Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Vile Outsider
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◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A short while ago, Han Si-a had rejected Song Chang-won's recruitment offer, and when she saw me getting verbally abused, she got so angry that she slapped his cheek.
Song Chang-won got furious about that too, and it nearly turned into a physical fight.
This could be seen as just a kids' squabble depending on how you look at it, but the incident became a crucial turning point for preparing our presentation for this training program's curriculum.
We had originally planned to bide our time and join Song Chang-won's team, but now we'd crossed an irreversible river.
...Of course, that doesn't mean it put us in a tough spot or that Han Si-a did something unnecessary.
No matter how angry I got, I'm such a pathetic, cowardly adult that I freeze up thinking about the consequences, so earlier I couldn't even properly get mad and just took it.
Yet Han Si-a stepped forward to help me, fully aware of all the risks involved.
This incident is something I should be eternally grateful for, prostrating myself in thanks forever.
That said, now Han Si-a and I had to accept that we could no longer join Song Chang-won's team and decide on our future course of action based on operating as a duo.
"Using the group project setup to incite infighting within—that was a pretty solid idea, if I do say so myself. Too bad it's unusable now."
First, I revealed to Han Si-a the idea I'd come up with to screw over 'Song Chang-won and his friends.'
I'd originally planned to flesh it out by tonight and let her know, but now it was scrapped.
As a result, I no longer had any real plan.
Deep down, I'd love to just punch him square in the face and be done with it, but if I did, his parents would definitely come after me, right?
Truth be told, even without his parents stepping in, hitting someone gets you punished by law.
When I confessed these inner thoughts to Han Si-a, she responded as if I were the weird one.
"No, normal people get mad when they're pissed off, don't they? If they're even angrier, fists fly, and if they're really furious, they might stab with an awl or push someone down the stairs..."
"Si-a, let's put those disturbing stories aside for now and think."
"Anyway, what I'm saying is you worry too much about the aftermath. People act on impulse sometimes, you know? In my view, you need to install a mindset like 'Screw it, do it first and deal with consequences later!'"
Not caring about the aftermath... It was a notion I hadn't entertained since I left my kid days behind.
Even a fine leaves a criminal record, and going to jail is honestly scary.
If I'd beaten up Song Chang-won, the rich kid, he might refuse a settlement with 'No money needed—off to jail you go!'
If that happened, my parents and I would suffer going back and forth to the police station and courts for a while...
"Wouldn't it be better to just endure it than deal with police visits? Even if I'm pissed, as long as I hold it in, it's fine. If I'd taken the first hit, it could've been mutual..."
Even as I spoke, I thought to myself.
How pathetic must I look to Han Si-a right now?
Cowering before even fighting because the opponent is some rich, well-connected young master—my situation was utterly miserable.
As I wallowed in self-loathing, Han Si-a pouted slightly, looking a bit sulky, and said,
"...It's not just you holding back your anger—I'm pissed too."
...That's true.
But... I have no desire to go to jail, so beating up Song Chang-won is still off the table.
"Yi-an. Promise me. No matter what, we'll get revenge on those bastards before this training ends. I won't ask how."
"..."
"If you don't get revenge, I'll push that bastard down the stairs myself."
Looking into Han Si-a's eyes, she seemed dead serious.
"Alright. I promise. Still, until another plan comes to mind, let's focus on the project. We've got plenty of time left."
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Truth be told, I wouldn't mind ditching the plaque or prize money if it meant crushing Song Chang-won.
Of course, the prize money is tempting, but as a human being, there's something I can't yield on.
However, I'd just gained a reason why I had to succeed in this project.
Because if we failed in this situation where Han Si-a teamed up with me...
'Jeong Yi-an, you fucking moron. Han Si-a could've breezily completed this project just by joining our group. She's taking a hit just to look out for you.'
Song Chang-won's trash talk would ring true.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We first checked on the other students' movements.
Song Chang-won and his friends—eight in total—were diligently researching materials.
They didn't seem to fully grasp the lecture content from moments ago, but for project prep purposes, it probably wouldn't take them long.
It really drove home how the number of heads is absolute in any task.
