Chapter III: The Professor and the Plagiarist

He found himself inexplicably possessive of Sierra, a feeling that appeared out of nowhere. He couldn't pinpoint why, but that didn't stop him from swiftly assessing the situation and making a decision. He began cautiously, “Let’s not dwell on how this information got out. The immediate priority is to consider the theft of your research findings.”

Upon hearing this, Sierra’s brow furrowed deeply. She was up against a highly respected senior professor, and she was just a college student with a past record. If she were to accuse him of plagiarism, she knew all too well the outcome. Still, giving up was not an option. “I’ll have someone probe the professor’s stance first,” Jonathan added. “Take some time to think it over again. Try to remember who else saw what you were working on.”

“Don’t go to the lab for now. If you need to conduct experiments, I’ll find a place for you. I won’t say much, but I can guarantee it will be private and secure.”

Sierra nodded subconsciously, then glanced at Jonathan, who seemed no different from the man she knew, as if his harshness was merely her misperception. They decided to split up. Jonathan would dig for information on the old professor and other suspects, while Sierra would investigate potential leads.

Dickson, living at home, was a prime suspect, yet Sierra hadn’t even bothered to probe him. She didn’t believe it was Dickson; one can’t fake sincerity in their eyes. Speaking of eyes, she recalled Jonathan’s intense gaze, fierce and even menacing at times, realizing she might not know him as well as she thought.

With a shake of her head to clear her thoughts, Sierra remembered someone else—Shane, who had been missing for a while. She still couldn’t figure out why Shane showed her those videos—whether it was simply to intimidate her or if he had other motives. After a moment of hesitation, she called Shane, but the call went unanswered.

Just as Sierra pondered who could have stolen her work, Jonathan came through with unexpected news. “Evan? How could it be him?”

Shock painted Sierra’s face. She had considered several people, but Evan had never crossed her mind. He had little interaction with her, barely aware of her professional prowess.

“I asked around,” Jonathan relayed. “The professor said it was his student who provided the idea. He planned to publish under his student’s name initially, but due to the student’s lack of fame, he decided to publish it first and credit himself as the advisor later. And that student is Evan.”

Sierra took a deep breath. “Mr. Yeager, thank you, I understand.”

Jonathan looked at her. “Let me know if you need more help.”

“You’ve already been a big help.” If not for Jonathan, she would never have suspected Evan. Now, it was crucial to find out how Evan learned about her research.

Sierra removed Evan’s number from the blacklist and reached out to him. Evan was clearly surprised when he answered. “Sierra?”

“Mr. Evan, are you free? I need to talk to you.”

10:53 AM

Chapter III: The Professor and the Plagiarist +8 Pearls

“I’m sorry. I’m a bit late. Denny needed surgery, and I—” Evan paused, remembering Sierra’s dislike for Denise, and swiftly changed the subject. “Did you need to see me urgently?”

Evan was unaware of the complete turnaround in his attitude towards Sierra. Even though they claimed no wrongdoing, deep down, they knew they owed Sierra an explanation.

“I want to ask you something,” Sierra said, looking directly into Evan’s eyes. “How did you come up with the ‘acid reflux experiment’?”

Evan’s eyes narrowed, reacting defensively. “What do you mean? I thought of it myself!” Recalling Sierra’s current standing with the Xander family and his demeanor, he softened his voice. “I had the idea before, but a recent opportunity allowed me to start experimenting.”