"I've already reserved a table at a hotpot restaurant. Let's go." When the tutoring session ended and Tony Snow and Lina Sharp came out of the study, her father, Martin Sharp, had already booked a table.
Tony didn't hesitate to accept the free meal and followed Martin and Lina out.
They rode the elevator down to the underground garage, got into Martin's sleek commercial vehicle, and drove straight to the restaurant.
"Tony, how's my daughter doing? Can her grades improve?" Martin asked from behind the wheel, glancing in the rearview mirror.
"Mr. Sharp, your daughter is incredibly intelligent. If she continues this level of engagement during our sessions, she has a strong chance of getting into a top-tier university in just over two months," Tony replied honestly.
Martin laughed. "Every teacher who's worked with her has said the same—she's got a high IQ."
Tony smiled, remembering his own past. Teachers had told him the same thing growing up: "Tony is smart, he just doesn't focus." But when he did focus—staying up late to study and giving it everything—he only barely made it into a mid-tier university.
Even with the life simulator granting him knowledge from alternate lives, Tony had never found true brilliance without significant effort. His longest simulated life had reached eighty-one years, and even then, after exhausting all shortcuts, he was just average again.
"By the way, do you have a professor named Ethan Hall?" Martin asked.
"Yes, Professor Hall taught 'Microbiology' and 'Fundamentals of Molecular Biology' in my junior year. You know him?" Tony asked, surprised.
"We were college classmates. When I heard about you, I gave him a call. He spoke highly of your progress. Said you were near the bottom during your first two years, but by junior year, you were topping exams."
Tony rubbed the back of his neck, a bit embarrassed. "Yeah… freshman and sophomore years were rough. I was up all night on my phone—gaming, binge-watching shows, wasting time. But by junior year, I pulled myself together. I'm even preparing for grad school."
"Graduate school? Any thoughts on where? You should consider Westbridge University. Their life sciences program is highly regarded, and you're already familiar with the city," Martin offered.
Tony knew Martin had attended Westbridge—so had Professor Hall. Many professors had companies on the side. Rumors were that Hall ran one where students sometimes interned.
"If you need an internship next year, my company always has room for someone like you," Martin added casually.
"Thank you, Mr. Sharp. I'll definitely consider that," Tony replied sincerely.
"Lina, you hear that? Keep studying with Tony, and you might both end up at Westbridge. He could be your senior."
Tony chuckled. "Actually, I'm aiming for the National Institute of Advanced Sciences."
Martin raised an eyebrow. "That's ambitious. Confident you'll get in?"
"Absolutely. I'm applying to their School of Life Sciences."
Martin nodded slowly. "You should look into their Summer Research Camp. It's a recent initiative where universities host top undergraduates for a week—lab tours, faculty intros, workshops, and interviews. If you perform well, it can fast-track your admission."
Tony's eyes widened slightly. He'd heard of such programs but had dismissed them because his early academic record was too weak to qualify. But now he realized—his girlfriend, Clara Quinn, might qualify. Her GPA had always been stellar.
"I haven't looked into it much. With my earlier grades, I figured I wouldn't make the cut," Tony admitted.
Martin waved a hand. "Understandable. The system wasn't as accessible in my day either. But for students with consistent performance, it's a great opportunity."
Tony made a mental note to tell Clara. Maybe he couldn't apply—but she still could.