The next morning, I went to the Academy of
Sciences presentation alone.
At nine in the morning, I sat in the back row,
watching Tiffany confidently present her work.
Just like in my previous life, she hadn’t
bothered to check the research. She recited my research report and paper word for word.
She smiled, as if victory was assured. The glances she threw my way were filled with undisguised smugness and provocation.
“This genetically mutated mosquito can survive in temperatures of minus 50 degrees for more than six months.”
“Due to its ability to vibrate its wings at a higher frequency, the arctic mosquito can
Join the bookst
<
produce a louder and more irritating sound than
ordinary mosquitoes.”
“It also has a highly penetrating proboscis.
Ordinary clothing is useless against it, easily pierced.”
“This research successfully fills the void of having no mosquitoes in winter in our country…”
Tiffany finally realized something was wrong.
Her confidence turned to doubt, and her voice trailed off.
The murmur in the audience grew louder.
“Arctic mosquitoes? What’s the point of researching that? So I can get bitten all winter?”
“Is her family selling mosquito coils? Is that why
she wants to expand the market?”
“She doesn’t care about fame or fortune, she
just wants to torture people?”
“If I were an economist, I would say her stock is about to crash”
“She must be a walking fifty cents.
The discussion became more heated, and just
as the situation was about to spiral out of control, someone rushed onto the stage and grabbed the microphone.
“There’s been a mistake. This research isn’t
Tiffany’s!”
1
Chad pointed at me, sitting in the back row.
“Abby! How dare you sit there? Get up here and
explain yourself!”
Hearing Chad’s words, Tiffany frantically
shifted blame.
“Yes! This research and paper aren’t mine. It’s
Abby’s. It has nothing to do with me.”
Hundreds of eyes turned to me.
I stood up and walked to the front, looking innocently at the two people in front of me. “What are you talking about? What research is mine? I never applied for this research.”
Realizing something, Chad’s eyes flashed with resentment. “Abby, you did this on purpose, didn’t you?”
I glanced at the audience. “Did what on
purpose? Can you please speak clearly? Don’t
play games.”
I turned to Tiffany. “She was doing fine during
her presentation, and you suddenly jumped on
stage to say that the paper wasn’t hers. She
said it was mine and told me to explain. What
am I supposed to explain?”
“This paper isn’t mine. I could never write
something like this.”
“If I dared to write such a pointless proposal,
my professor would expel me on the spot.”
“Besides, what evidence do you have to prove
that this research report and paper are mine?”
“Abby, you never quit! You want evidence? Just
<
wait!”
All the affection that had once been in Chad’s
eyes was gone. If killing me could prove
Tiffany’s innocence, he would have done it
without hesitation.
He ran off the stage, grabbed a bag from under his seat, and ran back to the stage, looking at me with contempt.
He took a laptop out of the bag and connected
it to the projector. “This is your laptop. Today, everyone will see the evidence.”
“You said this paper isn’t yours? Now, let’s see what you have to say.”
Chad expertly opened the “Seasonal Pest
Control” folder, selected the slide file, and
clicked play.
The audience gasped.
The smile on Chad’s face froze. The file didn’t contain any research reports or papers. It was just a collection of photos.
Tiffany holding his arm while they shopped. The two of them sitting in a restaurant, kissing in the street, Tiffany holding up lingerie in a shop. He walked into a motel with her.
Dozens of photos flashed on the screen, all of them intimate. While there weren’t any X–rated photos, they were enough to prove their relationship.
“Turn it off! Turn it off!”
Tiffany screamed, and Chad snapped out of it, ripping the connection between the laptop and the projector.
His chest heaved, his eyes bloodshot. He was clearly furious.
“Abby, you set me up?”
Ignoring his question, I bowed to the audience.
“I apologize for the spectacle, but the truth is what you just saw.”
