Yuan Luoyi's fans noticed her peculiar state and were extremely worried.
"What's going on? Yuan Luoyi has been preempted in answering the last three questions by Su Xun!"
"Her face looks so pale!"
"Host, please pause the contest and let the contestants rest for a bit!"
On stage, Su Xun heard them and turned around, shouting furiously at that fan: "Shut up!"
The next second, Su Xun realized she was supposed to maintain her well-read and elegant lady persona. She had become too engrossed in the competition with Yuan Luoyi, and that outburst revealed her easily irritable nature.
Su Xun quickly adjusted her expression, reverting to her gentle and adorable demeanor, smiling serenely, and making a heart gesture towards that person, pretending nothing had happened.
The host Na Lan ignored this minor episode and, with time running short, announced the next question.
"Question seven: When the integer n > 2, the indefinite equation x^n + y^n = z^n has no integer solutions. What is this mathematical conjecture called?"
"A: Marck's conjecture, B: Fermat's conjecture, C: Richard's conjecture, D: Andrew's conjecture"
This time, neither Yuan Luoyi nor Su Xun immediately pressed the button.
Mathematics was not Su Xun's forte, and she anxiously tapped the table, needing to answer quickly. The longer she delayed, the greater the chance that Yuan Luoyi would recover her composure!
The seconds ticked by, one by one.
Yuan Luoyi, who had been looking down, suddenly stretched out her hand and pressed option B.
"Yuan Luoyi answered correctly, scoring one point!"
The fans cheered!
"Ahh, great! Luoyi has regained her form!"
"Go for it! With only three questions left, Yuan Luoyi, if you answer two more correctly, you'll win!"
"Victory belongs to you!"
However, in the audience, Yuan Luoyi's eldest brother Yuan Ao became even more concerned. He often observed Yuan Luoyi and could notice changes others might miss. For instance, at this moment, although Yuan Luoyi's expression hadn't changed much, her breathing had become more rapid.
She must be in great discomfort.
The second brother, Yuan Fa, also noticed and, although he had been enjoying the contest, occasionally cheering and waving flags in support of Yuan Luoyi, he now fell silent, staring intently at her.
As her brothers, they both wanted to immediately stop the contest and let Yuan Luoyi rest, thoroughly checking her condition.
But in this competition, Yuan Luoyi was clearly determined to win. How could they bear to prevent her from shining on stage?
Yuan Fa sighed: "It's so perplexing being an older brother."
Yuan Ao said: "Yes, we want to keep her in a perfectly safe environment forever, never letting her face any danger, yet we can't bear to take away her freedom."
"So what should we do?"
"Let's wait a bit longer. It's almost over."
On stage, Yuan Luoyi had just viewed a memory fragment again. Fermat's conjecture was one of the three great mathematical conjectures, and the old mathematician she had followed had spent his entire life trying to solve it, but failed, ultimately dying in disappointment.
She had scored another point, but this frequent and highly intense viewing of memory fragments was causing Yuan Luoyi's head to throb unbearably.
[Ding! System: Earnestness level has reached 50%. Please have the host rest immediately!]
Wow, it had reached 50%. No wonder she felt so dreadful, unable to stand steadily, with an uneasy stomach too.
What would happen when it reached 100%?
Yuan Luoyi recalled her conversation with her fifth brother, Yuan Rui.
"If one keeps stuffing a brain with information but can't expel any garbage, what do you think will happen in the end?"
"It will break?"
"Correct, it will break down thoroughly, like an overinflated balloon bursting with a bang, never to be restored to its original state."
So would her brain become irreparably damaged if she continued answering?
Well, she had already died 99 times, so what more was there to fear?
Yuan Luoyi mustered her spirit and continued listening to the questions.
The host Na Lan said: "Question eight, what is the rotation period of Jupiter?"
"A: 6 hours 55 minutes, B: 7 hours 33 minutes, C: 8 hours 33 minutes, D: 9 hours 55 minutes"
Su Xun pressed the button and shouted excitedly: "D! 9 hours 55 minutes 30 seconds! A total of 35,730 seconds!"
Yuan Luoyi had just scored a point, and Su Xun's composure crumbled. A fully recovered Yuan Luoyi was too difficult to defeat.
But the heavens still favored her, as many astronomy questions had appeared in the final round, which was her forte!
