Chapter 1026 - 786: An Outstanding Junior This Year
Being a student in Bai Qinghua’s research group has one advantage—there will definitely be a working space.
In universities, some research groups that are larger in number or have less complete infrastructure often don’t have dedicated spots for first-year graduate students. One has to endure for a year until the senior students leave to finally see the light.
However, Bai Qinghua’s research group is quite the opposite, with more spaces than people. The arrival of first-year graduate students actually fills a void in the group.
At the afternoon group meeting, Bai Qinghua announced in advance that the content would be "welcoming newcomers," so today everyone’s faces were relaxed and pleased.
The gaze of everyone in the office occasionally fell on a vacant spot; very few of those eyes landed on another new face who arrived early.
Some first-year graduate students have already arrived.
Identifying a first-year student in the office is easy—look for the one who’s behaving most obediently, the one most nervous, not whispering to the people around them—that must be the newbie.
"Hello, Teacher."
Suddenly, the discussions in the office paused for a moment, followed by a chorus of greetings.
"Oh, oh." Bai Qinghua replied, "Hi, hi."
He came out from the small room, clearly having already arrived at the research group, but only now making his appearance.
The discussion in the office quieted for a moment, then quickly resumed with fervor. Bai Qinghua leaned on his chair back and somewhat enjoyably watched the students before him, from time to time chiming in with a word or two.
"Xiaowan’s back, huh? Is the internship over? How was the company?"
"Pretty good." Answered a girl with a bun hairstyle, recently returned to campus.
"This year there’s a really outstanding junior student, make sure to look out for them." Bai Qinghua said with a grin, then turned in another direction.
"Xiaoding’s back too, saw on your social media you went to Mauritius during the break, was it fun?" "...Teacher, stop being sarcastic, I’ll finish the project’s data analysis this month."
"Hey... I wouldn’t. Well, anyway, there’s a really outstanding junior this year, I’ll introduce you later."
"Qian Qian, your senior sister went back to Jiangdu recently, do you know when she’ll be back?" "...Teacher, if you’re really curious, you should ask her yourself, I won’t say."
Bai Qinghua jovially bantered left and right.
At the outskirts of the office, a boy in a light blue shirt with fair skin puffed out his chest.
The ratio of males in the office is already low, and this boy in the blue shirt has exceptionally noticeable fair skin. When the research group students’ gaze sweeps around, it always pauses on him for a second or two.
Every time this happens, the corners of the blue-shirted boy’s mouth curl up a bit.
While Bai Qinghua is exchanging pleasantries with the students, every time he mentions "this year’s outstanding junior student," the boy’s chin lifts a little higher.
He eagerly, but curiously restrained himself, looked at Bai Qinghua with anticipation, leaning slightly forward, ready to respond when Bai Qinghua turned his attention towards him.
And Bai Qinghua—
After confirming Weng Pinting’s situation with Shi Qianqian, he clicked his tongue and stopped moving.
He no longer interacted with the students, and instead started looking towards the small door he had just emerged from as if something precious inside had caught his attention.
The blue-shirted boy’s gaze couldn’t help but follow Bai Qinghua’s, looking towards that door, curiosity rising.
What’s inside that door? Some very intricate equipment? Or some confidential project materials?
Teacher Bai had arrived at the research group long ago, yet only now appeared before everyone. Was he running some important data?
The blue-shirted boy couldn’t help but recall the homework he did in advance, thinking back to Bai Qinghua’s credentials and professional standing, finally unable to hold back.
"Teacher." The blue-shirt suddenly stood up from his seat, took a few steps to Bai Qinghua’s front, showing a well-behaved smile.
"...Ah, ah?" Bai Qinghua’s attention shifted, seeing the new student in front of him, instinctively putting on a gentle smile, "What’s up?"
"Teacher, I’m Xiaolan." The blue-shirted boy introduced himself.
"Ah... oh." Bai Qinghua replied simply.
This reaction wasn’t very satisfying for the blue-shirted boy; he reminded, "I was the one from Beidu University, my first choice was Beidu University too..."
Bai Qinghua blinked, "Oh, you mean you were an alternate, right? It’s okay, don’t worry, your treatment won’t differ from those who were first choice."
"It’s just that the first year scholarship might be a bit lower, but only the first year." Bai Qinghua reassured him.
The blue-shirted boy’s expression froze, noticing that things seemed a bit off from what he had anticipated.
It seemed the teacher’s impression of him wasn’t very deep, and that "very outstanding junior student" apparently wasn’t referring to him...
But the conversation had started, and he couldn’t let the first conversation of the new semester with his tutor just stagnate like this. The blue-shirted boy thought for a moment, continued with his prepared script, and told Bai Qinghua:
"Teacher, I sent you a lot of emails during the summer, worrying each time that you might not see them. Sometimes I worry that I didn’t reply to you promptly. After all, communicating through email isn’t very convenient..." the blue-shirt stated, "Do you think we could exchange contact information, like WeChat..."