Simon was floored for a sec but then thought, no way this could be the legendary big shot, Brent Jenkins.


    Brent was a giant in the medical world.Snagging an appointment was like winning the lottery, and his lectures were always jam-packed. Some students even brought their own chairs to his sses. How the heck could Katniss know such a big shot?


    Maybe the news about him personallying to proctor the exam was bogus. Someone of his caliber wouldn''t have the time toe and proctor an exam.


    But then Katniss hesitated and tentatively asked, "Professor Jenkins?"


    Brent nodded warmly and said, "You must be Katniss. You''re the only candidate today, so don''t sweat it. Just do your best."


    Standing at a distance, Simon was floored again.


    Could it really be Brent Jenkins?


    Or was it just someone with the samest name?


    Judging by their interaction, Katniss not only got into the exam room but even if she bombed it, Brent could probably pass her. Given his status at the school, he could easily make that happen. Katniss smiled slightly, ced her backpack on the table outside the exam room, and prepared to take only a pen inside with her.


    But after searching for a while, she frowned.


    Her pencil case was really missing.


    Katniss turned her backpack inside out but couldn''t find it.


    Could it have fallen out on the way?


    But the backpack wasn''t torn, and she had checked everything beforeing.


    Seeing that the exam was about to start, Katniss had no choice but to apologize, "Professor Jenkins, I''m really sorry, do you have a pen? I lost mine on the way."


    Simon, who had been eavesdropping the whole time, sneered. This Katniss, forgetting to bring a pen to such an important exam and making excuses, was really embarrassing the Manners family. Even if the professor had a good impression of her, it would surely change now. How could a medical student be so careless?


    But Brentughed heartily and took a pen from his shirt pocket, "Use mine for now. I''ll get you some inkter."


    "Thank you," Katniss said gratefully, taking the pen and entering the exam room.


    Seeing how lenient Brent was with Katniss, Simon pursed his lips and walked away. Katniss didn''t need his concern because plenty of people cared about her!


    No, he wasn''t concerned about Katniss. He just felt a bit guilty after what Eli said yesterday, especially since he hadn''t intervened when Ruby wanted to hit her. After all, Katniss was his sister, and he should have protected her.


    Simon walked back and happened to see ra throwing out the trash.


    "ra," he said, smiling as he walked over. ra seemed startled and quickly threw the trash into the bin.


    "Simon!"


    "What''s wrong, ra?" Simon teased with a smile, "You resemble a thief."


    ra''s face turned pale, and she looked a bit aggrieved.


    Seeing this, Simon wanted to p himself. How could he call ra a thief?


    He quickly ruffled her hair and said, "Look at my stupid mouth, can''t say anything right. How could ra be a thief? You''re my little princess."


    "Simon," ra finally said with a slight smile, "Alright, aren''t you going to ss? I gotta go."


    Simon had a ss too, but it didn''t start for another half hour. He knew ra''s schedule by heart and knew she had a ss soon, so he waved, "Alright, ra, go to ss." ra nodded and walked towards the teaching building. After a bit, she turned back to look, and Simon quickly waved again. Only when she entered the building did he turn to leave. Halfway there, he looked back and saw ra still hadn''t gone inside, watching his back.


    Simon thought to himself, ''ra really cares about me!''


    Feeling pretty pleased, Simon headed back to ss.


    An hourter, Simon was sitting in ss, bored out of his mind and twirling his pen, when something suddenly clicked.


    "I need to use the bathroom!"


    Momentster, Simon bolted out of the ssroom and ran to the spot where he had said goodbye to ra. Without a word, he opened the trash can.


    A foul smell hit his nose, and Simon almost hurled.


    But he quickly reached in and started digging through the trash.


    Just when he thought he had found nothing and was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he saw a piece of light-colored fabric under the trash. His heart sank. When Simon pulled out the fabric, it was indeed a pencil case.


    Even then, Simon tried to fool himself, thinking maybe it wasn''t Katniss''s pencil case.


    But when he opened it, he saw Katniss''s name signed inside.


    ra.


    Simon''s hand trembled uncontrobly.


    He began to question his long-held beliefs.


    Another hour passed.


    Katniss finished her exam, checked her answers, and handed the paper to Brent.


    Brent nced at it and his eyes lit up with approval, saying, "Well done, Katniss."


    He flipped through the paper again and asked, "Have you studied medicine before?"


    Katniss hesitated and then nodded, "My grandma used to run a clinic, and I learned from her."


    Brent chuckled, "I thought you had a natural talent. So you had another teacher. Where did your grandma run her clinic?"


    The medicalmunity in Luminous City was small, and Brent knew almost everyone. He asked casually, wondering if she was the child of someone he knew. Katniss said with a bitter smile, "My grandma passed away six months ago."


    Brent was taken aback and quickly changed the subject, saying, "I see. Katniss, don''t be too sad. Your grandma would be happy to know you''re pursuing medicine." "Thank you," Katniss nodded earnestly.


    "So, will youe to ss tomorrow? I''ll have my assistant send you the schedule and books," Brent said, increasingly convinced that he shouldn''t waste such a promising student.


    Katniss quickly said, "Professor Jenkins, I have to take my department''s exam tomorrow. I need to pass it to transfer. And the teacher said I need toplete some paperwork before I can attend your sses."


    Brentughed heartily and patted his chest, "No problem, leave it to me. Juste to ss tomorrow. I''ll have my assistant handle the paperwork right now!"