Chapter 2

I took a deep breath and spoke slowly. “I was reviewing her thesis. Nothing like what you’re implying.”

Eric let out a mocking laugh.

“Lucy’s not even here, so of course you can say whatever you want.

“Lucy is ranked first in our Life Sciences department. Why would she need you to explain her thesis to her?”

I almost laughed out of anger.

Where on earth had Lucy found a guy like this?

I looked at Eric coldly.

“You said I stole your direct-entry PhD spot. But as far as I know, Adams University decides those based on GPA and research output. You don’t even have a decent SCI paper. Who exactly could steal that spot from you?”

Eric’s face turned pale, and his neck flushed red.

“I know you look down on me. Fine. I’m not as good as you at working connections or flattering female professors.

“I’m just an honest student doing real academic work. How could I possibly compete with someone like you, who sleeps with a professor to get ahead?”

He put on a wounded expression, as if he had been deeply wronged, and the room immediately turned against me.

“He looks decent enough. How can he be so vicious?”

“I hate guys like that. Pretty boys who turn academia into a mess. I feel bad for Eric.”

“So disgusting. People like him are ruining Adams University’s reputation!”

Seeing that public opinion had swung his way, Eric pressed on.

He pulled up another photo.

“Don’t blame him, everyone. Maybe I misunderstood.”

“But look at this. Someone took this picture of Professor Jackson’s car parked outside a hotel. And that silhouette really looks like him.”

I took a closer look.

The figure standing next to the car was wearing a dark gray suit.

What a coincidence.

The car was mine.

And the silhouette was me.

But I had gone to that hotel to attend an international academic conference.

“This car…”

I had barely started speaking when Eric cut me off.

“That car belongs to Professor Jackson, right? I heard she may be older, but she’s very rich.

“So that night, were you in that car servicing her?”

I smiled. “That silhouette in the photo was me. And I was the one driving the car.”

The room instantly erupted.

“Oh my god! He admitted it!”

“How shameless. He’s openly admitting he’s being kept by someone?”

The smug look in Eric’s eyes deepened as he stared at me arrogantly.

“If you ask me, Professor Jackson was probably just temporarily fooled by you. There’s no way she’d actually fall for someone like you.

“I heard Professor Jackson will be arriving soon. If you don’t leave now, things are going to get very awkward.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“You keep saying I have an improper relationship with Alva Jackson. Have you ever even met Professor Jackson?”

Eric’s eyes flickered for a moment, but he quickly straightened his back.

“Maybe we haven’t met in person yet, but I’ve already been emailing with Professor Jackson again.

“She’s very impressed with my resume. She’s practically decided that I’ll be her first graduate student.”

He crossed his arms and sneered at me.

“All that stuff you’ve been doing is pointless. You think sleeping your way up will get you academic resources? Research is a serious field.”

I had indeed received an email from someone named Eric Pensworth.

It was full of formatting mistakes, and the resume attached to it wasn’t even properly aligned. I deleted it without a second thought.

“Alright.”

I slowly took a seat.

“Since Professor Jackson is coming, I’ll just wait here.”

“I’d like to see how exactly she plans to accept you as her first graduate student.”

When Eric saw that I had no intention of leaving, he started to panic.

“How can someone be this shameless?”

“This is a group dinner, and everyone’s splitting the bill! Did you even pay before sitting down?”

“I’ll pay for him!”

A hurried female voice suddenly came from the doorway.