Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 252

252 /380

Mira took the card. "Don't think about anything else right now. Just focus on your exams tomorrow.

I'll set up a job for you over the winter break."

"Thank you. Thank you so much."

Tears slipped down Elara's cheeks as she spoke.

"Alright, it's okay. You've missed a few days, so hurry up and review your notes. Get your things ready for tomorrow."

After Elara left, Rachel turned to Mira.

"What kind of job are you planning to give Elara for the winter break?"

"The steakhouse is going to be slammed during the holidays, and the pay there is great. I'll have her help out over there."

"But won't she need to take care of her father?" Rachel asked.

"That's true. It all depends on how she manages her schedule."

...

The next day marked the start of their final exams. Mira intentionally cut her morning martial arts routine short by half an hour so she would have plenty of time before arriving at school.

Even though it was only the end of the first semester, this round of testing was a full-scale simulation of the national college entrance exams.

Not only were the questions styled after the national exams, but the testing environment and the invigilators were all held to the exact same rigorous standards.

Once the grades were finalized, the results would be ranked across the entire state, pitting schools directly against one another.

"Mira, did you check the Melvion Central High School forum? A ton of students are calling you out.

Even kids from other schools want to challenge your spot at the top."

The moment Mira stepped onto campus, Liora Bennett practically glued herself to her side, her mouth running a mile a minute.

Mira smiled faintly. "It's just finals. I'll just do my best."

"But what if you slip up? You won't be able to hold onto first place."

"Then I lose it. No one stays in first place forever. I'll just work harder next semester. I'm not going to stress over it."

"Alright, you definitely have a great mindset."

Honestly, scoring over seven hundred was usually enough to clinch first place at Melvion Central High School, but claiming the top spot in the entire state required more than just breaking the seven-hundred mark.