Chapter 195
Miranda had an idea but needed to wait. She had to wait until a contract expired before proceeding.
One day, while heading to the library, Miranda ran into Paul outside her apartment building. He was returning from the lab, exhausted from working on a new project.
"Good morning, Dr. Jefferson," Miranda greeted him with a smile.
"You can call me Paul outside of school," he replied, slightly exasperated. Remembering something, he added, "Oh, by the way, I wanted your opinion on something. Do you remember the unfinished project I mentioned?"
Miranda nodded. She remembered; it closely aligned with her research interests. It was such a carefully selected topic that abandoning it seemed a shame.
Paul asked, "Have you thought about it? Do you want to continue?"
Miranda nodded immediately. "Of course! But I don't have lab access. I can't complete the data analysis without it." All conclusions required data, which came from experimental records. Without equipment, she couldn't conduct experiments.
Paul suggested, "You can use my lab. For free."
His lab, though recently established, was state-of-the-art, comparable to the world's leading facilities.
"Really?" Miranda exclaimed, surprised.
Paul smiled. "Do I look like I'm joking?"
Miranda enthusiastically agreed. "Yes! Thank you!"
Paul smiled. The lab was on the eighth floor of Dhilan Tower. Bedford College had limited lab space, restricting access for individual researchers. However, Paul's lab was unique. It collaborated directly with corporations, its funding coming from those companies, not the college. Bedford College only provided the space; in return, Paul's research output was attributed to the school. The college then reported these achievements to the Department of Education, boosting the school's ranking.
Because of its financial independence and contribution to the school's academic standing, Paul's lab occupied an entire floor. It boasted top-notch facilities, making it one of the best in the school. Many research groups had requested access, even offering significant sums, but Paul always refused. Yet, he had voluntarily offered Miranda free access! Miranda realized how privileged she was; Paul was truly a great person.
On her first day, Miranda arrived punctually at 8:00 a.m. Paul greeted her personally.
"Morning," he said.
Miranda smiled. "Looks like you got here even earlier."
Paul had been sleeping at the lab, which included a rest area and shower. Despite the slight fatigue, he looked neat and alert.
"I brought you breakfast," Miranda said, offering his favorite smoked salmon bagel and milk. Given his generosity, she felt it was a modest gesture, but it was the thought that counted.
Paul accepted it with a smile. "Thanks."
At 8:20 a.m., Paul helped Miranda into a lab coat and registered her fingerprints and iris scan, granting her direct access. The sealed metal doors slid open, and Miranda followed Paul inside, curiously examining her surroundings.