Free Web NovelChapter 232: Chapter 232 The Role Reversal
Samantha wasn’t nervous in this kind of setting. The other candidates who entered with her were all on high alert, but she merely wore a faint smile.
After receiving her number, she went inside.
She looked around.
She had assumed Rose would be in the waiting room.
But as she scanned the room, she saw no sign of Rose.
This made her feel slightly suspicious.
After all, they had just seen Rose come this way with their own eyes.
But then she thought about it.
Given Rose’s temperament, it wasn’t impossible that she had chickened out at the last minute.
When people are extremely angry, they often make impulsive decisions, such as competing directly with her.
And the interview scores would be publicly displayed.
It was understandable that Rose wouldn’t want to be outperformed by her.
At that thought, Samantha simply smiled indifferently and let it go.
Although she had previously thought Rose’s underhanded move—applying for Dean Byrne’s student quota behind their backs—was rather petty, she no longer cared to argue with her.
Each interview session lasted about half an hour.
When it was Samantha’s turn, she stood up.
Having already familiarized herself with the procedures, and with her strong mental composure, she calmly pushed open the door and walked in.
However, Samantha’s expression froze the moment she saw the people inside.
Her gaze landed on Rose, who was standing by the window, rubbing her neck.
She blurted out in surprise, “What are you doing here?”
Rose had been sitting for over two hours, her body stiff from remaining in one position. Turning to look at Samantha, she replied calmly, “Why shouldn’t I be here?”
Samantha frowned instantly and turned to the other professors and advisors.
“Shouldn’t the interviews be conducted one candidate at a time? I’d prefer this process to remain objective and fair. Could you please ask Rose to step outside first?”
She knew very well that she was superior to Rose in terms of qualifications.
But this was also a matter of pride.
She would not allow Rose to interfere with her interview.
Samantha’s words caused the professors, who had been reviewing the previous candidates’ evaluations, to look up one after another.
Even Rose rubbed her temples helplessly.
“Ask me to leave?”
Samantha remained composed, speaking with calm elegance.
“If she’s unwilling, I can wait for the next session.”
Professor Bill, who had previously met Samantha through Ryan’s introduction, looked at her in confusion.
Then he turned toward Rose and explained, “This is your interviewer, Professor Rose Bennett—not a student.”
Samantha’s back stiffened.
Shock spread across her face.
For a moment, she wondered if she had misheard.
But then she watched Rose walk directly to the table and take a seat beside Professor Bill.
Meeting Samantha’s gaze, Rose said calmly, “Please begin.”
As Samantha stared at Rose sitting in the interviewer’s chair, looking at her with cold, piercing eyes as if passing judgment, her heart pounded violently.
The blood drained from her face.
Shock, confusion, disbelief, and an inexplicable sense of panic overwhelmed her, leaving her mind in complete chaos.
Why?
How could Rose be a professor?
How could this possibly be true?
“Samantha Hill?” Professor Bill noticed her standing motionless, her face pale, and called out to her.
Samantha snapped back to reality.
Too many questions weighed heavily on her mind.
Although she couldn’t understand how Rose had become a professor at NYU, at this critical moment, she had no choice but to force herself to remain composed.
She clenched her fingers and stepped forward.
She cast Rose a glance that was both resentful and unreadable.
Rose pretended not to notice.
Samantha’s self-introduction went relatively smoothly.
When it came to the PowerPoint presentation, Rose reviewed Samantha’s résumé and the projects she had listed.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on her lips.
Samantha’s résumé included participation in G.S.’s cardiovascular drug development project, the establishment of an independent smart medical technology research team, and involvement in the surgical robot project for tumor treatment.
Rose almost laughed.
Was Samantha deliberately provoking her?
Several professors flipped through the résumé and nodded.
But Rose looked up and asked: “To what extent were you involved in the new drug development project? Were you listed as an author?”
“What projects is your R&D team currently working on?”
“And regarding G.S.’s surgical robot for tumor treatment, which stages of the project did you personally participate in? Please explain in detail.”
Samantha’s expression darkened.
A trace of resentment flashed in her eyes.
Wasn’t Rose deliberately making things difficult for her because she knew the truth?
Was she trying to humiliate her in front of everyone?
Professor Bill and the others nodded.
“Please explain in detail. This is standard procedure.”
A bead of cold sweat formed on Samantha’s temple.
After all, she truly couldn’t explain those matters in detail.
Especially with Rose, who knew the entire story, sitting there as one of the interviewers.
She took a deep breath to steady herself. “I participated in most of the new drug development process, although I was not involved in the clinical trial stage. G.S. has records of this.”
“As for my research team, we are still in the development phase.”
“Regarding G.S.’s surgical robot for tumor treatment, I have a close partnership with them. As an upstream supplier of components, I play an important role.”
Rose couldn’t help admiring Samantha’s ability to avoid the difficult questions.
With a few words, she had skillfully shifted much of other people’s achievements onto herself.
Rose nodded faintly. “Why only halfway? Were any of your research proposals adopted during the process?”
Samantha’s expression turned completely cold.
Rose was clearly seeking revenge.
Wasn’t this simply her way of refusing to let her off the hook?
She was almost certain that Rose was settling personal scores.
Not only because of Ryan’s protection of her, but also because Samantha had refused to make things easy for Rose at Sky High a few days earlier.
“Come to think of it, wasn’t that new drug project led by you, Professor Bennett?” Professor Bill suddenly recalled. “Did the two of you work together?”
Back then, Rose had caused quite a sensation.
She had been exceptionally young, yet she served as the lead researcher and first author.
Rose answered honestly. “We worked together, but her contribution to the overall project was limited.”
Samantha’s face turned deathly pale.
She looked at Rose with icy resentment in her eyes.
Rose was actually diminishing her achievements in front of everyone.
Professor Bill and the others understood immediately.
They had a general understanding of the situation.
No further questions were asked regarding those credentials.
The interview proceeded as normal.
Samantha did her best to maintain her composure.
Even without those achievements, her application still contained many genuine qualifications.
Those accomplishments would still contribute to her final score.
As for the presentation, the on-site academic assessment, and the translation and interpretation of academic literature, she remained absolutely confident that she would rank among the top candidates.
After she left the room, Rose quietly chatted with several professors.
As Samantha walked out, she happened to see that scene.
Her grip on the doorknob tightened.
She didn’t think there would be any major problems.
But Rose had become an unpredictable variable.
Oliver had not left.
From a distance, he saw Samantha walk out looking distracted.
Confused, he asked, “Why do you look so pale? What happened?”
Ryan remained seated, but he turned his head at the sound.
Samantha’s expression had yet to recover.
“There really was an unexpected situation.”
A headache suddenly struck her, and she struggled to describe the feeling.
“Rose... really is inside.”
She paused, her voice slightly strained.
“But she’s not there as a candidate.”
“She’s there as a professor conducting the interviews.”