She could lose to anyone, but absolutely not to Yuan Luoyi!
"Su Xun answered correctly, scoring one point!"
"Question nine, what was the Pole Star in 2700 BC?"
"A: Alpha Draconis, B: Polaris, C: Vega, D: Deneb"
Su Xun couldn't help but smile; another astronomy question! The answer was Alpha Draconis!
She raised her hand towards option A, but before Su Xun could press it, the host Na Lan suddenly shouted.
"Yuan Luoyi answered correctly, scoring one point!"
Su Xun looked up in disbelief to see that Yuan Luoyi had already pressed option A, and their eyes met.
Yuan Luoyi covered her forehead with one hand, her head throbbing, but her eyes were sparkling, showing no sign of giving up.
She smiled and said: "Actually, I quite like astronomy too."
At age six, Yuan Luoyi had been lured into the forest by her third brother, Yuan Yong. There were many terrifying moments: dead rabbits, locked doors, and occasional glimpses of Yuan Yong's brutal nature.
But there were also many happy times.
There was no internet or lights there, so they would lie by the window gazing at the stars. The splendid sight, the shimmering Milky Way stretching across the entire night sky, was invisible from the city.
The young Yuan Yong pointed at the Pole Star and said: "There are countless stars in the sky, but this one has the most special and brightest position. Even in the mist at sea, it can still be seen. It will guide lost people back to shore, just like you. Without you, we would all lose ourselves and suffer greatly."
After being rescued and returning to the Yuan family, the young Yuan Luoyi, out of curiosity, actively learned about the Pole Star. She never expected to apply that knowledge in this contest.
The audience was thrilled, cheering loudly:
"Yuan Luoyi only needs to answer one more question correctly to win!"
"But if Su Xun gets the next one right, they'll be tied! How will that be resolved?"
"There will be a tiebreaker round!"
Yuan Luoyi didn't want to go into overtime. She needed to end the contest quickly. Her head was throbbing, her body swaying slightly, and her vision was blurring, as if she might faint.
Her Earnestness level kept rising.
75%
80%
85%
...
In her daze, visions of her brothers' deaths in her previous life appeared again before Yuan Luoyi's eyes. How terrifying, like being trapped in a nightmare, repeating over and over, unable to wake up.
But stronger than fear was regret.
Why did she keep avoiding them? Why did she lock herself away? Why didn't she reconcile with her brothers sooner?
Only after their deaths did she realize they had always loved her. It was too late...
So as long as it wasn't 100%, she had to continue the contest!
This nightmare she had created herself, she also had to end herself!
Na Lan shouted loudly, her voice resounding: "This knowledge contest has reached the final question! Please pay close attention, contestants!"
"Question ten, 'Victory or defeat depends solely on the mind's movement or stillness. With a strong inner heart, one can prevail anywhere.' Who said these words?"
"A: Zeng Guofan, B: Zhang Taiyan, C: Wang Yangming, D: Zhu Xi"
Su Xun hated philosophy the most - she couldn't grasp it. She didn't know the answer to this question, but if she didn't respond, Yuan Luoyi would win.
She would leave it all to chance!
Su Xun pressed D.
At the same time, Yuan Luoyi, nearing her limit, wobbled unsteadily.
She heard the sound of flowing water and saw herself holding a long bamboo pole, forcefully pushing downwards, propelling the small boat towards the opposite shore.
A passenger on the boat said: "With a strong inner heart, one can prevail anywhere."
She asked: "You seem very learned, sir. What noble place are you from?"
The man smiled and replied: "I am Wang Yangming."
Yuan Luoyi stretched out her hand, aimed at C, and struck down with force.
Na Lan excitedly shouted: "Congratulations to Yuan Luoyi for answering correctly!"
Su Xun stood dazed on the spot.
All the lights swiftly turned direction, completely illuminating Yuan Luoyi. The entire venue instantly erupted, Yuan Luoyi bathed in thunderous applause, utterly exhausted.
Fans screamed in delight, it was an extraordinarily brilliant confrontation!
[Ding! System prompt: Sincerity value reset to zero, switching back to slack mode, influence has reached 95]
[Ding! Data updated, influence has reached 96]
[97]
[98]
[99]
[100]
[Ding! Wish function activated, please make a wish, host]
