Dane shrugged and said, "He blew up a stove just a few days ago."
Hearing this, Conrad thought about Devon's messy appearance earlier, likely from pulling too many all-nighters. He chuckled and said, "Well, life isn't always smooth sailing."
Dane lowered his gaze slightly and smiled, agreeing, "True, it's all about having real skills."
Conrad found the underlying message quite insightful, and it lifted his spirits. "Once we're done with the exams here, let's find some time to hang out and swap some tips on pharmacology."
Dane had been meaning to build a good rapport with Conrad, given that he was the vice president's apprentice. He nodded and replied, "Sure, I've got some questions I'd love to ask you."
Conrad, hands clasped behind his back, nodded in agreement.
---
The next day was the big exam for the pharmacists.
The association's annual assessment is a major event, reevaluating rankings and requiring thorough preparation from every pharmacist.
Aside from specifying which ingredients to use, the exam had no strict rules, nor did it demand a specific medicine to be made, allowing for plenty of creativity.
It was a bit like cooking, where you had to whip up different dishes from a set ingredient—same idea.
This year's exam ingredients were all organized by the vice president since David had been tied up with the medicinal plant base lately and couldn't oversee it.
On the spacious grounds of the pharmacists' association, over a dozen stoves were set up, with all the necessary ingredients and equipment ready to go.
The exam was done in batches.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Double or more Life of the Fake Heiress (Mirabella)