Chapter 323
The words had barely left her mouth.
Reporters and a photographer from the Campus Gazette appeared on the scene.
"Hello everyone, we're from the Campus Gazette. We'd like to conduct a quick on-site interview. Is that alright?"
Sophia Sullivan and Professor Eleanor Watson exchanged a glance.
"Of course," Sophia said with a smile. "But may I ask who invited you?"
"Dean Blake Cunningham from the School of Life Sciences. He said students built their own lab and even invited the President to the unveiling. Very newsworthy."
"The Dean is too kind."
Blake Cunningham, not far away, wished the ground would swallow him whole.
The reporter asked a few questions about the laboratory.
Then, abruptly, he changed the subject.
"...Is the President not here yet?"
No sooner had he spoken.
Xiao Ninghan and Charlie Wilson arrived.
"Eleanor, congratulations." Xiao Ninghan got out of the car, smiling and cupping his hands in a gesture of respect.
That single gesture alone spoke volumes about his high emotional intelligence.
Charlie Wilson was not nearly as composed.
He was first stunned by the five-story building.
Then shocked by the lineup of distinguished guests.
By the time he collected himself.
Xiao Ninghan was already speaking with Sophia.
"Truly a student of Eleanor Watson's. The new generation surpasses the old. As President, nothing makes me happier than seeing students grow and the future of academia secured!"
"I heard you single-handedly set up this lab, Miss Sullivan. You are remarkable."
Xiao Ninghan gave a thumbs-up.
But Sophia pulled Hannah Morse and Marcus Lawrence forward.
"President, that's not entirely accurate. The three of us built this lab together. So the remarkable ones are us."
"Haha... Right! It's all of you!"
Hannah and Marcus were completely dumbfounded.
Sophia had moved too fast.
They hadn't processed it.
Only after Xiao Ninghan and Charlie Wilson moved away did Hannah snap out of it.
"Sophia... did the President just... praise me?"
"Yes."
"Oh my god, I wouldn't even dream of this."
It was Xiao Ninghan!
The head of MIT!
The internet-famous President!
And he had praised her?
"Marcus, quick, hold me up. My legs are jelly."
Marcus's mouth twitched.
"Really?"
Even as he said it, his hand reached out to steady her.
...She was surprisingly heavy.
"Yes! Absolutely yes!" Hannah gazed at Sophia with shining eyes. "Sophia, you're the best..."
She hadn't forgotten to include them, even at a moment like this.
Sophia shrugged.
"I just told the truth."
Marcus also shot her a look of gratitude.
As Xiao Ninghan passed Blake Cunningham.
Cunningham nearly bent his waist at a ninety-degree angle.
His head practically buried in the ground.
Xiao Ninghan walked straight past without a glance.
Cunningham just began to relax.
The next second—
Xiao Ninghan turned back.
He stopped in front of him.
"School of Life Sciences? Blake Cunningham?"
"Y-yes! President!" His heart, just settled, leapt back into his throat.
He was on the verge of tears.
If he'd known Sophia could actually build a lab.
And invite so many academic heavyweights.
He never would have come!
And bringing the Campus Gazette reporters and photographer...
Cunningham desperately wanted to slap himself.
The regret!
Xiao Ninghan looked him up and down.
He seemed oblivious to the other man's discomfort.
He spoke calmly.
"I heard Sophia Sullivan's group built this lab off-campus because their on-campus lab was required to undergo fire safety renovations?"
At the words "fire safety renovations," Cunningham's heart skipped a beat.
Victoria Lowell behind him also felt her scalp prickle.
Shane Holloway, Ashley Lowell, and Amelia Roscente instantly turned into quailing quails.
They didn't dare breathe too loudly.
Cunningham forced himself to answer.
"Y-yes, that's correct..."
"Was there something particular about the circumstances?"
"Th-this..." Cunningham's eyes darted around. "I'm not too familiar with the details. It requires further investigation..."
"Not familiar?" Xiao Ninghan's tone was cool. "As the Dean, you're not familiar with the only lab in the entire school ordered to undergo renovations? Who communicated with the district fire department? Who signed off on the renovation plan? Was the situation properly communicated? How was it explained to the students involved... Aren't these things you should have overseen?"
With every sentence Xiao Ninghan uttered.
Cunningham's head drooped lower.
Finally.
He was bent over facing the ground.
As if in apology.
Charlie Wilson, never one to miss a chance to stir the pot, spoke up languidly.
"Judging by Dean Cunningham's reaction, there seems to be more to this story?"
Xiao Ninghan's gaze sharpened.
"Since there seems to be more to it, submit a written report. Furthermore, Professor Watson deserves an explanation. Her students were essentially thrown out and ended up spending their own money to build a lab."
"Those who don't know might praise MIT students for being exceptional. Those who do know will say the nation's top university can't even provide a proper lab!"
"The School of Life Sciences receives national funding, university funding. Not much academic output, but incident after incident. Some people have grown too comfortable. The rot starts from the root."
Xiao Ninghan finished and walked away.
Cunningham was drenched in a cold sweat.
He could barely straighten his back.
"Dean Cunningham..." Victoria Lowell ventured tentatively.
Cunningham whirled around.
He glared at her viciously.
"Fools! Fools! Who told you to make trouble for Sophia Sullivan, to deny her a lab?!"
"You already did this once with the CPRT equipment! You dared to do it again with the fire inspection?! Where did you get the nerve?!"
Victoria was stunned by the outburst.
Coming to her senses and realizing students were present, she flushed with humiliation.
But the more pressing matter was—
"What did the President mean just now? Did he notice something? Did Eleanor Watson complain?!"
She was frantic.
She wanted some reassurance from Cunningham.
But Cunningham had his own problems.
He was in no mood to soothe her!
"What do you think?! The mess you made will be dug up sooner or later!"
That offhand remark.
Nearly scared Victoria out of her wits.
No... This can't happen...
She couldn't just wait for doom!
Suddenly.
She remembered something.
She turned sharply towards Sophia.
She plastered on a smile and walked over.
"Miss Sullivan, you're truly impressive! Building a lab just like that! I just wonder, did it pass the relevant official inspections?"