Elodie could hear almost everything from where she sat.

Sylvie had been frantically busy these past two days, searching everywhere for a way out.

But Elodie didn’t move. She sat quietly, continuing to message Galen and the others about some technical issues.

Meanwhile, Sylvie had come here for one reason: to talk to Professor Abbott.

She thought Jarrod’s suggestion was actually quite feasible. Right now, every other avenue seemed blocked. Abbott, her former advisor, was a gentle, refined man-soft-spoken and even-tempered. He might not be impossible to persuade, or at least to use as leverage.

After all, she was out of moves. She had to try.

Abbott closed the book in his hand only when he saw Sylvie approach.

“Is there something you need?” he asked.

Sylvie pressed her lips together and replied, neither humble nor pushy, “Professor,

I don’t know if you’ve seen the recent news…”

Abbott nodded. “Yes, it’s gotten pretty big. I have a general idea.”

Sylvie looked him straight in the eye. “Neural Intelligence failed in its oversight,

and I was deceived as well, which led to a series of serious problems. Now, Elodie is insisting on holding me personally responsible. I don’t think that’s rational. I wanted to ask… would you be willing to speak to the Dean? Maybe you could persuade Elodie to drop the case?”

Even if she didn’t have much of a relationship with Mr. Sterling, Abbott was still a protégé of Charlie Sterling-surely that counted for something.

Abbott said nothing.

Sylvie steadied herself before continuing, “You’re my advisor. Elodie is Mr. Sterling’s student. Now that it’s come to criminal charges between us, I worry people will drag you both into the mess.”

If things escalated, Mr. Sterling would become the center of attention as well. The fallout would not be good.

For the first time, Abbott’s usually gentle face turned grave. “And if Elodie hadn’t found evidence to prove her innocence, what would you have done then? Did you ever think about the Dean or about me?”

Sylvie was momentarily speechless, her brows knitting in frustration.

“Researchers,” Abbott went on, voice cold, “can’t stand to see their work slandered or trampled. Your actions-plagiarism, infringement, defamation, criminal responsibility-even the university knows about them now. Which of those is a small matter?” He rarely looked so stern. “Go home, Sylvie. I can’t help you. I fear I can’t even continue to teach you.”

Sylvie’s face drained of color. “Professor, what do you mean by that?”

He looked at her, eyes icy. “This whole incident is spiraling out of control. If I keep you as my student, people will question my judgment. You’d better find another mentor.”

He turned away without another word, face set in cold disapproval.

She actually wanted him to ask the Dean to persuade Elodie to drop the charges? After everything Elodie had suffered? How could he possibly do that?

Sylvie stood rooted to the spot, stunned.

She hadn’t expected this outcome. Professor Abbott-was he really cutting her off?

That meant her chance to study at the institute was gone, too.

A wave of disbelief swept over her, and her expression darkened completely. She had always believed that with her talent, Professor Abbott would never give up on her over someone as insignificant as Elodie.

He should have valued her, tried to save her.

But not only had she failed to convince him—she’d managed to make him angry.

She had expected, at worst, indifference or detachment from Professor Abbott;

she had never imagined he would outright refuse to take her on.

It took her a long moment to collect herself, her mind buzzing.

As she stepped out of the office, she spotted Elodie sitting not far away.

Sylvie’s gaze turned frosty, a cold, inscrutable edge flickering in her eyes as she stared at Elodie.

Elodie stood, her delicate face calm and unbothered, not sparing Sylvie even a glance as she headed toward Professor Charlie Sterling’s office.

Watching her disappear down the hallway, Sylvie’s expression grew even more

sour.

Today, she’d failed to convince Professor Abbott and had her student status revoked all within Elodie’s line of sight.

It was as if—

She’d been served up as a joke for Elodie to witness.

Sylvie drew a shaky breath.

Her last option had just been blocked.

She felt as though she could barely move forward, forced to clench her fists as

she desperately searched for another way out.

No matter how Sylvie struggled or tried to win people over, Elodie couldn’t be bothered to care. As soon as the authorities finished their investigation, Sylvie would have no room to maneuver. As the person in charge, she’d participated in defaming other companies, causing VistaLink Technologies significant losses through canceled contracts-enough to constitute criminal liability.

After discussing the situation with Mr. Sterling, the Dean showed no particular concern. He simply kept Elodie for another hour to analyze a research topic, then finally let her return to VistaLink Technologies.

As soon as she walked in, Alexander handed her a box of fruit candies, raising his

eyebrows playfully. “Guess what happened?”