Chapter 59

Wendelyn, skilled at pretending, put on an innocent, helpless expression before looking troubled. “I… I didn’t do anything. I treat Erin like a sister. Why would she frame me?”

Everyone looked at her, their doubt still lingering.

At that moment, Joshua was also at Basterel University, and Sheldon was the one receiving him.

Joshua was the one who made the huge investment in this project. Right now, the lab was starting to see some returns on their work.

As an investor, Joshua was much kinder than most. He never squeezed them dry and offered a very fair profit-sharing plan. The lab’s benefits were pretty good–they got a generous 30% of the earnings.

Joshua wore a white shirt and black pants, the collar buttoned up neatly. His physique was excellent. Though the gold-rimmed glasses softened a bit of his natural ruggedness, as he moved, his defined, strong muscles were visible beneath his shirt.

Once the project review was completed, the next step for Joshua was to apply for a patent and then share the findings to benefit society. After all, new energy development was the lifeblood of industry. Whoever controlled the new energy controlled the future.

Sheldon said, “To be fair, it was your idea that helped our lab make this breakthrough. The problem was solved, and the credit still belongs to our lab.”

“You definitely deserve the honor,” Joshua replied calmly.

Sheldon replied, “That’s true, but I really admire that expert from the tech forum. She solved our problem in just ten days. I remember you also invested in our lithium-sulfur battery project here at Basterel University. Has there been any progress?”

Joshua shook his head. Some projects he had invested in wouldn’t yield returns in the short term, and the lithium-sulfur battery project was one of them.

He had estimated it would take at least five years to see any returns, and now, nearly four years in, the lab was still struggling with the shuttle effect problem.

“Maybe you can ask that expert for help. But I heard from one of my students that she’s taken on an SSS-level task related to the Ol system on the tech forum,” Sheldon said.

He was full of admiration for the expert. Excelling in one field was hard enough, but that expert wasn’t just skilled in materials science and engineering; she also seemed to have deep knowledge of informatics.

As an academician at Basterel University and a prominent figure in international engineering circles, Sheldon rarely praised anyone so highly. Hearing him speak so glowingly about this expert piqued Joshua’s curiosity.

But Joshua had no intention of rushing the lithium-sulfur battery project for immediate returns–he didn’t need the money for investments. “I’ll hold a meeting in three days,” he said. “Professor Wendell, you’ll handle the presentation.”

“Consider it done,” Sheldon replied.

When Joshua and Sheldon stepped out of the lab, they heard Erin tearfully confessing her wrongs over the loudspeaker.

She said, “In the convenience store, I deliberately knocked over Shermaine’s yogurt. She only attacked me because she realized my intentions. Later, paid and instructed by Wendelyn, I smeared Shermaine on the forum, even fabricating the rumor about her cheating on exams.

“I’ll post the proof of payments and our chat screenshots later. Now I want to formally apologize to Shermaine. I’m sorry.”

Hearing Shermaine’s name, Joshua remembered how she had asked him for milk earlier. He found her tone amusing and smiled. He was always aloof and refined, and this rare smile was like a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds, giving him an unusual charm.

Besides, he exuded an irresistible allure. Just one glance at him could send anyone’s hormones into overdrive. Everyone would be utterly captivated by him. Thankfully, there were no women around to witness this moment.

On the other hand, Sheldon frowned upon hearing Erin’s words. ‘Students these days are truly a mixed bag,’ he complained inwardly. “How can some of them focus on serious academic research–they’re just too restless and dishonest.”

“Sorry you had to hear this, Mr. York,” Sheldon said.

“The person she apologized to is my fiancée,” Joshua said calmly.

Sheldon thought, ‘I didn’t ask, so why bring it up?’ But out of politeness, he asked, “Is she also a student at Basterel University?”

“No, she isn’t.”

“Then who is she?”

“She is a high school senior.”

Stunned, Sheldon thought, ‘He is so much older than his fiancée–and he’s acting so nonchalant about it?’