Early spring in the capital was still cold.
In the early morning, after breakfast, Ji Yanting took Rong Yu and Ji Mohan to listen to traditional opera.
He thought that since Great-grandmother was from that era, she would probably enjoy listening to opera and watching plays. Sure enough, Rong Yu sat there with a look of intense concentration, and he knew his gamble had paid off.
Ji Mohan, however, couldn't settle his mind.
He kept glancing at the news online, where the focus seemed to have shifted.
It had moved from vilifying the big star for meddling in academic circles to questioning the research paper itself. Besides netizens, students from various universities and majors had joined the fray, analyzing the paper from every angle.
A frenzy was sweeping across the internet.
"Buzz, buzz, buzz!"
While scrolling through the news, Ji Mohan's phone suddenly vibrated with an incoming call. The screen showed it was Lu Jiaojiao.
He hesitated for a moment, then got up and walked to the side to answer the call.
"Mohàn, you have to help me..." Lu Jiaojiao adopted a humble tone, her voice soft. "The institute is demanding supplementary risk control experiment data for the paper within twenty-four hours. I know you and Rong Yu are currently working on that part of the experiment... Don't misunderstand, I'm not asking for your results. What I mean is, since you've already done the control experiment once, you must have the experience. Can you come to the Materials Institute now and work with me to continue the experiments?"
She planned to record the entire experimental process to silence her critics.
She intended to use this media storm to make a name for herself in the field.
However, Ji Mohan on the other end of the line remained silent, not uttering a word.
"Mohàn, Mohàn..." Lu Jiaojiao called his name softly. "I still remember when we first met, on the tree-lined path at Huaqing University. We didn't know each other then, but my backpack was knocked over, and everything inside spilled out. That's how we discovered there was actually a connection between us long before..."
Ji Mohan's fingers tightened slightly around the phone.
Back then, he was only sixteen, admitted to university early on a scholarship, completely immersed in his studies. He was reading by the lake when, suddenly feeling dizzy from low blood sugar, he fell headfirst into the water.
Fortunately, a passing student rescued him and sent him to the hospital, saving his life.
He never found out who saved him, only remembering it was a girl who wore a gold and jade pendant around her neck.
Much later, he unexpectedly met Lu Jiaojiao and saw the same gold and jade pendant fall from her bag. When he approached her to ask, he learned that it was Lu Jiaojiao who had saved him.
Before meeting Lu Jiaojiao, he had imagined countless times what the girl who saved him might be like. She didn't have to be exceptionally beautiful or outstandingly talented, but she must, without a doubt, possess a truly good and kind heart.
To jump into a lake without a second thought to save someone.
To leave without leaving a name after the rescue.
Such a person could undoubtedly be called truly good and beautiful.
But, Lu Jiaojiao was not.
Not sincere enough, not kind enough... As for beauty, perhaps she had some.
He asked her softly, "You're someone who prioritizes personal gain above all else. I really want to know, why did you jump into the lake to save me back then?"
Lu Jiaojiao bit her lip. "Saving someone doesn't need a reason. I saw you were about to die and just gave you a hand. What, Ji Mohan, you don't want to help me through this difficulty, and now you're starting to question the debt of a life saved?"
Ji Mohan's lips parted, and he spoke with difficulty, "Jiaojiao, you are well aware of Rong Yu's capabilities. I can help you, but Rong Yu must be the first author. Otherwise—"
Suddenly, a figure appeared beside him.
He turned his head and met Rong Yu's clear eyes.
Rong Yu reached out and took the phone from his hand. Her icy voice carried through to Lu Jiaojiao's ear.
"Trying to claim repayment for a favor? Researcher Lu, you've truly broadened my horizons."
"Before doing research, learn how to be a proper person first. Didn't your mentor teach you the most basic principles of academic ethics?"
"Scientific research is not child's play, nor is it a tool for you to seek personal gain!"
"If you dare use a life-saving favor to coerce Ji Mohan today, then tomorrow, will you use national projects to hold the entire academic community hostage?"
"I'm giving you time to publicly clarify this matter. Otherwise, you'll bear the consequences."
Rong Yu hung up the phone with a sharp click.
It was rare for her to show her emotions so openly, but matters concerning scientific research and academia made it hard to remain calm.
She tossed the phone back.
Ji Mohan fumbled to catch it.
"I don't know Lu Jiaojiao well, but from collaborating with her these past couple of days, she hasn't demonstrated the competence or sense of responsibility a senior researcher should have." Rong Yu looked coldly at Ji Mohan. "Am I justified in suspecting that she climbed the career ladder by stepping on you?"
Ji Mohan hung his head low.
"By condoning others appropriating academic work, you become an accomplice to academic misconduct." Rong Yu reprimanded him without mercy. "As a researcher, if you can't even uphold the most basic academic integrity, do you feel ashamed when you put on your lab coat?"
"I... I..."
Ji Mohan couldn't lift his head, his voice hoarse.
"If you stay silent and condone this today, someone might pay with their life tomorrow because of this paper lacking proper risk warnings."
"This data concerns the safety of astronauts' lives. It's not some bargaining chip for personal favors."
"Scientific research is not a game. Truth cannot be tarnished. If you still wish to continue on this path of research, you should step forward and expose Lu Jiaojiao's academic appropriation."
She had thought this young man had firm principles.
She never expected he would wilt as soon as Lu Jiaojiao mentioned the life-saving favor.
She had said all she needed to say.
Lu Jiaojiao gripped her phone tightly, her lips pressed into a thin line, her whole body trembling.
If that bitch Rong Yu hadn't interfered, Ji Mohan would probably be by her side right now.
It was all Rong Yu's fault. Why did a celebrity have to come and compete with her for academic credit...
How could there be such a despicable person in this world...
The public uproar grew more intense.
Song Huai, who had been working non-stop for over twenty hours at the Fourth Aerospace Institute, had just stepped out when he saw many people in his class group chat discussing Rong Yu.
"Rong Yu has really overplayed her hand this time."
"Her abilities are fine for playing the 'academic genius' in the entertainment industry, but coming to the research circle to seek attention is just absurd."
"One should be down-to-earth. Rong Yu is too flighty."
"The teacher said we shouldn't look at things from just one perspective. Why not let things play out a bit longer?"
"Zhang Haoyu, why are you always defending Rong Yu? Do you have a crush on her?"
"..."
Song Huai opened the news and skimmed through it rapidly.
He was instantly filled with disbelief.
For a major, top-tier research paper like this, Rong Yu actually managed to get listed as the third author?
These past few days, besides collecting data for the Fourth Aerospace Institute, he had also been helping several senior fellow students organize and publish their papers. One senior, who greatly appreciated his abilities, said he would list him as the third author.
—And this was just for a very ordinary research paper. The prospect of being the third author had nearly made him ecstatic.
But Rong Yu, she...
Was Rong Yu really that exceptional?
The internet was flooded with doubts and insults... Song Huai turned off his phone. He was busy and had no time to pay attention to all this.
