This meal, Xu Kaiqing naturally agreed with a cheerful smile.
Someone was worrying about him and inviting him, wouldn’t refusing be not giving face?
He even specially asked, “Should we call Old Pete?”
Jiang Fuyue asked back, “What do you think? I’ll listen to you.”
“Then don’t call him! He prefers eating at Ming University’s cafeteria.” Xu Kaiqing rolled his old eyes and immediately followed up.
No one could stop him from enjoying exclusive favor, Old Pete could step aside too!
After class, the two happily went to the restaurant.
Peter was a step late and grabbed another professor: “Seen Old Xu?”
“Professor Xu? Didn’t he leave early?”
“Leave? Go where? Not eating dinner?”
“That… I’m not sure.”
Old Peter looked completely baffled.
Tonight was destined to be a lonely dinner for him alone.
……
Jiang Fuyue invited Xu Kaiqing to a Western restaurant. The two ate while listening to music, and also discussed the new research topics each of them was working on.
During the meal, Jiang Fuyue thoughtfully asked, “How does it taste? Is the steak tough?”
“Not tough, not tough, this doneness is just right! The flavor is quite good too!”
Seeing him finish it in just a few bites, Jiang Fuyue asked again, “Want another serving?”
Xu Kaiqing smacked his lips and immediately waved his hand: “No need, it’s already enough.”
Jiang Fuyue didn’t listen, snapped her fingers to call the waiter: “Another one, according to the old gentleman’s taste.”
Xu Kaiqing touched his nose: “Cough… that’s really kind of embarrassing.”
Jiang Fuyue said seriously, “I think their steak is just too small. With so little, how could it be enough to eat?”
Xu Kaiqing’s old eyes suddenly lit up. He let out a big sigh of relief, “So you think that too? When I saw such a big plate, I thought it was a hearty dish. But once the lid was lifted, that steak wasn’t even as big as my palm. Sure, the taste was okay, but they can’t rip people off like this, right?”
Jiang Fuyue nodded. “Exactly!”
Xu Kaiqing was satisfied and smiled as he waited for the food.
Very soon, the second steak was served. Jiang Fuyue raised her hand and made a gesture of invitation.
“Hehe…” Xu Kaiqing picked up his knife and fork, swallowing almost imperceptibly, “Well… since it’s already ordered, we can’t waste it, right? Then I won’t stand on ceremony!”
Jiang Fuyue smiled faintly. “Please don’t stand on ceremony.”
Xu Kaiqing felt his neck get a little cold and shrank into his collar.
Strange, no windows were open, so where did the wind come from?
……
After the meal, the atmosphere was harmonious, host and guest both pleased.
When Jiang Fuyue returned after paying the bill, Xu Kaiqing was leaning back in his chair listening to a piano piece, legs crossed, one hand tapping the rhythm on his leg.
As comfortable as could be.
Jiang Fuyue sat down and smiled at him. “Old Xu, how was this meal?”
Xu Kaiqing blurted out, “Couldn’t be better!”
“Then help me with something.”
“Hm?” The tapping hand stopped, and the crossed leg slowly came down. Xu Kaiqing sat up straight. “What kind of help? Say it first and let me hear.”
The old man was still very cautious.
“Not hard, very simple, just a matter of one sentence from you.”
“Then that’s easy. Just moving the lips, I’m good at that. Go on.” He waved his big hand, quite generous.
The smile in Jiang Fuyue’s eyes deepened. “It’s like this. Haven’t I recently selected a new research topic? It just so happens that this topic is in biology, related to viruses.”
Xu Kaiqing nodded, showing he was listening carefully.
“Last year, Schankwo broke out and quickly spread across northern F Continent. It’s said that this virus is even more contagious than the ‘Nova’ from back then. My requirements aren’t high, I just want a Schankwo virus sample to keep in the lab and study slowly.”
“Y-you-what did you say?! You want a virus sample?!” Xu Kaiqing, who had been calm-faced, suddenly widened his eyes and almost jumped up from his seat.
Jiang Fuyue nodded.
