Chapter 1132 - 840: Sneak Attack? (Part 2)

Tap, tap, tap—

The sound of high heels lightly tapping on the floor.

Without turning his head, Nan Zhubin already knew it was Weng Pinting.

"Alright, it’s about time. Let’s start the re-evaluation of the academic report presentation."

It was at this moment that the Vice Dean, sitting in the front row, spoke up. This time, no student volunteers were recruited; he himself would personally oversee the process.

"Everyone, don’t be nervous, just do your best," the Vice Dean added, setting the tone for the day.

He picked up the attendance list in front of him and cleared his throat: "The first one..."

...

A second-year graduate student sitting in the front row of the auditorium stood up after the Vice Dean’s words dropped and walked to the presentation stage. She was discussing her research on emotions and risk decision-making. The framework was clearer than last time, the research methods section supplemented the previously missing sample selection criteria, and even the literature review was streamlined.

The Vice Dean nodded as he listened. Suddenly, he seemed to sense something and glanced back.

The next second, his expression changed instantly.

The student on stage was still presenting, while the Vice Dean leaned slightly to quietly ask Teacher Waterpot beside him, "Can you help me take a look? The one sitting in the back, next to Old Bai—isn’t that Weng Pinting?"

Teacher Waterpot’s expression was initially relaxed today, but he was stunned for a second after hearing this. He turned his head to look, and his expression changed as well.

"Isn’t that Weng Pinting? It’s her; I heard she’s indeed back a few days ago."

The Vice Dean took a deep breath, "A few days ago? When did this happen?"

"I’m not sure exactly when..."

The conversation he just had with Bai Qinghua was relaxed and pleasant, and the heavy stone in the Vice Dean’s heart had been put down. At this moment, however, he felt a bit of tightness in his throat.

"Didn’t she come back before and then leave again? And even if she came back, why is she here for the re-evaluation meeting of this academic report presentation? She’s just going through the motions."

The sharp old professor sensed something at this moment. Some memories surged up, and Teacher Waterpot’s expression slightly retracted, looking at the Vice Dean with a touch of pity.

Before the Vice Dean could adjust his mindset, the student on stage had already finished reporting.

"If there’s anything lacking, I kindly ask all teachers to point it out..." Her throat tightened, and her voice was somewhat fleeting.

Teacher Waterpot glanced at the Vice Dean and asked a painless question about the experimental process.

The student on stage answered smoothly despite the tension.

None of the reviewing teachers, including Bi Yanling, asked any further questions. It was as if today’s session was just a formality, all eyes turning to the Vice Dean.

The Vice Dean had no choice but to say, "Alright, very good. Next one..."

Even though his gut feeling told him something was off, the current process couldn’t be interrupted.

The first student went down happily, and the second student got on stage, reporting on research in the direction of memory reconsolidation. Compared to last time, this time he carefully outlined the theoretical framework and possible clinical translation paths of his research.

After the report ended, Teacher Thick Coat asked a question about the standardization of experimental materials, which the student answered clearly and succinctly.

"Very good, next one..." the Vice Dean continued.

With two students easily completing the process, the remaining students couldn’t help but feel relaxed.

Soon, the third and fourth students went on stage in succession. Each time, only one reviewer would ask a small question, and unless the student was unfamiliar with their own report, they basically managed to answer.

...

Bi Yanling was the only remaining reviewer teacher who had not asked a question.

She watched the fourth student happily go down, feeling dissatisfied in her heart.

During the last academic report presentation, she indeed intentionally targeted Bai Qinghua’s student.

But Bi Yanling also knew that she couldn’t turn it into a conflict between research groups, making it look too ugly—at least not in the eyes of other teachers and leaders.

So, to avoid making others think she was specifically targeting Bai Qinghua’s group, she raised the difficulty of the entire academic report audit, also holding up several other students’ reports. This way, her review standards appeared to be uniform and strict, rather than aimed at any individual.

It wasn’t a big deal; it just meant the students had to spend more effort revising. Even the student from Bai Qinghua’s group whose research direction got rejected—it would surely be fine.

According to the usual procedure in previous years, these reports only needed to be revised and submitted online, and then a few review teachers would re-evaluate them. If there were no big issues, they would usually pass, even without an offline meeting.

It would let her vent a little and wouldn’t have any consequences in the end.

As for the other review teachers, they weren’t very resistant to this formality. A rigorous academic attitude is itself a style, and it can almost be considered a reputation.

"But this time..." Bi Yanling bit her teeth.

This year, not only was there an offline re-evaluation meeting, but even the Vice Dean personally came to review, and the Dean had also inquired.

This much attention was simply too unusual.

As for the unusual reason—

Bi Yanling looked at Bai Qinghua sitting in the back of the conference room.

[It’s just for a student’s academic report, to go to such lengths?]

[Is this research group full of prickly people?]

Bi Yanling felt displeased, having already guessed that Bai Qinghua must have specifically put in a word, which is why this year’s review was such a grand affair.

Her husband had even warned her again because of this.

[Despite not having any research results for so many years, still occupying a spot, taking up resources, and now making so many people accompany his student through the process.]

Bi Yanling looked at the re-evaluation materials placed in front of her. The one from the bun-haired senior, almost unchanged word for word.

[He wasn’t even willing to exert effort to guide the student to change the research direction, yet he wants us to waste our time accompanying him?]

[The Dean is also humoring him. This kind of person, simply occupying a position without...]

No matter how strong Bi Yanling’s dissatisfaction was.

It was of no use.

[Forget it, let’s leave it at that for now. We’ll talk about future matters in the future.]

[Xiao He has recently started to feel anxious too.] Bi Yanling thought about her husband, [His project has also reached a critical stage recently, and he still needs the Dean to help pull some strings...]

"Next, Li Wan," the Vice Dean called out the name that left a deep impression on Bi Yanling.

[I’ll let it go this time and see how it goes in the future...] Bi Yanling thought, deciding not to raise any questions this time and directly let the student pass.

This round, she’ll endure for now.

Tap, tap, tap—

The crisp sound of high heels rang out.

Bi Yanling, who hadn’t turned around yet, faintly frowned. There are basic etiquette requirements for students at this kind of report presentation.

And high heels usually dock impression points—because they seem un-student-like.

But in the next second, a tall figure appeared in sight, making Bi Yanling tense up as if reacting to a stimulus.

The audience below whispered among themselves. Some were confused because they recognized the bun-haired senior, and it was clear the person before them wasn’t her; others were shocked, then became uneasy, mixed with excitement—they recognized Weng Pinting.

The Vice Dean’s expression was stiff, and he instinctively turned to look for Bai Qinghua.

His intuition told him something he didn’t want to happen was about to unfold, and possibly only Bai Qinghua present could stop the person on stage.

"Clearly, I am not the Li Wan student scheduled to report next." Meeting everyone’s gaze, Weng Pinting lightly curved her lips.

This was her comfort zone.

"And I’m not here to make a report, nor am I here to present in place of Li Wan."

"But to—raise a question!" Weng Pinting suddenly raised her voice.

"Among the judges present today, there’s someone who fundamentally has no qualification to sit here!"

In the back row, Bai Qinghua was already gone, quietly slipping out of the room.

The weight on the Vice Dean’s heart finally fell dead.

[Ambush me?]