Chapter 28: Plagiarism

Translator: Henyee Translations  Editor: Henyee Translations

Time was up, and the answer sheets were collected.

Those who hadn’t finished could only stop writing and hand in their test papers.

The invigilator sent the papers to the conference room, which then would be marked by the examiners.

Garrett sighed. “The quality of the students this year is far worse than the last year.”

Natalia suddenly exclaimed. “Oh, this person’s problem solution… is amazing!”

Garrett took a look at it and was stunned. “Wow! I take back what I said just now! Mansi, take a look…”

He handed the test paper to Claire.

Claire glanced at the test paper, and her face suddenly turned cold.

“This… this…” Adam was dumbfounded.

The solution on this test paper was exactly the same as the one written by Claire in the hotel before!

He still remembered how he was deeply impressed by such an ingenious solution and took it as a treasure at the time.

Adam said firmly, “This is impossible!”

Although there were many ways to solve a Mathematical Olympiad problem, it was possible for one to have the same problem-solving ideas as someone else.

But Adam was so sure because Claire incorporated her name into the solution, which was tantamount to putting on an anti-counterfeiting mark.

In this world, there would never be a second person who would come up with the same solution as her.

Therefore, there was only one explanation for the situation on this test paper.

Plagiarism.

“Whose test paper is this?” Claire’s voice was extremely solemn.

For the sake of fairness, there were only exam numbers on the test papers, no names.

The invigilator showed them the surveillance video and pointed to the girl in the sixth row of the first group on the screen. “No. 1062, it’s her.”

Claire’s pupils suddenly constricted.

Phoebe?

“It’s her!” Adam exclaimed.

Claire turned her head. “Why are you so surprised? Do you know her?”

“Last week she came to me and asked me about a math problem. At that time…”

“Yes?”

“I…” Adam’s eyes flickered and he looked quite guilty. “I put the piece of paper on which you wrote the solution… on the table… Little Claire, don’t be angry. I didn’t expect her to…”

Adam carefully observed Claire’s look.

It was scary when this girl lost her temper.

Besides, this matter occurred due to his negligence indeed.

Claire didn’t speak, with a trace of irritation on her indifferent face, and her eyes were chilly.

Garrett rested his chin on his hand. “But there is no actual evidence. What should we do now?”

Claire was spinning a pen with her long and slender fingers, which danced flexibly around her fingertips, like a wonderful show.

After a while, she suddenly stopped and put down the pen with a snap.

She seemed to have made a decision.

She picked up Phoebe’s test paper, got up and walked out.

The other three looked at each other. “Where is she going?”

The participating students were still sitting in the classroom, waiting for the results, when they suddenly saw a slender figure walk in and were all surprised.

“Who is she?”

“It seems to be Mansi, the vice president of the International Mathematical Olympiad Association. She wears a mask and sunglasses every time she appears.”

Under the students’ surprised stare, Claire walked straight to Phoebe and put the test paper on her desk.

She deliberately lowered her voice.

“Young lady, can you talk about your problem-solving ideas?”

Phoebe blinked in surprise, and was stunned for a while before asking innocently. “Is there anything wrong with my solution?”

“No.” Claire said with a chuckle. “Your solution is very good. I am very interested in it.”

Phoebe was happy and panicky at the same time.

She was happy that she won the favor of Mansi, but she panicked… because she had copied the solution to this question. How could she explain the idea behind the solution?

She couldn’t even make it up.

“I… I, well…” Phoebe stuttered and no one could understand what she was trying to say.

“Can you speak more clearly?” Claire asked, propping her hands on the desk, leaning forward, almost imprisoning Phoebe in her shadow.

The cold, unfathomable eyes behind her sunglasses were locked on Phoebe, firmly.