Feifei opened her mouth, about to stop him.
Before a single word could escape her lips, Noah’s hands moved.
His fingers flew across the keyboard in a blur, striking the keys with rapid, precise rhythm—like heavy rain drumming against the ground. The sound filled the small glass booth, sharp and relentless, until it ended with a single, crisp Enter key.
Silence followed.
The computer began its final verification.
No one breathed.
Those few seconds stretched unbearably long, as if time itself had slowed to a crawl. Every pair of eyes was locked on the screen, hearts pounding, waiting for judgment.
Then—
“Challenge Passed.”
“YES!”
Feifei was the first to react. She screamed in excitement and spun around, instinctively lunging forward. She almost threw herself into Noah’s arms—but at
