Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed novel Chapter 869

"Everyday research and academic competition are two different things. Besides, we've already selected the team for this year's exchange, and they're in the middle of intensive training. Changing leaders right before a battle is never a wise move."

The vice president sighed. "I understand all that, but the fact is our university has lost to international institutions for five consecutive years. If we lose again this year, then—"

It would no longer be about competition between domestic universities; it would be a showdown between our country and theirs.

Losing to one of our own wasn't a disgrace.

But losing to foreigners...

On a small scale, it's a friendly academic exchange where we admit we were outmatched.

But on a larger scale, it touches upon national honor, our country's scientific capabilities, and even national pride.

"Sinclair, we really can't afford to lose this year—"

Sinclair Nelson's brow furrowed. "And what makes you so sure Roseanne's team won't lose?"

"...I can't be sure. But I know that sometimes you have to take a risk to win big."

At Boundless Lab, in the break area.

"Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!"

Mamie Finch sneezed three times in a row, rubbing her nose and muttering, "Someone must be talking about me behind my back..."

Scales Dixon glanced at her. "I doubt—Achoo!"

"See! See!" Mamie's eyes went wide as she pointed at him. "You too!"

Scales crumpled his used tissue and tossed it in the trash. "I have a cold," he said flatly.

"If someone were really badmouthing us, why wouldn't Roseanne—"

"Achoo!"

Roseanne looked slightly embarrassed as both of them whipped their heads around to stare at her.

"Wh-what's wrong?" Mamie blinked. "Why do you both look so worried? The university is celebrating our achievement... Isn't that a good thing?"

"It's not that it isn't good," Scales said. "It's just... odd."

"What's odd about it?"

"Roseanne is listed as the corresponding author on this paper, which means the achievement technically belongs to our lab, not the university."

So if it doesn't belong to them, why are they celebrating it? And so publicly?

Roseanne nodded. "I expected the university to ignore it completely, to pretend they knew nothing. After all, having a major achievement credited to an off-campus lab is embarrassing for them. It would have been easier to just play dumb."

But she never expected this...

The university's reaction was the complete opposite of what she'd predicted.

"When something is this out of the ordinary," Roseanne said, "it either means trouble is brewing, or... they want something from us."