NovelEnglish"Just tweak the data a bit to keep it consistent, no need to waste tverifying.' Even though Carlson had
anticipated it, hearing it firsthand was still a shock.
"This is, academic, fraud!" He stressed every word.
Edna's face turned sour: "Carlson, you're a sensible guy. | trust you know what should and shouldn't be said. As
your mentor, I'm just offering you a way to solve the problem. What to do with it, is up to you." Carlson looked
up, locking eyes with Edna with an intensity she hadn't seen before.
"Professor, this isn't right."
It just wasn't right...
After Carlson left, Edna watched his departing back and snickered.
It's okay if he doesn't get it now. People grow.
Eventually, he'll understand that truth doesn't matter. What matters is how many papers you've published, how
much academic output you've produced.
People say research is pure, but Edna scoffed at that.
Wherever there are people, there's a struggle - for resources, funding, status, titles... Aren't all these tied to
output?
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Only those who reach the summit have the right to talk about "purity". But first, you've got to reach the summit.
Edna took out her phone, "Call Hertha Sherwood over."
It was her tto shine.
"Hertha, school's been in session for almost a month now. How are you adjusting? How are the senior students
treating you? No one's giving you a hard time, right?" Hertha was somewhat flattered: "No, no, everyone's been
really kind to me."
"That's good to hear. | called you here because there's something related to the lab | need to discuss with you."
Hertha's eyes sparkled, barely containing her excitement: "Does that mean | can start getting involved in the lab
operations?"
"You were recruited by me, of course, there's a spot for you in the research team. It's just that we've run into a
bit of a snag... It might require seffort on your part."
"What's going on? Just tell me, and I'll do whatever | can!"
Edna's smile grew warmer: "You might have heard, the group led by Madeleine next door bought the latest
model of the CPRT analyzer with their own funds. Our team's budget is tight, so | was wondering if you could...
lend a hand?"
"But don't worry, your hard work
won't go unnoticed. I'll keep a record
of your contribution. When
high-priority projects or conference
spots cup, you'll be the first | consider!"
"If you're interested in a direct PhD track, as long as your grades are solid, that shouldn't be a problem either."
First, promise them the moon. Whether they'll get it, who knows?
Hertha wasn't just aiming for a degree; she wanted to achieve something, especially since... her mother placed
such high value on education, it was almost a fixation. If she could earn her PhD, she believed Beverley would be
proud.
Without a second thought, she agreed.
A million isn't that much, after all. A little sweet talk at home, and the funds would be hers.
But within days of Hertha securing a new CPRT analyzer for Edna's lab, the reality hit her hard.
What happened to the budget being just over a million?
It ended up costing over two million!
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The family agreed to cover only half, and Hertha had to sell more than a dozen of her beloved designer bags to
make up the rest. Those bags were her treasures, and just like that, they were gone!
Edna was over the moon, eager to flaunt her acquisition in front of Madeleine: See, it's not just your students
who can pull this off.
However, she circled around a few times without catching a glimpse of Madeleine.
"Oh, Ms. Payne has been away. She was invited to the International Biology Research Summit in Sydney. Didn't
you get an invitation, Ms. Edna?" "..." If you've got nothing nice to say, better say nothing at all.
Edna, undeterred, lingered outside the C116 lab a bit longer, but the door remained firmly shut, the understated
demeanor not giving anything away. Meanwhile, just a wall away, the research team led by Roseanne had
officially commenced their project.
ork
Talways flies in the lab, and before they knew it, a week had passed.
One day, as Roseanne was heading home, she noticed something odd about the apartment next to herst struck
her that, aside from a brief encounter outside the cafeteria, she hadn't seen Owen for quite a while.
Given that they lived door-to-door, it was strange. Owen was always busy, but they used to run into each other
in the hallway occasionally. But not this time...
No matter when she left in the morning or cback at night, his door was always shut tight.
She even had this nagging feeling - Owen was avoiding her on purpose.
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