Chapter 171
Even Miranda lacked confidence. Paul's dark eyes held a hint of amusement. "You said it yourself," he remarked. "It's highly improbable you failed. I believe in the likelihood of the more probable outcome."
Miranda's smile widened. "Then I'll take that as a good omen."
Her interview at Bedford College was scheduled for early March. She chose a formal outfit and black kitten heels. Her understated attire wasn't flashy, preventing any fashion faux pas. Just before leaving, she added a floral silk scarf, instantly brightening her outfit.
It had rained the previous night, leaving the ground damp. The humid, sticky wind felt as if the world were trapped in a plastic bag.
In the waiting room, Miranda observed people entering and leaving; some sighed heavily, others were visibly nervous, but she remained relatively calm. A young woman behind her whispered, "Aren't you nervous?"
"Not really," Miranda replied. "I'm not too worried." She wasn't one to cram; she'd prepared for this day for a long time. She felt no fear, only excitement, like she was about to step onto a battlefield.
"Number 45, Miranda Sutton!"
"I'm here." Miranda rose, smoothing her clothes. She was then led to the interview room.
Upon entering, she was stunned to see Paul among the interviewers! He wore a gray suit, gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, his brow slightly furrowed, making him seem more serious and unapproachable than usual. He looked up; his warm gaze met hers, instantly calming her nerves.
The interview began with standard questions about her field of study. Having prepared, she answered with ease. Noticing this, the other interviewers posed more challenging questions, beyond the syllabus. Miranda answered them perfectly.
"Dr. Jefferson, it's your turn," someone said.
"Alright." Paul looked up, a sharp glint in his eye. "You applied to major in bioinformatics, so you should be aware that this field is an interdisciplinary science based on biology, mathematics, and information science. It encompasses physics, biology, chemistry, and computer science, requiring a high level of comprehensive knowledge and skills. Do you understand this?"
Miranda nodded. "Yes, I do."
"Therefore, my questions won't be limited to biology; they might involve physics or chemistry. Furthermore, I won't use a standard question-and-answer format. You'll need to perform live calculations. Can you accept that?"
Miranda nodded. "I can give it a try."
Paul then posed his question in what seemed to be a mixture of languages (Danglish): "Explain the physics of quasicrystals with data support."
He seemed intimidating and antagonistic. Miranda pondered how to explain the physics of quasicrystals with data support. Paul hadn't provided a scenario or parameters; the question seemed less biology-related and more like a prompt for a scientific essay. Not only was Miranda stumped, but the other interviewers exchanged puzzled glances. "Is this question even related to biology?"