Chapter 707: Blaming each other "Slandering?" Dean Wang almost yelled, but he forced himself to hold it back, with veins on his forehead visible.
"Sun Weimin, why haven't you told me the truth yet? The higher-ups have called directly to inquire about this and specifically requested a thorough investigation."
He stared at Professor Sun's face, which had turned pale in an instant, and said word by word, "If you don't admit it now, your crime will be even more serious."
Professor Sun was struck by lightning, his body swaying, and he almost fell. He held on to the table with his hands and managed to hold on: "Up...up there? How could it be..."
Dean Wang was furious. "How could you have known that? But this is the truth now. This matter has become a big deal and can't be covered up anymore. Old Sun, you and I are now on the same page. If you explain everything to us now, we can figure out how to remedy the situation and minimize the impact. If you keep hiding it, once the higher-ups find out..."
Dean Wang took a deep breath and said with a final warning, "When the time comes, don't say I can't help you. Think about the consequences. Your reputation and status will be ruined!"
Professor Sun was completely panicked, the color drained from his face, and cold sweat streamed down his face.
He originally thought that relying on his qualifications and the dean's favor, suppressing a student would be a piece of cake. He never expected that it would alarm the higher-ups, let alone face such a severe investigation.
Looking at Dean Wang's serious expression, which was definitely not a joke, his psychological defenses finally collapsed completely.
His legs went limp and he slumped in the chair, his lips trembling, unable to maintain his sanctimonious appearance any longer.
"Dean...Dean...I was confused for a moment...After reading the report, I did...did have some ideas. I thought I'd improve it for Zhicheng, and publishing it would also be the achievement of our department...I didn't expect that girl to react so strongly, and I didn't expect it to..."
These words, which were almost an admission, made Dean Wang's heart sink to the bottom.
The last glimmer of hope was shattered.
He angrily scolded, "You...you are really getting old and confused."
Professor Sun was now filled with fear and regret. He grabbed Dean Wang's arm as if it were the last straw.
"Dean, please help me. What should I do now? What should I do?"
Dean Wang shook off his hand, his face livid. "Help you? How can I help you now? Your only way out now is to confess everything, or else beg Shen Mo to let it go. If you give in and add her name, maybe she'll agree."
Professor Sun thought about it for a long time, and the cold sweat on his forehead kept coming out. He really couldn't think of any better way.
She kept asking, "Really... Is there really no other way? Your qualifications, these things for the school..."
"What do you think? This is the only way now! Put down your pathetic pride, Old Sun! Now it's a question of whether others are willing to show mercy!"
Professor Sun collapsed completely, as if all his energy had been drained away.
The last bit of fantasy was shattered.
After an extremely painful psychological struggle, Professor Sun finally swallowed his pride and found out that Shen Mo often went to the library after class. He then gritted his teeth and waited for her on the road she had to take to return to the courtyard.
Seeing Shen Mo coming over with her classmates, Professor Sun's face was burning. He took a deep breath, squeezed out a smile that was uglier than crying, and greeted her: "Shen... Shen Mo..."
Shen Mo and her classmates stopped and saw that it was Professor Sun. The classmate tactfully left first.
"Professor Sun, what's the matter?" Her voice was calm.
Professor Sun felt uncomfortable under her gaze. He rubbed his hands and spoke hesitantly, completely losing his usual arrogance.
"Student Chen Mo... before... before, it was my fault. Teacher... I read your report and it is indeed... indeed very valuable. I was confused for a moment and wanted to ask Senior Brother Zhicheng to help you improve it. Maybe... maybe there was a misunderstanding in communication..."
놛 stole a glance at Chen Mo's face, and seeing that she had no reaction, he became even more panicked: "Look... this incident... has a bad impact on you, right? The teacher apologizes to you, a solemn apology. Regarding the paper, 놛 can discuss it and add your name as the first author, and Zhicheng will be listed behind. No, let 놛 withdraw it. Do you think this is okay? Let's... let's just treat it as a misunderstanding and not pursue it any further, okay? It's good for you, for the teacher, and for the reputation of the school..."
놛 looked at Shen Mo with almost pleading eyes, waiting for her response.
Shen Mo felt extremely ironic.
At this point, he was still concerned about his own reputation and tried to downplay the "plagiarism" as a "misunderstanding" and "communication problem."
"Professor Sun, you got a few questions wrong."
"First, it wasn't a 'misunderstanding'; it was clear-cut 'plagiarism'."
"Secondly, you don't need to give me author credit. This work originally belongs entirely to me."
"Third, you're coming to me now not because you've realized your mistake, but because the higher-ups are going to investigate. You're scared and desperate, so you're looking for a way out here, right?"
Professor Sun was speechless after her question, and his face turned red and white.
"I'm sorry, but this matter must be investigated thoroughly. This isn't just for me, but for all the students whose work may have been stolen, and for the integrity and fairness that academia should uphold."
After saying this, she no longer looked at Professor Sun, whose face was as pale as death, and walked straight past him without looking back.
Zhao Zhicheng naturally also heard the news and found out more detailed inside information. The higher-ups attached great importance to it. Dean Wang was in trouble himself, and Professor Sun became the main target of investigation.
Panic seized me instantly.
I had finally climbed up Professor Sun's tree, and the publication of my paper was about to become my capital for graduating and staying in school, and rising to a high position in the industry. I absolutely couldn't fail with him at this moment.
Selfishness and fear overwhelmed everything, including the pitiful "favor of recognition" for Professor Sun.
Zhao Zhicheng made the decision without any hesitation, sacrificing the car to save the king, no, sacrificing the king to save himself!
First, he hurriedly found Dean Wang and asked him to "explain the situation."
"Dean Wang, you really had no idea. When Professor Sun gave you the first draft of the paper, you said it was a direction you had carefully conceived and asked you to help refine the data and some detailed arguments.
"I have always respected and trusted Teacher Sun. He is my mentor, so how could I possibly doubt the source of the materials he gave me? I had no idea that this was related to Chen Mo. If I had known that this was the result of Chen Mo's research, I would never have touched it. I am also a victim who was kept in the dark!"
He cleared himself of all blame and put all the blame on Professor Sun.
This statement was quickly spread intentionally or unintentionally, and naturally reached the ears of Professor Sun who was in extreme torment.
Professor Sun was still racking his brains trying to figure out how to mitigate his guilt, how to defend himself, when he suddenly heard that the student he had nurtured and protected so passionately had betrayed him so completely, putting the blame for everything on just one person...
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