?


    "Who are you thinking of?" Edna pressed on, her curiosity piqued.


    Babur gave a sarcastic chuckle, "Don''t bother asking. It''s someone way out of your league."


    Even when dealing with his own, Corley would beat around the bush, but that person barged in questioning everything...


    It''s just how the academic world rolls. A titan''s presence is unmistakable.


    Kingswell University might handle losing a businessman''s financial backing, but it couldn''t dream of parting ways with a scientist whose work leads to groundbreaking discoveries!


    "Get lost," Babur sneered, "A skinny camel still beats a horse, and you- you''re nowhere close to Madeleine!"


    Even with Madeleineid up in the hospital, she still had the clout to make two big shots intervene.


    And you, Edna? You''re nothing!


    Back in her office, Edna''s mind echoed with Babur''s words: You''re nowhere close to Madeleine!


    Nowhere close...


    Close...


    She was so mad she wanted to smash something, but the mug was already shattered.


    Her hand found a pen holder instead.


    Crash!Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    The pen holder mmed against the wall opposite, its contents scattering across the floor.


    Sybil entered right then, oblivious to the tense atmosphere. She cheerily called out, "Auntie," before heading to the break area to pour herself a drink. Sipping, she said, "I''m dying of thirst... Oh, Auntie, when will Carlson finish that paper? The professor was asking in ss today, and I said sometime this week. Can you nudge him for me?"


    Edna''s face was stone-cold: "You think a research paper is what? A piece of cake? ''This week,'' you say? Do you even understand the concept of drafting?"


    Sybil was dumbfounded by the sudden onught.


    "Auntie..."


    "Shut it! How many times have I told you, it''s Ms. Edna at school!"


    "But there''s no one else here..." Sybil mumbled, looking hurt.


    "Walls have ears, got it?! Slip up once, and we''re both done for!"


    Sybil hadn''t realized the gravity of the situation. "Sorry, Aunt- I mean, Ms. Edna! I''ll be careful next time! It''s just that paper..."


    "Still on about the paper? If you''re so capable, write it yourself! Roseanne and the others managed to get their own equipment; is it that hard to produce one paper?"


    "You think Carlson can write one or two for you, but can he write them for you forever? The moment he makes it big, do you think he''ll still give you the time of day?"


    "I''d write if I could, but I... I just can''t!" Sybil''s lower lip trembled, on the verge of tears.


    The bluff was called, and the fa?ade was set; there was no turning back for her now.


    Edna softened slightly, "Crying? I''m not dead yet, no need for your tears here! If Roseanne and the others can pull it off why can''t you? I get it now; you were never really into academia! Always aiming high but falling short in every aspect, how did I end up With a niece like you?! Get out- just get out!"


    As Sybil left the office, she waspletely bewildered.


    She didn''t understand what she did wrong or why her usually kind aunt had suddenly turned into a fury.


    After venting, Edna''s mood slightly improved.


    Knock, knock, knock-


    "Come in."


    Carlson entered, saying, "Ms. Edna, here''s the progress report for this past month..."


    Edna reached out her hand.


    Handing over the documents, Carlson waited.


    She flipped through them, her frown deepening, "A month has gone by, and still no progress?"


    "The multiple cultures we''ve been growing... the data''s all over the ce. We''re currently trying to figure out why, so things are slow."


    "How much longer do you estimate?"


    "...I can''t say for sure."


    "What do you mean you can''t? Solutionse from effort! This project has been in your hands for over half a year. If we don''t see any tangible results by year''s end, it''s as if we''ve done nothing!"


    Carlson replied, "I understand, but research takes time. Some things need to be verified over time."


    Edna smirked, "Carlson, you''re


    smart. You know how precious time is for us. Holding onto a project for years without significant findings, like Madeleine, only leads to being phased out."


    "You said the data''s inconsistent. If you''re aiming for consistency with a second round of tests, why go through all the trouble if you expect the same oue? What''s the point?"


    "Anyway—" Edna''s eyes narrowed slightly, her smile lingering, "whether it''s consistent or not, isn''t that for us to decide?"


    Carlson stared at her intently, "What are you suggesting?"