Chapter 23
Chen Chen walked briskly through the forest trail on campus.
1
This was the beginning of spring. A soft, silky rain was falling and the scent of the earth suffused the air.
In the moving crowd of people, Chen Chen always managed to attract a lot of attention.
His appearance was not outstanding but he had a presence that extended outward, making him the most eye-catching of the bunch.
Anyone could see that he was dressed in an ordinary t-shirt and jeans. Even so, every gesture of his seemed like that of a celebrity’s.
Chen Chen quietly closed the webpage on Xia Yin’s tutor and placed his phone down with a thoughtful expression.
“A schemer through and through…”
This was the first thing Chen Chen said about this guy.
Based on the information Chen Chen had obtained from the college, the tutor’s name was Zheng Jian. He was an associate professor who was 38 years old this year. He graduated from North American Salia University with a double Ph.D. in biochemistry and pharmacy.
He must have had a certain level of capability and finesse to be able to become an associate professor at such a young age.
Although Zheng Jian’s status in academia was far behind Wang Xi, he was still a mammoth obstacle to Chen Chen.
Once a conflict erupted, Chen Chen would have no chance of winning.
Of course, that was a thing of the past.
Chen Chen looked up Zheng Jian’s information online, which only mentioned that his spouse had died of medulloblastoma a few years ago and the two had no offspring.
However, just six months later, Zheng Jian had married a new lover, who was the daughter of a high-ranking official.
There was an accompanying photo which showed a man sitting behind an office desk.
The man’s cheeks were sunken and he wore gold-rimmed glasses. There was a hard glint in his eyes.
In addition, there was a neat bookshelf behind the man. On the desk before him were a computer, a pen holder, a thermos mug, and a framed photo.
The photo was blurred. One could just about make out a woman in a white dress.
Chen Chen could dig up all of this thanks to the highly developed internet.
Of course, it was limited to this.
It was impossible to obtain further information about Zheng Jian online. After all, he was not a star in the entertainment industry.
Soon, Chen Chen had reached the ground floor of Block Office Three.
“Chen Chen!”
Xia Yin waved and jogged over from a short distance away. She apologized profusely the moment she saw Chen Chen, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I truly didn’t expect this to happen!”
10
“It’s fine. Tell me what your tutor wants.”
Chen Chen waved his hand. Both of them headed up the stairs.
“My tutor hopes that you and I can grant him the positions of lead and corresponding author. In exchange, he could directly recommend us for the postgraduate program.”
Xia Yin said, “Of course, it’s okay if you have other conditions, but…”
“And what do you want?” Chen Chen turned to look at Xia Yin.
“My tutor has already prepared a letter to the school that would guarantee entry into the postgraduate program…”
Xia Yin sounded rather uncertain. “I think that’s pretty good. Didn’t we do this experiment to get into postgraduate research? Now that we’ve reached our goal, we can give up on those two papers, right?”
6
Chen Chen shook his head but said nothing.
There was a pitfall in thinking here.
If the two papers were successfully published, Xia Yin and Chen Chen would be qualified for postgraduate research regardless. Not only that but the two papers would also be hugely advantageous to both their futures.
Giving up credit as lead and corresponding authors in exchange for an entry into the postgraduate program was akin to putting the cart before the horse.
Nonetheless, Chen Chen did not voice any objections. After all, this experiment was funded by Xia Yin.
If he did not agree to give up his position as a corresponding author, he would undoubtedly offend Xia Yin’s tutor, which would cut off her path to postgraduate research.
Of course, compromising immediately was not Chen Chen’s style either. Sure, the tutor could be a corresponding author but he must pay the right price.
Furthermore, based on what Xia Yin had said, the tutor did not just want Chen Chen’s position as a corresponding author. He also wanted Xia Yin’s position as lead author.
According to international practice, the lead author was typically recognized as the corresponding author.
This was common. Generally, the lead author was the one who contributed most to the paper. Unless the corresponding author was specifically stated, the lead author would be treated as the corresponding author by default.
Professor Zheng wanted an unequivocal position as lead author.
Seeing that Chen Chen did not speak, Xia Yin fell silent as well.
In this silence, they reached the fifth floor and came to the office door of Xia Yin’s tutor.
