The Mocked Miss’s Hidden Crowns novel Chapter 925

There were less than ten minutes left before the competition started.

Shirley packed up her things, handed her backpack to Andrew, and took a couple of long drinks from her water bottle, trying to steady her nerves.

“It’s just a competition,” Andrew said. He sounded awkward as he grabbed a tissue and dabbed away a little water from the corner of her mouth. “Why are you so stressed?”

“It’s not just a competition.” Shirley looked at him, her tone serious. “If I place, I can join the Physics Society. Once I’m in, I’ll have a shot at guaranteed grad school, and maybe even win a scholarship to study abroad.”

Her excitement grew as she spoke, her eyes shining. “A scholarship to study abroad. Can you imagine?”

For her, it wasn’t even about going abroad. It was about not having to pay for it.

Andrew stared, feeling a little slow on the uptake.

He remembered Shirley as the timid one. Back at Vanguard High, when people picked on her, she’d just hide and cry. Even then, she’d keep studying when no one was looking. It always seemed like money was tight for her, and she was always working her hardest to change her future.

Andrew pressed his lips together, his feelings all tangled up. He’d grown up never worrying about money. He’d almost forgotten that life could be so tough for other people.

Shirley was way stronger than he’d ever been.

“What’s up with you?” Shirley asked softly, noticing the look on his face.

“It’s nothing.” Andrew let out a breath, then reached out and gently squished her cheeks. He tried to act cool. “Go crush it, alright? Make my cheering you on actually count for something.”

“Stop messing with my face…” Shirley grumbled, but she was smiling.

“Alright, get going. It’s time.”

Andrew watched her walk away. When he turned around, Parrish and Stella were standing there with their water cups, giving him the exact same look.

Parrish said, “I didn’t see anything.”

Stella chimed in, “Me neither.”

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