Chapter 13 Dinner Complications

Liam slid his answer sheet across the desk with a casual flick of his wrist, leaning back in his chair with an easygoing smile. He wasn't worried—after all, he knew exactly what was written on that paper.

Amanda, still thinking this was just a formality, took the sheet with a neutral expression and began scanning his work. At first, her face remained indifferent, her eyes gliding over the equations, checking each step.

Then, suddenly, her expression changed.

Her casual glance turned into a focused stare. Her eyebrows drew together. She flipped to the second page, her fingers gripping the sheet a little tighter. Then the third page. Then the fourth.

Not a single mistake.

Not only had Liam gotten every answer correct, but his workings were flawless—precise, methodical, and executed without the use of a calculator. Each calculation flowed smoothly as if he had solved them with complete confidence. It didn't make sense.

Amanda looked up sharply, narrowing her eyes.

"You cheated," she accused.

Liam simply shrugged, his smirk unwavering.

"Nope."

Amanda's eyes bore into his, searching for any sign of dishonesty. She then pointed to the paper. "Then explain this. You didn't use a calculator for a single one of these calculations, yet you somehow got everything right? That's impossible."

Liam exhaled through his nose, feigning mild annoyance.

"I don't use a calculator because I don't need it," he said simply.

Amanda's brows furrowed in confusion. She had taught Liam for long enough to know that he had never been anywhere near this level of competence in math. Something wasn't adding up.

Liam could see the disbelief in her eyes, so he leaned forward, resting his elbow on the desk with an amused glint in his gaze.

"Alright, how about this?" he offered. "Think of any numbers. Multiply them, divide them, whatever you want. I'll give you the answer instantly."

Amanda folded her arms, still skeptical, but the curiosity in her eyes was undeniable.

"Fine," she said, pausing for a moment before saying, "Four thousand three hundred and twenty-one multiplied by seventy-nine."

Liam barely blinked before the system flashed the answer in the corner of his vision.

[Ding] Answer: 341,359

"Three hundred forty-one thousand, three hundred fifty-nine," he answered smoothly.

Amanda froze.

Her lips parted slightly, and she blinked as if she had misheard him.

"Wait…" she mumbled, grabbing her calculator from the desk. She quickly punched in the numbers, and when the screen displayed the exact answer Liam had given, she stared at it in stunned silence.

Liam grinned. "Want to try another one?"

Amanda hesitated before rattling off another equation, even more complex than before.

Liam answered it instantly.

Again, she checked.

Again, it was correct.

Amanda's eyes widened. "Since when were you a human calculator?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Liam just smiled.

He knew he couldn't tell her the truth—that some mysterious system had turned him into a mathematical genius out of nowhere—but he wasn't going to deny the perks.

Seeing her shocked face, he decided to push his luck.

"So…" he said, dragging out the word with a teasing smirk. "When should I come for dinner?"

Amanda snapped out of her daze, her expression shifting into one of realization. She had promised him dinner if he passed. And if he scored a hundred percent, he would be invited to her house.

She stared at the answer sheet again, her mind racing for an excuse—any excuse—to back out.

But there wasn't one.

A promise was a promise.

She sighed, rubbing her forehead before looking at him with a sharp, almost warning gaze.

"Fine," she muttered. "You'll come over at eight. And you'll leave by eight-thirty. No excuses."

Liam's grin widened.

"But—" she added quickly, her tone suddenly serious, "nobody can know about this. If anyone finds out, I swear, Liam, I will skin you alive."

Liam simply snorted at her empty threat, pushing himself up from his chair.

"Relax, Miss Amanda," he said as he walked toward the door. "Your secret is safe with me."

With that, he opened the office door, gave her a playful wave, and stepped out.

---

By the time Liam walked out of the school building, the sky had started shifting into hues of orange and pink. It was already past five in the evening. Today had been a long day—longer than usual.

He made his way home at a steady pace, his mind still replaying everything that had happened. From his unexpected test performance to Amanda's reaction, and now this dinner invitation—it was all so surreal.

As soon as he got home, he tossed his bag aside and headed straight to the kitchen. He made himself a light meal, eating just enough to hold himself over but not too much—he didn't want to be full before dinner at Amanda's place.

Sitting back in his chair, he let out a small chuckle, shaking his head.

He wondered what the guys at school would think if they ever found out that he was having dinner at their favorite teacher's house.

They'd probably lose their minds.

Liam had just finished his light meal, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied sigh, when his phone suddenly buzzed on the table. The unexpected call caught his attention, and he glanced at the screen, noticing a strange number flashing across it.

He frowned slightly.

Who could be calling him at this hour?

For a brief moment, he debated whether or not to answer. It wasn't often that he got calls from unknown numbers, and he wasn't really in the mood for spam or some random telemarketer trying to sell him something.

Still, curiosity got the better of him, and he swiped to accept the call, bringing the phone to his ear.

"Hello?"

There was a slight pause, then a sweet, almost melodic voice floated through the speaker.

"Hey… um, is this Liam?"

Liam arched an eyebrow. The voice sounded vaguely familiar, but he couldn't place it right away.

"Yeah," he said, tilting his head. "Who's this?"

The girl on the other end let out a soft, nervous laugh.

"It's me… the girl who spilled coffee on you earlier today."

The moment she said those words, the memory instantly clicked in Liam's mind.

Ohhh.

The girl from the football field. The one who had fallen on him, pressing her soft curves against him, only for him to get burned by her scorching hot coffee in the process.

A smirk tugged at his lips as he leaned forward in his chair.

"Ahh," he said, dragging the sound out playfully. "The coffee girl. I remember now."

There was another small, sheepish laugh on the other end. "Yeah… sorry about that, again. I felt terrible afterward."

Liam chuckled. "Don't worry about it. I'm still alive, aren't I?"

She exhaled in relief. "Well, I still feel bad. And I did promise you a date, so… I was thinking… maybe we could do it tonight?"

What?!