After Han Weicheng left, Director Zhou let out a sigh of relief.
"Professor Mu, don't worry. I will report everything truthfully to the school leaders and make sure you get a satisfactory answer. I apologize for the trouble you've been caused today."
"It's nothing!" Professor Mu waved her hand dismissively. "I am always ready to cooperate with any investigation. After all, as long as my conscience is clear, I have nothing to fear."
"Indeed," she continued. "It's my new student who's suffered. I hope you take this matter seriously. Please don't take it lightly, or it will discourage hardworking students."
Director Zhou nodded repeatedly. "Of course, of course. We will ensure that Shulan Zhou has the best learning environment and that she graduates smoothly. We won't allow anyone to suppress her abilities again!"
This was the best result Shulan Zhou could hope for. At least now, when she faced conflicts with Han Weicheng's supporters, the school wouldn't automatically side with him.
Professor Mu gently pulled Shulan Zhou away. "I'll step out of the selection process. I'll take my student and leave. The rest is up to the other teachers. I trust you will handle this fairly and justly."
"Wait!" Professor Wang hurried over. "Shulan Zhou, could I borrow your experimental data? Of course, I won't use it for free. In any related academic reports I write in the future, I will credit you. What do you think?"
Shulan Zhou was momentarily stunned before realizing what he meant.
At first, her data had been freely used by Luo Jialin and others, and when they published their papers, they never mentioned where the data came from. In other words, no matter how much acclaim their papers received, none of it was credited to her.
No one could see the experiments she worked day and night on, the data she painstakingly recorded.
But now, things were different.
Professor Wang was willing to credit her data in his reports. No matter what happened in the future, at least in this moment, she felt respected.
She turned to Professor Mu.
"This is your decision to make," Professor Mu said, patting Shulan Zhou's head in a way that felt like an older relative giving her advice. "But if Professor Wang believes in the accuracy of my student's data, he can use it."
Shulan Zhou nodded and packed her data, sending it directly to Professor Wang in front of him.
Professor Cheng walked over. "Actually, why don't we not just send it to Professor Wang? Let's include it in the school's data library, so it can be accessed by more students for reference and study."
"Yes, yes, that sounds good," Director Zhou added, stepping forward. "We'll have some faculty review it and offer you compensation for your papers. We will also start publishing them in the school's academic journals!"
Professor Mu was clearly not pleased.
"Hmph! So now you're playing the good guy? I bet you've got your eye on my student's work now. Don't just talk about the school journal. If my student wants, she could publish in authoritative medical journals!"
"No, no, that's not it," Shulan Zhou blushed.
"Professor, you're overestimating me. My old papers aren't that good. If they end up in the school journal, I'll already be very satisfied."
Professor Mu pouted. "Fine, since Shulan Zhou says so, you can use it. But, Director Zhou, don't forget your promise. You can't just use it without compensating her!"
"Rest assured," Director Zhou chuckled. "I wouldn't dare take advantage of your student."
With that, the teacher and student left the small auditorium hand in hand.
Once they were gone, the others in the auditorium began to discuss among themselves.
"Do you think Han Weicheng's had some kind of shock? Why would he suddenly try to report Professor Mu?"
"Who doesn't know that the Mu family has a strict family tradition? Old Professor Mu always hated any violations of teaching protocols. There's no way Professor Mu would knowingly break the rules!"
"Could it really be because of that Shulan Zhou? Was Han Weicheng really upset because she became so outstanding after leaving him?"
"Who knows? If my student suddenly transferred to another professor and started shining, I'd probably feel bad too!"
"Is it even about transferring? He's the one who didn't want her as a student! Why can't others choose their mentors?"
"Professor Mu struck gold this time. I wonder why I didn't pick her up."
"You like her too?"
"Don't tell me you didn't notice? Didn't you think her paper was impressive?"
"Of course, 271 experiments in two and a half years, each with an analytical paper. Just for her persistence, she deserves to succeed. What teacher wouldn't want such a student?"
"Well, Han Weicheng clearly didn't."
"..."
The room fell silent.
"Maybe Han Weicheng has too many excellent students to care about one more."
Someone muttered bitterly, genuinely sour. Their teeth ached from the bitterness.
Every year, only a few students rise to the top, and those who are both talented and hardworking are even rarer. Why did all of them have to go to Han Weicheng's team?
Not only did he get them, he didn't even appreciate them. He suppressed their work and even caused such a scandal. Is this the kind of behavior a teacher should have?
Everyone was furious!
They all looked at Director Zhou.
"Don't worry," he said confidently. "I will report everything truthfully today. I won't cover for anyone!"
To make his words more credible, he added, "No matter who they are, I will not let this slide!"
After hearing this, everyone's eyes shifted to Professor Cheng.
He waved his hand, dismissing their concerns. "Don't worry, with me here, no one will harm this child. Besides, you don't trust me? But do you trust Professor Mu? Her student won't suffer as long as she's around."
Indeed, when it came to standing up to Han Weicheng, the only person in the entire school who dared to challenge him was Professor Mu!
The key was their old grudge. Now that this matter had blown up, there was bound to be more drama in the future!
The teachers in the room had mixed feelings. They were lost for words, unsure of how to respond.
"Alright, alright, everyone sit down. Let's move on to the next topic—the selection for the internal school competition."
"..."
Han Weicheng, in a fit of rage, stormed back to his lab. As soon as he entered, he kicked over a chair by the door.
"Guo Jialiang, get out here!"
Han Weicheng was known for his composure, always polite and restrained, rarely losing his temper. But lately, his patience had worn thin.
First, Fang Ruoshi had accepted Shulan Zhou's expensive gift, which made him feel ashamed. He had thought that was the most humiliating moment of his year—until today...
Just the thought of Professor Mu declaring in front of the entire review panel that Shulan Zhou's brilliance was precisely because she left him, made Han Weicheng feel as though the sky was falling.
Since the moment he started teaching, he had heard of countless students who succeeded under his guidance—students who went on to graduate school, received PhDs, joined prestigious research centers, or won medical awards. These accolades had brought him higher and higher, from junior to full professor, reaching the pinnacle of his career.
Every year, he personally selected students from the freshmen, and everyone else knew he was the first to choose. It was an honor to be selected for his team.
From undergraduates to graduate students, he had seen many talented individuals pass through his doors. Anyone he selected was destined for greatness, and anyone he rejected was destined to fall short.
In his decades-long career, he had never been wrong, and he would not allow himself to be beaten by Shulan Zhou!
Even though he had seen how outstanding those papers he had ignored were, he still refused to believe it was anything more than a lucky accident.
Shulan Zhou might be better than some of her seniors, but she was still just barely better than the worst of them!
Just a little bit better!
Han Weicheng swept all the experimental equipment on his desk onto the floor. "Where is Guo Jialiang? Come out now!"
The people who heard the noise flinched, some getting glass shards stuck in their pants. Some hissed in pain, while others hesitated before stepping forward. No one dared to pick up the broken glass.
Guo Jialiang's shoulders trembled. "Professor, are you looking for me?"