Chapter 343

The office air turned to ice.

Director Frederick Aldridge's greasy face flushed crimson as his fingers drummed impatiently on the desk. "Professor Lowell, don't push your luck. I'm giving you an out here. Understand?"

Sophia Lowell slammed her lesson plans onto the desk, papers rustling sharply.

"I've taught for three years with the highest exam scores every semester." She met his gaze unflinchingly. "And now you're telling me none of that matters compared to someone's uncle being the principal?"

Cicadas screeched outside the window.

The director's Adam's apple bobbed as he gulped tea noisily. "Young people should learn to read the room. Dylan Langley's uncle is about to become deputy director of the education bureau. What do you have to compete with that?"

Murky swirls formed in the teacup.

"So the teaching evaluations were just for show?" Sophia suddenly laughed. "You should've said so earlier. I wouldn't have stayed up preparing lessons till 2 AM every night."

The doorknob turned abruptly.

Dylan Langley leaned against the doorframe, three shirt buttons undone to display his gold chain. "Well, well, if it isn't our star professor Sophia Lowell." He whistled. "Came to cry to the director?"

Sunlight sliced through the blinds, painting alternating light and shadow on the floor.

Sophia turned slowly. "No classes today, Professor Langley?"

"My uncle suggested I... bond with leadership." Dylan sauntered to the director's side and grabbed imported chocolates from the desk. "Someone always covers my classes. Unlike certain people who take things too seriously."

Director Aldridge chuckled nervously, pushing the entire box toward him.

Sophia's nails dug into her palms. "You plagiarized my lesson plan for last week's open class."

"So what?" Dylan tore the wrapper. "You should feel honored. Do you know how many people would kill to have my attention?"

Sparrows scattered outside the window.

Sophia suddenly raised her phone. "Professor Langley, I recorded everything you just said." She waved the screen. "Imagine how surprised your deputy director uncle would be if this went viral?"

Dylan's expression froze.

Director Aldridge shot up, his chair scraping loudly. "Sophia Lowell! Do you realize what you're doing?"

"Perfectly." She tapped the save button. "Documenting our model professor's pearls of wisdom."

Dylan's gold chain glinted harshly in the sunlight. "You fucking bitch!" He raised a fist.

Sophia stepped back deliberately under the surveillance camera. "Go ahead." She pointed at her face. "Let the whole school see how nepotism works."

The office fell silent except for the AC's hum.

Beads of sweat formed on the director's forehead. "Professor Lowell, let's discuss this reasonably—"

"Nothing to discuss." Sophia pocketed her phone. "I want the promotion list corrected by tomorrow. Otherwise, this recording goes to the education bureau's whistleblower email."

As she turned, she heard Dylan hurl chocolates against the wall.

A draft in the hallway lifted her blouse hem.

Behind her, the director's furious curses and Dylan's tantrum faded. Sophia pulled out her vibrating phone—Professor Theodore Orlando's name flashed onscreen.

The sunlight suddenly seemed blinding.