Even if it was a bunch of middle and high schoolers, raised with top-tier education from elite families... their effective level was comparable to a group of college and high school students.
"...What do we do? Those bastards are better at this than expected?"
"Well... These participants do this kind of thing every year. If we go straight-laced, it'll be hard to make a meaningful difference from them in the final presentation."
Hearing Han Si-a's words, I sank into thought for a moment.
Straight-laced? That means diligently researching and prepping the presentation to get fair judging from the panel.
...So what would be the crooked way?
"Si-a. Do you know how this project gets evaluated?"
"The evaluation method changes every year, so I'm not sure. Sometimes parents do it, sometimes outside experts."
I actually had a slight inkling about this project's evaluation method.
"I heard in today's lecture that all the invited speakers for this training are staying at the pension until the evening of day 6, so if we have questions, we should come ask."
"Then... the speakers will likely participate in the day 6 presentation judging with high probability. That makes sense. This project requires pretty specialized knowledge, so parents without biology expertise can't properly evaluate the results... The speakers will effectively handle the judging."
"...", "..."
We locked eyes for a moment.
Seeing the corner of Han Si-a's mouth twitch up, she was probably thinking the same as me.
If straight-laced won't work, go crooked.
We didn't need much time to understand the lecture anyway.
So, in our spare time, we could approach the judges, pry out their criteria, or cozy up to them to induce biased judging.
Your fruits of collaboration, effort, and shining talent—we'll corrupt them with vile tricks.
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While Song Chang-won and his crew heated up their research, we investigated the invited speakers for this training.
A university professor researching plant breeding, an executive involved in ☐seong Biologics' founding, the director of a government-funded food research institute, etc.—we looked up not just their current positions, but
for researchers, their past achievements and papers; for corporate folks, internet articles on their careers.
Then we preset conversation topics for meeting each speaker and divided roles.
I took the role of intuitively grasping the speaker's explanations to make them feel accomplished and thrilled,
while Han Si-a pretended confusion at key parts to hype the speaker and ignite their zeal to enlighten us students.
Alright, let's go do some bad stuff together.
First target: Professor Park Jong-chan, the plant breeding researcher who gave today's lecture.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ *** Professor Park Jong-chan, Invited Speaker Perspective ***
Two students who attended my lecture today came to see me.
Most kids this age are too lazy to come even if they don't understand something, so at least these have passion.
If only my undergrads at university showed this much enthusiasm.
I sat on the guest room sofa and fielded their questions.
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These kids... they're sharp as hell. Even for elite offspring, they're first-year high schoolers who grasped my lecture to this level?
When the parents inviting me here asked for university-major-level lectures for middle and high schoolers, I'd inwardly scoffed, but I was wrong.
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...What is this? I just successfully explained to high schoolers content even my lab's master's students struggle with.
My explanation style isn't flawed after all! If grad students whined about stuff comprehensible to high schoolers. I'll flip the lab when I get back.
The girl says some parts are hard to understand...
Ah, it's dinnertime now—gotta explain more over dinner. This is crucial; I need to make sure she gets it...!!
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Dinner's too enjoyable. When's the last time I chatted so happily about science?
My university students find me too intimidating, academics only talk money, and family? Forget sharing major stuff—they just belittle and fleece me.
Groan... The menu's greasy; perfect with soju. But students are here...
...It's fine?
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You kids! Come to my lab in university. You have to become researchers!
To overturn Korea's rotten science scene, we need talented, passionate people like you!
Huh? Curious about what sparked this year's project theme? Hahaha!! Future scientists gotta know!
This year's government budget allocation...
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Ugh... F-fuck!! Don't do science, scientist shit! It's all a scam to sucker passionate youths and suck their spines dry... Cheers!
Better start a company and be the boss. Research in this country!! All bends to moneyed bastards!!!
Those science-clueless political trash!!! Groan... Just thinking of what I endured brings tears...!!
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Hehe... You kids there. Ever heard of eugenics? I, who breeds plants, pondered it deeply, see. But think any way! Humans need selective breeding too! Essential, really...
Cool...
Before long, it was 10 p.m.
From Professor Park Jong-chan's room, two high schoolers emerged with smiling faces.