Chapter 19 — People Whose Achievements Are Stolen

Lightly as if deliberately pressed down.

“I'm back.”

“I see.”

She stood outside the door, not entering. The finger unconsciously touched the right earring.

“I heard about the hospital story.”

“I'm really shocked.”

“What are you shocked about?”

"The story of Mr. Phong blocking your invitation."

“Even the pregnancy test report.”

“I really didn't know he did those things.”

“If you knew…”

“I absolutely will not accept that offer to become a monk.”

When she said these words, her voice was extremely sincere. So sincere that... If someone didn't know the inside story, they would probably believe it. But I clearly remember the screenshot that Chu Man showed me. When Ha Uyen Thanh told Dao Vien to edit my data... In the message she wrote:

"Mr. Phong said that next week's appraisal session needs your support."

She called him "Mr. Phong". A person who is completely ignorant... Would not use such an informal way of addressing a superior.

“Did you specially fly back from Germany?”

“As soon as I heard what happened, I immediately bought the nearest flight.”

“When you bought the plane ticket…”

“Who should I contact first?”

“Ly Phong or Dao Vien?”

Her fingers stopped. The earring was clenched in the tip of the finger.

“I contacted the institute's administrative department…”

“When you texted Dao Vien asking 'what happened in the hospital'…”

“Was it before or after buying the ticket?”

Her breathing stopped for a beat.

“Did you see that message?”

“When Dao Vien's phone fell to the ground, the screen was facing up.”

“Everyone who was there saw it.”

Her face turned white little by little.

“Miss Tham…”

“That message wasn't what I thought it was.”

“I'm just concerned about the situation in the hospital…”

“Ha Uyen Thanh.”

I interrupted her.

“The core thesis you submitted for review last July…”

“The original file creator is my computer account.”

“You used my manuscript.”

“That was the group's topic…”

“Patent application last November…”

“The original registrant's name was erased with an eraser.”

“Underneath the eraser layer is my name.”

“I really don't know about those things…”

“You told Dao Vien to filter my data.”

“Delete the parts that have high overlap with my plan and then run the statistics again.”

“I also have a screenshot of that message.”

Her lips tightened. His face had almost lost all blood.

“You came back today…”

“Is it because you want to play the role of the innocent and clueless younger sister in front of me?”

“Or do you want to come and negotiate conditions?”

In the hallway, footsteps were heard. Several researchers walked past the laboratory door. Everyone slowly took a look and then quickly left. Ha Uyen Thanh stood next to the door frame. Almost pressing my whole body against the edge of the wood. She took a deep breath.

“Miss Tham…”

“I know you hate me.”

“But there are some things that really aren't what I meant.”

“Many things were arranged by Mr. Phong…”

“I just followed…”

“You just followed suit?”

“He asked you to hang the first author's name, so you hung it?”

“He told you to take my patent, so you took it?”

“At that time I didn't know those things were yours.”

“He said it was the collective result of the project group…”

“You don't know?”

I took off my gloves and placed them on the lab table.

“When I sent my thesis for review…”

“My name is written in the original file properties.”

“When you open the file, you can't help but see it.”

“You see Already."

“Then rename the file, delete attribute information…”

“Then use your name to save a new copy.”

“Now you tell me you don't know?”

Her lips moved a little. But no sound came out.

“I won't pursue you anymore.”

She raised her head to look at me.

“But you have to do something.”

“Write a written explanation.”

“Clearly state that the original author name of the entire thesis and patent are yours..”

“Submitted to the Office of Scientific Research Ethics.”

“This is your only way out.”

“If you proactively declare…”

“It is essentially a violation of academic norms.”

“If it is investigated…”

“It is essentially academic fraud.”

“You choose.”

She stood there. Right hand tightens the edge of the door. Nails leave a faint white mark on the wood.

“I give you three days.”

She let go. Take a step back then turn and walk out into the hallway. After taking a few steps, she turned her head to look at me. There was fear in those eyes. There is resentment. There's something else I can't explain clearly. Like regret. But it could also just be fear.