Madison didn’t know Paul or his relationship with Miranda, but that didn’t matter to her. Still, nothing could hold back her urge to vent her frustrations.

After lunch, Miranda, Madison, and Sebastian returned to the lab.

Madison placed her hands on her hips and sighed. “The lab is spacious, but it’s a nightmare to clean. Ugh!”

Suddenly, two cleaning ladies appeared at the door with tools in hand. “Excuse me, is this C116?”

“Uh, yeah, this is C116. What’s going on?” Madison asked.

“Perfect! Let’s get started,” one of the cleaning ladies replied.

The other quickly echoed, “Right!”

The two cleaning ladies wasted no time and got to work.

Madison blinked in confusion. “Are you sure you’re in the right place?”

“Of course! The dean’s office sent us over to clean.”

The dean’s office? Madison and Miranda exchanged glances. They turned to Sebastian as if silently asking whether he had called the cleaning ladies.

He shook his head since he had no authority in the matter.

“Who could it be? We didn’t mention anything about cleaning to anyone else. Whatever. As long as someone’s helping out, I feel like I’ve been saved.”

Then, Madison pulled out a chair, sat down, and ripped open a bag of chips. Not only did she help herself, but she also offered some to Miranda and Sebastian.

Miranda took a chip, though her mind was elsewhere. She wondered if Paul felt guilty for not being able to help and was trying to make amends in this way. Still, she thought it wasn’t necessary.

Madison nudged Sebastian’s shoulder. “Why aren’t you eating?”

“I’m not hungry. I’m trying to watch my weight.”

She was speechless, but inwardly, she cursed him to enjoy his self-imposed hunger strike.

Joseph Banks wiped the sweat from his brow at the Faculty of Bioinformatics office. He could almost feel his smile turning into a mask. Across from him, a man sat stoically with a blank face.

Joseph hesitated before venturing cautiously, “Mr. Cooper, it’s not every day we have the pleasure of your company. What…”

“Don’t you know why I’m here?” Sam scoffed. “It seems the equipment that SunTech Innovations provided over the years has ended up in the trash.”

Joseph’s face went pale with fear. “What do you mean by that?”

Even though he held the title of associate dean, the Faculty of Bioinformatics had twelve associate deans. Each managed different areas like admissions, finances, and teaching. He was in charge of fundraising.

That role was lucrative, often involving interactions with entrepreneurs. A casual tip from them could mean a windfall for an ordinary person. But if things went south, the consequences could be severe. Joseph thought he was pretty well-connected. He had shared laughs with Sam at a previous dinner, so why was the mood so different today?

He said, “Is there something we’ve overlooked? If you have any suggestions, please share. I’ll ensure we address them!”

Sam smiled wryly. “What can I possibly say? The college’s resources aren’t allocated based on fairness or merit. You just give whatever to whoever you like.”

“What are you talking about?” Joseph protested, feeling aggrieved. “We’ve always provided experimental resources fairly and justly for students. Everything is done by the book, and we never show favoritism.”

Sam said, “Really? Because I’ve heard that someone is hogging the lab. They didn’t use it and even refused to let other research teams in.”

“This shouldn’t even concern me, but what were the terms when we donated those two CPRT measurement devices to the college?”

Without waiting for an answer, he said, “To establish a fair and equitable research environment for all students, to advance the field of study, and to work toward a brighter future for humanity.”

“But now, everything is turned upside down. The equipment I donated isn’t just for show, nor is it some academic resource for others to fight over as a bargaining chip. I hope you can understand this because…”

Sam smirked and emphasized each word. “This directly impacts whether we will continue to fund the college and provide resources.”

Joseph’s expression changed dramatically. “Wait! Let’s talk this through. We can work something out!”

His mind raced. It was clear that Sam’s visit was to warn him, and the issue likely revolved around those two CPRT measurement devices.

He continued, “Rest assured, Mr. Cooper. I understand your concerns. We firmly oppose any academic misconduct and will take serious action.”