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James's words were like a sharp dagger, ruthlessly stabbing at William's pride, each sentence hitting the mark with precision that exceeded William's imagination. James's tone was cold and composed, filled with fearless confidence, every word landing like a slap on William's face. The smile that had once graced William's features now turned rigid, his facial muscles tense as if completely out of control, disbelief flashing in his eyes.
In that moment, he even questioned whether he had misheard something. Was this really the James who had once been suppressed by him, always at a disadvantage? How dare James directly counter him, openly pointing out the flaws in his plans and leadership in front of everyone? An incredible anger surged within William, yet he could only stand there stiffly, as if even breathing had become difficult.
Just as William was lost in thought, James spoke again, his tone still calm and sharp: "So, for this research project, I choose not to participate." His voice was steady and confident, as if he were completely assured of this decision.
This statement struck William like a heavy hammer, jolting him from his brief stupor. He regained his senses and instantly realized he was standing in the office, facing James's cold rejection and the gazes of his colleagues around him. The professors' eyes were mixed with surprise and confusion, some even gleaming with a hint of schadenfreude, as if they were witnessing an unbelievable turnaround.
William's face turned pale, but he forced himself to suppress the raging anger inside and desperately maintained an outward calm. He knew that losing control now would further undermine his authority as Department Chair. Clenching his fists tightly, the veins on the back of his hands bulged as his resentment toward James intensified.
In that moment, William stepped forward and placed a heavy hand on James's shoulder. The gesture seemed friendly but carried an undeniable sense of pressure. He managed to force a stiff smile while his eyes flickered with barely concealed fury and resentment. Leaning closer to James, he lowered his voice, barely hiding his gritted teeth: "It's not good to sing its demise before the project even starts, is it, James?"
William's smile twisted further as he spoke with intense provocation and mockery: "Or are you saying this just because you're not the one initiating the project? James, you wouldn't be one of those who sour grapes just because you can't have them, would you?"
He deliberately emphasized "sour grapes," trying to belittle James's refusal and attempting to regain face in front of his colleagues. William pressed down firmly on James's shoulder as if trying to reestablish his dominance and intimidation through this physical gesture.
James remained unfazed. He looked at William's contorted face with a slight cold smile playing at the corners of his mouth. His gaze held a sense of detached superiority, as if William was merely a clown futilely struggling before him. He didn't rush to retort but allowed the silence to stretch between them, making William's agitation and anger more apparent.
Seeing James’s indifferent attitude only fueled William’s rage further. The calm expression and cold smile on James’s face felt like a sharp blade piercing deep into William’s pride, leaving him feeling an unbearable humiliation. This sensation made it impossible for him to remain composed; facing James seemed to shatter the confidence he usually held so steadfastly. Thus, he chose to continue attacking verbally in an attempt to reclaim his dignity.
"James, what you're saying is just a cover for your own disappointment," William stepped closer, his tone sharper now. His voice trembled slightly with emotional fluctuations as he pressed forward aggressively. "Do you really not care about this opportunity? Or are you actually afraid you can't keep up with the times? After all, you know that academia is no longer what it was in your era. Scholars like you are outdated; if you don't participate in this plan now, you might not even secure decent research funding in the future."
William’s words dripped with sarcasm and aggression as he sought to unearth any possible weaknesses in James, trying to pull him back into a passive position through these remarks. His eyes glinted with resentment and malice as if he intended to use words to completely crush James and regain control of this confrontation.
However, James remained completely unfazed, sitting there with a calm gaze fixed on William, as if the sharp and biting words were unable to touch his heart at all. Every word William uttered fell against a solid stone wall, leaving no mark and eliciting no response. That nonchalant demeanor made William's attacks seem increasingly feeble and powerless.
James leisurely raised his coffee cup and took a gentle sip. The amber liquid slid into his mouth, carrying a hint of bitter aroma, while his movements were so composed and elegant that it seemed as if every word William spoke was merely inconsequential background noise. His eyes lifted slightly, looking at William with a hint of provocation, as if to say, "What else do you have?"
