Chapter 267

Professor Victoria Lowell crossed her arms, her posture haughty. "What complaint?"

"Don't play dumb! The fire inspection passed smoothly for all other labs. Only Sophia Sullivan's received a rectification order. You dare say it wasn't you?"

A slight smile touched Professor Victoria Lowell 's lips. "I'm very busy. Writing reports and conducting research takes all my time. I have no time to squabble with students." She paused. "But... I can't speak for what others might have done."

After all, she supervised many students. It was normal if one or two held a grudge against Sophia.

"You've grown bold. Acting without my permission. Do you still see me as the Dean?!"

Professor Victoria Lowell frowned. "You called me here for this? To stand up for Eleanor Watson's students? That doesn't sound like you, Dean Cunningham."

Blake Cunningham gave a cold laugh. "You think your little schemes are clever? They're utterly foolish!"

"This fire inspection was a joint operation between the university and the district fire department. How you usually exclude them behind closed doors is your business. But this involves the district fire authorities. Your complaint drags the entire school into this!"

One lab requiring rectification meant the school bore responsibility for managerial negligence.

Fire equipment was typically procured by individual labs. The school was responsible for verifying its adequacy before approving lab use.

This problem now indicated a failure in the school's oversight.

"Still think you're clever?" Blake sneered. "If other leadership found out…"

Professor Victoria Lowell 's expression shifted.

"I've suppressed it this time. Cause less trouble in the future!"

Professor Victoria Lowell shed her earlier arrogance, hesitating. "What do we do now? Can we ask the district fire department for a favor? To let it slide?"

"You think the fire department is your personal property? File a complaint, then just withdraw it?"

Professor Victoria Lowell pressed, "Then... we do nothing?"

Blake replied, "Since the rectification order was issued, they must follow procedure and rectify."

What was done was done. They had to proceed.

As for Sebastian Evans and Alexander Laurent...

The order came from the district fire department. The complaint came from Professor Victoria Lowell . The blame couldn't possibly land on him.

Blake Cunningham smiled.

Professor Victoria Lowell also smiled.

Fire safety rectification...

It would take at least three to four months, right?

By then, it would be far too late.

...

In the lab—

Marcus Lawrence ended the call, his expression grave as he looked at Sophia.

Hannah Morse urgently asked, "Well?"

"Just as we guessed. The district fire department confirmed a complaint was filed. A standard rectification might be resolved in twenty days. But an order issued following a complaint requires a process of at least four months. The lab cannot be used during rectification. It can only be returned after passing the fire safety inspection."

"Four months?!" Hannah's eyes widened. "We'd be on winter break by then! What use is it to us then?"

They couldn't afford to lose a single day, let alone four months.

Marcus pondered, "Can we apply for a different lab? We could move the instruments. It's a hassle, but better than waiting idly."

Sophia shook her head. She had already considered this. "The administration replied half an hour ago. Each research group can only apply for one lab at a time."

"Nothing works! What do we do?" Hannah's eyes reddened with frustration. "We can't just build our own lab, can we?"

"Well, well—someone wants to build a lab? Let me hear who's talking nonsense in broad daylight?"

Ashley Lowell walked in, face full of triumph.

Shane Holloway followed, grinning. "Who else? Must be the fat girl, sleep-talking with her eyes closed."

Fat... fat girl?!

Hannah charged forward, but Marcus spoke first—

"Who let you in? Our lab isn't welcome to two-legged beasts. Get out now, before we make you."

"Who the hell are you calling a beast?!" Shane's face flushed red with anger.

Marcus said calmly, "Whoever the shoe fits. Seems one beast immediately identified itself."

"You—"

Ashley sneered. "What are you so proud of? The whole school passed except your lab. You're utterly humiliated, yet still so mouthy!"

"I hear fire rectifications take months. Tsk, tsk... such a pity. You'll have no lab for a long time. So what if you published in 'Science'? The school still doesn't value you. What are you strutting about for?"

Sophia smiled. "I didn't want to say this, afraid you couldn't handle it. But then I thought, showing mercy to beasts is being cruel to myself. So I feel no burden now."

"Yes, I published in 'Science'. So what? You haven't published at all, have you? You're jealous, right? Unfortunately, academic strength isn't gained through jealousy. If you can't, you can't. A sharp tongue is useless. Don't you agree?"

"You—"

Sophia looked her over. "Actually, I've always been curious. With your idle ways, always chasing drama, where do you find time for experiments and papers? Anyone with real academic output spends day and night in the lab. You're the only one so free. So free it makes me wonder..."

She paused, taking in Ashley's subtle reaction. "...if you even wrote those papers yourself."

"You— nonsense! Who do you think you are?! You only see me when I'm free, not when I'm pushing progress in the lab..."

Sophia cut in, "Pushing progress, or playing on your phone?"

"I've done so many experiments, produced so many reports..."

Sophia asked, "Then tell me, what value does the POT parameter display on the C-xp coordinate display? What is the domain? What is the approximate range of the interval parameters?"

Ashley stared blankly.

She heard each word, but together, they made no sense.

Sophia pressed, "You don't even know such basic operations? And you claim you've done many experiments? Produced many reports?"

Alarm bells rang in Ashley's mind. The other's gaze seemed to see through all her secrets.

"I—I won't waste words on you! You have one week to move out. After rectification, this lab might not be yours anymore!"

She turned and left, her retreating figure flustered.

Shane stammered, "Wait..." That was it?

Weren't they going to show them? It was over just like that?

"I'm not stooping to your level today. We'll see about the future!" Shane snorted coldly and hurried after her.

The two nuisances were gone, but the trio's mood remained heavy.

Hannah said, "From what Ashley said, even if we pass inspection, they have a plan to take the lab. If that's true, maybe we shouldn't even bother rectifying! I'd rather we can't use it than let them have it!"

Better to break the jade than preserve the tile.

Marcus stated, "The priority now is solving the lab problem. Perhaps... we could borrow from another research group? Or rent? We can pay?"

Hannah shook her head. "It sounds possible, but it's too difficult. Who would lend us their lab?"

They weren't relatives or close friends. No one needed the money that badly.

"If you don't mind, you can use my laboratory."

A magnetic voice suddenly spoke.

All three looked toward the door.

Hannah gasped.

"Professor Laurent?!"