?


    After nearly polishing off their tes, Scales stood up to settle the bill.


    Just as they were about to leave, they bumped into ter, Sybil, Grace, and Arkle. The only one missing from their usual troupe was Hertha, which wasn''t surprising considering she never dined at ces like this.


    "Well, well, well, if it isn''t Ms. Payne''s three musketeers?!" ter broke the ice with a smirk, but his teasing tone made people ufortable. Roseanne and herpanions didn''t respond.


    ter''s smile stiffened a bit before he continued, "What a coincidence running into you here. Didn''t see Ms. Payne with you. Too stingy to treat you to a meal at such a swanky ce, huh? Not like us; Ms. Edna covered our tab today."


    "The department really does spoil us, huh? Most of this year''s research funds went to our project."


    "It''s a real shame, you know. You guys work your tails off for a grad degree, only to end up with an advisor who barely has a say. What kind of future does that hold for you?"


    ter''s words flew non-stop, while Sybil and Grace looked on with cold indifference.


    Only Arkle, ever the peacemaker, tried to intervene but was briskly pushed aside by ter-


    "Back off, bumpkin! I don''t want to catch your country stink!"


    Arkle stiffened, a look of hurt and inferiority shed in his eyes, but he continued, "Come on, we''re all ssmates here. No need to... make it awkward."


    "Why don''t you just shut it? You think you have a say here?"


    "Why can''t I speak? I''ve got a mouth, don''t I?" Arkle retorted, his patience wearing thin.


    But arguing was not his forte.


    ter sneered, "Oh, look! The country boy''s got a temper. Know your ce, will ya? Or do you no longer care about your future here?" Arkle hung his head.


    He remembered Carlson''s advice: Kids from our background will always face unfair treatment. Keep your head down until you''re strong enough to make them look your way.


    But Arkle wondered, would fairness still mean anything by then?


    "Alright," Sybil suddenly spoke up, "let''s drop it."


    Grace quickly added, "Yeah, Ms. Edna and Carlson always say they hope we can all get along."


    Mentioning "Carlson" was a deliberate move to remind ter not to overdo it, considering Arkle was under Carlson''s wing.


    Pushing someone too hard could lead to ufortable questions.


    ét


    ter then lost his steam, "Alright, alright. Wasn''t trying to give him a hard time. Just can''t stand people who don''t know their ce...always siding with outsiders!"


    His gaze shifted back to Roseanne and her group, "Speaking of which, ever consider joining our team?"


    Roseanne scoffed, "Sorry, not interested."Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    ter nodded, "Though you''re not quite up to our level, we are a weing group, you—"


    "Sorry, you seem to have misunderstood me. I meant-your group isn''t up to ours."


    "You!"


    "A group that spends its budget on wining and dining rather than reat research? I''ve said it before, a rotten head results in a rotten tail. Seems like your group''s culture is O consistent."


    Scales chimed in, "And, isn''t your behavior viting some regtions?"


    Mamie immediately raised her


    phone, "I record this for evidence.


    Say it again, who treated you to this


    meal? Ms. Edna, right? If I''m not mistaken, you said Ms. Edna covered your tab...?"