"Miss Shaw over there has attended elite private schools since birth. I heard she even had one-on-one tutoring from top instructors throughout high school. Scoring that high isn't surprising."

"Then the girl from the countryside doesn’t stand a chance, does she? The quality of education there just can't compare."

"I'm actually curious about the rural girl's score. Her mom agreed so confidently just now—she must think her daughter can perform well."

Hayden wore a smug, proud expression as he affectionately patted Vivian on the head.

Meanwhile, the notary glanced at the number I had written, hesitating for a moment.

"Ms. Gwen... are you sure this is the number you want to submit?"

I crossed one leg over the other and leaned back in my chair, calm and unshaken.

"Read it aloud. I'm sure."

Seeing how firm I was, the staff member didn’t press further, though his face looked a bit awkward as he announced, "Ms. Perrie’s estimated score for the comprehensive liberal arts section is… zero."

For a moment, the entire room fell silent.

"Zero? That can’t be right. Even guessing randomly would score more than zero."

"Did she misunderstand the rules? It’s supposed to be closest to the real score, not the lowest."

"I thought she was so confident earlier... Looks like she’s walking away with nothing."

Perrie looked at me in confusion. "Mom... My last mock exam score was 275. Why did you...?"

Vivian burst out laughing, gloating with glee. "Perrie, even your mom doesn’t believe in you! Zero points? Dad wasted all those materials on you. What a joke—are you brain-dead? Hahaha!"

My daughter’s face flushed bright red. She clenched her fists and snapped back.

"That’s not true! My mom was just too flustered from dealing with you all."

"We’ll consider this round a warm-up. The next two—we won’t lose!"

Vivian’s eyes gleamed. "Let’s see about that, then!"

My daughter ignored her taunts and leaned close to whisper in my ear.

"Mom, don’t worry. Just guess like you always do. Trust yourself."

Looking into her hopeful eyes, my heart tightened. I hated what I was about to do... but I could only respond with a small smile.

The notary soon began the second round.

"For the second round, both mothers will estimate their daughters’ total college entrance exam scores. Mr. Shaw has wagered 30% of the marital assets. Same rule: if the guess is within five points of the actual score, the one closest to it wins."

This time, Jade didn’t rush to write her answer. Instead, she turned to me with a mocking smile.

"Dear sister, perhaps you were nervous last round because I was too fast. Why don’t you go first this time?"

"Or maybe you’d like to consult your daughter? You can come up with an answer together—so no one accuses me of bullying someone from the countryside."

My daughter’s eyes lit up. She had already compared answers after the exam and was confident she could give me an accurate estimate.

But I gently stopped her.

She was too young to understand the traps hidden beneath Jade’s words. But I knew exactly what she was doing.

That fake kindness—suggesting I confer with my daughter—wasn’t generosity. It was bait. A test.

The original rules clearly stated that only the mother could guess the score. If I openly discussed it with my daughter, even if we won, they might use it to invalidate my answer.

"No need," I said firmly. "I’ve got it."

I quickly wrote down my estimate and handed it to the notary.

Seeing I didn’t take the bait, Jade didn’t push it. She soon handed over her own slip as well.

After glancing at both answers, the notary looked up and gave me a look—one that was hard to read.

“I’ll ask again—do both parties fully understand the rules of this contest? If anything is unclear, I can explain it once more.”

“After all, this isn’t just about exam scores. It concerns the division of marital assets. I hope you’re taking this seriously.”

The notary glanced at his watch. Only fifteen minutes remained before the college entrance exam results would officially be released.

I spoke calmly. “Sir, just announce the results. In a few minutes, the scores will be out anyway—what’s the point of guessing then?”

The notary hadn’t expected me to be so blunt, but with a quick nod, he proceeded to read the second-round results.

“This round: Ms. Jade, mother of Vivian, estimated a total score of 712. Ms. Gwen, mother of Perrie, estimated is zero.”

The room erupted in murmurs.

Half the guests gasped at Jade’s astonishingly high estimate. The other half burst into laughter at my supposed foolishness.

“Seven-twelve?! That’s provincial top scorer level! But what’s going on with the ex-wife—zero again?”

“Well, it makes sense. Jade was a top student at Stanford, after all. Her daughter scoring high isn’t surprising.”

“Oh, now I get it. Honestly, when it comes to marriage, genetics matter. That Gwen—original wife or not—didn’t even finish high school. No wonder Mr. Shaw is divorcing her.”

“Exactly! Look at how polished Miss Vivian is. She's clearly raised with care. Not like some people, who must be complete idiots. Otherwise, how else do you explain two rounds of zero?”

Hayden laughed heartily, then pulled Jade into a proud kiss.

“Hahaha! That’s my daughter! Jade, you’ve raised Vivian beautifully!”

Jade furrowed her brows when she heard I’d written another zero. Her eyes kept flicking at me, as if trying to see through me. But when Hayden kissed her so suddenly, she put on a bashful smile.

“Hayden, there are people watching!”

