Theodore hadn’t yet started working on any research projects, so he didn’t fully understand what made this equipment so special. But seeing Joli’s expression, he couldn’t help but glance at it a few more times.
“Is it expensive, Joli?”
Joli nodded. “Very expensive.”
“How much does it cost?”
“More than a million.”
“What!”
That… that was shocking. It wasn’t just the price–it was the fact that Miranda and her group bought something so expensive without hesitation.
Three people, spending over a million on one lab equipment...
Theodore then thought about his parents. They were farmers who toiled under the sun and could only save a few thousand in their best year. Yet this equipment here cost over a million dollars.
Theodore stood there in a daze.
Just then, Madison’s voice echoed from the hallway–they were back!
Joli and Theodore quietly exited through the back door. As they left, Joli couldn’t resist glancing back. In the sunlight, Miranda, Madison, and Sebastian were walking in, laughing together.
Miranda was holding a bottle of Evian–also expensive.
Madison had her arms full of snacks. The packaging was covered in Danglish. Clearly, they were all imported and not cheap.
Sebastian was sipping on a sports drink Joli had never seen before. Of course, he had no idea what it tasted like.
As they reached the bottom of the stairs, Theodore noticed Joli’s silence and nudged him. “What are you thinking about, Joli?”
Joli smiled softly. “…Must be nice.”
Theodore nodded, thinking he was talking about the new equipment. “Yeah, it is. A new machine is great.”
Joli chuckled. But he wasn’t talking about the machine. He was referring to something else entirely.
They had the courage to fight back, the confidence to argue. Most importantly, the financial power to back it up.
That was what was truly great.
Meanwhile, inside the lab, Miranda offered water to the engineers. “Please, have some water.”
Madison chimed in, “I’ve got snacks too!”
Christine only found out about the new CPRT machine three days after it arrived. As expected, the old professor was livid, her hands shaking with anger.
“That Sophie Xander! How could she go so far!”
Then, she looked at her students. “And you three! Why didn’t you tell me about something this big? Yes, I’m old, and my health isn’t great, but I’m not dead yet!”
Miranda quickly interrupted, “Don’t talk like that! Don’t even say such things! Ugh, knock on wood!”
Christine continued, “If you’d told me, there’d have been no need to get so worked up and buy a new machine yourselves!”
Miranda shrugged. “It wasn’t just out of frustration. We’ve tried the new equipment, and it’s so much better than the old ones in the lab. Our efficiency has skyrocketed.”
Madison nodded enthusiastically. “Totally worth it! Best money ever spent!”
Sebastian added, “The new machine is definitely more efficient.”
Christine was tongue-tied. “I say one thing, and you three have ten things ready to retort!”
“Hehe…”
And with that, the issue was settled.
Sophie hadn’t been in a good mood these past few days.
First, Joli was reprimanded, which also reflected poorly on her as his mentor. Then, the dean summoned her for a talk.
And it wasn’t Joseph, the associate dean who handled minor matters–it was the actual head of the Faculty of Bioinformatics.
The conversation was filled with both subtle and direct warnings. He said there was to be no academic division and certainly no forming factions.
Sophie left the dean’s office drenched in cold sweat. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She stormed into Joseph’s office, demanding to know if he had been the one to report her.
Joseph looked bewildered. “Why would I do that? Reporting this to the dean would bring me no benefit! If anything, I’d want to keep it under wraps to avoid getting blamed for poor management.”
Sophie paused, frowning. “Then who did it?”
Joseph’s mind instantly went to one person. Sam could act tough around Joseph, but he had no access to the dean. Someone who could get the dean’s attention and even have him act willingly…
It could only be that person.