While everyone else was neck-deep in their experiments, this person just waltzed over and started fiddling with their phone. Seriously, who does that?


    Meg, feeling a bit exasperated, shifted her focus back to theputer screen. Just then, the results popped up.


    Still not hitting the 60 mark. All three ns failed?


    Meg couldn''t keep her cool anymore. "What the heck? Mr. Zane, are you sure there''s no mistake in theparison? How could all three ns flop?"


    They''d spent weeks crafting these ns, with countless rounds of validation. Even her mentor had given them the green light. How could they all bomb as soon as they were run through theputer?


    Zane''s brow furrowed deeply. "The data was pulled straight from your proposed solutions. The analysis can''t be wrong."


    "But all three failing like this? It just doesn''t add up..." Meg bit her lip, her frustration making her words sharper than intended. If the first two ns were duds, she might''ve understood, but thest one should''ve been solid.


    Mirabe finished her text and shot Meg a sideways nce. Those ns were garbage, and she had the nerve to act so self-assured?


    Zane''s expression darkened. He didn''t take kindly to being questioned by a student. Standing up, he offered his seat. "If you think I''m ipetent, why don''t you try?"


    Though usually easygoing, he wouldn''t stand for disrespect.


    Realizing her mistake, Meg quickly apologized. "I''m sorry, Mr. Zane. I was just anxious. Please don''t take it to heart."


    If she were better at data analysis, or if there were morepetent students in the info science department, she wouldn''t be in this mess.


    Sensing the tension, other team members stepped in to smooth things over. Zane, not one to hold a grudge, simply said, "It''s fine. Take your time."


    Relieved, Meg was about to ask Zane to help redo theparison when Mirabe stood up.


    She pocketed her phone and said to Zane, "Professor, I need to leave early. Got something to take care of."


    Already frazzled by the failed experiments, Meg''s temper red at the interruption. Didn''t she get how serious this was? Why cut in now?


    Zane, having lost his groove, nodded at Mirabe and checked the time. Turning to Meg, he asked, "Any other ns?"


    The implication was clear: no new ns, no point sticking around.


    Meg got the hint. Feeling the sting of frustration, she shot a cold nce at


    Mirabe but swallowed her irritation. "We don''t have anything else for now. Sorry for taking up so much of your time, Professor."