Han Weicheng still couldn't believe the facts before him. He picked up his phone.
"Wait a moment, I need to make a call."
He dialed Luo Jialin's number. "I asked you to sort out the papers that Shulan Zhou wrote. Are you sure you didn't make a mistake?"
He still couldn't believe it! He needed confirmation again!
"…"
He stayed on the phone for a full five minutes, and no one in the room urged him.
Instead, one teacher after another walked up to Shulan Zhou.
"Your paper is well written, and the experimental data is clearly and thoroughly recorded. Were you involved in every part of the experiment?"
"Yes," Shulan Zhou nodded. "I know I'm not the brightest, so I'm always meticulous and careful. I supervised the entire process of the experiment."
"That's rare!" Professor Cheng patted her on the shoulder. "Good girl, you're hardworking. Follow Professor Mu closely, and feel free to come to me if you have any academic questions."
Another teacher spoke up. "If you don't want to give up on cell biology, you can come to my class. Although I'm not as good as Professor Han, I can assure you that passing the graduation exam won't be an issue."
"Professor Wang, are you trying to steal my student right in front of me?" Mu Yaning wasn't pleased, pulling Shulan Zhou behind her.
Shulan Zhou smiled in amusement.
"Thank you, Professor Wang. I'll definitely attend your class when I have time, but for now, I may need to focus on my advisor's courses. But actually, I never thought about giving up on cell biology!"
"Good, good!" Professor Wang was pleased. "You're welcome to attend my class anytime!"
As they were chatting, Han Weicheng walked over, his face grim.
"I never knew you had written such a paper. Even if I've wronged you, you must understand that everything I've done wasn't to stop you from graduating."
"After all, you were once my student, and I have the duty to correct your mistakes. Everything I did was for your own good."
Even after it was proven that these papers were indeed Shulan Zhou's work, Han Weicheng still didn't think he'd done anything wrong!
Once he finished speaking, he didn't give Shulan Zhou a chance to respond. He turned directly to Mu Yaning.
"Professor Mu, my formal complaint wasn't personal. Everything I've done is for the integrity of the school's faculty. I know you've always had issues with me."
"But I don't want you to bring personal emotions into the workplace. I was concerned that, in a moment of spite, you might make a wrong decision, which led to today's public investigation."
"I was once a student of Professor Mu, and I don't want the Mu surname to carry any stain. I hope you can understand my actions and will hold yourself to higher standards in the future."
...
Everyone was shocked by his righteous speech!
He clearly wronged someone, yet he still spoke so confidently and lectured others!
This was truly a new level of shamelessness!
"Pah! How dare you bring up my father," Mu Yaning stepped forward angrily.
"The Mu surname doesn't need your concern about stains. You should mind your own business."
"Wrong is wrong. You don't even have the courage to admit your mistakes, yet you dare to lecture others! What gives you the nerve to lecture me? Who do you think you are?"
Shulan Zhou grabbed Mu Yaning's hand and, with cold eyes, glared at Han Weicheng.
"Professor Han, I'm no longer your student. I hope you don't pretend that you're trying to 'correct my mistakes' in the name of my best interests."
"If I truly made a mistake, the school will punish me, but you wronged me. That's a fact, and there's no denying it. Today, this matter cannot be brushed aside just because of your words."
Shulan Zhou walked up to Director Zhou. "Director Zhou, I don't think it's too much to ask for Professor Han to apologize to Professor Mu in front of all the teachers here, right?"
"I'd also like to take back my experimental and thesis materials. Is that reasonable?"
Director Zhou looked awkward. "This…"
Neither Mu Yaning nor Han Weicheng was someone the Director could easily offend. If it weren't for the upcoming internal competition review, he wouldn't have dared to hold a public investigation like this.
"What do you mean, 'this'?" Professor Cheng stepped forward. "If you make a mistake, you should apologize. Han Weicheng wronged Mu Yaning, and an apology in front of everyone is not too much."
"As a mentor, you didn't even carefully read the papers submitted by your students, and yet you presumptuously denied all their achievements. Shouldn't the school punish such behavior?"
"I think not only should you be punished, but heavily punished, so that all faculty members learn a lesson. They need to spend more time and care on their students, to avoid burying any outstanding talents!"
Director Zhou wiped his sweat. "Professor Cheng makes a valid point. In that case, we'll go with Professor Cheng's suggestion. Professor Han, do you have any objections?"
"I apologize," Han Weicheng's face was as red as a stove. "I agree that Shulan Zhou can take her materials back. I shouldn't have overlooked her paper. I'll accept any punishment the school deems fit."
Director Zhou let out a sigh of relief.
"Another purpose of today's meeting is to discuss the entries for the internal competition. Previously, Professor Han questioned Shulan Zhou's abilities, believing that her work was done by Professor Mu."
"He requested the disqualification of their entry."
"Now that the matter is clear, Shulan Zhou's abilities are beyond doubt, and her work will be entered for evaluation as normal. Professor Han, do you have any objections?"
"No objections," Han Weicheng's face had become so difficult to look at, he couldn't even bear to meet anyone's gaze.
He never imagined that one day, his most overlooked student would publicly slap him in the face.
Looking at the crowd, it was still his request to gather them, hoping everyone would join him in criticizing Shulan Zhou's team.
But now, he couldn't even make it past the first step. He had already lost.
Director Zhou rubbed his hands. "For fairness, I suggest that both Professor Han and Professor Mu step down from the competition review committee. You both have no objections, right?"
"If he steps down, I'll step down," Mu Yaning gave Han Weicheng a cold look.
Han Weicheng's face turned red. "I won't participate in the review."
"Then apologize!" Mu Yaning blocked his way as he tried to leave. "Lan Zhou, go copy your experimental materials and thesis."
Shulan Zhou nodded, walking to the stage to grab the USB drive that Han Weicheng had brought.
Getting these materials and papers back was something she hadn't even dreamed of. She thought these papers had been discarded and would never be seen again.
Now, it seemed like they might still have use if reorganized!
Han Weicheng stared at Mu Yaning, but she didn't even budge.
The other teachers in the room exchanged glances.
They didn't know what bad luck they had to witness such a scene.
They all had to see each other every day, and no one wanted to offend either of these two bigshots!
Han Weicheng glared at them, but everyone instinctively avoided his gaze, pretending to be busy, but unable to resist sneaking a glance.
It was truly a rare sight to see him make a fool of himself!
"Sorry, Professor Mu. I shouldn't have submitted a report about you without fully investigating the matter. From now on, I'll be more careful with my words and avoid wronging anyone!"
Han Weicheng took a deep breath. "Are you satisfied now?"
"I'll never be satisfied with your apology," Mu Yaning stepped aside.
"But I never planned to forgive you, so leave now. Don't ever provoke me again, or it won't just be an apology next time!"
Han Weicheng maintained his composure, turned, and left. Shulan Zhou caught up with him. "Professor Han, your USB drive… the materials I left behind, if you don't think they're useful, you can delete them all."
"I may not have much ability, but I understand the basics of being a decent person. I'll never do anything against school rules or break the law. You're welcome to supervise me anytime."
Han Weicheng had no face left to lecture her. He grabbed the USB drive and left.
Once he was gone, Mu Yaning's face turned grim.
"Director Zhou, you need to treat everyone equally. Don't go easy on him just because he's Han Weicheng. I'm waiting for the school to punish him."