Flora’s Guide to a Second Chance at Love and Life

"Hmm... Just a little matter," Mr. Foss deflected.

Dr. Clement wasn't buying it. A little matter that had Mr. Foss rallying his troops over here?

He glanced at the folks behind Mr. Foss, Ivan and the gang. "I heard your computer science crew caused quite a stir in the medical department today?" Ivan and the others looked a bit sheepish.

They hadn't meant to create such a big misunderstanding.

"It was all just a mix-up, really," Mr. Foss chuckled awkwardly. "Just call Flora out, we've got official business with her."

Dr. Clement set his thermos down on the table. "What official business?"Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

Seeing Dr. Clement's stubbornness, Mr. Foss knew he had to spill the beans if he wanted to see Flora.

"Flora's got a real knack for computing. My students have been talking her up as a prodigy, and I wanted to see it for myself."

Dr. Clement's eyes widened for a moment in surprise.

He hadn't realized Flora had a talent for computing.

If Mr. Foss himself had come, her talent must be significant indeed.

"Talent or not, she's part of the medical department. What's there for you to see?" Dr. Clement huffed protectively.

Flora was the prized student of the medical department, not someone to be poached by others.

Mr. Foss, feeling provoked by Dr. Clement's attitude, retorted, "Yes, yes, she's your medical department's pride, the top student in the country, yours! But what's the harm in just meeting her? If you don't let me see her, I'll drop by your house tonight and tell your wife all about your love life from childhood till now!"

Dr. Clement gave him a speechless look. Here was a man in his forties or fifties, still throwing tantrums like a child when he couldn't get his way.

...

Ten minutes later, Flora arrived at the administrative office.

She knocked on the door.

Mr. Foss, Ivan, and the others were seeing Flora in person for the first time.

She was even more striking in person than in her photos online, with a certain special aura that made it hard to look away.

"Flora, come in," Dr. Clement gestured. Once she was inside and settled, he introduced her, "This is Mr. Trevor from the computer science department, and this is Mr. Foss."

"Mr. Foss," Flora greeted him politely.

Mr. Foss nodded to Ivan.

Ivan pulled out a laptop, turned it on, clicked around quickly, then positioned the screen towards Flora. "Did you do this?"

Flora glanced at the laptop screen, recognizing the homework she had done for Mr. Abbott's class.

She nodded. "Yes, that's mine."

A gleam of interest flashed in Mr. Foss's eyes. He stood up, walked over to the laptop, closed the current webpage, and opened another one.

"I have a program here. Could you try cracking it?"

Flora's brow furrowed slightly.

So, they had called her over just to test her computing skills?

Her gaze settled on the program, and she pulled a chair over to sit down.

Her hands casually found their way to the keyboard.

Mr. Foss, Ivan, and the others watched her intently.

This program was one Mr. Foss had personally developed and used as a final assessment for the computer science department.

It wasn't overly difficult, but cracking it was time-consuming and riddled with pitfalls.

It had taken Ivan twenty minutes to crack it.

They figured if Flora could crack it within thirty minutes, she'd qualify to join them for the competition.