Calvin cleared his throat, dialing down his usual authoritative vibe, and spoke with


    a serious tone, "Even though Mirabe graduated with a degree in humanities, she''s widely recognized as the top achiever in her final exams."


    Wade had personally picked the top humanities student to join, so Calvin wasn''t about to openly make things difficult for her. But putting her in his biotech department? Not a chance.


    So, it fell to the straightforward Zane to y the bad guy.


    After a pause, Calvin continued, "A weak foundation can be built up over time. Talent doesn''t develop overnight.”


    Zane''s frown deepened.


    Calvin''s words made it sound like he was t-out rejecting the top humanities student, even though other departments had turned her away. He just couldn''t stand to see a student stuck in a department they disliked and wanted to help her out.


    Being the straightforward guy he was, Zane worried Mirabe might


    misunderstand and feel hurt. He quickly started to exin, "Mr. Calvin, you''ve got me wrong, I...”


    But right then, Mirabe, who had been silent until now, spoke up, cutting him off, "Mr. Calvin''s right. A weak foundation can be strengthened over time, and interests can change too. I''ll stay in bioinformatics."


    Zane looked at her in shock. After a few seconds, he said, "Mirabe, you really don''t have to force yourself."


    Choosing a major was a big deal for the future, and he didn''t want her to regret it.


    Mirabe looked at Zane, thinking how his honesty made him an easy target. She straightened up and said, "Sir, I''ll head back to ss now."


    She wasn''t nning on switching departments.


    Seeing this, Calvin breathed a sigh of relief.


    He was genuinely worried that Mirabe would insist on transferring, and if she went to Wade and Wade decided to force her into his department, Calvin would be in a tough spot.


    As Mirabe''s figure disappeared through the office door, Zane turned back to Mr. Calvin, about to speak.


    Calvin raised his hand and said, "I know what you''re going to say, but let me tell you, the biotech department is the heart of the entire School of Life Sciences. We''re training the future leaders in medical research."


    Investing in someone without talent is a waste of resources.


    The bitter smile on Zane''s face vanished quickly, fully understanding the subtext


    of Calvin''s words.


    Their bioinformatics department hadn''t produced any notable talent in years, slowly bing the most underperforming part of the School of Life Sciences.


    Students that other departments didn''t want were all dumped on them.


    Messy and chaotic - that summed up their department now.


    Seeing Zane''s self-deprecating look, Calvin shook his head, then turned and left the office without another word.


    He had a busy day ahead, including a wee speech for the new students in his department.


    **


    After leaving the office, Mirabe headed straight to the new students'' ssroom, following the instructions sent by a teacher the day before.


    By the time she got there, all the new


    vel?


    students twenty-six in total - had arrived Eighteen had chosen


    formatics voluntarily, while the


    rest had been assigned.


    Mirabe''s detour to talk to Zane made her thest to enter the ssroom, but


    she came in through the back door, so not many noticed her.


    She found an empty seat without much thought.


    STEM fields usually had more guys than girls. Looking around, the room was almost all guys, with only a few girls here and there.