Joen tapped his fingers lightly on the desk and suddenly remembered something. "Oh, by the way, the academic conference ising up soon. I think you should go and meet some people. It could really help your future."


    Summer felt a bit lighter at the thought.


    She knew about the conference, but having been at Riverside University for less than a year without any significant contributions, she didn''t feel she had the right to attend.


    After a brief pause, Summer nodded and said, "Thanks, Professor."


    "Yes, keep up the good work," Joen encouraged with a wave of his hand.


    Taking the hint, Summer left without bringing up her thesis again.


    **


    Monday rolled around.


    Mirabe had just finished lunch when she got summoned to Zane''s office.


    "Mirabe, I''ve got something to show you." Zane''s face was full of mystery as he pulled open a drawer in his desk.


    Mirabe raised an eyebrow, watching his actions. She casually asked, "Is it a bonus?"


    Zane, who was holding a magazine, paused at her words. "..."


    Is money all she thinks about?


    Zane handed her the magazine, sounding a bit exasperated. "Thetest issue of the SCI journal is out. I just got it and wanted you to see it right away."


    "Oh," Mirabe replied, her interest fading, but she still took the magazine.


    "Your paper is on the cover for analysis. Do you know what that means?" Zane asked, leaning against the desk, barely able to contain his excitement since he got the magazine.


    Mirabe flipped through the pages, seriously pondering his question before answering, "It means the department will give me a bonus, right?"


    Zane''s jaw dropped, and he was momentarily speechless,pletely taken aback by her response.


    After a moment, Zane collected himself, his excitement almost gone. "...Can we not talk about bonuses right now?"


    Mirabe shut her mouth, sensing that if she said anything more, Zane might just shut down.


    Zane decided to ignore her detingments and continued, "Papers selected by the SCI are among the top research topics right now. Not every paper gets the honor of being on the cover..."


    Mirabe listened quietly and then asked, "So, Professor, didn''t we agree that Linden''s name would be on the paper?"


    Zane had anticipated this question and replied, "I spoke to Linden. He appreciated the gesture but insisted your name be on it. So, wherd submitted it, I put your name."


    Mirabe rubbed her forehead; given the situation, saying more seemed unnecessary. She nodded and handed the magazine back to Zane,


    Yell


    "Got it, Professor."  fo


    Zane looked at Mirabe, feeling a mix of emotions. He felt that after ten years of


    bad luck, he''d finally hit a streak of good fortune.


    "Oh, and there''s a rumor you''re about to get a promotion?" Mirabe suddenly remembered.


    Zane snapped back to reality and smiled, "Not that soon."


    He didn''t deny it, though.


    Mirabe raised an eyebrow, "Congrats, Zane. Don''t forget to throw a party when it happens."


    Zane shot her a yful re. "You really know how to kill the moment."


    Mirabe stayed cool: If it weren''t for being broke, she''d be showering him withpliments.


    **


    Not long after, Mirabe left Zane''s office. As she reached the ground floor, her phone buzzed in her pocket.