The phone lay on the table, its screen going from bright to dark, a tap with the finger and it cycled from dark to bright... just like that on a loop.
For a whole five minutes, Montague and Eduardo maintained the sa posture: standing by the table, hands pressed against the surface, heads close together, staring unblinkingly at the phone screen.
Montague: "What is he doing?"
Eduardo: "Not picking up calls, not replying ssages."
Montague: "Considering?"
Eduardo: "No idea."
Montague: "It’s been five minutes."
Eduardo: "Almost six now."
Both of them shifted their heads, exchanged glances, then stepped back and dropped into their chairs, sighing in unison.
Professor Duncan had ntioned on the phone that Nora Scott had just talked with him last night; he happened to tell her about the project they were involved in. From her tone, she seed quite interested.
Finding Nora now would have a high success rate.
With Professor Duncan to make the introduction, Montague and Eduardo couldn’t wait to reach out to Nora.
However, when they accepted the project, they signed a confidentiality agreent with Ethan Scott, promising not to disclose any content of the project. So, in order to approach Nora, they needed Ethan’s consent.
Without much thought, they made the decision and imdiately contacted Ethan, but—
they did not receive a tily response.
After another quarter hour.
Just as despair set in, they suddenly heard the vibration of the phone, and both, who had been resting with closed eyes, sprang from their chairs and rushed to the table.
The phone screen lit up with a voice ssage from Ethan.
"Who is she? Give more details."
The two exchanged a glance, and Eduardo quickly highlighted the key points.
A senior from a year ahead, recomnded by Professor Duncan, although she took a break in her sophomore year, she is very capable.
"You need to tell him exactly where she excels," Montague reminded.
"Oh, oh, oh."
Eduardo nodded, hurriedly sending a voice ssage to Ethan:
"Rember the video we showed you? The demonstration of the chanical table that Montague and I made, we built that table based on her designs. When it cos to chanical Techniques, she is definitely better than us."
Releasing his finger, Eduardo sent the ssage.
He turned and asked Montague, "Is that okay?"
Montague, deep in thought, felt sothing was still missing, but wasn’t sure what.
A mont later, Montague suddenly realized, "Since she paused her studies in her sophomore year, won’t it, um, make him doubt her credibility?"
Eduardo pursed his lips, retorting, "Is a degree proof of capability?"
Montague was shocked, "Isn’t it... isn’t it?"
"... "
Eduardo was stumped by the question.
It seed, maybe so.
The two stared at each other, feeling quite complex.
—The senior was so wilful, willing to forgo her diploma, what could they do?
Just then, the phone vibrated continuously, and Ethan called.
Eduardo quickly answered and switched to speakerphone.
Before the two could speak, Ethan asked with concern, "Are you guys under too much pressure?"
"Yes, indeed. It’s quite stressful."
Eduardo honestly answered.
Montague looked at him, raising a hand to push his glasses upward.
"Why don’t you take half a day off?" Ethan kindly suggested, his tone gentle, "I know the task I’ve given you is tough, don’t pressure yourselves too much. Finding help is sothing I’ve been arranging; just wait a few more days, and there’ll surely be new people joining..."
Ethan comforted them.
It took them a while to realize: so he thought they recomnded the senior because of too much pressure?
No way.
Although that logic was correct, it wasn’t...
The focus was skewed.
Ruffling his hair, Eduardo had no choice but to interrupt, "Senior, since you’re adding people, why not consider the senior? Professor Duncan also said, the only one who can complete the designs in ti is her."
"What Professor Duncan researches, after all, is not chanical Techniques," Ethan said nonchalantly, pausing a bit before adding, "Rest assured, I’ve already contacted so knowledgeable people, so there won’t be any problems. It’s been a tough ti for you both, have a good rest."
His words all carried a sense of refusal.
He basically ignored their recomndation for the senior.
Such disregard for their suggestion made them both quite unhappy.
"I have so matters to attend to, gotta hang up now."
Ethan didn’t intend to chat more, offering a few casual consolations before ending the call.
The two exchanged a complex glance.
Pushing the phone aside, Eduardo stood up straight, frowning with frustration, "What to do, my impression of him just nosedived."
Montague nodded in agreent, "Sa here. A bit authoritarian."
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