The benefits of joining the Math Olympiad team can be summarized in one sentence: it adds points when you get into college.
Of course, there's a prerequisite: the school's Math Olympiad team must achieve a good ranking in the Math Olympiad at the end of the year.
"How about it? Think about it. This is a very good opportunity for you," Sharon said, trying to persuade him after introducing the benefits of joining the Math Olympiad team.
This was indeed a good opportunity for Mike.
It was precisely because this year's Math Olympiad changed its rules, allowing eleventh grade students to participate, that Sharon sought out Mike.
Furthermore, this Math Olympiad also stipulated that each team must have at least one female member, which was also why Sharon approached Cady.
In some ways, Mike and Cady's invitation to the Math Olympiad team had an element of luck.
While Mike was considering the pros and cons of joining the Math Olympiad team, Sharon continued, "I know you're currently participating in the football Summer League, but I can assure you, the Math Olympiad team won't affect your football games. It'll be fine if you join the Math Olympiad team after your Summer League is over."
The study time for the Math Olympiad team was in the afternoon, which coincided with the football team's training time.
Sharon's promise was a significant concession for Mike's football games.
This season's football league had already determined the top ten, and with at most four more games, the championship team would be decided.
Four games would only take about a month.
It was early September now, which meant Mike's football games would all be over by October at the latest.
The Math Olympiad was at the end of December, after Christmas.
If Mike chose to join the Math Olympiad team, he would still have at least two more months to prepare for the Math Olympiad.
Of course, the Math Olympiad team didn't actually need Mike to function. Sharon's strong invitation to him also stemmed partly from her appreciation for talent.
Although Sharon appeared somewhat aloof, she was surprisingly kind-hearted.
Now that Mike had the [Moonlight] talent, he had lost most of his interest in football. He pondered that perhaps participating in the Math Olympiad was a good way to pass the time.
So, Mike said, "OK, I choose to join you."
"Very good," Sharon replied, a hint of a smile appearing on her stern face after receiving his affirmative answer. Then, she looked at Cady: "What about you, Cady?"
The answer was already obvious. Cady secretly glanced at Mike, then said, "I choose to join too."
Upon receiving Cady's affirmative reply, Sharon's expression showed some surprise.
She had privately tried to persuade Cady several times before, but the answer she always got was that she needed to think about it more.
It truly surprised Sharon that Cady was able to agree so readily this time.
However, when Sharon's gaze went back and forth between Mike and Cady a few times, she seemed to understand something.
Cady's happy little expression on her face couldn't be hidden at all.
Sharon didn't expose the girl's little thoughts. She smiled and said, "Very good, Cady, and welcome to the team."
After confirming Mike and Cady's joining, Sharon said to the Math Olympiad team captain standing nearby, "Kevin, it's up to you now. Take them to familiarize themselves with the Math Olympiad team's study room first."
"Okay, leave it to me," Kevin said, patting his chest and taking on the task of leading the way.
After leaving the office, Kevin, ever the familiar one, immediately went over to Mike again.
"Mike, you know what? I've watched all your games. Especially Monday's game, you actually sent their big guy to the hospital, that was so cool…"
Soon, Kevin's focus shifted to Mike's appearance: "Mike, how did you get a face like that? It's really enviable. If I had that look, I wouldn't be without a girlfriend."
It was clear that Captain Kevin had a very lively personality and easily got along with others.
Mike wasn't very good at dealing with such overly enthusiastic people; he just casually humored the other party a few times, but the more he did, the more excited the other party became.
Watching the helpless expression on Mike's face, Cady, who was following behind them, found it very amusing, and a faint smile once again appeared on her face.
Fortunately, the three soon arrived at the Math Olympiad team's study room, and Kevin became much more normal.
He first told the two new Math Olympiad team members about the team's past achievements, then introduced some information about the other members of the Math Olympiad team. Finally, he informed the two new members about the Math Olympiad team's study schedule.
At this point, Kevin's task for this time was considered complete.
Just as Mike and Cady were about to leave, Kevin suddenly called out, "Mike, wait a minute—"
"Is there anything else?" Mike turned around and asked.
Although Captain Kevin talked a bit much, it was clear he was a good person.
Mike didn't dislike people like that.
"Uh, it's a personal matter…" Kevin pulled out a photo, came over to Mike, and spoke a little awkwardly: "Could you sign this for me?"
It turned out that what Kevin was holding was a photo of Mike wearing his number twenty-one football jersey.
"Sure." Mike took the photo, glanced at Kevin in surprise. So the other person really was his fan.
It seemed Jack's promotion had been quite successful during this time. He had even managed to sell photos to guys.
Facing Mike's strange gaze, Kevin hesitated for a moment, then explained, "Actually, I'm going to give this photo to someone."
"Girlfriend?" Mike asked casually. He wasn't really concerned about the answer to that question.
Kevin was under one meter seventy tall, thin and small. Even with his outgoing personality, he probably wasn't the type high school girls liked.
One could only say that his external conditions limited his potential.
"No, not yet," Kevin said optimistically, "But with your autographed photo, maybe I'll be able to find a girlfriend."
'Talent!' Mike's first reaction was to give the other person a thumbs up.
Using someone else's photo to find a girlfriend, this Kevin was truly a… person, very creative.
Mike quickly signed the photo, handed it to the other person, and encouraged him, "Good luck—"
"Ha, I'll try my best~!" Kevin optimistically held up the photo and waved goodbye to Mike.
...
After only the two of them were left in the hallway, and they had walked a bit further, Cady softly said, "Mike, I've decided to apologize to Janis this weekend. Whether she forgives me or not, she's still my friend."
Earlier, Cady had also told Mike some things about herself and Janis over the phone.
Mike had met Janis, who was in twelfth grade. She was a very "cool" girl with no apparent malice.
So, Mike agreed, "That's very good."
"Thanks." Cady, feeling affirmed, slowly stopped. Then, as she stepped back, she smiled and said, "It's still class time, I'll head back first."
Yes, to say a few words to Mike, Cady had followed him almost all the way to the eleventh grade classroom door.
Watching the girl's lightened steps, as if a weight had been lifted from her mind, Mike's mood inexplicably brightened as well.
However, upon returning to class, Mike received a challenge from Sheldon.
"Mike, I definitely won't lose to you in the next exam," Sheldon said confidently.
It turned out that Ms. Ingram had finished explaining the test paper, and she had also casually mentioned the solutions to the last two calculus problems.
Having learned calculus, Sheldon felt capable again.
"You got this," Mike calmly encouraged him.
As for Sheldon surpassing him in high school knowledge, that was impossible.
Although Mike's IQ was still not as high as Sheldon's, in terms of the breadth of knowledge he had acquired, Mike, having received a college education, was confident he could suppress the other party.