?


    At the tail end of December, Lumina City was graced with its second snowfall of the winter.


    This snowstorm was far more substantial than thest, nketing the entire city in a thickyer of snow over two days.


    In the early morning, Roseanne, with a hint of apology, knocked on the door of Owen Reynolds'' house.


    "Professor..." she started hesitantly.


    Owen, in his pajamas and with his hair all over the ce, felt a twinge of concern, "What''s happened?!"


    "Nothing, nothing!" Realizing it was indeed too early for a visit, Roseanne became increasingly apologetic and somewhat embarrassed.


    "Did I... wake you up?"


    Owen shook his head, "No, I was about to get up anyway. What do you need?"


    "That snow y kit fromst time... do you still have it?"


    He paused, then nced out the window. Indeed, the snow had stopped.


    "You''re going out to y in the snow this early?" he asked, sounding unsure.


    Roseanne''s eyes sparkled, "Yes! If we go early, the snow is untouched and clean.”


    Owen couldn''t help butugh, "You''re still like a kid, aren''t you?"


    Roseanne retorted, "ying in the snow isn''t about being a kid or an adult; it''s about whether you''re from the south or the north."


    "Wait a moment."


    He turned and went inside, returning shortly with a bucket in hand.


    Inside were the duck, dinosaur, and bear molds fromst time, along with shovels and rakes...


    “Thanks, Professor! I''m heading out!" she took the bucket and dashed downstairs.


    Ten minutester, a fully dressed Owen Reynolds appeared downstairs.


    Seeing her mingling with a group of kids, in a white down jacket and a bright red hat, blending in with the snowy surroundings except for that striking ssh of red.


    "Professor! Come y-" Roseanne called out with a smile.


    Owen waved her off, "You guys go ahead."novelbin


    Roseanne pouted and turned back to dig in the snow. Secondster, she stood up and threw something with a swift motion-


    A snowball, the size of a palm, flew straight towards Owen.


    He was caught off guard.


    In those two seconds of hesitation, he failed to dodge, and the snowball hit his shoulder, breaking into a flurry of snowkes. Roseanne was shocked, "Professor, why didn''t you dodge?"


    "I didn''t react in time."


    "Sorry, sorry..."


    "It''s okay, you y."


    Just then, a kid tugged at her hand, "Sis, we haven''t finished the snowman yet!"


    Roseanne was pulled away.


    Once she had ced the carrot nose and patted her hands clean, she looked satisfied, "All done!"


    Suddenly-


    "Roseanne!"


    Owen called out to her.


    "Hm?" She instinctively turned around.


    Unexpectedly, a snowball was hurtling towards her face.


    Luckily, she dodged in time.


    The snowball whisked past her neck.


    "Professor, you?!" Roseanne was astounded.


    Owen startedughing, "Almost got you, huh?"


    "Thought you weren''t ying?!" she stamped her foot.


    "Seems like ying once in a while isn''t too bad.”


    "You''re not ying fair!"


    "Look who''s talking."


    At the end of the month, during the academy''s report and summary meeting.


    All faculty and students gathered, with the department heads seated on stage.


    Project groups took turns presenting their reports.


    Notably, Edna''s team saw Carlson publish an SCI paper, and Sybil Moore also had her work published this month.


    Though not an SCI, it was still a well-recognized journal nationally.


    "Ms. Edna''s team is unstoppable!"


    "Carlson never disappoints."


    "If I remember correctly, didn''t Sybil just publish an SCI paperst month? Her efficiency is through the roof."


    "I often see her participating in club activities too. Bncing y and paper writing, she''s incredible.”


    "The talented excel in everything they do."


    On stage, Babur White coughed twice for silence, "Which project group is next?"


    Roseanne stood up, "Due to fire


    safety renovations in ourb, our experimental progress was dyed, so we don''t have any substantial research oues to report this month."


    She sat down, only to hear a snicker, ter: "A whole month and nothing to show for it. It really makes one wonder if it''s truly due tob renovations or simply ack of


    capability, looking for excuse


    Mamie retorted, "You should know best why ourb was gged for fire safety! The audacity to even question us!" "What''s there to know? It''s your own fault for not meeting safety standards. How is it our problem?" ter shot back.


    Mamie''s re could''ve cut ss.


    l


    "Exactly," Sybil chimed in, arms crossed with a smirk, "Failing to meet safety standards and then ming others for yourck of results?"