Rebirth: He Decides to Lie Flat
Chapter 452 - 452 447 Something is Wrong

Chapter 452: Chapter 447 Something is Wrong Chapter 452: Chapter 447 Something is Wrong “How old is she? Which department?”

Graduate and doctoral students weren’t based at the main campus of Beijing University. Although the two campuses weren’t far apart, at their level, who would care about some campus belle from an undergraduate department?

So it wasn’t strange that they hadn’t heard of Mu Jiawen.

At that moment, Yang Boran finally noticed something amiss. He Chong’s inquiries about Mu Jiawen seemed not out of interest in her.

With a mix of suspicion and wariness, he asked, “Brother He, did she offend you?”

“Why? Are you close with her?” He Chong looked at him, his expression a mix of a smile and not.

Under the scrutiny of the others, Yang Boran felt somewhat uneasy. But considering that He Chong had helped him in the past and they were from the same hometown, he still kindly advised, “She just started her junior year, from the Physics Department, renowned as a genius. Last year, Professor Li took her under his wing for the lab, and her recommendation for postgraduate and doctoral programs is almost a done deal. So, Brother He, she’s just a young girl. If she inadvertently offended you, please be magnanimous and let it go.”

Yang Boran wasn’t clear about the exact nature of their issue with Mu Jiawen, so he only mentioned Professor Li and not Mu Chenyan.

After all, in his view, Professor Li was a well-known and influential senior professor of their Physics Department, his reputation no less significant than Mu Chenyan’s. Bringing him up should have been enough.

Sure enough, upon learning that Mu Jiawen was a direct disciple taken in early by Professor Li, both He Chong and Pan Jian’s expressions shifted immediately.

Now they finally understood why Mu Jiawen would know Yu Yue, as Professor Li and Yu Yue had a deep relationship. That old man would often visit their lab when he had nothing else to do, and once the two of them got together to discuss, they could go on for an entire day, neglecting sleep and meals. He had vaguely heard Xiaozhu mention that the two had become like father and son.

So Mu Jiawen knew Yu Yue through Professor Li.

“Not at all, Brother He, what exactly happened with Mu Jiawen?”

Seeing that the others weren’t speaking, Yang Boran couldn’t hold back his curiosity and asked.

“It’s nothing, just a minor issue. Alright, Boran, thanks for making the trip. Go on and get back to your work.”

Being kicked out of the lab wasn’t something they could admit to without losing face.

Once Yang Boran had left, He Chong asked Pan Jian, “What are your thoughts?”

Frowning, Pan Jian said, “Our advisor’s relationship with Professor Li is just average, even contentious over some matters. So regarding Professor Li, our advisor probably won’t have much say.”

He thought He Chong was asking about getting Professor Li to help find Yu Yue and to speak on their behalf to return to the lab.

Return?

Ha, having been kicked out already, what future could they have if they went back? Would those people still take them seriously? Impossible!

“What do you think?”

Seeing He Chong silent, Pan Jian and the other two turned to look at him. It had been He Chong’s idea to pin the data issues on Mu Jun, and with how things had turned out, He Chong was largely responsible.

Still silent, He Chong’s gaze drifted toward the window, his eyes darkly fixed on the hotpot restaurant across the street.

…

Meanwhile, Mu Jiawen and the three others saw that Pan Jian had been thrown out of the restaurant, and shortly after, three more people followed, clearly with him.

While waiting for the broth to arrive after ordering their dishes, Liang Yujun whispered to Mu Jiawen, “What’s going on?”

Ding Yuanyuan and Sha Yali also looked at her.

Mu Jiawen, of course, recognized Pan Jian. However, they had only exchanged a few words at the reception, and although she could tell he bore ill will towards Mu Jun, she did not know it was these people who had framed Mu Jun.

But now she had her suspicions.

“Didn’t I tell you my elder brother came back? That person was interning in his lab, but it seems he’s been kicked out now.”

Ding Yuanyuan looked puzzled, “What does that have to do with you? Why should they bother you?”

Liang Yujun glanced at her, idiot, if it had nothing to do with him, would he come to trouble Jiajia?

Mu Jiawen thought that they would probably also enter the lab in the future, and they might encounter such situations, so it would be good to know in advance in order to prevent them. Thus, she briefly explained the situation to them.

All three of them were somewhat sighing, these were merely graduate and doctoral students who had not yet officially entered society. They had not expected such deception and rivalry to this extent.

Because they had a class meeting at half-past seven, they hurried to leave after finishing their meal.

…

The next morning at ten o’clock, Professor Li was reading a report in his office when the phone on his desk started ringing.

Without looking up, he reached out and picked up the phone, putting it to his ear, “Who is this?”

“Old Li, I hear your new apprentice is quite impressive!”

It was Professor Zhu. Professor Li raised his eyebrows, able to discern the thick sarcasm in his words.

But why, he wondered?

He picked apprentices from the undergraduate students, which those old guys, like Zhu, had always looked down upon. They didn’t have the patience to mentor undergraduates, finding it a waste of time, and chose instead from the top few graduate students each year.

So when he chose Mu Jiawen, they only sneered upon hearing the news, not paying any real attention.

So what was happening now? Where had Xiaojia offended them?

“Old Zhu, if you’ve got something to say, spit it out. If you’ve got a fart, let it out. I’m very busy, I don’t have time for your nonsense.”

“Right, right, you’re busy. So busy. Relying on your apprentice to pull those two wealthy young professors to your side, I was wondering why that project of yours stopped for so many years and now it suddenly restarted, turns out there’s someone backing you up. Old Li, I really didn’t expect that, at your age, practically one foot in the coffin, you’d still be doing such a thing…”

Professor Li was stunned for a moment, then he flew into a rage, “Zhu, you better clarify what I did! Also, did my apprentice provoke or offend you? If you dare to speak ill of her again, see if I don’t smash your head in!”

“Beep beep beep…”

The other party had hung up.

Professor Li angrily slammed down the receiver, his chest heaving with rage.

Damn these old men, he got along with Yu Ci and Yu Yue simply because their theories were similar, and he respected the intellect and boldness of these young folks. Of course, their respect and closeness to him could also be because he was Xiaojia’s teacher, since they were actual siblings—having some private feelings mixed in was not strange.

But what did this have to do with his project?

It was true that his project had been on hold for several years, not due to lack of funds, but lack of progress. He had discussed it a few times recently with Yu Yue, who had helped him try out a few approaches that seemed viable, so he had immediately started to get things moving on his end.

What were they afraid of? That he would succeed and threaten them? That the funding from the institute would sway more in his favor?

Ring ring ring…

As he was pondering Professor Zhu’s motives, the phone on his desk rang again.

Thinking it was Professor Zhu again, Professor Li picked up the receiver and spoke irritably, “Zhu, if this is you…”

“Old Li, I hear your old project has started up again? Did Professor Yu help you? Wow, Old Li, you’re amazing. The university went through a lot of trouble to recruit two young professors, and we were all still watching from the sidelines, but you’ve already made your move, pulling them to your side early on, impressive…”

This time it was Professor Zhang, whose sarcasm was less pronounced, but the envy was particularly strong.

Professor Li frowned; something seemed not quite right…