CHAPTER 302
Determined to secure the opportunity to report on the Selby Cornwell case, Arianna wasted no time diving into her research. She knew that gaining an edge meant understanding every detail about the people involved.
Unfortunately, the information online was frustratingly superficial and biased; what little she found was the same recycled news everyone else had access to, and that simply wouldn’t do.
Deciding she’d have to do some groundwork in person, Arianna opened the university’s official website and located Professor Cornwell’s teaching schedule. With a quick scan, she noted he had classes scheduled that day.
Though it was anyone's guess whether he’d show up amid the scandal, she figured it was better to try her luck in person than to sit and wait for leads to come to her.
With her plan in mind, Arianna gathered her things, slung her bag over her shoulder, and strode out of the office.
Seeing Arianna leave, Harmony—who had just arrived—watched her with a knowing smirk. As she tracked Arianna's determined steps, a cold, smug expression crossed her face.
‘If Arianna thinks she’ll win this round, she’s in for a rude awakening. This time, I’ll be the one on top.’
............
Arianna caught a taxi to the university. Upon arriving, she flagged down a student passing by and asked politely,
“Hi, could you point me in the direction of the physics department?”
The student looked a bit startled but nodded, giving her a vague point down one of the walkways.
“It’s that way.”
Arianna gave him a quick nod and a brief
“Thanks” before setting off toward the building.
As she neared the entrance, her eyes narrowed at the sight of a crowd gathered outside.
Reporters were clustered near the doors, brandishing cameras and microphones in readiness, clearly waiting for a glimpse of Professor Cornwell.
It was now clear why the student she had asked for directions earlier looked at her so strangely and answered in that indifferent tone.
The story had become such a massive sensation that the number of reporters stationed outside the physics department nearly rivalled the number of students attending classes.
The crowd was so dense that even a determined fly wouldn’t have found a way through.
Taking in the scene, Arianna guessed that Professor Cornwell must indeed be on campus that day.
After a moment’s thought, she decided against joining the swarm of journalists and instead headed in a different direction.
A short walk later, she arrived at the dining hall close to the physics department and strolled inside.
Since it wasn’t quite lunchtime yet, the place was quiet, with only a few cafeteria workers chatting idly among themselves. Arianna approached them with a warm smile and a friendly wave.
“Hello there! Hope you're all doing well.”
The lunch ladies looked up at her with mild curiosity.
Arianna’s smile widened as she continued in a friendly tone, “I was wondering if I could ask you for a small favour.”
...
An hour later, as the school bell rang, students began to spill out of the classrooms, many making their way toward the dining hall. The stream of people gradually grew into a steady flow.
Arianna stood off to the side, watching as the lunch ladies began approaching students, offering them a questionnaire in exchange for a serving of complimentary ribs.
Unsurprisingly, the offer was a hit, and the students gladly filled out the questionnaire to enjoy their free ribs.
The students eagerly completed the questionnaires in exchange for the spare ribs.
Arianna waited patiently in the dining hall for over three hours. Once the students had all finished their meals and cleared out, she approached the lunch ladies, paid them for the ribs, gathered the stack of completed questionnaires, and expressed her gratitude before heading out.
Once in the car, she checked GossipNet and confirmed that, as she suspected, the reporters from earlier had come up empty-handed.
Setting her phone aside, she focused on the stack of questionnaires, hopeful that she might uncover some valuable insights.
Upon returning to the house, she informed Grandma King and Aunt Julia that she’d already had a quick meal at the university dining hall, then went straight upstairs to the study.
Settling in, Arianna began sorting through the questionnaires one by one, setting aside those specifically from students in the physics department.
After separating and organizing the responses, she turned her attention to the questionnaires from Selby’s students, hoping they might offer a fresh perspective on his character, especially since she hadn’t been able to speak to him directly.
Given that the responses came from those familiar with him as their professor, she was keen to see what they had to say.
She divided the evaluations into three groups: positive on the left, negative on the right, and neutral in the middle.
After nearly an hour of sorting, she leaned back to rest her eyes, feeling the fatigue setting in.
To her surprise, the neutral responses were minimal; the majority of the evaluations were overwhelmingly positive.
Arianna frowned thoughtfully as she took in the results.
With so many responses leaning the same way, it left two possibilities: either the professor truly had an outstanding character, or he was exceptionally adept at maintaining a facade.
Arianna knew that a single misstep in judgment could mean losing valuable ground on the story.
She tapped her fingers on the desk thoughtfully and decided to go through the questionnaires once again, determined to uncover any nuanced details or clues hidden in the responses that might shed more light on the truth.
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