When Zane heard Calvin suddenly stand up and critique his student like that, he couldn''t help but frown. Still, with folks from the Tech Institute around, he had to swallow his irritation at Calvin''sments.


    Hank casually tossed the proposal onto a nearby table, suggesting, "Let''s start by loading the system framework into theputer, then we can dive into further testing." He pointed towards the mainputer.


    "Got it," Calvin said, turning to Zane with a nod, as if he was the main conductor of this whole operation.


    "Man, Mr. Calvin''s got some nerve, waltzing in here and acting like he''s the boss," Jessie couldn''t help but gripe to Linden and the others in a low voice.


    "And that proposal? It was solid! Just to suck up to the Tech Institute, they''re calling it shoddy. I swear, Mr. Calvin must be a mole from anotherb, talking trash about our school''s work like that!" Kason was fuming.


    Even if their proposal hadn''t hit the mark, it didn''t warrant belittling their own team in front of others. It felt like a p in the face to their school.


    "Let it go, don''t waste your energy," Linden said calmly. "Mr. Calvin''s just that kind of petty guy, always looking to put others down. Let''s focus on what matters."


    Standing far enough from Calvin''s group, they weren''t too worried about being overheard. Meanwhile, Mirabe stayed quiet, her eyes glued to therge crystal screen nearby, lost in thought.


    After a while, she asked Linden, "Hey, did we sign any cooperation contracts with the Tech Institute for this project?"


    Linden, puzzled by her sudden question, replied, "Not sure, but it seems like we haven''t."


    Mirabe nodded, "Gotcha."


    "What''s on your mind?" Linden sensed there was more to her question.


    She looked at him with a smile, "Your proposal''s really good, you know."


    Linden raised an eyebrow, "Are youplimenting me or teasing me? Hank just said it wasn''t good enough."


    Mirabe''s eyes sparkled with meaning, "It''s not about being good enough—it''s about being cautious of people''s intentions."


    She never expected such sneaky tactics at the Tech Institute.


    Linden was about to ask more when Zane waved them over to run through the system data. The interruption made him pause, and he quickly joined the others. Once they settled at theputer, Hank, standing with his arms crossed, asked Calvin, "Mr. Calvin, did this team reallye up with that system?"


    Mr. Calvin, not entirely sure himself, was there to give the department some clout. He cleared his throat, "More or less."


    Hank, contemting the system proposal, surprisingly offered some praise, "Your biology department''s got some real talent."


    Mr. Calvin, caught off guard by thepliment, paused for a moment before replying, "Thanks, Hank. You''re too kind."


    Hank just smiled and let it be.


    After ncing over Linden, Kason, and the gang, his eyesnded on Mirabe''s


    Goodnight, goodnight-