Chapter 206
Caleb stood before the desk.
His gaze was fixed on Professor Victoria Lowell's face.
"You applied for the lab using my name?"
Victoria looked up.
A smile curved her lips.
"Yes, that's correct."
"Who is the lab for? I need to coordinate."
Victoria gave a light laugh.
"It's not for anyone."
"Just leaving it idle?" Caleb's fingers tightened slightly.
"Yes, empty."
He should have remained silent as he always did.
But Sophia Sullivan's accusatory eyes flashed in his mind.
Caleb spoke suddenly.
"If it's not needed, why apply?"
Victoria raised an eyebrow.
She hadn't expected her obedient dog to suddenly bare its teeth.
Her smile grew warmer.
"Not needed now doesn't mean never needed. Academic resources must be seized. You understand that."
"What special resources does that lab have?"
"The CPRT Dynamometer is there."
"Our group already has one."
"Two are better than one."
"Equipment that's redundant for us might be urgently needed by other groups…"
"Caleb." Victoria cut him off. "Are you free lately? Is your lab work all finished?"
"...No."
Victoria's expression turned cold.
"Then focus on your own duties! Don't worry about useless things! Even if you're a genius, remember who gives you your resources!"
Caleb's mouth tightened.
His jawline went rigid.
Victoria watched him coldly.
Until…
He lowered his eyes.
Returning to that obedient student.
"Sorry, Professor."
The smile returned to Victoria's face.
"Don't be nervous, I'm just strict. Focus on your academics, and there will always be rewards."
Caleb had heard this too many times.
So for three years of graduate school, he had never slacked off.
"We'll hold the lab for now, discuss it later. Anything else?"
Caleb shook his head.
"No."
"Then you may go."
"Yes, Professor."
"Wait—" Victoria stopped him.
"No matter how busy you are with the lab, don't forget Ashley's thesis. Finish it this month."
Caleb frowned.
"I gave her one half a year ago."
Ashley interjected.
"Something from half a year ago is useless now."
Victoria shot her niece a glare.
She stood and walked over to Caleb.
She patted his shoulder.
"I know you're busy, and looking after Ashley too, it must be hard… I understand."
"I spoke with your parents yesterday. I heard the storm destroyed your family's orchard. Just when it should be making money, the weather was uncooperative."
Victoria sighed.
As if genuinely distressed.
"I'm far away, can't help much, but I transferred fifty thousand to your parents. It's not much, but it can help in an emergency."
Caleb kept his eyes down.
No emotion showed.
But his fists were clenched tight under his sleeves.
After a long moment.
He unclenched his fists.
As if completely surrendering.
"Thank you, Professor. I've troubled you all these years."
"It's only right. You're my most accomplished student. Of course I favor my own, right?"
Caleb was silent.
He was always quiet.
Leaving others with only an impression of stillness.
"Go back. Arrange time for the thesis as you see fit. I believe you won't disappoint me."
Caleb turned and left.
Victoria sat back in her chair.
She took a slow sip of tea.
Ashley giggled and moved closer.
"Auntie is amazing, keeping him so well-behaved!"
...
The lab couldn't be borrowed.
Caleb refused to cancel the application.
They had to find another way.
Hannah Morse was so angry she skipped dinner.
"This is too much! Absolutely bullying!"
"Won't the school do anything?!"
Marcus Lawrence adjusted his glasses.
"The school only cares about academic results. Caleb's paperwork is compliant. The administration has no reason to intervene."
Hannah propped her chubby face in her hands.
"No lab, how do we proceed with the project?"
Marcus shook his head.
"The key isn't the lab, it's the CPRT Dynamometer."
With the equipment, any lab could be used.
Hannah suddenly asked.
"Is that dynamometer expensive?"
Sophia was stunned.
Marcus paused for two seconds.
"That question… is interesting!"
He immediately took out his phone to check.
"High-spec model with microscope from Everysto in Germany. Market price is 1.26 million."
"1.26 million…" Hannah thought for a moment. "How about we just buy one ourselves?"
Marcus: "?" Did he hear correctly?
Sophia: "!" That's actually a solution!
Marcus stared at Hannah.
"Did you hear the price clearly? 1.26 million, not 126 dollars."
Hannah nodded.
"I heard clearly."
"So you still think… we can buy it?"
"Not us, me. I'll handle it." She patted her chest.
Marcus thought either Hannah was crazy, or he was hallucinating.
"Where would you get that much money?" How could she boast so wildly?
Hannah blinked.
"I don't have money."
Marcus looked as if that confirmed his thoughts.
"But my dad does!"
"?"
She took out her phone and dialed.
"Hey! Pops!"
"My good daughter finally called! Your old man is so touched!"
"Pops, I need money, can you send some over?"
"How much?"
"One million should do."
She still had five hundred thousand in spending money in her card.
Together it was enough.