“Chen Chen, in the past three months, I’ve seen what you’re capable of. If this deal isn’t worth it, just turn him down…”
Xia Yin finally blurted out this statement as if she had been plucking up the courage to say it.
“Don’t worry. I know what to do.”
Chen Chen shook his head. Without warning, he raised his phone and asked Xia Yin, “By the way, who’s the woman on your tutor’s desk?”
“Huh?” Xia Yin tilted her head and looked. “Oh, her. That’s his previous wife who’s passed away. Why?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Chen Chen nodded, turned around, and knocked on the door.
“Please come in.”
A gravelly voice called out. Chen Chen pushed open the office door and walked in.
This was a fifteen-square-meter office.
The layout of the office was identical to the one in the picture online. Even the positions of the pen holder and the framed photo on the desk were the same.
“Hello, Professor Zheng.”
After a quick look, Chen Chen withdrew his gaze and nodded at the middle-aged man before him.
“Oh, you must be Chen Chen. Little Yin has mentioned about you before. Come in, come in, please have a seat!”
Unexpectedly, the middle-aged man stood up at once and shook Chen Chen’s hand enthusiastically.
Seeing that Chen Chen seemed stunned by this friendly display, the man could not help chuckling. “Little Yin, you may go first. I’ll have a good chat with your schoolmate Chen Chen.”
“Very well.” Xia Yin nodded. After casting a furtive, meaningful glance at Chen Chen, she left the office.
The middle-aged man waited until Xia Yin had closed the door behind her before he steadied his expression.
“Let me introduce myself. I’m Zheng Jian, Little Yin’s tutor. I heard from her that your team spent only three months to complete a groundbreaking pilot project. That’s impressive.”
“I guess so. It’s not all to my credit. Xia Yin and a dorm mate of mine helped a great deal.”
Chen Chen sat on the sofa and replied as he observed the office.
Zheng Jian’s office was not large. Other than the desk and the bookshelf at the back, there was just a mahogany pendulum clock by the door.
This pendulum clock could be classified as a grandfather clock. It was over two meters tall with a low, golden pendulum. Through the transparent glass, Chen Chen could see the pendulum swinging ceaselessly. It looked extremely expensive.
Chen Chen showed an expression of interest and walked up toward the pendulum clock, examining it closely.
“What, you’re interested in my pendulum clock?” Zheng Jian laughed.
“Professor Zheng, this pendulum clock is from Holland, right?” Chen Chen shot back with his question.
“Oh? You’re very knowledgeable about pendulum clocks.”
Zheng Jian was startled. “That’s right, this pendulum clock is indeed imported from Holland. I thought it looked good, so I placed it here.”
“Pendulum clocks made in Holland have a sort of classical charm. It’s too bad they’re not precise enough and require frequent adjustments.”
Chen Chen nodded. “Professor Zheng, do you know what time it is?”
“Now…” Zheng Jian looked at the time on the clock. “Isn’t it 9:35 in the morning?”
“But my phone says it’s 9:40.”
After he spoke, Chen Chen immediately opened the protective case of the clock and set the time forward by five minutes.
Zheng Jian frowned but said nothing in the end.
“Now, the time is right.”
Chen Chen smiled, turned around, and sat back on the sofa.
Zheng Jian shot a glance at the pendulum clock as if sensing that something was wrong. Only then did he say, “Student Chen Chen, let’s get to the point.”
Chen Chen assumed a listening expression at once.
“You know that Xia Yin is my student. I have every reason to be responsible for this experiment in which she had invested.”
1
Zheng Jian’s voice dripped with sincerity. “Still, in recognition of the significant work you’ve put in, I won’t treat you unfairly. After all, I’m very pleased with this experiment. Plus, your abilities and ideas are wonderful. I have high hopes for you and I’m willing to invest in you.”
Chen Chen still did not speak but there seemed to be a hint of a waver in his expression.
“How’s this – when you’re in your junior year, pick me as your tutor. I’ll get you a place in this school’s postgraduate research program and utilize you as much as possible in all future projects and tasks!”
Zheng Jian struck while the iron was hot. “Besides, I’ll help you fight for scholarships and whatnot as much as I can. I only have one condition, which is…
“For the scientific paper on this experiment, you must give up your signature as a corresponding author!”