Free Web NovelChapter 250: Chapter 250 The Investigation Into Rose’s Secret
Those still present were utterly stunned.
They had never expected Rose, who was usually approachable and easygoing, to speak with such sharpness.
And... a complete failure?
Just how badly had the report been written?
Samantha stood up. The stares from those around her made her feel extremely uncomfortable, but she still fixed her gaze on Rose.
“Was that really necessary?”
Wasn’t Rose deliberately targeting her?
Saying those hurtful things in public was clearly meant to humiliate her.
She was convinced Rose was nothing more than a second-rate professor pretending to know more than she did and tearing her report apart simply to assert her authority.
Rose truly had no interest in arguing with her.
Her assessment had been entirely objective.
In fact, seeing Samantha’s report—which looked polished and professional on the surface—had made her somewhat angry.
Too many people in the field cared only about fame and prestige, decorating empty work with impressive terminology to gain status and recognition. Their research offered no real contribution to medicine and, in some cases, even hindered progress. They were little more than parasites feeding off the profession.
It reminded her of that infamous figure in medical history.
How many researchers had been misled by a single paper, sending years of work down the wrong path?
“If you don’t respect my judgment, then why bring your report to me at all?” Rose asked calmly. “Or can you only accept praise, Princess?”
Samantha clenched her jaw. “I just thought we should learn from one another. Don’t professors write papers too? Students are supposed to study them, aren’t they?”
As she spoke, she glanced at the PowerPoint presentation still displayed on the screen.
The meeting earlier had apparently focused on that report.
She had read several pages of it.
The material was highly technical and difficult to understand.
Most likely, it had been used as a model example.
One of the students nearby could no longer remain silent.
“This is Professor Rose’s report,” the student said. “It received one of the highest scores and has already been approved by the entire faculty.”
Samantha froze.
For a moment, she thought she had misheard.
Rose stood up.
“It’s not a matter of a few minor issues,” she said. Her tone remained calm, though she could clearly see Samantha’s true intentions.
“But I believe in being honest.”
“The entire report is nothing more than a pile of garbage wrapped in gold. A report isn’t meant to be filled with technical jargon just to disguise a lack of substance. If all your effort went into searching for obscure English terminology, then I suppose you did work very hard.”
The conference room fell silent.
Samantha’s face turned pale.
Anger flashed across her expression.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Rejected,” Rose replied. “Rewrite it. You have two more opportunities. If you fail both times, you’ll be removed from this research group.”
She was simply informing Samantha of the rules.
The people in the room exchanged stunned glances.
Samantha’s face flushed crimson.
Following Rose’s gaze, she suddenly asked, “Did you really write this so-called high-scoring report yourself?”
She simply could not believe that Rose had completed it independently.
Perhaps someone else had written it for her.
The accusation caused several expressions around the room to change.
Everyone looked at Samantha in confusion.
Rose smiled. “If you have doubts, report it to the administration. I’ll cooperate fully at any time.”
She walked toward the door.
Before leaving, she turned back.
“If you never learn humility, you’ll continue producing this kind of watered-down nonsense.”
Samantha’s back stiffened.
People gradually moved away from her.
She felt as though she had been stripped bare in public.
Rose’s criticism felt like a deliberate ambush.
By tearing her work apart in front of everyone, Rose had ensured she would never be able to hold her head high again.
*****
That afternoon, Ryan came to NYU to meet with a senior university official.
He had been granted permission to drive onto campus.
He also stopped by the research building.
The moment Samantha came outside, she got into the car.
However, her expression remained gloomy, and she looked somewhat aggrieved.
“Ryan, shall we grab something to eat first?”
Ryan looked at her. “What happened?”
Only then did Samantha sigh helplessly. “It’s nothing serious.”
“It’s just that because of the difference in our positions, I have to endure whatever people say. My report was completely rejected in front of everyone. Opportunities are limited, and if I keep failing, I’ll lose my place and be removed from the project.”
The mention of a “difference in status” made it obvious whom she meant.
Ryan understood immediately.
