Lu Jim sat down and Mr. Zhen stood up, "You may all return back to your cubicles. You have one hour to prepare for the second round and submit the names of two people from your team. Thank you."
After they were allowed to leave, the four stood up and started walking towards their cubicle. On the way, a voice came from behind, "Congratulations."
Yu Chen turned around to see the tall boy standing with his team. His hair was ruffled, seeming that he had given quite some thought to coming to talk to them. Yu Chen first thought of something sassy, but checked herself, smiled politely and bowed to them, saying, "Thank you."
The tall boy obviously seemed taken aback. Before all the others were looking at Chen and others with admiration.
One of the boys said, "Hi, I'm Jack. Your code was really good."
Another came forward and shook Chen's hand, "Andrew. Looking forward to the second round."
The other three boys named Darwin, Zach and Kent also introduced themselves and came forward to say how excited they all were.
But the tall boy stood at his place. After they all had introduced themselves, he spoke, "Looking forward to beating you in the second round."
Mo Kio and Xi Hua said in unison, "Us too."
Then they all parted ways and left for their cubicles.
In the cubicle, half an hour had already passed. Xi Hua and Huo Zenghai had pulled their chairs into a corner and sat there munching on snacks that Kio had bought after they had returned to the cubicle.
They sat there watching Chen and Kio pacing around the room silently. They had goten in a heated argument regarding who will write the code in the second round.
It happened after they all decided to enter Chen, obviously, and Kio for the second round. Chen said that she thought Kio should write the code as he was faster than than her. But Kio disagreed. He said that he would make many mistakes and they would lose the competition. The argument had come to a standstill as both were so stubborn that they refused to listen to Hua or Zenghai.
So there they sat. Huo Zenghai spoke up after five minutes had passed, "Could you guys decide quickly. We need to register after all."
Both Yu Chen and Mo Kio gave him such deadly looks that he sunk back in his chair murmuring something and giving sad looks to Xi Hua who had cracked up so hard that it was hard for her to sit still.
After five more minutes, Xi Hua stood up. She went to where Chen and Kio's untouched snacks were kept and took up a packet. As Chen and Kio turned their heads to glare at her, she put up har hands and said, "I'm not asking you guys to do anything. I'm just taking this. Because you guys are not gonna eat it and I cannot see Zishi's dumplings go to waste."
She said this looking at the dumplings and making such a sad face that Yu Chen and Mo Kio both cracked up.
Then Mo Kio said, "You're not gonna give it up. Are you? So let's make a deal."