Chapter 193

Natalie Blanchet suddenly set down her teacup. "Harvard does offer a combined bachelor-master-doctoral program, but the bar is extremely high. Evelyn, what was your undergraduate major?"

"Bioinformatics."

"From the School of Life Sciences?" Natalie turned to Oliver Lancelot. "Does this major have a direct PhD track?"

All eyes locked onto Oliver. Camille Valrose stared at him with particular intensity.

Oliver put down his chopsticks. "Under normal circumstances, this program doesn't offer direct PhD admission..."

Camille abruptly stood up, sneering at Evelyn Langley. "Now what's your excuse?"

Natalie caught Oliver's phrasing. "'Under normal circumstances' implies there are exceptions?"

Oliver nodded. "The School of Life Sciences reserves one or two special admission slots annually for International Olympiad gold medalists."

"What's a special admission slot?"

"It means gold medalists can negotiate terms with the school—scholarships, guaranteed graduate admission, everything's on the table. Though final approval rests with the faculty."

Natalie's eyes lit up. "So direct PhD admission could be negotiated?"

Oliver: "Theoretically yes, but practically very difficult. In the past twenty years, the school has only approved two direct PhD cases."

"One was Professor Beatrice Merouin's protégé Victor Dimucci. The other was Professor Eleanor Roland's student—rumored to have won four Olympiad golds while also being the national science valedictorian."

"Most incredibly, she declined the special admission and tested in normally. For that caliber of genius, the faculty would fight to make her a professor."

The possibilities narrowed instantly.

Victor was male, which meant Evelyn had to be...

Camille scoffed. "Keep spinning your fairy tales! Four gold medals? National valedictorian? You?"

Evelyn couldn't be bothered to explain.

Adrian Klein spoke suddenly: "She is Professor Roland's student."

The private dining room fell silent.

Oliver's eyes widened. "Seriously?!" He turned to Evelyn. "You're the legendary prodigy everyone talks about?"

Evelyn sighed. "Should I call Professor Roland right now?"

"No need!" Oliver waved his hands rapidly. "I'm just... completely stunned..."

Natalie grabbed Evelyn's hands excitedly. "Tell me, how did you win four gold medals simultaneously? My kid can barely handle one subject."

Evelyn smiled sheepishly. "Just... solve the problems. Get them all right."

Natalie: "..."

That answer was downright infuriating!

Vincent Macmillan suddenly understood. "So you're the 'regret' Professor Roland always mentions! Who'd you pick as advisor this year?"

"Professor Roland."

Vincent burst out laughing. "The old lady must be overjoyed!"

Camille stood frozen, unsure whether to sit or remain standing, her face cycling through shades of pale and flushed.

Oliver smoothly extended an olive branch—