He also understood the implication.
She believed she was being deliberately targeted.
At last, Ryan glanced toward the building.
As though he could see through the walls, he seemed to picture the tall figure inside.
“Alright,” he said. “I’ll handle it.”
A flash of delight crossed Samantha’s face.
“Thank you, Ryan.”
At that moment, Ryan’s phone rang.
He glanced at the caller ID and stepped out of the car to answer it.
A man’s voice came through the line.
“Mr. Knight, we’ve investigated Madam’s movements over the years. There’s nothing unusual in her travel records. She has never appeared publicly with a child, and we found no evidence of any intimate relationships. Her activities have been fairly transparent.”
Ryan lowered his gaze, studying the diamond-studded lighter in his hand.
“What else?”
“There is one thing. On November 26, six years ago, she left New York and went on a long-term trip that lasted seven months. However, we found no medical records indicating that she visited any hospitals during that time.”
Ryan’s gaze froze.
The winter six years ago.
Rose had traveled to Paris to find him.
That had been the only time.
They had spent the night together.
The memory remained unusually clear.
On November 24, Rose had returned from Paris.
Almost immediately afterward, she had traveled to a neighboring city, where she stayed for seven months.
So...
Rose had already been pregnant when she went to Paris.
And the reason she had gone to find him—
was it to give the child a legitimate identity?
But he had always been careful.
There should have been no possibility of an accidental pregnancy.
He gently ran his thumb across the missing diamond setting in his lighter and remained silent.
The man on the other end asked cautiously, “Mr. Knight, should we continue the investigation? Why are you looking into this person?”
Ryan offered no explanation.
“Continue investigating.”
*****
The neurological drug project at NYU was designed to tackle a medical problem that had yet to be solved anywhere in the world.
As the project officially launched, several overseas universities were invited to participate.
One of the attendees was a professor of medicine from Harvard.
As the meeting concluded, Professor Robert specifically approached Rose.
“You’ve impressed me,” he said warmly. “Your questions were very insightful. If you’re available, would you like to have dinner before I return home?”
Looking at the kind-faced elderly gentleman, Rose smiled.
“It would be my pleasure.”
She was an easygoing person and understood that phrases like “next time” often meant “never.”
So she immediately suggested a date.
“How about today? Are you available?”
Robert sighed regretfully. “Unfortunately, I already have plans. I’m meeting an old friend and helping him mentor his girlfriend.”
Rose had not yet reacted.
Robert suddenly waved enthusiastically. “Hey! Ryan! Long time no see.”
The name made Rose’s temples throb.
She turned.
Ryan and Samantha were walking toward them side by side.
It was Ryan.
Almost instinctively, Rose turned to leave.
Her movements contained not the slightest hesitation.
But Robert called after her. “Miss Bennett, please wait a moment.”
Rose had no choice but to stop.
Ryan caught sight of her profile from the corner of his eye before turning to shake Robert’s hand.
“Long time no see.”
Samantha also felt nervous upon meeting someone as influential as Professor Robert.
However, the moment she noticed Rose standing there, a flicker of displeasure crossed her face.
Robert smiled and pointed toward Rose. “Miss Bennett is a remarkable rising star at NYU. Do you know her, Ryan?”
Ryan cast a cold glance in Rose’s direction.
“Not very well.”
Hearing those words, Rose remained completely unfazed.
Samantha, however, curled her lips into a silent smile.
“Hello, Professor Robert. I’m Samantha. Thank you for agreeing to mentor me on my report. I’m sure that with your guidance, no one will be able to criticize it anymore.”
She deliberately glanced at Rose.
Her meaning was obvious.
She did not believe Rose would dare criticize her work if Professor Robert had personally guided it.
Robert, however, thought nothing of it.
“If you don’t mind,” he said to Rose, “would you like to join us for dinner later, Miss Bennett?”
Rose instinctively wanted to decline.
But before she could speak, Ryan answered first.
His voice remained calm and steady.
“Miss Bennett probably has other plans. There’s no need to put her on the spot.”
