Eyes wide as saucers, shock painted all over her face.

Suddenly, Roseanne's words echoed in her ears...

Life's a roller coaster, isn't it? Who hasn't hit a rough patch?

What goes around, comes around. My today might very well be your tomorrow...

Snapping back from her daze, Sybil's first instinct was to frantically tug at Aunt Edna's sleeve. "Auntie, she actually built a lab! What are we going to do?! The principal knows, too. Could all the stuff we've done be exposed?"

In her panic, she even forgot to avoid any suspicion in her address.

"Shut it!" Edna glared fiercely, "What have we done? We've done nothing! Watch your mouth!"

Only Arkle and Carlson were genuinely sizing up the building, their eyes growing brighter the more they looked.

"Carlson, five stories... imagine the space in there?"

Carlson, arms crossed, was nothing but amazed, without a hint of surprise.

Classic Roseanne-go big or go home.

"Why don't we head in and see for ourselves?"

Arkle's eyes sparkled, "Really? We didn't get an invite though..."

They were here on a whim, having snagged an invite from Babur.

Carlson smirked, "Who says we don't have one?"

Arkle was gobsmacked. What does he mean? Could it be?

Carlson casually unzipped his jacket to reveal the corner of a red invitation peeking from his inner pocket.

Arkle was floored. No way!

"Carlson, you-"

"Shh, keep it down."

Arkle immediately contained his excitement, though his heart was racing.

He whispered, "Did Roseanne give it to you?"

"Yeah."

"You guys close?"

Carlson thought about it, "Not really."

"Then why would she " Arkle was completely taken aback.

"Maybe... she wanted us to see the show?"

Just then-

"Look who's here, Director White, the rare visitor!" Madeleine greeted with a smile.

Babur managed a strained smile,

et

"Oh, you flatter me. In the presence of such giants, how dare I claim to

be

a are visitor? You're killing me

here."

én.kikistories.com

But one look around nearly gave him a heart attack.

The heads of Grandstone Institute's biology department, a titan of molecular science, national-level professors, Elite Business University...

It was as if half of the academic world had been invited!

Babur felt utterly out of place among these luminaries, daring not to claim any significance.

Madeleine just laughed, seemingly oblivious to his discomfort and

nervousness, "Funny, I don't r

I

sending Director White an invite. Roseanne, did you-"

Roseanne stepped forward, "What's up, professor?"

"You see, Director White has graciously brought Ms. Edna and a bunch of her students to

congratulate you. But, I can't seem to recall sending him an invite."

swn y

"No, you didn't," Roseanne confirmed. "But we did send one to the principal, and maybe he passed it on to Babur, not wanting to come himself?"

"Oh, I see now," Madeleine realized, "I thought Director White was crashing the party with a crowd, here to watch a spectacle."

Their back-and-forth left Babur sweating bullets, barely managing to keep up his smile while repeatedly insisting, "Not at all... wouldn't dare..." From arrogance to servility, his demeanor had transformed entirely.

After a brief "as you were" from Madeleine, she took Roseanne to attend to other professors, leaving Babur thoroughly ignored. As for Edna...

She was even less of a concern.noveldrama

Suddenly, something struck Babur, his face turning pale as he hurriedly pulled out his phone

"Hey! Bob! Call off the 'Campus Chronicle' reporters! Bring them back now! They better not show up!"

Bob was startled, "Director White, what's happened?!"

"Don't ask, just do it!"

"But... it's too late!"

Babur was floored.