?


    Wasn''t it all thanks to Madeleine''s connections andworking?


    At that moment, she felt as if she had been pped across the face. Not directly, but as if a p had whizzed by her side, leaving her cheeks burning.


    ...


    As the meeting ended, everyone filed out of the auditorium in a steady stream.


    ter and his crew scurried out faster than rabbits, hunching their backs and sticking to the sides as much as possible.


    It was a matter of pride.


    And not just a small embarrassment, but one that happened in front of leaders and the entire student body.


    "Roseanne, you were so cool!" Mamie stared at Roseanne with eyes that were more than just admiring-they were absolutely glowing with adoration.


    Scales couldn''t help but lift his chin in pride, "Now let''s see who dares to look down on our group."


    "Exactly! Next time I see ter and Sybil, those pests, I''m going to strut past them with my nose in the air, chuckling to myself..."


    Just the thought of it had Mamie bubbling with joy.


    This feeling was even better than helping her family collect rent until her hands went limp!


    "Roseanne, can we have more moments like this?"


    "You think this is a video game?" Scales rolled his eyes.


    "I want to hit you!"This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    Missing the joke, old man!


    Hertha left the auditorium and was still in a daze by the time she got home.


    "Hey-"


    "


    Beverley was walking into the living room with a bowl of bird''s nest soup when Hertha bumped right into her, nearly spilling it.


    Spilling the soup was the least of their concerns; it almost scalded her.


    "Hertha, what''s going on with you? You look totally out of it... Oh right, I''ve arranged a lunch for you tomorrow at the Westgate Diner with Hurley. Make sure you talk to him, get to know each other better."


    "I''ve already checked him out for you. Hurley is a Stanford schr, not one of those rich kids with a fake degree, but a genuine researcher! I heard he''s published loads, been in all the top journals, just missing ''Nature'' and ''Science'' or something..."


    Suddenly, Hertha spoke up, "Roseanne got published in ''Science''."


    Beverley was puzzled, "Sci...what?" She dismissed it nonchntly, "Why bring her up all of a sudden?"


    "Science''," Hertha articted, "the one you said Hurley hasn''t managed to get into."


    Beverley was stunned.


    Another morning dawned, and


    e was getting ready to host


    to the university cafeteria for


    ovel?


    Just as she opened her door, the door across from hers swung open too.


    There stood Owen.


    Their eyes locked, and both of them paused for a second.


    Roseanne was the first to break the silence with a smile, "Good morning, Mr. Reynolds."


    "Morning. Headed to campus?"


    "Yes," Roseanne nodded, "Going to grab some breakfast at the cafeteria first."


    "How about we go together?"


    "Sounds good."


    As they walked downstairs, Owen suddenly turned to her, "Kingswell University has officially announced


    the good news. Congred


    your ''Science'' publication."


    "Thank you, Mr. Reynolds. Without the use of yourb and having you as a co-author, it might not have been so smooth."


    Owen was no stranger to ''Science''.


    His influence had certainly yed a part.


    "I only provided the opportunity; your own abilities were what truly made the difference." Walking towards the rising sun, they continued their conversation, bathed in the gentle morning light. Ever since they had cleared the airst time, he hadn''t been avoiding Roseanne anymore. As for whether those dreams continued...


    Perhaps only Owen himself and the rows of sheets and duvet covers hanging on the balcony knew...