“Do you know there are very strict restrictions and regulations on virus research domestically? Especially viruses like Schankwo, extremely contagious and with no specific vaccine yet, without permission, non-regular labs and institutes aren’t allowed to privately keep samples, much less carry out research!”
“I know all that,” she said.
“You know and you still ask me for a virus sample? Have you eaten bear hearts and leopard guts, don’t want to live anymore?!”
“The application was submitted last month, it just hasn’t been approved yet.”
Xu Kaiqing relaxed a little. “That’s more like it. But as far as I know, the approval process is very complicated. Even if there are people up top helping, it still takes time.”
Jiang Fuyue nodded. “That’s why I want to prepare in advance.”
“No matter how much you prepare, you can’t privately collect samples! That’s illegal!” He lowered his voice and cautiously glanced around.
“Besides, I’m in physics, where am I supposed to get this for you?” Xu Kaiqing muttered softly. “Don’t do anything stupid. If you get caught…”
Jiang Fuyue said, “I’ve checked the relevant laws and regulations. According to the rules, directly administered research institutes and key biological laboratories are allowed to conduct virus research. Before the approval comes through, my lab doesn’t yet have the relevant qualifications, but Professor Shen’s does.”
“Which Professor Shen?”
“Shen Wenzhao.”
“Hiss—are you setting your sights on Old Shen?”
Jiang Fuyue: “…Cough!” What do you mean setting sights, don’t make it sound so unpleasant!
Xu Kaiqing pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the empty plates on the table. Only then did he realize he had been tricked.
Eat someone’s food, your mouth grows short; take someone’s hand, yours grows soft.
This was a full-on Hongmen Banquet.
How did he fail to control this mouth of his?
Eating less would’ve been better!
It’s all this restaurant’s fault, their steak was just too much to his taste!
Finally, after Xu Kaiqing sorted out his annoyed and complicated emotions, he lifted his eyes again to look at Jiang Fuyue: “…What do you want me to do?”
“Very simple. Recommend me to Professor Shen, so I can study in his lab for a period of time.”
That way she could legitimately come into contact with virus samples.
……
Two days later, Jiang Fuyue got her wish and received an offer from “Shen Wenzhao Laboratory.”
That afternoon, she packed her things and went to the neighboring Q University.
On the way, she happened to run into Zhou Zhengqi and smiled as she greeted him.
Zhou Zhengqi’s eyes showed surprise, with a trace of wariness on his face. “This is…?”
Jiang Fuyue didn’t hide it and told the truth. “I just received Professor Shen’s offer and came to report in.”
“Professor Shen? Old Shen?” Zhou Zhengqi was shocked.
Jiang Fuyue nodded. “I applied to the latest session of the laboratory research group.”
“You… why did you suddenly think of submitting an application to Old Shen?” Zhou Zhengqi forced a smile.
“It wasn’t sudden. I’d wanted to come before, just didn’t have the time.”
“When did it happen? How come I didn’t hear anything at all?”
“Just the past few days.”
“…Oh.”
Jiang Fuyue smiled slightly. “Then Principal Zhou, I’ll go find Professor Shen first. You’re busy.”
“Hey! Wait!”
Jiang Fuyue turned back. “Do you still have something?”
“Cough… it’s like this. I heard that Ming University has recently hired quite a few outstanding professors and researchers.”
“That’s true.”
“Since Ming University already has abundant faculty, then…” Stop plucking Q University’s wool anymore, okay?
He was about to go bald!
But Jiang Fuyue said, “Schools and teachers have always been a two-way choice.”
Zhou Zhengqi panicked, thinking she was going to stir things up again, and blurted out, “Anyway, you can’t kidnap Old Shen away!”
Seeing Xu Kaiqing running to Ming University more and more frequently, Zhou Zhengqi had already given up on saving him. Luckily, the other half of the ‘half of the country,’ Old Shen, was still here, at least Zhou Zhengqi could comfort himself a bit.
If Jiang Fuyue tricked him away too, then he… wouldn’t live anymore!
After hearing this, Jiang Fuyue looked at him twice with an extremely complex and profound gaze, and finally agreed—
“Alright.”
Zhou Zhengqi let out a huge sigh of relief.
Jiang Fuyue sighed helplessly: in order not to stimulate this poor little fat lamb… oh, no, this elderly gentleman, she decided to keep the news that Shen Wenzhao had already come to Ming University to teach under wraps!
No choice, who told her she respected the elderly and loved the young so much?
Zhou Zhengqi: “Achoo—”
……
Upon arriving at the biology building, Jiang Fuyue found Shen Wenzhao.
“Old Xu said it was you who asked him?” The old man pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose, scrutiny showing in his eyes.
“Mm.” Jiang Fuyue nodded.
“Why do you want to enter the laboratory?”
“There’s something inside that I want to research.”
As for what exactly it was……
Jiang Fuyue didn’t say.
Shen Wenzhao didn’t ask either.
But both of them understood perfectly well.
“You should know how great the risk to human health is in biological laboratories, especially experimental zones related to virus research, and what kind of damage it may cause, no one can predict.”
“Here, the unknown is the greatest fear. Do you think you can bear it?”
The old man kept a stern face the whole time, his expression serious, his tone heavy.
It was said that many students who wanted to enter the laboratory were frightened by these words and ultimately chose to retreat.
But that absolutely did not include Jiang Fuyue—
“Let me put it this way. Back when I was still in Linhuai, I once mistakenly entered the core experimental zone of Hanqing Biological Laboratory, BSL-3, and even encountered a critical situation where my protective suit was damaged. Yet now I’m standing here perfectly fine, doesn’t that explain everything?”
BSL refers to Biosafety Level, that is, the level of biological safety.
The higher the level, the stronger the protection and the more dangerous the environment.
As soon as these words came out, even someone as steady as Shen Wenzhao could not help but be surprised: “Ah Yuan actually agreed to let you enter the core experimental zone?!”
Jiang Fuyue shrugged.
The old man stared at her in silence for quite a while. In his eyes there was both confusion and astonishment, and in the end all of it turned into calmness: “Go do the preparatory work. Enter on time at three.”
Only then did Jiang Fuyue smile.
……
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye it was nearing the end of the term.
In previous years at this time, Ming University students had already started gathering, drinking, and partying to celebrate the coming winter vacation; or they simply wouldn’t come to school at all and would go abroad to travel.
But this year, the end-of-term atmosphere at Ming University was completely refreshed.
A “study craze” swept through the entire campus.
“How many subjects are you taking?”
“Seven.”
“How much have you reviewed?”
“I’ve gnawed through four subjects, three left. You?”
“I’ve finished everything.”
“Huh? That fast? You know all those questions already?”
“No.”
“……”
“Sister Yue said, even if you’re trash at doing questions, your posture when flipping books must be handsome! Got it?”
“Got it!”
“Sister Yue also said, sharpening your spear at the last minute may not make it sharp, but it’ll still make it shiny! At least we’re not rusty, right?”
“Makes sense! What else did Sister Yue say?”
“The goddess also said, usually you have to study, before exams you have to predict the questions; studying well is not as good as predicting accurately!”
“……Awesome! The goddess really lives up to her name!”
Whether she ever said these words or not, even Jiang Fuyue herself might not know.
But that didn’t stop them from spreading all over the campus, and just like that, a “study craze” was stirred up.
Not only was the library packed every day, there were even legends of people pulling all-nighters to read books!
It was said to be a young master from a collateral branch of some big family, normally at this time of year he would have already flown to Summer Island to enjoy sunbathing.
The News Agency managed to contact him and conducted a brief phone interview: “May I ask what made you turn over a new leaf and strive to improve?”
“Because Sister Yue said, every day you don’t study is a betrayal of life.”
Once the report came out, everyone hurriedly took out their little notebooks: Mm, learned another sentence!
……
The review week passed in the blink of an eye, and final exams arrived as scheduled.
This semester, Jiang Fuyue registered for twelve courses, seven compulsory courses and five electives.
