CHAPTER 95: CHAPTER 95: NO GIVING

Ma Chao was the first to back down.

"Principal, this has nothing to do with me. An Shimeng wrote the initial draft of the paper, and she also listed the data we needed to test in our experiments."

Unlike Chen Xiangyu, Ma Chao had joined the group merely to bask in the reflected glory of Chen Xiangyu and An Shimeng, hoping to add some highlights to his resume. Now that the paper had been identified as plagiarized, he naturally wanted to disassociate himself from it as quickly as possible.

Once he spoke, Lin Jiahang, Song Yushu, and Sun Wenbin hurriedly chimed in, "Ah, right, it was An Shimeng. In our group, An Shimeng is the first author. We were only responsible for conducting experiments according to her requirements and providing the experimental data..."

"But An Shimeng’s name isn’t in the list of authors on your paper!" The man’s finger tapped the printed draft of the paper.

Ma Chao and the others quickly checked and found their names listed as joint authors.

They all turned to Chen Xiangyu at the same time. "What’s going on?"

Chen Xiangyu also hadn’t expected An Shimeng’s name to be missing from the paper; he had clearly listed her as the first author.

Could An Shimeng have removed her own name when submitting it? he wondered. One of the others then thought, She wouldn’t have done it deliberately to frame us, would she?

"Professor," Ma Chao exclaimed, "we swear we haven’t seen this notebook! If the paper is plagiarized, then An Shimeng must have copied it!"

"Right, right! From the very beginning, An Shimeng was in charge of organizing the manuscript. We just conducted experiments and researched materials as she requested."

An Shimeng was well-prepared.

After being brought to the meeting room, she immediately began her performance, "The very first draft was indeed written by me, but my paper was stolen. They worked hard overnight to produce this current version. So, when it was time to submit, I thought that since I hadn’t contributed to this version, I removed my name."

Whether her explanation moved others was unknown, but it certainly touched Chen Xiangyu deeply.

An Shimeng is always so kind! he thought. Such a kind, beautiful, and delicate girl, willing to pay off my debts. How could I bear to see her wronged?

So he stepped forward. "I admit it, I copied the paper. But I don’t know anything about a notebook. I copied An Yan’s paper!"

Chen Xiangyu then detailed how he had taken advantage of An Yan’s absence from the classroom during a break to copy her paper from her computer, and what changes he had made.

"We had a bet with An Yan’s group," he continued. "If we couldn’t publish a paper in *Medicine Under Heaven*, we would have to leave Luocheng University. All of us come from rural areas. It wasn’t easy for us to get into this university. We didn’t want to lose, so we had to find another way."

"Nonsense!" Principal Liang slammed the desk again. "If you don’t want to lose, then don’t compete! If you don’t have the mental fortitude, why compete at all!"

The man beside Principal Liang glanced at him, then turned his gaze to An Yan. "So, you’re saying the content in this notebook actually belongs to An Yan?"

"Yes."

"An Yan..."

"President He," An Yan interjected, "the notebook was left to me by my mother. I believe I have the absolute right to keep it, don’t I?"

Her defensiveness left Hen Nianchen somewhat helpless. "Yes, but An Yan, your mother had high academic achievements. Judging from this one piece of work she left behind, one can tell she was a genius. Therefore, I hope you’ll consider giving your mother’s notebook to our Medical Association for preservation and research. Rest assured, we wouldn’t take it for nothing..."

An Yan looked at him coolly. "Even if you offered money, I wouldn’t give it to you."

"Why? Do you understand how important research findings are to medicine?"

"And do you understand how important a mother’s memento is to her daughter?"

Hen Nianchen raised his hand to his forehead, feeling helpless. "An Yan..."

"No way!"

An Yan hated being guilt-tripped!

Hen Nianchen didn’t know why An Yan harbored such strong hostility towards him, but he wasn’t one to coerce someone. So he dropped the subject of the notebook and signaled the person beside him with a look.

That person immediately stood up. "Student An Yan, I’m Lu Yuan, the editor-in-chief of *Medicine Under Heaven*. Your paper has already been published in *Medicine Under Heaven*. This is a sample copy. We hope Student An Yan will continue to submit articles to us in the future. Thank you!"

An Shimeng was momentarily speechless, then burst out, "Editor-in-Chief Lu, even if Chen Xiangyu and the others definitely plagiarized, An Yan’s paper is also copied, isn’t it? How can her copied work be published? Or does a daughter copying her mother’s academic achievements not count as plagiarism?"

Editor-in-Chief Lu looked at An Shimeng. "You’re mistaken. Student An Yan’s paper isn’t plagiarism! Because the case study she cited in it is real, involving a patient she personally treated!"

"What case study?"

"The case I selected was the myasthenia gravis suffered by Qin Song’s daughter!"

An Yan looked at An Shimeng with a smile. "Qin Song. You’re familiar with that name, aren’t you? You must also know about his daughter’s illness, and the cause of this illness..."

"I understand now. I have no further objections," An Shimeng said quickly, not wanting An Yan to bring up Bai Xiaoyun’s situation in this setting.

After all, her current identity was still a daughter of the An Family!

Seeing her fall silent, the others’ last sliver of hope shattered.

Looking at the sample copy in An Yan’s hands, it felt as if they were looking at their own expulsion notices!

Knowing An Yan wouldn’t give him the notebook, Hen Nianchen didn’t press further and left with Lu Yuan. Principal Liang personally saw them out.

Before leaving, Principal Liang told An Yan to take An Shimeng and the others back to the classroom. "Don’t cause too much of a disturbance!"

An Yan nodded. "Don’t worry, Principal."

She wouldn’t cause a big scene; she just wanted a few more Yezi.

Mu Enyu followed An Yan, her eyes practically glowing with admiration. "An Yan, you’re so amazing!"

An Yan took her hand. "You’re amazing too, daring to stand up to Chen Xiangyu and the others!"

Mu Enyu blushed instantly. She looked down at An Yan holding her hand, an uncontrollable smile spreading across her face.

SLAP!

An Yan slapped the sample copy onto the lectern. Her gaze coldly swept over An Shimeng and the others who had followed her into the room. "You lost the bet, so honor it. Everyone, will you leave Luocheng University of your own accord, or should I ask Principal Liang to ensure justice is served?"

If An Yan had said this before, they would have dismissed it as an empty threat. But just now, they had all seen how Principal Liang treated An Yan.

He had never even been that kind to Liang Chen!

"Student An Yan, I’m sorry! I was blind before," Ma Chao pleaded. "Considering my rural background and how hard it was for me to get into Luocheng University, please give me another chance!"

Ma Chao was adept at gauging the situation.

An Yan mused, "Well, giving you a chance isn’t impossible..."