zeno were being chased.
“Zeno, run!”