Chapter 309

Hannah blinked, a look of complete understanding on her face.

Her eyes darted around rapidly.

She turned her head and found Marcus Lawrence staring right at her.

Hannah swallowed. "Why... why are you looking at me?"

Marcus's voice was low. "You weren't the one getting hit on. Why are you nervous?"

"I'm worried for Sophia. Getting stopped every day is such a hassle... Speaking of which, Marcus, she's so amazing. Don't you have any thoughts about her?"

Marcus shot her a glance. "Stop imagining things."

"Isn't it true?"

"No."

"...Then there's something wrong with your taste."

Marcus stared at her and suddenly laughed. "I think there's something wrong with my taste too."

Hannah: "?"

Meanwhile, Sophia Sullivan turned to the boy. "Sorry, I'm not a student here."

"No problem! Can I get your WeChat?"

"That's not convenient."

"Why?"

Sophia replied, "I have a boyfriend."

"Ah... I see..." The boy's face flushed red instantly. "My apologies for bothering you!"

He turned and ran away.

Sophia let out a sigh of relief.

The students who had been watching the spectacle gradually dispersed.

On the way back to the lab, Hannah suddenly asked, "Sophia, did you really get a boyfriend?"

"No. I was just brushing him off."

It was the most direct and effective reason.

"Are you going to handle all your admirers like that from now on?"

"Uh... Admirers? Isn't that an exaggeration? This is only the first one..."

"You're thinking too simply! A beautiful woman is popular wherever she goes. One today, a whole group tomorrow. Just you wait."

"...It can't be that bad, right?"

"Hmph."

At that time, Sophia didn't take Hannah's words seriously.

It wasn't until the next day, when another boy stood in front of her and asked the same question, that she realized how naive she had been!

For three days straight, every time she went to the cafeteria at noon, Sophia was stopped.

Although it was a different face each time, the opening line was always the same—

Can I get to know you?

Can I have your WeChat?

Your gaming ID works too!

The most outrageous time was when she was about to leave after finishing her meal, and two boys surrounded her simultaneously.

They both asked for her contact information at the same time.

Before Sophia could even open her mouth to refuse, the two started arguing.

It began as a war of words, but then someone threw the first punch, and they started brawling.

Finally, a faculty advisor who was eating in the cafeteria stepped in to break it up and prevent the situation from escalating.

From start to finish, it took less than ten minutes, but it drew spectators from all three floors of the cafeteria. Even the lunch lady serving food stuck her head out to see.

"What's going on?"

"Just to get her number?"

"That's insane! Anyone would think they were fighting over a girlfriend, but in the end..."

"I heard this girl has been getting stopped in the cafeteria for several days in a row. Today, someone actually fought over her. Impressive!"

"Who is she? Which department?!"

"No idea."

"Huh? Such a big scene, and no one even knows who the main character is? The gossip game this year is weak!"

"How would we know? She's not from our school."

"From another school?"

"A grad student from MIT next door. I think she's here to use the labs."

"..."

Discussions buzzed through the crowd.

The faculty advisor first lectured the two boys and sent them on their way. Then he called Sophia over to understand the situation.

"...So, did you give them your contact information?"

Sophia: "No."

"Neither of them?"

"No."

Right!

The truth was out. The girl hadn't paid either of them any attention. They had started fighting on their own.

The advisor was reasonable. This had nothing to do with Sophia. It was his own students who were lacking.

"It's fine. You can go."

After that, Sophia never went to the cafeteria at noon again. She either ordered takeout or asked Hannah to bring her food.

Finally, she had some peace.

But the incident became a topic of conversation for the Stanford students during their free time.

None of that concerned Sophia, however.

She closed her door and focused on her experiments, organizing data and writing her paper.

Any noise from the outside world fell on deaf ears.

...

The annual National Science Awards Ceremony was held at the Kyoto Convention Hall.

Alexander Laurent alone took home two major awards.

This drew the attention of everyone in the room.

Everyone present was a top figure in their field, but even among the best, there were gradients.

Alexander was undoubtedly among the few standing at the very pinnacle of the pyramid.

"Congratulations, Alexander. This is the third year in a row you've won an award, right?"

"You flatter me, Professor Feng. You won awards for five consecutive years back in the day, a record that still stands unbroken. My achievements are nothing in comparison."

"Haha... Alexander, you're still so modest!"

The awards he had won back then were far less prestigious than Alexander's.

But his words were gracious. Even if it wasn't true, it was pleasant to hear.

"The new generation surpasses the old. The future belongs to you young people. We old fossils are just doing our part by giving you a push, making the most of what's left, completing our journey."

"New generation or old, I only believe one thing—experience trumps youth."

"Hahaha... I'm no match for your silver tongue, no match at all." Feng Yuchun waved his hands repeatedly.

"But," he changed the subject, "speaking of the new generation, that MIT girl you recommended last time... Su... Su something..."

"Sophia Sullivan." Alexander subconsciously straightened his posture and supplied the name.

"Yes, yes. That girl's academic ability is truly outstanding. I asked and found out she's Professor Watson's student. No wonder she's so exceptional."

"How do you know she's capable?"

"I went to the lab to pick up an instrument once and happened to see her leading her team through an experimental procedure... Her thinking was clear, her reasoning is logically tight, and crucially, she considered every detail thoroughly, with corresponding verification methods for each step. I haven't seen such meticulousness and rigor in any other student."

"You said before... she's only a first-year master's student?"

"Yes." Alexander nodded.

"That makes it even more remarkable. She puts my second and third-year master's students to shame!"

A slight curve touched Alexander's lips, a trace of imperceptible pride flashing in his eyes.

"She has always been that outstanding."

"However," Feng Yuchun's tone shifted again, "with a seedling this promising, we must be even more careful. We can't let her be led astray."

Alexander raised an eyebrow. "You seem to be implying something else?"

"Ah," Professor Feng sighed. "You really don't know?"

Alexander said, "Please, tell me."

"Well, a few days ago, a faculty advisor from the department came to me. He said Miss Sullivan has been getting confessed to by boys in the cafeteria repeatedly. There were even two undergraduate students who came to blows over her..."