Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed



Gulp

Mamie swallowed hard, turning to look at Roseanne, as if seeing her for the first time.

"Hey, Roseanne, we don't have anyone else with your name at the university, do we?"

Scales quirked an eyebrow, "Really now?"

Mamie glared at him, "What do you know? This is called being boldly speculative but cautiously assertive! Don't wanna get my hopes up for nothing..."

Roseanne, snapping out of her daze, chuckled, "I don't think so...?"

"Ah-ha! So it was you, wasn't it?!" Mamie bounced like a dynamic meatball, "OMG! My classmate is a superstar! My teammate is a genius! Roseanne, I'm entrusting my next life to you, seriously, sob sob..."

Scales teased, "Look at you, totally lacking ambition."

Mamie huffed, "You think you're better? Then don't hang out with us."

Scales was speechless.

Ignoring him, she turned her ears towards Roseanne, who was asked, "When did you submit to 'Nature'?"

Roseanne replied, "Before the semester started."

"That explains it..."

But before the semester, where did the research topic come from, where did the lab come from, where did... the corresponding author come from?

Mr. Hiram stood on stage, clapping like mad, "Next up, can we have Roseanne come up and share a few words? Share your experience?"

"Go on-up you go "

The applause was thunderous.

Even Carlson couldn't help but join in.

Arkle was puzzled, "Carlson, aren't you...?" Disappointed?

Carlson finally broke into a small smile, "There are too many brilliant people out there, geniuses everywhere..."

He paused, "In research, it's not about being the only flower in the garden."

Diversity breeds prosperity.

It's a pity some people don't get that-

From initial shock, disbelief, to hearing "Roseanne's" name and moving to astonishment and incredulity, Sybil's face was a palette of emotions, quite a sight to behold.

And Edna's smile faded quickly, her gaze turning icy.

Roseanne was gently nudged onto stage.

Truth be told, she didn't have much to say, but-

"Academią jis a long journey, research is a path filled with hardship. Some may lose their way, but only those who stay true to their initial purpose can really make it to the end. Thank you."

As she bowed at 45 degrees, upon standing, she smiled towards Edna's team.

The message couldn't be clearer.

Edna's expression stiffened, a flicker of guilt passing through her eyes.

Carlson, however, looked deep and thoughtful.

Just then, Sybil stood up-

"Mr. Hiram, I have a question."

"Go ahead."

"We've been in session for less than two months, and Roseanne quietly got published in 'Nature'. Doesn't that strike you as odd?"

Considering the prestige of a 'Nature' publication far exceeds that of a regular SCI paper, the difficulty is incomparable.

Not to mention the acceptance rate-

'Nature' publishes about 20 papers weekly, and due to space constraints, many high-quality papers are rejected even without peer review. Approximately 7,000 manuscript submissions are sent to 'Nature' annually, but only about 15% are accepted.

And of that, 70% are from the US, with the rest from Europe and Asia.

Although Roseanne's paper was a Compass, not a full-fledged Research article, the acceptance rates are roughly similar.

Many scientists spend at least a

year preparing for a 'Nature'

publication, including but not limited to initiating discussions, conducting experiments, analyzing results, etc.

And still, they might get rejected.

So how did Roseanne accomplish in two months what takes others years, or even decades?

Unless...

Sybil accused, "She cheated!"