Chapter 29 Smeared
Lucky Draw
Ever since she was a child, Melody had never failed to get what she wanted. If she had her eyes on something or someone, it would eventually be hers.
Chandler was no exception.
“I always thought it was strange—how someone so young could get into Professor Edward’s lab and score that high. Turns out she cheated.”
“What a disgrace to medical students everywhere.”
“Someone like her doesn’t deserve to be Professor Edward’s student. She doesn’t even deserve to be a doctor.”
By midday, rumors that Ginny had cheated on her entrance exam were trending all over social media.
At that moment, Ginny was still seeing patients in the outpatient
clinic.
At first, she didn’t think much of the glances or the way people were pointing at her. She figured it was just attention over her acceptance into Professor Edward’s lab. So she let them look and
focused on her work.
Then a patient’s family member broke the silence, sarcasm dripping from their voice. “You must be that cheating Dr.
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→→ Lucky Draw
Jenkins. Don’t tell me you cheated your way into this hospital too.”
As the words landed, the room shifted. Patients who’d been waiting, watching quietly, began whispering among themselves.
For them, every doctor’s visit was a leap of faith. They didn’t know medicine. All they could do was put their health–and sometimes their lives–into the hands of professionals. What if the person in front of them wasn’t one?
The fear sparked anger.
Someone stood up. “Someone like her has no business being a doctor! Let’s report her.”
“If she really cheated, what’s to stop her from messing up diagnoses or treatments? She could ruin everything—our reputations, our work, even people’s lives.”
Among those feeling the same unease were the four candidates who’d also passed the entrance exam for Professor Edward’s research lab.
As soon as they saw the news, they rushed to the hospital where Professor Edward was holding a meeting.
The professor sat alone on stage. The four of them sat below, carefully choosing their words, but the meaning was unmistakable: Ginny should be removed from the team.
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Lucky Draw
Professor Edward said nothing at first. His face showed a trace
of conflict.
Wendy noticed. And it irritated her.
She’d done her research before applying to Professor Edward’s lab. She knew he was the kind of man who didn’t tolerate the smallest blemish. That was why she’d been so cautious–walking on eggshells to make sure she gave him no reason to reject her.
But now? Ginny’s name was being dragged through the mud, and he still hadn’t made a decision.
Was he actually considering keeping her?
If it wasn’t a false rumor, then he was clearly biased.
And why? Because Ginny was pretty? Did that mean every man in the world would bend the rules for her?
Wendy had never liked Ginny being in the group to begin with. Now that this chance had come, she wasn’t about to let it pass.
“Professor,” she said carefully, “we’re not trying to target Ginny on purpose. But right now, the public opinion surrounding her is very negative. If she can’t give a proper explanation, no one will believe in her future research either. We’re a team. We can’t let one person’s reputation drag us all down.”
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The others nodded along, echoing her concerns.
(Lucky Draw
This time, Professor Edward finally spoke. “Then give her some time. If she can’t prove her innocence before we leave the country, I’ll consider your request.”
They still had nearly a month before the trip. Professor Edward might have sounded neutral, but everyone there could tell: he was protecting Ginny.
Wendy clenched her jaw.
But then Professor Edward glanced at her, a smile tugging faintly at his lips. She swallowed her next words.
“Bring Ginny to me,” he said.
*****
Back at the hospital, chaos was spreading.
In the short span of ten minutes, the hospital Dean had received dozens of angry phone calls–some attacking the hospital, some targeting Ginny, and some directed at him personally.
His chest tightened with every ring.
Meanwhile, the outpatient floor had descended into a mess. Other doctors urged Ginny to head back to her office and lay low. She was checking the trending posts on her phone when the
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department head entered.
“Ginny, the Dean wants to see you.”
(**) Lucky Draw
On the way to the Dean’s office, Ginny’s face was pale.
She remembered clearly: the entire exam had been
live–streamed. She hadn’t cheated. And yet, the video online now clearly showed her doing just that.
Who had edited it? And why?
Someone had gone out of their way to ruin her.
But who hated her that much?
Inside the office, the Dean didn’t mince words.
“Ginny, can you not stay out of trouble for once? I hired you to work, not to stir up scandals. Now look–thanks to you, the whole hospital can’t function normally. Pack up and go home. Take a break.”
She blinked. What was that supposed to mean?
He wasn’t even going to ask for her side of the story. He was just suspending her?
“I didn’t cheat,” she said, voice firm. “That video was edited.”
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“Do you have proof?” the Dean shot back.
Lucky Draw
Ginny nodded. “If I can get the full, uncut footage of the exam, I can prove it.”
“Then go get it. But until the truth comes out, don’t come back to work.”
No matter how she pleaded, the Dean wouldn’t budge.
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