Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed



Although Mamie had never met Owen or knew of his relationship with Roseanne, nothing could stifle her desire to vent her frustrations.

After lunch, the trio returned to the lab.

Mamie put her hands on her hips and sighed, "Sure, it's spacious, but cleaning is such a chore."

Suddenly—

"Excuse me, is this Room C116?"

Two janitors appeared at the door, cleaning supplies in hand.

"Uh, yes, this is C116. What can I do for you?"

"That's great! Let's get started then."

The other cleaner quickly chimed in, and they both sprang into action.

Mamie blinked, "Wait, are you sure you've got the right place?"

"No mistake, it's C116. The admin office told us to come clean up."

The admin office?

Mamie and Roseanne glanced at Scales, wondering if he was behind this.

He shook his head. He wasn't capable of such a feat.

"Who could it be? We didn't tell anyone else we were cleaning today. But hey, someone's cleaning for us, so I'm not complaining..."

She then grabbed a chair, sat down, and tore open a bag of potato chips.

Not only did she start munching, but she also offered some to Roseanne and Scales.

Roseanne took a chip, but her mind was elsewhere, harboring a guess.

Was Owen feeling guilty for not being able to help, trying to make amends this way?

It really wasn't necessary...

Mamie nudged Scales, "Aren't you going to grab some?"

Scales replied, "No thanks, I'm watching my weight." "Well, fine!"

...

Meanwhile, at the Life Sciences Department Office.

Babur White wiped his sweat, trying to maintain a smile, but the man across from him remained unmoved, without a hint of extra expression.

He cautiously probed, "...Mr. Sullivan, it's rare to see you here. What brings you today?"

"Why I'm here? You don't know?" He scoffed, "It seems all those devices EchoVerse Systems donated to the department have gone to waste!" Babur was immediately anxious, "Why would you say that?"

Though he held the title of deputy dean, with 12 others sharing various responsibilities, his was to attract investment.

It was a coveted position when managed well, given the interactions with entrepreneurs who could make a substantial difference with the smallest of contributions.

But it was a different story if mishandled.

Babur thought he was well-regarded in this circle, having shared laughs with Corley at dinner parties. What went wrong today?

"Is there something we've failed at? Please, feel free to tell me, and I'll ensure we make the necessary improvements!"

Corley's laugh was tinged with

sarcasm, What can I possibly suggest? After all, the department's resources aren't allocated by rules or capabilities. You do as you please, favoring some over others.

Babur protested, "That's not true! Our department has always been fair and just in providing

experimental resources to students, strictly adhering to regulations without favoritism."

"Really? Because I've heard about individuals monopolizing labs, not using them themselves and

preventing others from doing somet

This shouldn't concern me, but when Echoverse Systems donated two CPRT machines, what was

promised?"

"To provide a fair and equitable experimental environment for every student, to contribute to the scientific community, and to advance humanity's future."

"And now? It's all turned upside down. My donations are not decorations or pawns in academic disputes. This is something you need to understand because "

Corley's smile sharpened, emphasizing each word, "This directly affects whether EchoVerse Systems will continue to support the department with funds and resources."

Babur's face went pale. "Wait, let's talk this through. We can discuss everything!"

Meanwhile, his mind was racing, trying to pinpoint the issue with the CPRT devices...

"Rest assured, Mr. Sullivan, I think I grasp your point. We firmly oppose academic injustice and will deal with it seriously."