This attitude only fueled William's frustration. He felt as though his words were striking an immovable wall; the more he tried to attack, the more powerless and defeated he felt. He racked his brain for sharper remarks, even dredging up some past mistakes and errors from when James had served as the department head, attempting to resurrect those old issues in hopes of humiliating James into losing composure.
"Don't think you're so great, James. We haven't forgotten the mistakes you made when you were head of the department. Do you remember that failed research project? Do you recall the funding issues? How can someone like you still criticize my plans?"
William's voice grew increasingly frantic, nearly spiraling out of control, with the muscles around his eyes twitching involuntarily from anger. His tone was aggressive and resentful, as if he hoped these words could fill the emptiness and disappointment within him.
James stood there unfazed, showing no signs of anxiety or anger in response to William's dredging up of past events. On the contrary, the smile at the corner of his mouth seemed to grow more pronounced, radiating a sense of effortless disdain. He slowly took another sip of coffee; the amber liquid rippled gently in the cup with his movement, creating a stark contrast to his calm demeanor.
James remained seated in his place, cradling the steaming cup of coffee with a faint smile on his lips. His expression was still composed and cool, exuding an air of superiority. He tilted his head slightly towards William, that smile laced with mockery and jest, his tone deliberately leisurely and dismissive: "Look around you, Director. Pay attention to your behavior; don’t get too worked up now, William."
James's tone was soft yet carried an oppressive weight, as if each word struck directly at William's core. William's body stiffened; those words felt like a sudden splash of cold water that extinguished the fire of anger within him, forcing him to regain his composure. His gaze swept past James and began to scan the room.
The atmosphere in the office had turned incredibly awkward and heavy; other professors kept their heads down, their eyes darting nervously. Some pretended to shuffle through documents on their desks while others simply stared at their computer screens, striving to appear focused on their work. Yet every fleeting glance from them revealed one undeniable truth—they had all witnessed everything that had just transpired.
William’s gaze flitted over the faces of his colleagues; he could clearly feel that every word exchanged between him and James had been observed by them all. His original plan had been to embarrass James in front of their peers and reclaim his standing in the department; however, everything had completely backfired.
A sharp pain pierced through him—a blow to his pride. Those colleagues he had always believed he could control were now witnessing his defeat before James. They pretended not to see it; some even deliberately avoided making eye contact with him. But he knew what they truly thought—doubt about him and surprise at James had surely filled their minds.
This realization brought an overwhelming sense of humiliation and shame upon William; it felt as though he had been stripped of dignity and laid bare under everyone’s gaze. His throat felt dry, constricting painfully as he struggled to find any words to speak.
William's face turned pale and rigid, his hands clenched into fists, knuckles white from the strain. He felt a fierce turmoil of anger and humiliation churning within his chest, almost driving him to madness. Yet, under the weight of those silent gazes, he could no longer unleash the furious roar he had moments ago.
James watched William's embarrassment with an unmistakable smirk of disdain. The slight upward curve of his lips suggested he had complete control over the situation. He lifted his coffee cup, took another sip, and leaned back in his chair with an air of indifference, a glimmer of victory flashing in his eyes. It was as if he were telling William— you have lost.
In that moment, William finally realized he had utterly failed. Not just in the verbal sparring, but in front of his colleagues, his authority and dignity were at stake. What he had thought would be an easy confrontation had turned into a declaration of his defeat. This heavy sense of failure felt like invisible shackles, binding him tightly, leaving him standing there, unable to move forward or retreat.
In the end, he simply took a deep breath, raised his stiff arm, and patted James on the shoulder, forcing himself to muster a twisted smile. "Looks like... you still have it all figured out," he said, his voice hoarse, concealing intense self-restraint, yet devoid of the earlier flippancy and provocation.
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