When fate plays its hand (Miranda)

Chapter 0788

“Speaking of this year’s competition,” Owen began, his tone a mix of exasperation and resignation, “I don’t know if it’s the students nowadays or just the overall academic atmosphere becoming so impatient and shallow.

“About 50% of the submitted projects were just flashy and superficial, 40% were complete nonsense, and barely 10% were even passable.”

He took a sip of his coffee and sighed. “It truly feels like each generation is worse than the last. I still remember the students from the first three years who won the grand prizes— they were all ‘Science‘ and ‘Nature‘ material. But now…”

He didn’t finish his sentence, letting a shake of his head and a deep sigh speak for him instead.

“That said,” Owen continued, “there was one surprising, outstanding project this year. It was from a Bedford College team, and their project was titled ‘Genetic Testing and Biomedical Applications.‘ The team leader’s name was… Yasmine, I believe?

“I remember it clearly. That project won the grand prize. Everything about it–the approach, the experimental design, and the final quality–was exceptional. The judges even unanimously agreed it was SCI publication–ready!

“Afterward, some of us judges asked around about this Yasmine. We heard she’s just a first -year graduate student and has already published several papers. People say she’s a genius girl‘ in your Faculty of Bioinformatics. So young, yet truly impressive…”

Owen kept talking, but Miranda wasn’t listening anymore. From the moment he mentioned the title, her mind froze in disbelief

It was because… that was her team’s research title.

How did it become Yasmine’s?

It felt like a heavy blow to the head, leaving her stunned. But after a moment of shock, her rational mind took over.

Miranda quickly realized the gravity of the situation.

Joli had just returned from off–campus, feeling utterly drained. His back ached, his neck was stiff, and his forehead throbbed with a persistent pulse. He recognized it as the telltale signs of exhaustion and mental strain.

offhand comment from Sophie, the entire

1/3

+25 BONUS

Chapter 0788

stuck on campus didn’t mean progress. Their lab was still under rectification, making it

of days, Joli had tried to stay hopeful, lounging in his dorm and eagerly waiting for news that

reality, as always, proved to be less forgiving. Life didn’t

miraculous

restless. He could feel his motivation dwindling. It was as

him to a part–time job–a position as an assistant in a cosmetic company’s biological laboratory. The pay was 400 dollars a day,

was interested. For Joli, hesitating for even a second would have

the high workload and lack of rest, he didn’t feel it

started working, he realized why

at the same time, it

of traveling back and forth between the lab and his dorm, a rigid two–point commute

Sophie had tried to reach out to him.

also called him several times, probing indirectly and hinting that she expected him to continue

you expect me to produce these papers? Should

irritated and accused him of being passive–aggressive. Nonetheless, Joli calmly hung up, his

building, fishing his keys out of his pocket as he walked. After two sleepless nights, he

Chapter 0788

on the edge of his

startled

“You’re back…” he stammered.