Linda pulled out a chair and sat down again, her gaze sweeping over the stack of books on Summer''s desk. She sighed with a hint of admiration, "Effort and results are directly proportional. You''re the hardest working person I''ve met. It''s only right you receive this honor."


    Summer looked at the admiration on Linda''s face and felt a pang of self-mockery. It had been too long since shest felt the sweetness of being praised.


    All because of Mirabe.


    Just the thought of Mirabe made Summer''s fingers instinctively clench. It took her a moment to suppress the intense loathing in her eyes before she engaged in brief conversation with Linda and then excused herself, iming she had something to attend to, and left the library.


    No sooner had she stepped outside than her phone rang from her pocket. Summer pulled it out, her face paling slightly at the sight of the number. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she answered the call, her tone as normal as


    ever.


    "...Okay, Professor, I''lle byter."


    After hanging up, Summer had initially nned to return to her dorm, but instead, she changed direction and headed towards the science building on campus.


    Upon arriving at theb, Joen was busy calibrating some scientific equipment. Knowing Summer had entered, he didn''t look up, simply speaking over his shoulder, "Have you been resting well these past few days?"


    Summer bit her lip as she looked at Joen''s back, nodding respectfully, "Yes."


    "Alright, go lie down in the pod," Joen said, not wasting words, as he sat in front of theputer, instructing his student.


    Summer nced at the experimental pod visible through the ss window, a familiar sight by now. She ced her bag down and walked into the ss room.


    Shey down on the small bed inside, and as soon as she did, restraints automatically secured her wrists and ankles. Then, the bed slowly moved into the research pod.


    Summer calmly watched the scanner above her head until she lost consciousness.


    **


    The new school year arrived quickly.


    Mirabe drove Cassie to school early in the morning. She had originally nned to rent a ce nearby for him, but he chose to live


    on campus instead.


    Mirabe didn''t insist in the end, dropping him off at school with a few words of advice before leaving.


    She then returned to Prestige College.


    After checking in with the academic office, Mirabe was called into Zane''s office.


    "I called you here to discuss your paper," Zane offered Mirabe a seat and poured her a cup of warm water.


    Mirabe looked at Zane, puzzled, "Isn''t the paper already approved? What''s the issue?"


    "It needs an author''s name for publication in the Scientific Journal. Last year''s research project was a coborative effort among four of you, but you wrote the paper. So, I wanted to ask what you think," Zane exined calmly.


    Upon hearing this, Mirabe


    pondered for a few seconds before


    asking, Tremember Linden, the


    senior student, is building his


    resume for a future in medical


    research, right?"


    Zane understood her implication, "So, you want to put Linden''s name as the author?"


    Mirabe nodded, "Linden is about to graduate with his master''s degree. An additional publication would be an opportunity for him."


    Zane raised an eyebrow, "It''s an opportunity for you as well, meaning a broader future."


    Mirabe just smiled, "I don''t need it."


    "Why?" Zane asked, puzzled.


    Mirabe took a sip from her cup and then said leisurely, "I have to return home to inherit a fortune."


    Zane: "...Take my advice, novels can lead people astray."


    Mirabe: "."