Chapter 410
Still no answer.
This is unbelievable.
The evasive university administration and the unresponsive organizers.
I refuse to believe there isn't something fishy going on here.
Sophia fell silent for a moment, then an idea struck her.
The judges for a national competition like this are usually university professors.
I remember the official website published the list of judges.
Let's see if there's anyone from our school.
Hannah immediately opened her laptop.
After some searching, she found it.
Sophia looked over the list.
But from top to bottom, she didn't see a single professor from MIT.
Marcus explained.
Because MIT and Caltech have been fierce competitors in previous years, often taking half the awards between them, the organizers typically don't invite professors from these schools to be judges.
It's to avoid any perceived bias.
To put it simply, it's a conflict of interest.
Hannah frowned.
But we don't know any professors from other schools.
How do we even contact them?
Even if we did, they might not bother to talk to us.
Sophia thought for a second.
We might not know them, but that doesn't mean the professors don't know each other.
"What are you thinking, Sophia?"
I'll go see Professor Watson.
She probably knows someone on this list.
Professor Eleanor Watson was abroad again for an academic conference.
Because of the time difference, a phone call wasn't practical.
So Sophia sent a detailed email explaining the entire situation.
She received a reply from Professor Watson that very night.
Professor Watson supported their investigation into the truth and recovering their research report.
Secondly, her phone would be on 24/7 from now on.
She would respond immediately if they needed anything.
Finally, and this was what Sophia cared about most.
There was indeed someone on the list she knew.
But she only knew them in passing.
They weren't close, and she didn't have their contact information.
However, this professor was on good terms with Alexander Laurent.
So, during their evening run that night, Sophia explained everything to Alexander.
That's the situation.
Since we can't reach the organizers and the university is being evasive, we want to try contacting the judging panel directly.
Even just one judge would be enough.
"You want to meet Professor Harrison?"
Sophia nodded.
If it's convenient.
If not, even a phone call would work.
"Alright. I'll contact him for you."
"Thank you, Professor. I'm sorry to trouble you again."
Sophia smiled awkwardly.
"It seems like ever since we met, you've always been the one helping me."
"Who said that? You've helped me a great deal too."
Sophia was surprised.
"Like what?"
"Before I met you, I could only make simple meals."
"Now, I can fillet a fish and prepare a chicken without any problem."
Sophia blushed, mumbling.
"That sounds a bit like a complaint."
Alexander coughed lightly.
"Absolutely not."
"I meant that since meeting you, I've experienced the simple joys of daily life."
"For me, it's been a rare and valuable experience."
The next day, Alexander arranged a meeting with Professor Harrison.
The location was a chain coffee shop.
Alexander and Sophia arrived early to wait.
Sophia looked around, hesitating to speak.
Alexander noticed and asked, "What is it?"
"Wouldn't a teahouse or a restaurant have been more appropriate?"
Before coming, Sophia had looked up Professor Harrison's background.
A titan in the field of cell biology.
The current dean of the School of Life Sciences at a prestigious university.
His academic achievements were among the top in the country.
Alexander couldn't help but laugh.
"That's a stereotype."
"Professor Harrison is in his seventies, but he's young at heart."
"He keeps up with the times."
"He enjoys reading web novels, binge-watching palace dramas, and drinking Luckin coffee."
Sophia was taken aback.
"Sounds rather unreliable, doesn't he?"
"You'll understand when you meet him."
Ten minutes later, a tall figure appeared opposite them.
"Hey, Alex."
Sophia looked closely.
Even though she was prepared, she was still stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief.