The mont I stepped into the School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering.
I really felt that I was a scumbag.
Sincere Zhou Huanhuan had once thrown herself at so proactively...
Yet I only treated her as a backup option.
Even thinking to myself that Huanhuan was a good person, it was all chemistry’s fault.
Now when I need her, isn’t it shaless of to stick to her again?
But Chang Keqing couldn’t see this shaful mindset, she just thought I was nervous.
It wasn’t until we entered the office building that Chang Keqing couldn’t help but ask, "You’re really going to talk directly to the Chemical Institute’s deputy dean?"
"He is an extrely approachable deputy dean," I said with a stern face. "Not just , even high school competitors can get along well with him. He’s probably the most well-liked leader in Ji University at present."
"Dean Zhou does indeed have an excellent reputation," Chang Keqing said as she climbed the stairs. "But... why did you ask to co?"
"With you present, he will be more restrained," I said in a deep voice.
"Restrained from what?"
"You’ll know soon enough..."
Soon, we knocked on the door of Zhou Yi’s office.
A voice full of vitality and anticipation followed.
"Co in~~~"
I gave Chang Keqing a vigorous nod and then pushed the door open.
At this mont, Zhou Yi was typing on his computer. He just glanced at and let out a mischievous smile he couldn’t suppress.
This man had changed, beco even more flirtatious than before.
This demonic smile of his, he must have been infected by Shi Yang...
[Zhou Yi]
[Academic Power: 2582]
[Scholastic Wealth: 21990]
Fortunately, his Academic Power and Scholastic Wealth were still stable.
Seeing these figures made it hard for to walk.
"Teach... Teacher Zhou, hello..." I said, my face blushing as I turned away.
"Good, good, good, you guys too~~" Zhou Yi raised his eyebrows and went back to his keyboard. "Have a seat anywhere, pour yourselves so water. I just need to reply to an email, one minute~~"
Chang Keqing and I then sat on the guest sofa nervously.
"Isn’t this quite nice?" Chang Keqing whispered, stealing glances at Zhou Yi.
"Just wait and you’ll see..."
A mont later, Zhou Yi walked over with a thermal cup, all smiles: "You’re here?"
"We’ve arrived..." I stood up to greet him but imdiately dropped my gaze in embarrassnt.
"How’s university life treating you?"
"Pretty well..."
"Oh, co on, we’re all family here, no need to put on a brave face." Zhou Yi sat down cheerfully, set down his cup, and rubbed his hands together. "I’m not trying to say I told you so, Zheng Zheng, but didn’t I tell you that if you had co to my side earlier, the lab would be your playground, free to do whatever you want?"
"Yes..."
"Hehe~~"
"..." Annoyed and embarrassed, I turned my head to the side. "What’s so funny..."
"I never knew watching you get deflated could be this enjoyable~" Zhou Yi kept looking up and down, beaming like a happy kid. "No wonder Lin Yujing enjoys ssing with you so much, hahaha!"
"That’s... that’s enough..."
"Oh my, I did have a whole bellyful of words, but who would have thought that you brought reinforcents." Zhou Yi then turned to look at Chang Keqing, "I rember you taking my course, and you didn’t score low at all."
"My na is Chang Keqing, Teacher Zhou." Chang Keqing slightly stood up to pay her respects.
"Right, right, right, what a nice na indeed, and you had the courage to take my organic class, too. I wanted to give you a bit of a hard ti, but who knew your grades would be better than many from the Chemical Institute." Zhou Yi adjusted his glasses and said, "University is just like this, outstanding people tend to attract each other, and I have high hopes for your collaboration."
Chang Keqing respectfully said, "Thank you for the complint, Teacher Zhou. Your course is indeed challenging, but as long as one keeps up with the pace and listens, one will feel a strong density and coherence of knowledge."
"Wow." Zhou Yi let out a long sigh of relief, his whole being entering a state of contentnt, "Although it’s a polite complint, coming from your mouth, it’s unexpectedly comforting..."
After speaking, he pointed at Li Zheng mockingly and said, "Not bad, your strategy of calling for backup worked. I won’t make things difficult for you today. Let’s talk business."
Only then did Li Zheng settle down.
Zhou Yi was indeed just joking and wasn’t really angry.
As for why he ca to the Chemical Institute, the reason was simple: the task cycle was too tight, just 60 days.
Forget novices, even for veterans, it would be absurd to expect a breakthrough and publish a paper in just 60 days.
If Zhou Xiao from Yingpei had an idea for him and was willing to offer strong support for the project, then naturally Li Zheng would have gone through the proper channels within the institute.
But if it was Zhang Shandong in charge, even if he ran around lobbying and forcefully got the project cleared with a recomndation letter, the process would likely drag on for ages. Let alone producing results in 60 days, it would be uncertain if he could even access the cryo-electron microscope within that ti.
Zhou Yi was different, though; he had the ability to directly allocate resources and was sufficiently confident in his own skills.
The only uncertainty was whether he was willing to allocate resources for the key equipnt and take on the risk and responsibility that ca with it.
Talking with Zhou Yi naturally didn’t require the sa kind of word wrangling as at the query session, nor did he have to consider the other party’s capacity to understand.
Sitting there, Li Zheng rely needed to spit out a few keywords, and Zhou Yi would already catch on.
After picking up the project materials, Zhou Yi skimd through them while providing his comnts.
"This isn’t a huge project. Aside from the truly scarce cryo-electron microscope, the other aspects don’t demand much in terms of resources and capabilities, and the experintal cycle can be very short."
"And, how should I put it..."
"Rather than a project, it’s more like an impromptu play after the experintal work is complete."
"To be exact, it’s more of a plaything for the Biology Institute; this technology has a limited application in chemistry, primarily concentrated in the field of materials science. I did co across it when dealing with organic polyrs, but the thod is entirely different from that used in biology."
After speaking, Zhou Yi put down the materials and said.
"Regarding this specific project, I do have the hardware, but my guidance will be limited. Frankly speaking, it would be more appropriate to conduct this with the Biology Institute."
Chang Keqing’s eyebrows tightened.
In the end, was Dean Zhou also going to push it away?
Just how delicate was the cryo-electron microscope?
However, Zhou Yi rely raised his eyebrows.
"But that’s impossible. I won’t send Li Zheng away even if it kills !" Zhou Yi followed with a sweep of his arm, "Whatever project Li Zheng works on, even if it falls apart, it falls into my hands, Zhou Yi’s hands!"
Li Zheng’s eyes widened.
Aweso!
Powerful!
Zhou Huanhuan, I’m in love.
Just as Li Zheng was about to jump with joy,
Zhou Yi raised his hand again.
"However, there are a few points I need to make clear." He said, nodding towards Chang Keqing, "Would it be convenient for you…"
"Sure." Chang Keqing imdiately stood up, "I’ll head back first."
"It won’t take long." Zhou Yi looked back and forth at the two and said, "How about we all have lunch together later, and then talk things over in detail?"
After Li Zheng nodded, Chang Keqing agreed as well and went out to wait.
With her gone, Zhou Yi let loose.
```
"Who is it, not approving your proposal?" Zhou Yi took a sip of water from his thermos and shook his head repeatedly, "This kind of project won’t cost much."
"Teacher Zhang Shandong."
"Don’t know him, I just know your Dean Niu Gang." Zhou Yi said while crossing his legs and smacking his lips, "Different fields are worlds apart, they who study philosophy simply don’t understand people like you. Indeed, the majority of undergraduates scarcely even get a chance to touch real experints, let alone work on a project like cryo-EM. But for competition champions like you, just a bit of hands-on opportunity will have you reaching the level of a graduate student within two months."
"Yes, I understand our teachers; I just don’t want to waste any more ti."
"Hmm, let’s get to the point," Zhou Yi gradually beca serious, "I can help you apply for the right to use cryo-EM and the related consumables, but these things, after all, are not ours to give—they are state assets, managed by the Chemical Institute. Even the biggest leaders can’t just give them to anyone."
"Of course."
Zhou Yi adjusted his glasses and said, "So, if this is to work, when it cos ti to publish, the School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering at Jijing University must be listed prominently. Otherwise, I can’t help."
"That’s a given, since we’re using resources from the Chemical Institute."
"Secondly, regarding authorship of the paper..."
"You’re of course the first author."
"No, no, no." Zhou Yi waved his hands repeatedly, "I advocate giving opportunities to the young. It’s important to get known early. What I an is, there’s no problem with you being the first author, but the second author must be soone from our Chemical Institute. I need to find soone familiar with cryo-EM to join your project team; I hope no one has objections to that."
"No problem at all, it’s only fair."
"Additionally, I can’t give you too much ti for the experint..." Zhou Yi pondered, "It’s not a big project anyway. 45 days, I should be able to get that."
"24 hours a day?"
"As you like, just don’t break it." Zhou Yi pointed to the corner of the office, "There’s a cara there. If there are any violations, they will be recorded. I wouldn’t make you pay for damages, but if you actually break it, we’re both finished."
"Teacher Zhou..." Li Zheng was visibly moved.
So casually assuming risks, trusting oneself.
It’s all trash anyway, should I just dump Grandpa? After all, he won’t let play with the supercomputer.
"Don’t dawdle." Zhou Yi gestured with a flick of his hand, "Lastly, didn’t you network in the aerospace system? Did they give you any recomndations when you left?"
"I have quite a few." Li Zheng nodded, "What level do you want?"
"Ah... just a few of the topmost ones will do." Zhou Yi pointed next door, "I don’t need to see them, they’re for people higher up to see. With such a critical piece of equipnt, we can’t just rely on my word alone. Having those old aerospace folks vouching for it will make things go much smoother."
"Sure!"
"Then..." Zhou Yi said while pulling out his phone and tapping on it, "should I call the person to guide you on using the cryo-EM?"
Li Zheng nodded, "I guess it’s a doctoral senior, right?"
5 minutes later.
A baby-faced man, increasingly resembling Zhou Yi, poked his head through the door.
The mont he saw Li Zheng, he burst into a devilish grin.
"Hehe!"
"Hehe~" Zhou Yi returned a similar smile.
"!!!" Li Zheng jumped up in shock, "Damn, you’ve gotten so fat I didn’t recognize you!"
[Shi Yang]
[Academic Power: 1277]
Not just Academic Power, but he also had a robust 300 or more in Scholastic Wealth.
This year hasn’t been spent in vain!
"Fat nothing!" Shi Yang entered the room gleefully, closed the door behind him, and while walking pointed towards the outside saying, "Old Zhou, there’s a super super super super super beautiful girl waiting outside, is she applying to be your graduate student?"
"She’s from your project team," Zhou Yi said with a smile.
"Ah?" Shi Yang’s interest was piqued, his eyes widened and he rubbed his hands as he took a seat, "Well done Li Zheng, getting trashy as soon as you enter university. I slaved away in the lab for a whole year and it’s not worth two days of your ti. The whole building has only one Shen Yiyun, who eats more and still gets fatter than ..."
"Stop it, stop it." Li Zheng looked at Zhou Yi with wide eyes, "So Shi Yang is our ntor?"
```
"He’s super slick with experints, even slicker than most ntors," Zhou Yi said with a smirk. "At this rate, he’ll probably be slicker than by the ti he graduates."
"Old Zhou, you’re too kind," Shi Yang teased, raising his eyebrows at Li Zheng. "If you’d ntioned having such a pretty girl around, I would’ve offered my guidance for free."
"Ah..." Li Zheng sighed.
He still vividly rembered the nonsense theories of the female academic Shi Yang, which had led him down many wrong paths.
It was ti to set him straight.
"Shi Yang," Li Zheng asked, "do you know why a girl’s tongue is cool and sweet?"
"?!" Shi Yang’s face contorted. "Because... a young girl secretes a sweet substance when she’s sensitive."
"No," Li Zheng shook his head firmly. "Because you’re a pervert."
"...You... you..." Shi Yang snarled, "Don’t get cocky here. Every girl tastes different, and you can’t use Lin Yujing as the only example. Is it such a big deal that you’ve kissed her?"
"No, big, deal!" Li Zheng nodded.
"Woo..." Shi Yang hung his head in sullen silence, at a loss for words.
"Hahaha," Zhou Yi laughed heartily. "Alright, you two will have plenty of chances to chat. I’m here to issue three warnings, and you’d better rember them."
Li Zheng and Shi Yang imdiately put on serious faces to listen to the instructions.
Zhou Yi raised his hand and said.
"First, you must comply with the rules."
"Especially for old slickers like Shi Yang, who usually skip whatever steps they can. This ti it’s different; there are people from other institutes involved. If any violations occur, there will be those who make a big deal out of it."
"Second, you must ensure safety."
"Even if there are no results, and it’s all in vain, it’s still a great learning experience for you. You’ll be much more confident next ti you enter the lab."
"But if an accident happens, it will be a big blow to you and to ."
"Third, you must keep a low profile."
"Given the scarcity of resources, not to ntion undergraduates, many graduate students don’t get many opportunities either."
"If you go around bragging that Zhou Yi got you access to cryo-EM, then you are ruining my reputation."
"Lastly." Zhou Yi stood up and extended his right hand. "No matter the outco, I will always trust you as I have before, recognize your talent, and thank you for your trust in Mr. Zhou. Enough talk, I wish you the most graceful start to your research career, and it will be my honor if I can help a new star rise!"
"Thank you, Boss Zhou!" Li Zheng said, shaking his hand firmly. "We are the lucky ones!"
"Don’t don’t don’t!" Shi Yang hastily interjected. "It’s not appropriate to call him boss to his face; we only do that in private..."
"Hahaha," Zhou Yi also shook Li Zheng’s hand with equal vigor. "I’m putting it out there. Now that I’ve taken on this project, it belongs to the Chemical Institute. If you have any needs, co to . If Yingpei changes their mind and tries to snatch it from you, I won’t even give Niu Gang face."
"Definitely," Li Zheng nodded firmly.
Only then did Zhou Yi let go and laughed. "Let’s go have dinner then. Get ready; I’ll treat you to dumplings next door."
"Just a mont," Shi Yang suddenly turned and glared at Li Zheng. "Before we eat, can we...?"
"...I already went this morning."
"Co on, it’ll be quick, we haven’t done it together in a long ti."
"Sigh..." Li Zheng sighed deeply and said to Zhou Yi, "Then... shall we set off in fifteen minutes?"
Zhou Yi, trying not to laugh, walked back to his desk. "Make it quick."
"You got it, Old Zhou!" Shi Yang, unable to contain himself any longer, dragged Li Zheng out through the door.
At the door, after giving instructions to Chang Keqing, the two bounced off to the n’s bathroom.
Chang Keqing was shocked.
Girls holding hands and going to the bathroom together made sense in high school...
But two college guys teaming up for this...
Isn’t slling their own not satisfying enough?
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