Chapter 168
Chapter 168:
But… from the center of the room, a single, slender figure stood slowly and without hurry.
With one hand tucked casually into her lab coat pocket, Rylie used the other to straighten her collar as she strolled toward the aisle. Her long ponytail shimmered like silk beneath the bright stage lights.
Silence fell over the entire venue in an instant.
Every pair of eyes locked onto the lone young woman making her way to the front without hesitation.
Near the back, a tall figure leaned lazily against the wall, his gaze never straying from her. A faint smile tugged at his lips. Even alone, she carried the weight and presence of an entire team.
A hushed voice broke the silence somewhere in the crowd. “She’s handling all of this by herself? No mentor, no team behind her? How is that even possible? Rylie’s seriously built different p>
Stacey’s eyes flew wide open, her fingers unconsciously digging into the flesh of her palm. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from Rylie’s back, no matter how much she wanted to look elsewhere. It was still hard to believe — the woman she once looked down on and trampled on was now standing alone in this grand academic hall, holding the room’s attention with ease.
Each team was required to step onto the stage and give a brief introduction of their paper’s findings and how they validated them. Usually, every member presented their part.
Meanwhile, Rylie was alone, so she had to give the introduction all by herself. She took the mic, her gaze calm and steady as she scanned the audience before speaking. “Hello, everyone, I’m Rylie. I completed all the research and experiments for this paper on my own. It’s an honor to be shortlisted for this medical competition. I welcome open discussion and am happy to share all the data and findings from my work p>
The applause that followed was lukewarm. Few were truly optimistic about her chances.
After all, Rylie was still a student — young and without a guiding professor. The fact that she completed such a complex paper on her own in just two days raised doubts about its quality and authenticity, as no one knew whether her findings had been validated or not. What was more, she was up against teams led by top professors.
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Most assumed she was only here for the experience, not the prize. Even the mentors shared that view.
Then the host returned to the stage and began announcing the winners, along with the prize money for each category.
“First, the third prize goes to ‘The Application of Gene Therapy in Parkinson’s Disease,’ by Professor Marcelo Watts’ team p>
Applause broke out as a middle-aged professor and his students walked up to receive their award — a two-hundred-thousand-dollar research grant.
“Next, the second prize goes to ‘Clinical Research on Stem Cell Transplantation for Spinal Cord Injury,’ by Academician Padgett Ward’s team p>
Cheers followed as Padgett’s team secured a three-hundred-thousand-dollar grant. Students onstage congratulated one another with bright smiles. Next, the first prize winner would be revealed. Stetson’s team began adjusting their clothes, preparing to take the stage.