Then she turned toward the others, her voice sweet yet provocative.

“I just believe that three years of hard work will pay off. We’ll know soon enough once the results are out. But I have faith—Vivian won’t disappoint us.”

Then she looked back at me and added, “But Gwen, haven’t you always called Hayden saying your daughter’s grades were great? So why write zero again? Are you just giving up half the property like that?”

Unfazed, I smiled faintly. “There’s still one round left. Whoever wins or loses isn’t decided yet.”

Vivian seized the opportunity to mock Perrie again. “Some people might’ve faked their scores all along. Now they’re just trying to scam money out of Dad using this guessing game. But the college entrance exam reveals true ability. I get why she had to write zero—she couldn’t even guess closely.”

Their words quickly sparked gossip among the guests—and worse, pierced my teenage daughter’s vulnerable heart.

She blinked rapidly, eyes red and brimming with tears, and looked at me with hurt and disbelief.

“Mom… You know what I’m capable of. Why would you write zero on purpose?”

I shook my head, keeping my voice low but firm.

“That is your score.”

“No way! I checked my answers after the exam. I’m definitely above the cutoff for a top university!”

Seeing her so worked up, tears streaming down her face, my heart ached.

She had always known her father was barely around. I was the one caring for her, tending to his parents, working the land—doing it all on my own.

Even so, she never once complained. She was the kind of child who finished her homework after school and then helped out with house chores.

When I stayed silent, she finally choked out, “Mom... are you scared I didn’t do well? Or did you just give up, thinking there’s no point in fighting anymore?”

“But after everything you’ve been through all these years—after all the pain—that property is yours. Why should they be the ones to take it from you?”

“Mom, we still have a chance. Don’t give up, okay?”

My silly daughter. Even now, she was still trying to defend me.

She wanted to fight for what’s rightfully mine—but all I wanted was to protect her.

Sighing, I patted her head. “Alright. I’ll guess properly in the next round.”

Hayden scoffed, his eyes full of contempt. “Your mother already said that zero was your real score, and you still think you can get into a top-tier university? You're delusional!”

Hearing her father’s blatant favoritism, Perrie bit her lip, her fists clenched tight at her sides, her eyes glistening with unshed tears and silent humiliation.

Suddenly, Jade chimed in, turning to Hayden with a falsely sympathetic tone. “Hayden, you can’t blame the child. Maybe it’s her mother, venting old resentment toward you through the girl.”

“After all, Perrie is your biological daughter. Since she believes she can get into a top-tier school, how about we switch up the final round? Let’s guess which university they’ll be admitted to.”

Hayden thought for a moment, then nodded. “Fine. For the final round, let’s guess which universities they’ll get into. I’ll wager 50% of my total assets. Whoever guesses correctly—wins.”

The room erupted once again, filled with gasps and frenzied whispers.

“Fifty percent?! That means if she wins this round too, Jade gets everything! The ex-wife walks away with nothing!”

“Even if her daughter didn’t score zero, her grades probably aren’t great. If they just name a random second-rate college, maybe she’ll get lucky and sneak in.”

“Yeah, but it’s just a maybe. Vivian, on the other hand, with over 700 points—she could get into any school she wants.”

“At this point, the only chance the ex-wife has is if she guesses a realistic university for her daughter. Otherwise? She’ll be walking away with nothing but signed divorce papers.”

I ignored their chatter and picked up the pen slowly, writing down just a few simple words.

The notary soon read out the guesses.

“Ms. Jade has written: Stanford-Harvard University.”

“Ms. Gwen has written... the same: Stanford or Harvard University.”

A wave of disbelief rippled through the room.

“Did she go mad?” someone whispered.

“Guessing zero twice and now this? Did she ever even understand the rules?”

Only my daughter exhaled in relief.

Jade let out a laugh so smug it creased her face like the crow’s feet.

“Gwen, I never knew you had such high hopes for your daughter. But are you aware that Stanford and Harvard University are the top universities in the entire country? Not just anyone can get in.”

Hayden glared at me with disgust. “You're indeed a country bumpkin. Completely brainless!”

“I was actually willing to show you a little mercy, thinking you’d had it tough over the years. But now—”

At that moment, the banquet hall’s large screen began a five-minute countdown to the release of the college entrance exam results.

I waved my fan lazily, cutting him off. “Enough. The three rounds are over. Just sign the notarized agreement. Or are you afraid I’ll back out when the scores come out in a few minutes?”

Hayden opened his mouth to argue, but Jade gently tugged his sleeve and whispered something to him. Finally, he gritted his teeth and signed.

The moment to check the scores finally arrived.

Jade looked graciously toward me. “Gwen, you’re older. Why don’t you go first?”

I didn’t even glance her way. I rubbed my temples and sighed. “Oh dear, age really does dull the memory. I rushed out so fast this morning, I forgot the admission ticket. I can’t remember her exam number either...”

Then I turned to my daughter. “Sweetheart, do you remember it?”

Perrie looked at me, then slowly shook her head.