Chapter 319
Everyone Awaits the Spectacle
Henry Lorenz slid the gilded invitation across the table to her.
"See for yourself."
Mrs. Lorenz took the invitation.
Her eyes scanned the contents.
Her expression gradually froze.
"A laboratory unveiling ceremony? They actually built it?"
"My daughter is in no way inferior to any son. Why must you constantly harp on that? I forbid you from saying such things again... even in private. Understood?"
Mrs. Lorenz turned her face away.
"I'm talking to you!"
"I know! Your daughter is your precious jewel. Not a word against her, not a touch!"
Only then did Henry Lorenz break into a smile.
"That's more like it."
"..."
That afternoon, the couple packed their bags and hurried to the airport.
As their car passed the village entrance—
"Landlord, off for some sea fishing again?"
"Not the coast this time. Heading to Kyoto."
"All that way?"
"Going to see my daughter."
"Did something happen?"
Henry Lorenz: "She's doing big things!"
"??"
...
That same day, both the university administration and the School of Life Sciences received their invitations.
The University President held the invitation, his brow slightly furrowed.
"A first-year graduate student from the School of Life Sciences built her own lab? And is holding an unveiling?"
He looked at the Vice President, his gaze questioning.
The Vice President cleared his throat softly. "I just received the news as well. The School of Life Sciences did not report this beforehand."
"This Sophia Sullivan... is she the one who recently published the paper in 'Science'?"
"That's her."
"Built her own laboratory?" The President found the notion utterly novel.
The Vice President wiped his temple. "Probably just the students dabbling, a small-scale affair..."
"Professor Eleanor Watson sent the invitation personally. Do you still think it's a small-scale affair?"
The President's gaze was sharp.
The Vice President: "But building a lab is no trivial matter..."
"As the university, we should be considering why a student would build a lab off-campus when we have facilities here. Does this suggest academic inequity? Is there suppression at play?"
"Then... what is your opinion?"
The President rubbed the edge of the invitation, pondering for a moment.
"Since the invitation has arrived, we must go and see."
See what these students could possibly pull off!
At the same time, in the School office—
The Dean flung the invitation onto Blake Cunningham's desk.
"Look what you've done! The university knows! Whether Sophia's lab is real or not, this has blown up. If higher-ups investigate, no one will escape blame!"
With that, he stormed out.
Blake Cunningham's fingers trembled.
Sophia Sullivan dared to go straight to the President!
Her audacity knew no bounds!
Building a lab?
What a joke!
This was clearly a ploy to create pressure, to force the School to concede.
What a cunning move!
His assistant glimpsed the invitation's contents—
Unveiling ceremony tomorrow.
"Dean... what should we do?"
Blake Cunningham's face was like dark water.
After a long silence.
"...Send for Professor Victoria Lowell."
The assistant soon returned with her.
"What is it?"
Victoria Lowell stood arms crossed before the desk, her posture haughty.
Blake Cunningham pointed to a chair.
"Sit."
Victoria Lowell frowned. "I'm busy. State your business."
"Sit." Blake Cunningham repeated.
"Dean Cunningham, I said I'm busy, I don't have time—"
"I said SIT! Are you deaf?! Must I crane my neck to speak to you?! Who do you think you are?! I gave you face?! Have you forgotten who built you up?! Who fights for your resources every year?!"
"Without me, could you have snatched funding from Eleanor Watson?! A well-fed dog dares to snarl at its master now!"
Victoria Lowell was stunned by the tirade.
"You... how could you..."
Blake Cunningham had never lost his temper with her like this before.
"I. Said. SIT. DOWN!"
Victoria Lowell dared not be arrogant any longer and obediently sat down.
"What is it?" Her tone was now cautious.
Blake Cunningham sneered, grabbed the invitation, and threw it in her face.
"See for yourself!"
Victoria Lowell, struck, didn't dare make a sound.
She picked up the invitation. Her pupils constricted sharply as she read the contents.
"Lab unveiling?! Impossible!"
"The Dean brought it himself! The university received it too! How could it be fake?!"
"Sophia Sullivan dares to involve the university? She's utterly—"
Victoria Lowell was both shocked and furious.
She knew things would be hard to control once they escalated.
"Anyway," she took a deep breath, "I don't believe they actually built a lab. It must be a bluff, to pressure us into making a mistake!"
Blake Cunningham clearly agreed.
"Now that the university knows, the only way out is to prove Sophia's team is just fooling around. Otherwise—"
The things Victoria Lowell had done couldn't withstand scrutiny.
It was fine only because no one was looking. A deep investigation would expose everyone!
Victoria Lowell: "The unveiling is tomorrow. I don't believe they can conjure a lab out of thin air!"
Blake Cunningham: "Neither the School nor the university believes it. Since Sophia wants to make a scene, we might as well add fuel to the fire."
Victoria Lowell's heart jumped. "...What do you mean?"
Blake Cunningham narrowed his eyes. "If she wants a spectacle, let's give her a grand one. Sophia wants attention? I'll help her get it!"
"Tyler—get in here!"
The assistant pushed the door open. "Dean?"
"Notify the University Communications Office. Have reporters and writers from the 'Campus Gazette' accompany us tomorrow to observe the unveiling ceremony."
When everyone expects to see a lab, and Sophia has nothing to show, the scene will be glorious.
Compared to three students making fools of the university, their own mistakes would pale in significance.
A smirk touched Victoria Lowell's lips. "The older the ginger, the spicier it is."
Tomorrow, they would watch Sophia Sullivan hoist by her own petard.
The thought was exhilarating.
"I'll have the students from my team come too."
Blake Cunningham smiled. "Bring them all. The more, the merrier."