Chapter 193: Elise Warren Suddenly Set Down Her Teacup

Elise Warren suddenly set down her teacup. "Ashford University does offer a combined bachelor-master-doctoral program, but the bar is extremely high. Clara, what was your undergraduate major?"

"Bioinformatics."

"From the School of Life Sciences?" Elise turned to Felix Moreau. "Does this major have a direct PhD track?"

All eyes locked onto Felix. Celia Monroe stared at him with particular intensity.

Felix put down his chopsticks. "Under normal circumstances, this program doesn't offer direct PhD admission..."

Celia abruptly stood up, sneering at Clara Whitmore. "Now what's your excuse?"

Elise caught Felix's phrasing. "'Under normal circumstances' implies there are exceptions?"

Felix nodded. "The School of Life Sciences reserves one or two special admission slots annually for International Olympiad gold medalists."

"What's a special admission slot?"

"It means gold medalists can negotiate terms with the school—scholarships, guaranteed graduate admission, everything's on the table. Though final approval rests with the faculty."

Elise's eyes lit up. "So direct PhD admission could be negotiated?"

Felix: "Theoretically yes, but practically very difficult. In the past twenty years, the school has only approved two direct PhD cases."

"One was Professor Lenora Voss's protégé Derek Romano. The other was Professor Miriam Caldwell's student—rumored to have won four Olympiad golds while also being the national science valedictorian."

"Most incredibly, she declined the special admission and tested in normally. For that caliber of genius, the faculty would fight to make her a professor."

The possibilities narrowed instantly.

Derek was male, which meant Clara had to be...

Celia scoffed. "Keep spinning your fairy tales! Four gold medals? National valedictorian? You?"

Clara couldn't be bothered to explain.

Elias Mercer spoke suddenly: "She is Professor Caldwell's student."

The private dining room fell silent.

Felix's eyes widened. "Seriously?!" He turned to Clara. "You're the legendary prodigy everyone talks about?"

Clara sighed. "Should I call Professor Caldwell right now?"

"No need!" Felix waved his hands rapidly. "I'm just... completely stunned..."

Elise grabbed Clara's hands excitedly. "Tell me, how did you win four gold medals simultaneously? My kid can barely handle one subject."

Clara smiled sheepishly. "Just... solve the problems. Get them all right."

Elise: "..."

That answer was downright infuriating!

Theo Marsh suddenly understood. "So you're the 'regret' Professor Caldwell always mentions! Who'd you pick as advisor this year?"

"Professor Caldwell."

Theo burst out laughing. "The old lady must be overjoyed!"

Celia stood frozen, unsure whether to sit or remain standing, her face cycling through shades of pale and flushed.

Felix smoothly extended an olive branch—