Chapter 163: What? She’s That Genius?
"Who cares if he’s ’Sullivan the Great’ or whatever," Ian Lane scoffed. "Get out of the way!"
Luna Morgan whispered, "No, that’s Sylvan, the math genius from Solara University! Sullivan the Great!"
Her gaze fell on the woman with a gentle smile standing beside him, and her certainty grew. "And that’s Cecilia Nash."
Ian Lane froze. They were all in academic circles, so of course he knew of these two—especially Sylvan, who had once been a trending topic online.
Back when the science-themed competition show, The Tower of Wit, was a huge hit, some troublemakers kept calling out Sylvan, wanting to see a showdown between the two geniuses, Sylvan and Adrian Lancaster.
Sylvan himself never responded, but a professor from the Solara University mathematics department had berated the idea as utterly absurd.
Clickbait accounts then added their own spin, posting a video online to incite netizens to attack the professor. But it backfired spectacularly. Solara University came back at them hard, publishing a statement questioning the motives behind such a blatant publicity stunt. "Academia is not a performance," it read, "and it’s certainly not a clickbait formula for you to exploit."
The alumni of Solara University were furious. ’You think you can just leech off Sullivan the Great’s fame? We haven’t even called you out for your shameless grandstanding yet!’
’Some "young genius?" A persona hyped up by the show’s producers, and people actually fell for it.’
’Tell me, has this "young genius" ever been in a gifted youth program? Oh, you don’t know what that is? Then how can he have the nerve to call himself a young genius?’
At the time, someone had explained that these gifted youth programs were established by top institutions like Solara University with the goal of identifying highly intelligent children early on and providing them with specialized training.
Children entering these programs had to pass four separate IQ tests; without a doubt, the ones who got in were all monsters of intellect.
Sylvan and Cecilia Nash were both graduates of such a program.
Because of this backfired publicity stunt, The Tower of Wit went down in flames and was not renewed for another season.
The firestorm never reached Adrian Lancaster only because Luna Morgan had immediately and sincerely apologized on his behalf as the incident escalated.
Sylvan had also released a statement through a friend, saying that he wouldn’t let the clickbait accounts’ mess implicate anyone else, and he even congratulated Adrian Lancaster on his victory.
Only then was the incident finally put to rest.
’Could it be that Sylvan admires Adrian Lancaster and has decided to speak up for the Lancaster family?’ Ian Lane glanced warily at Adrian Lancaster.
But Adrian Lancaster didn’t even look at him. He didn’t care about anything else; he just wanted to talk to his idol.
"Sullivan the Great, it’s a bit noisy here. Why don’t I find us a quieter place..."
Sylvan’s voice was impassive. "Didn’t you hear? We’re not finished here yet."
Quentin Woods had actually wanted to ignore them and leave, but aside from Sylvan, two bodyguards who had appeared out of nowhere were blocking the exit.
"My apologies." Jasper Sterling said with a look of mock contrition. "I know you all have a habit of running when you can’t win an argument, so I came prepared with a little backup."
Julian Lancaster frowned. ’How could he bring bodyguards in here?’
Jasper Sterling said, "I’ll make this quick. But there’s one thing I must clarify on the spot, lest the rumors spread."
"What rumors?" Luna Morgan asked.
Ian Lane cut in, "Luna, don’t fall for his tricks!"
Luna Morgan shook her head firmly. "If someone is really spreading rumors, it’s better to clear the air face-to-face. After all, dispelling rumors is exhausting."
She herself was often the subject of rumors, so she could empathize.
Ian Lane sighed. "Luna, you’re too kind."
Jane Lancaster had already guessed what Jasper Sterling was planning, but she had no intention of stopping him.
’He called Sylvan and Cecilia Nash here just to back me up, didn’t he?’
’Oh well. As long as they’re happy.’
Adrian Lancaster frowned. ’So Jasper Sterling was the one who called Sylvan and Cecilia Nash over? Why? How does this guy know everyone?’
Jasper Sterling announced, "What I want to clarify is this: Jane Lancaster did not get into university because of Professor Quentin Woods’s project. That is a rumor."
He looked at Quentin Woods, Ian Lane, and Luna Morgan. "Professor Woods led the rumormongering, and you are all complicit."
Quentin Woods’s face turned ugly. "Nonsense! Her name was clearly on the list we submitted! You’re the one blatantly spreading lies!"
Jasper Sterling turned to Jane Lancaster, a look of innocence on his face. "So, Jane, who’s really spreading rumors here? Me, or them?"
He just wanted to know if, even after all this, she would still defend that woman.
Jane Lancaster sighed and looked at Quentin Woods. "I never participated in your project. Didn’t I ask you to remove my name?"
The room erupted in an uproar. ’Can she really say that out loud?’
She didn’t participate in the project but got into university because of it? Isn’t that blatant fraud?
Jane Lancaster certainly had guts, but wasn’t what she’s doing illegal?
Quentin Woods stared at her. ’Has she lost her mind?’
Luna Morgan grew anxious. "Miss Lancaster, don’t act rashly! You went to the art association every day back then. You clearly participated in the project!"
"She did not participate in your project!" a voice rang out.
Quentin Woods looked toward the speaker, and his expression changed. "Chairman Gould?"
Ian Lane also gasped softly. "What are Chairman Gould and Professor Lee doing here?"
Luna Morgan subconsciously looked at Chairman Gould, who was at the front. He had expressed his admiration for her in the past.
But she quickly discovered that his face was filled with anger, and it was directed at her.
"You’re so young and quite talented. Why are you picking up bad habits instead of good ones? When did Jane Lancaster ever participate in the Genesis Art Academy’s project? You’re lying!"
Chairman Gould was absolutely livid. It was one thing for Quentin Woods to pull some strings behind the scenes, but this level of fabrication was going too far.
The Genesis Art Academy project was undoubtedly going to be put under strict investigation, and any students involved in the fraud would be held accountable. Everyone was trying to distance themselves from it, yet here she was, trying to drag Jane Lancaster into the pit with them.
This was a talent they had discovered! If she was ruined by this mess, who could he even complain to?
Luna Morgan’s face flushed red. Being called a liar was a serious accusation to her. But in order to repay a debt of gratitude, she had indeed violated her principle of being an honest person.
At this point, she couldn’t harm both Jane Lancaster and Professor Woods, so she could only grit her teeth and say, "I didn’t..."
"Luna, stop," Jane Lancaster interrupted her.
Arguing at a time like this would do no good.
Luna Morgan bit her lower lip gently, feeling wronged. ’I did so much for Jane Lancaster, not asking for anything in return, so why is she turning against me now?’
Ian Lane couldn’t stand it. "If you’re going to yell at someone, yell at Jane Lancaster for committing fraud! Why are you yelling at Luna?"
"You fool!" Chairman Gould was so angry he looked ready to hit someone. "When has Jane Lancaster ever committed fraud? She participated in a project, and her performance was so outstanding and remarkable that she was granted special admission to Stratton University!"
Professor Lee added, "Jane Lancaster participated in the ’Qin King’s Night Banquet Painting’ project. She was the lead. We have surveillance footage of the entire process as proof."
"What? She’s that genius?" Quentin Woods’s eyes widened.
Jasper Sterling said, "So, do you get it now? This is why she couldn’t be bothered to study under you. She doesn’t just have talent; she has extraordinary skill to back it up."
Chairman Gould scoffed, "I wanted to take her as my disciple, and even she turned me down! Where do you get the nerve?"
Quentin Woods’s body swayed, and he nearly lost his footing.
’It’s over.’ That was the only thought in his mind. ’I’m finished!’