“I’ll help with Lily,” he said as passengers stood and opened bins around them. “And… thank you.”
Andrew smiled. “Good. We’ll work out the details once we’re in the car.”
The contrast between Noah’s usual world and the one that greeted him outside Heathrow was extreme enough to feel unreal. A black Mercedes waited on the curb. The driver opened the door. The ride into central London happened inside a cocoon of leather, polished wood, and quiet efficiency.
Andrew listened as Noah explained the competition format: opening ceremony, then three days of increasingly difficult rounds—individual proof-based problem solving, collaborative team modeling, and a final presentation before a judging panel.
“What do you think your best chance is?”
“Pressure rounds,” Noah said. “I’m good at staying clear when problems get hard.”
Andrew believed him.
At the Langham Hotel, Noah tried hard not to stare. The marble lobby, chandeliers, flower arrangements, and staff who seemed to glide instead of walk made him feel as if he had stepped into a version of the world usually visible only through glass.