That meant she had to take twelve exams, and that was on the premise that she hadn’t attended many classes.
Li Chen: “Can you do it? Going to take exams without even attending classes?”
Liang Jingzhou rolled his eyes: “Give it a rest. Worrying about her, you’d be better off worrying about yourself.”
Although they didn’t have something as terrifying as Jiang Fuyue’s twelve exams, they still had seven compulsory courses to take.
Gu Huaiyu: “She didn’t seem to go to the last class when the teacher gave the exam focus points?”
Li Chen nodded: “She didn’t go.”
Cheng Lian had his hands in his pockets and couldn’t help raising his brows when he heard this: “What? Don’t tell me you still want to deliver the exam outline to the top student? Save it. She’s soaking in the lab right now and hasn’t put final exams in her eyes at all.”
So calm like this, would she still be lacking your one exam outline?
After saying that, he turned around and left.
Gu Huaiyu followed. “Old Cheng, wait for me.”
Li Chen also lifted his feet to follow.
Only Liang Jingzhou was still standing in place, looking baffled. Was there really a student in this world who didn’t like teachers highlighting key points and giving exam outlines?
That couldn’t be!
So that very afternoon he ran to squat at the gate of Q University waiting for Jiang Fuyue.
He heard that recently she had been doing experiments over here.
When the sun set and night fell, finally—
“Sister Yue!”
“Liang Jingzhou?” Jiang Fuyue halted her steps.
He had never known his name could be called so nicely.
“What’s the matter?”
“This is for you!” He stuffed a USB drive into her hand.
“What’s this?”
“The exam scope and key points for seven compulsory courses are all in there. No need to thank me, hehe!”
After saying that, Liang Jingzhou turned and ran off.
Only when Jiang Fuyue looked at the USB drive in her hand did she remember that tomorrow was the first final exam—Calculus!
She wanted to say it wasn’t necessary, but Liang Jingzhou had already run out of sight.
However, after returning to the dorm, she still opened the contents of the USB drive to take a look. Some of it was indeed key points, but some parts weren’t that important.
She deleted that part, added some things of her own, and even casually listed a few example problems, then sent it back to Liang Jingzhou via an online document.
【I organized it a bit. You can take a look when you have time】
Liang Jingzhou was hugging the Calculus textbook, scratching his head, and when he saw the file sent over, he couldn’t help but feel puzzled: I gave it to her, so why did she send it back?
The next second he saw that message.
“Organized it a bit?” he muttered softly.
How did she organize it?
His finger accidentally touched it, and the file opened immediately, several problems jumping out.
Liang Jingzhou got absorbed as he looked, this was much simpler than the approaches written in the book……
The next day, the calculus exam began.
Jiang Fuyue handed in her paper and left just fifteen minutes after entering the exam hall.
Invigilating teacher: “?” My *ss hadn’t even warmed up yet and she left?
Students in the same exam room: “!” Is this the fear of being dominated by a paper-submitting maniac?
Liang Jingzhou went dumbfounded five minutes after getting his exam paper.
T-this-this, aren’t these the same problems Jiang Fuyue sent him yesterday?! Alright, actually not completely the same, because the numbers were changed, but the question types were exactly the same!
Liang Jingzhou quickly put pen to paper.
In the more than ten or twenty years he had lived, this was the first time he experienced in an exam hall what it meant to be, at ease! Single-minded!
In the end, he handed in his paper only when time was up, with a bit of lingering satisfaction still on his face.
Li Chen and the others had already been waiting outside the exam hall for him for quite a while: “Why so long? Did you oversleep?”
Liang Jingzhou smiled without speaking.
Gu Huaiyu frowned: “Did you get muddle-headed from sleep?”
He kept smiling.
Leaving the group completely confused.
“What’s wrong with this guy? As soon as he came out of the exam hall he’s smiling like he’s possessed?”
“He feels like he’s brewing some big sinister plot.”
“This person is off! Very off!”
Facts proved that the three of them weren’t wrong. When the final exam results came out, it was more than just off, it was downright eye-popping!
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