Chapter 1096 - 821: Work Obstacles

Bai Qinghua’s words left the students in the office looking at one another.

But if it was just sorting out their recent research progress and doing individual verbal Q&A, with no need to make a PPT and give a formal report, the workload really wasn’t that big.

For the students, this was actually a good thing, so everyone was only pleased.

"...Forget it."

But after thinking for a moment, Bai Qinghua turned to Shi Qianqian again: "Have them report to you first. You go through the recent research progress of everyone in detail, then compile the problems and send them to me. No need to be too detailed, just pick out the key points... that’s enough."

He didn’t know why, but looking at Shi Qianqian, who was getting more and more like Weng Pinting, when Bai Qinghua put forward this request now, he actually felt a bit uneasy inside.

You had to know this kid had specifically waited until now to say that Pingting would be back tomorrow!

Shi Qianqian blinked, her expression turning helpless.

"Alright." She still agreed. After all, she was now the Senior Sister of Skill Transmission in the sect, this was part of her duty.

Bai Qinghua’s expression didn’t change, but he secretly let out a breath of relief, and reminded her again: "For the second-years you can sort the issues a bit more carefully. Aren’t they about to start doing their opening proposals? Tomorrow, or the day after?"

"Tomorrow morning," Shi Qianqian answered.

That really was urgent.

For the second-years, this was another big deal.

Shi Qianqian reminded him: "Haven’t they all been coming to you these days to get your signature one after another? Didn’t the dean ask you to do the review?"

"He did, I turned him down..." Bai Qinghua coughed. "Anyway, the opening proposal is something that needs to be taken seriously."

It wasn’t that Bai Qinghua didn’t take it seriously, but that the progress of the second-years in the group had all been very gratifying. The more proactive students had already found their research direction in their first year and had already finished the workload required for the opening proposal.

The really outstanding ones had even more or less finished the workload for their graduation thesis by now and already started exploring a second project, getting ready to rack up paper numbers.

All of these had already been submitted to Bai Qinghua for review, so he felt very at ease.

But now the situation wasn’t quite the same; this was no longer just about the students.

Bai Qinghua thought for a moment: "Why don’t we have a group meeting tonight? Let the second-years report ahead of time and do some preparation. The other years can play the role of reviewers and ask questions about their proposals."

Shi Qianqian nodded again: "Alright, I’ll send a notice in the group."

Bai Qinghua managed to regain a bit of his working state and added another reminder: "For those who are on business trips, keep an eye on them too, have them send their progress to me... especially Dahui."

Shi Qianqian showed a helpless look: "Okay."

Bai Qinghua was completely at ease now. He turned and went back to the esports room, locking the door behind him with a "click."

Shi Qianqian turned around and, facing all the gazes cast her way in the office, straightened her expression: "You all heard, right? Group meeting tonight. Mock opening proposal. Second-years, do a bit of preparation."

"Okay." *N.

The second-year students all put on serious faces.

"For tomorrow’s opening proposal, first-years who don’t have class can also go listen. See how your senior brothers and sisters report, and how the teachers below ask questions, get a bit familiar with it. It’ll be your turn next year," Shi Qianqian reminded them again.

"Okay." *3.

This time it was the first-years who looked serious.

...

Nan Zhubin sent a message to his teacher at the hospital, confirmed there were no consultation appointments tomorrow morning, and decided to go listen to the second-years’ opening proposals as well.

Embarrassing as it was to say, he still hadn’t found his own research direction yet. But whether it was he himself or Bai Qinghua, Shi Qianqian and the others, no one seemed particularly anxious about it.

The other students temporarily put aside their work on pushing progress and started doing summaries instead.

The office grew busy.

Very soon, Shi Qianqian got to work, sending out one notification after another online and receiving message after message.

Right after that, both master’s and PhD students went to find Shi Qianqian one by one and started reporting to her in low voices.

First were the second-years who had already pre-sorted things because of the opening proposal, then the third-years, then the PhD students whose workload was relatively heavier.

After she did a simple整理, went to Bai Qinghua’s esports room once and came back out, Shi Qianqian started calling over the new first-years.

"How are you doing with the recent literature reading? Any ideas at all? Come tell me about them too."

This year’s first-year cohort only had three people: Nan Zhubin, Mo Kai, and Blue Tie.

Watching Nan Zhubin and Mo Kai go up one after the other when they heard Shi Qianqian’s call, Blue Tie loosened his collar a little, seeming a bit uneasy.

"Your turn." After finishing his report, Nan Zhubin reminded Blue Tie, his eyes sweeping over the other’s face.

Ever since that first group meeting, this fellow disciple from Beidu University had gone much quieter.

And aside from that change, the fatigue on his face had also visibly deepened. Nan Zhubin guessed it was probably because the guy, now ashamed and spurred on, had been working hard these days?

[...That’s not right.]

[Eyes drifting upward, gaze only pretending to be direct...]

[Repeatedly licking the lips, accompanied by swallowing...]

Nan Zhubin raised a brow slightly, and before he could say anything else, he saw Blue Tie squeeze his eyes shut and walk over to Shi Qianqian.

"Which paper are you on now?" Shi Qianqian asked.

Her voice carried, and since the office was quiet, Nan Zhubin could roughly make out what was being said.

Most of the people not involved had put on headphones and were focused on their own work.

Nan Zhubin heard Blue Tie’s voice, low and muffled: "I read three papers last week... still haven’t finished them."

Mo Kai nudged Nan Zhubin lightly, raising his brows.

Nan Zhubin didn’t respond.

Shi Qianqian leaned forward a little, adopting a puzzled expression. But anyone who saw that posture knew she wasn’t truly puzzled.

"Are they English papers?"

"...Yeah."

"That’s a bit slow. Didn’t I teach you how to read papers quickly before? You’re still using your old methods?"

"I learned it, it really is faster..."

"Then why is your progress still this slow?" Shi Qianqian’s expression remained one of puzzlement.

Blue Tie stammered: "I have a lot of classes..."

"First-year classes are heavier, and the teachers did tell you not to fail anything," Shi Qianqian nodded first, then added, "but the others aren’t behind on progress, are they?"

"First-year courses shouldn’t be that hard, right? What are you taking?"

Nan Zhubin blinked, and Mo Kai’s mouth twitched.

Blue Tie couldn’t get a word out.

After stammering for quite a while, Blue Tie finally said: "The other courses are okay, mainly... there’s an elective with Teacher Bi..."

The three listening all paused.

Shi Qianqian raised a hand, signaling Blue Tie to lower his voice, and the rest of what was said was too quiet for Nan Zhubin and Mo Kai to hear clearly.

But they could see Shi Qianqian’s brows slowly drawing together.