Chapter 8: I Don't Have a Mentor Who Lacks Such a Sense of Right and Wrong Like You
As soon as those words were spoken, everyone was stunned and turned their gaze toward Lin Qiongqiong.
The senior brothers finally noticed that the always dull and shabby junior sister was today radiantly beautiful, with fair and translucent skin that accentuated her already delicate brows and eyes, as if painted on a canvas.
One had to admit, Lin Qiongqiong truly had the qualities to be kept as a mistress.
Lin Qiongqiong never expected such words to come from her respected mentor’s mouth. Clenching her fists involuntarily, she felt both wronged and angry. “Professor Zhao, on what grounds do you say that?”
Hearing Lin Qiongqiong’s change in address, Zhao Hanyang frowned but didn’t take it seriously. “You know where the money you flash around comes from!”
She raised her head like a swan and challenged him, “So you’re saying your earlier words were baseless? When writing a thesis, one refers to sources. You, a dignified university professor, maliciously speculate about your own student without cause and spread baseless rumors in front of everyone. Aren’t you ashamed?”
Her voice was firm and resolute, her gaze as righteous and unwavering as if pledging allegiance to a cause, causing those who had just maliciously judged her to feel a twinge of shame.
This entire floor housed the teachers’ offices, and many graduate students and faculty had gathered in the corridor to watch the spectacle.
Under so many watchful eyes, being questioned by her own student, Zhao Hanyang felt humiliated and, embarrassed and angry, snapped:
“Lin Qiongqiong, is this how you respect your teachers? Regardless, plagiarism is a fact. I’ve already given your reserved recommendation spot to Ru Yin. I don’t want students like you. Now, get out of my lab!”
Everyone expected Lin Qiongqiong to lower her head, admit fault, and beg Zhao Hanyang not to kick her out of the lab.
Even Zhao Hanyang thought so.
However, Lin Qiongqiong clenched her fists tightly, threw out a retort, and turned to leave.
“I don’t want a mentor who can’t distinguish right from wrong like you!”
Zhao Hanyang was so furious he could hardly contain himself, while the senior brothers nearby were speechless, shocked by Lin Qiongqiong’s boldness.
Xu Ruyin almost burst out laughing.
Having her own mentor accuse her of academic misconduct and disrespecting her elders, Lin Qiongqiong’s master’s journey was essentially over before it even began! Once news of today’s incident spread, which mentor would dare take her in?
At that moment, a clear, urgent voice came from the neighboring lab:
“Lin, would you like to join my lab?”
A young, handsome man in a white coat dashed out without even setting down his experiment, shaking a test tube as he called out to Lin Qiongqiong.
Cheng Ziyu frowned, slightly annoyed that Lin Qiongqiong’s sudden transformation had attracted a handsome guy, and sarcastically reminded him, “Senior, does your mentor approve of you bringing a scandalous student into the lab?”
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Xu Ruyin was also taken aback by this man’s striking appearance. She hadn’t expected their department to have such a handsome gentleman, his aura cold and refined like a frosted moon, making Cheng Ziyu pale in comparison.
Lin Qiongqiong responded clearly, “Professor Gu, I am willing to be your graduate student!”
“Professor?!”
At this declaration, Cheng Ziyu and Xu Ruyin were stunned.
Cheng Ziyu refused to believe it, sneering, “Lin Qiongqiong, what daydream are you in? How could there be such a young professor?”
Professors are usually over forty; even associate professors are in their thirties. This man looked barely older than them. How could he be a professor?
Moreover, how could Lin Qiongqiong be so sought after? Just kicked out of one lab and another professor was already eager to take her?
Gu Xizhu’s gaze turned icy as she looked at Cheng Ziyu. “Didn’t Professor Zhao teach you to respect your teachers?”
Zhao Hanyang’s expression darkened. “Ziyu, apologize to Professor Gu.”
Is there really such a young and handsome professor?!
Not only Cheng Ziyu but everyone present was shocked.
Cheng Ziyu clenched her fists. “Sorry, Professor Gu, I was blind not to recognize a great person.”
So he just has a good father? What’s there to be so proud of? Otherwise, how could he become a professor at such a young age?
Gu Xizhu glanced at him coldly. “You can’t tell a pearl from a fish eye. Truly blind.”
Cheng Ziyu and Xu Ruyin’s faces darkened.
Lin Qiongqiong felt a flicker of joy. Was Professor Gu backing her up like this?
She had only helped him with a few experiments before, and now he was protecting her? Such beauty and kindness!
Gu Xizhu’s gaze softened slightly as she looked at Lin Qiongqiong beside her. “Come on, let’s go do some experiments.”
Lin Qiongqiong nodded.
Just then, Zhao Hanyang suddenly called out to her, “Lin Qiongqiong, you better think this through!”
Everyone looked at Zhao Hanyang in surprise.
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Cheng Ziyu couldn’t believe it. Could the mentor actually want to keep Lin Qiongqiong? She just had slightly higher grades and had won a few national scholarships. What merit could she have to make the professor plead for her?
Zhao Hanyang’s face darkened, adopting a lecturing tone: “No free lunch falls from the sky. Gu Xizhu couldn’t make it at Tsinghua, so he came to our school.”
Lin Qiongqiong looked at Gu Xizhu with delight. “Wow, mentor, I didn’t expect you to come from Tsinghua!”
The icy gleam in Gu Xizhu’s eyes thawed a little.
Cheng Ziyu and Xu Ruyin also showed surprise.
Seeing Lin Qiongqiong so decisively defecting, Zhao Hanyang felt a pang of heartache and continued, “He’s offended many people. He merely has the title of professor but no real resources or projects. Following him means no future. He can’t even afford to pay a monthly stipend of two hundred yuan.”
[Beep—]
[Task issued: Spend ten million within 24 hours, or face death! Completing the task grants a lottery opportunity!]
[Funds transferred, please check. Death countdown: 23:59:59]
Seeing Lin Qiongqiong stunned, Zhao Hanyang’s face, previously dark as iron, softened slightly, thinking she must be regretting her decision.
Cheng Ziyu, hearing Zhao’s words, felt somewhat relieved and gloatingly said, “Lin Qiongqiong, not every professor is as generous as ours. Professor Gu can’t even pay two hundred a month, but our mentor gives us two thousand every month!”
The senior brothers in the lab had always taken pride in this.
“Yeah, junior sister Lin, don’t joke with your future. Professor Gu has no graduate students, and he personally handles every experiment. Following him, you’re just a beast of burden.”
“To be honest, we’re about to secure a one hundred million project from the Shen Corporation. There’ll be profit sharing.”
Other students who came to watch the drama emerged with envious looks.
“Oh my, that project from Shen Corporation is contested by many top teams from 985 universities, but Professor Zhao seems certain to win it?”
“One hundred million over three years, more than thirty million a year, and the profit share will definitely be substantial. No wonder they say following Professor Zhao means a bright future.”
Hearing the students’ praise, Zhao Hanyang’s expression lightened, and looking down at Lin Qiongqiong with magnanimity, he generously said, “Lin Qiongqiong, if you admit your mistakes now and correct your ways, I can still give you a chance to return.”