Young genius

Penny had to admit money had slowly lost its value for her in her first life because they provided everything she needed. Even when she started making money, she focused more on appeasing her family. But now that she valued every dime she earned by taking advantage of her memories in the first life, spending a few thousand for a secondhand laptop was a huge blow to her little savings. 

She was happy, though. The specs and model were a steal; it was a good thing the seller needed money and eventually agreed to her price. 

"I still have a few left to start as my capital!" Penny giggled, skipping her steps in the hallway. "All that's left is…"

Penny trailed off and stopped when she caught a figure from the corner of her eyes. Walking toward the window on the side, she saw Hugo doing his training in the garden. 

[Hugo's dead.]

Her lips curved down upon remembering Atlas's remarks in her first life. The second child of the Bennet couple dedicated his life to the military. But because of what she had done, Hugo was sent to a dangerous place to die. 

'I've always known his only dream is to serve the country, but I didn't realize he spent his childhood preparing himself for that,' she thought with a little guilt in her heart. 'Don't worry. You'll be a military general in this lifetime.'

Penny huffed with determination, resuming her steps to the library. 

According to Haines and her parents, they were still processing her transfer to her new school. Her parents weren't happy with Penny using her current surname, but they didn't want to make her unhappy either. 

Well, Penny had high grades and even if she stopped going to school for half a year, her academic achievements were good enough for her to move up. Even so, Penny wanted to refresh her memory by reading some advanced books. The Bennet Family would pull some strings for her to get in, but Penny knew the competition in that particular school was fierce. She didn't want anyone to push her around. 

When Penny arrived in the library, her eyes immediately caught Nina and Atlas seated at the long table quietly with their tutor. 

"Huh?" Penny pressed her lips, tiptoeing her way in. 'Don't worry about me. I'm just here to…'

"Penny?" 

Penny winced when she heard Nina's innocent and gentle voice echo. She awkwardly turned her head in their direction, only to see Nina smiling. 

'That smile…'

"Penny, are you here to study as well?" Nina asked, making Atlas look in her direction. "Why don't you join us? Big brother Atlas and I are preparing for our exam."

"Uh…"

"Our tutor is very good. He can help you understand any lesson!" Nina enthusiastically urged, making their tutor smile in satisfaction. "Come!"

Atlas glanced at Nina and then at Penny, but he didn't say anything. He heard about Penny's academic achievements and thus, he thought she didn't need to join them. However, Nina's offer was also not bad. Their tutor was a respectable professor. If it weren't for Charles, this professor wouldn't even give them the time of day. 

Penny was about to refuse the kind offer, but then Atlas spoke. 

"Professor Singh is a respectable professor," he encouraged. "It will be good for your academic background to learn from him."

Nina's smile cracked as she gazed at her big brother. As for Penny, this took her off guard. 

'Aside from Nina, Atlas disliked it when another person was around during his study time.' She was bewildered. 'Is it because I have countless gold medals under my belt?'

"I don't mind, Miss Penny." Professor Singh nodded reassuringly. "You can join us. I heard you were in the same grade as Miss Nina. It'll be easier to teach you both at the same time."

Seeing that all of them already agreed for her to join, Penny heaved a defeated sigh. 

Joining them, Penny sat on the vacant chair next to Nina. Their sitting arrangement was Penny, Nina, and then Professor Signh. On the end of the table was Atlas. 

"I'm currently studying advanced lessons for the upcoming year," said Nina quietly, keeping in mind Atlas's preferences. "Here's a note I wrote. It's already simplified, so you can understand it easily."

Penny raised her brows while Nina moved her notes in front of her. Nina then shifted her focus to the problem she was working on quietly. Professor Singh would check Nina's work from time to time, but it was obvious he was more focused on Atlas's work. 

'Advanced lessons…?' Penny skimmed through the pages of the note, flipping it as if she wasn't reading them. 'I got two PhD in my first life, but oh well. They were still kids and this is probably advanced for them.'

"Uhm. Penny? Can you please keep it down?"

Penny furrowed her brows, only to realize the three of them staring at her. The library was quiet and flipping the pages was already too loud. 

"Don't you understand it?" Nina asked worriedly. "Tell me which part you don't understand. I'll help you."

"Nina, you're also studying for your exam," Atlas frowned. "You can't afford to split your attention."

"That is right, Miss Nina." Professor Singh sighed. "Don't worry. I'll help Miss Penny if there's something she couldn't understand."

Atlas's frown deepened as he needed the professor's undivided attention for the problems he had been stuck in for days now. He just couldn't refuse Nina when she came in to study as well. But Nina wasn't being a nuisance and wasn't fighting for Professor Singh's attention. 

'Is she actually someone who snags attention?' Atlas wondered, thinking of Slater's accusation towards Penny not long ago. 

"Miss Penny, should we start with the basic lesson?" Professor Singh offered kindly.

Professor Singh was a respected Professor and if not for Charles, he would be focusing on writing his next paper. Penny knew this legendary man and in the past, she was honored to learn from him.

"Thank you Professor Singh, but I've already learned these lessons when I was ten," Penny announced. "I'm here because I want to review the college entrance exam." — she worked hard and studied hard in her first lifetime. Hence, she was planning to graduate early this time. 

Atlas and Nina frowned while Professor Singh was slightly amused. He heard about the girl's academic achievements.

"Penny, you're only 13," Atlas grumbled. "Even with your academic achievements, you should know there's a limit to it."

Nina also worriedly added, "Penny, even if you're smart in your school, our school is advanced in every aspect of education. You might be at the top of the list in your previous school but still end up at the bottom list of our school."

Hearing this, Atlas was even more displeased. He didn't want to compare both schools, but Nina had a point. Even Atlas's grade wasn't enough for him to enter the school's special section, but if he entered other schools, he would be at the top not just in his class but also in the entire school. 

"Young Master Atlas and Miss Nina, why don't you return to your lessons?" Professor Singh smiled at the two. "Focus on your lessons and I will help Miss Penny."

He also thought Penny was overestimating herself. Thus, Professor Singh planned to gently let Penny realize that there were no shortcuts in life. Hence, he quietly wrote a slightly hard equation and placed it in front of Penny.

"If you can answer this, then I will reconsider helping you review for the college entrance exam."

Penny's eyes lit up and gazed down. Seeing the problem, she quickly picked up the pen and started answering. Atlas and Nina couldn't help but watch.

Was she actually answering it?

Nina pressed her lips. 'Impossible. I saw the problem and there's no way —'

"Done!"