Chapter 432

The auditorium fell into complete silence.

The presenting student abruptly stopped mid-sentence, casting a confused glance toward the podium. Vice President Hu Jun was frantically scrolling through his phone, his glasses sliding down to the tip of his nose.

"Ahem!" The academic dean cleared his throat loudly.

But President Hu suddenly grabbed the microphone, his fingers trembling visibly.

"Breaking news! A student from the School of Life Sciences has published a paper in Science!"

The entire room froze.

The word "Science" exploded through the crowd like a bomb.

"Did I hear that right?"

"Our university?"

"It must be Victor!"

Whispers rippled through the audience. Professor Beatrice Merouin unconsciously straightened her posture, a proud smile playing on her lips.

Audrey Escent clenched her pen so tightly her knuckles turned white. She glared daggers at Victor sitting in the front row, her mind in turmoil.

Sophia Frackett and Isabella Evans exchanged shocked looks.

"Bro!" Zachary Omelas slammed the table as he jumped up. "I knew it was you!"

Just as Victor opened his mouth to speak—

"Let's congratulate Evelyn Langley!" President Hu's voice boomed through the auditorium.

All air seemed to leave the room.

Shane Evlanch's half-raised hand froze mid-air.

"Evelyn...Langley?" someone murmured.

The auditorium erupted.

"Who's that?"

"Never heard of her..."

"A first-year grad student?"

From a corner came hushed whispers: "I heard Professor Eleanor once mentored a prodigy..."

"Also surnamed Langley..."

"Could it be...?"

Audrey's face drained of color.

Her pen clattered to the floor.