Chapter 215
What is that?
It looks like lab equipment.
Foreign engineers delivered it personally.
They weren't just delivering.
They were also installing and calibrating.
This lab was always empty before.
Why add such a major piece suddenly?
Someone must be going to use it.
It's so expensive.
...
Whispers spread all around.
Shane Holloway's face grew increasingly grim.
Ashley Lowell squeezed to the front.
She stared at the instrument.
Her eyes wide with shock.
It was indeed a CPRT Dynamometer.
But it was different.
Its size was halved.
All buttons were touch-sensitive.
The display screen was twice as large.
This... this is the latest model?! Shane's voice trembled.
It was far more advanced than anything the institute currently had.
Its functions were more comprehensive too.
He rushed forward to confront them.
Where did you get this from?
Sophia Sullivan glanced up coolly.
Is that any of your business?
Shane was left speechless.
Hannah Morse nibbled on a biscuit.
She spoke with a smile.
Weren't you the one who told us to buy our own yesterday?
Well, we bought it.
Surprised?
Shocked?
You must be so happy for us, right?
Shane couldn't force a smile.
Ashley shook her head.
Impossible.
In such a short time.
Even if you bought it, it couldn't arrive this fast.
Marcus Lawrence let out a light scoff.
Never heard of pre-ordering?
No... it can't be...
Such an expensive instrument.
How could you just buy it like that?
The bigger blow was yet to come.
That afternoon.
The institute's official website posted a disciplinary notice.
Third-year graduate student Caleb Watson intentionally monopolized a laboratory.
Severely wasting academic resources.
This is a public criticism.
All faculty and students are urged to take this as a warning.
Crash—
Professor Victoria Lowell saw the notice.
She smashed her water glass directly.
She stormed into Blake Cunningham's office.
Looking down at him.
Director Cunningham.
Punishing my student.
Why wasn't I informed beforehand?
Blake Cunningham's expression didn't change.
It was the institute's decision.
Following standard procedure.
There's no requirement to inform the advisor.
Victoria let out a cold laugh.
Now you talk about procedure?
Don't you find that hypocritical?
Watch your tone.
Blake narrowed his eyes.
I am still the director.
Don't think your academic achievements let you do as you please.
If Caleb isn't punished.
Then who should be?
Have you thought about that?
Victoria froze completely.
The administration isn't unaware of your little games.
They turned a blind eye out of respect for your diligence.
Now that it's out in the open.
Sacrificing Caleb.
Lets you walk away unscathed.
What more are you unsatisfied with?
In just a few sentences.
Victoria was completely deflated.
In the dorm.
Caleb scanned the notice expressionlessly.
Jude Granger stood nearby.
Not daring to speak.
He clenched his fists anxiously.
Wanting to comfort but not daring to.
Caleb suddenly looked up.
Sophia and the others bought a CPRT with their own money?
The latest model?
Jude was stunned.
This wasn't the reaction he expected.
Caleb's eyes lit up.
Let's go take a look.
Bro, you just got disciplined.
The crowd outside the lab had dispersed.
Sophia and the other two weren't there.
Only the foreign engineers were calibrating the instrument.
The door was open.
After politely asking permission, Caleb entered.
He and Jude approached.
Their gazes full of awe.
It really was the latest model.
Many optimizations.
He instinctively reached out to touch it.
But stopped himself.
Jude hadn't started his project yet.
He didn't understand the instrument's special features.
But seeing Caleb's expression.
He looked at it a few more times too.
Bro, is it expensive?
Very.
How much?
Over a million, probably.
Jude was dumbfounded.
That's terrifying.
Something so expensive.
Just bought like that.
Three people.
Over a million.
Jude thought of his parents.
Toiling under the sun.
Saving a few thousand in the best years.
This instrument cost over a million.
Jude stood there in a daze.
Voices came from the hallway.
Hannah's voice.
They were coming back.
Caleb and Jude slipped out quietly through the back door.
Before leaving, Caleb glanced back.
In the sunlight, Sophia, Hannah, and Marcus walked over, laughing.
Sophia carried bottled water.
Evian.
Expensive.
Hannah held a pile of snacks.
The packaging was all in English.
Imported.
Not cheap.
Marcus drank a sports drink.
Unfamiliar packaging.
An unknown taste.
Bro, what are you thinking about?
They reached the bottom of the stairs.
Jude bumped his shoulder.
Caleb gave a light laugh.
It's really good.
Jude sighed.
The new instrument.
Of course it's good.
Caleb smiled without speaking.
He said it wasn't the instrument.
It was their courage to resist.
Their capital to argue.
Their financial ability to pay.
It's really good.
Inside the lab.
Sophia offered water.
Here, have some water first, everyone.
Hannah distributed snacks.
I have some food here too.
...
Professor Eleanor Watson found out on the third day.
The old lady trembled with anger.
This Victoria Lowell!
How could she do this?
Such a big thing happened to you.
Why didn't you tell me?
I'm old and not in good health.
But I'm not dead yet.
Sophia quickly cut her off.
Don't talk about dying.
Knock on wood—
If you'd just said something.
Why resort to spending your own money on a new one out of spite?
It wasn't just spite.
Sophia explained.
The new model is much better than the old one.
The efficiency is greatly improved.
Hannah nodded.
The money was well spent!
Marcus agreed.
The new instrument is indeed superior.
Eleanor was speechless.
I say one thing.
You have ten responses waiting.
Hehe...
Consider this matter over.
...
Victoria had been in a bad mood these past few days.
Caleb's criticism.
Made her lose face by association.
The Dean and Party Secretary summoned her for a talk.
Not a vice-dean like Blake Cunningham.
The head of the School of Life Sciences.
He admonished her, explicitly and implicitly.
No academic factionalism.
No forming cliques.
Victoria left the Dean's office.
Her back soaked in cold sweat.
The angrier she thought about it, the more furious she became.
She stormed into Blake Cunningham's office to confront him.
Was it you who reported me?
Blake was baffled.
Why would I be stupid enough to go to the Dean?
What good would that do me?
I'd rather keep it buried.
To avoid being accused of poor management.
Victoria paused, frowning.
Then who did it?
A figure surfaced in Blake's mind.
Sebastian Evans could only throw his weight around in front of him.
He absolutely couldn't reach the Dean.
Someone who could get the Dean to do a favor.
And happily too.
It could only be that person.