"So that's how it is." William suddenly understood.
The system immediately added:
[If the host has no further questions, this system will enter standby. Good luck.]
"Ah, got it."
William stood up, packed his textbook into his backpack, logged out of the computer, and walked out of the library with the bag slung over one shoulder.
After arriving at the school garden, he pulled a Nokia 5300 from his pocket and checked the time.
3:40 p.m.
It was Thursday, and William had only had one class, at 12:45.
Since St. Mary's had no classes on Fridays, he planned to meet that Professor Halsey today.
He first went to the student center across from the library and checked that Halsey's class ended at four in the afternoon.
He then bought an iced coffee in the student center's shopping area and sat in the lounge to kill some time.
About fifteen minutes later, William tossed the plastic coffee cup into a trash can and headed for the science building connected to the library.
When he arrived outside the lecture hall,
he found the students crowded around the entrance. Most of them were rushing anxiously into the hallway, ready to enjoy three consecutive days off.
As for William, he waited until the crowd had thinned before going "against the current" and entering the lecture hall.
However, he did not see the elderly Dr. Halsey he remembered.
He looked around.
All he found was a "female teaching assistant" surrounded by top students who were discussing questions with her.
"Could she have been among the crowd that just left?" William wondered aloud.
Still, it was rare for a professor to leave the classroom before the students. That probably wasn't the case.
William then walked to the seats in the front row and asked a male student who was packing his bag:
"Hello, did Professor Halsey leave the classroom?"
"Professor Halsey?" The male student pointed at the young female teaching assistant surrounded by students and said, "She's right there."
"What?!"
William exclaimed under his breath and carefully examined the person the male student had pointed to.
She had blond hair that barely reached her shoulders, a delicate oval face, and beautiful features.
Paired with denim shorts and a white hoodie...
She was obviously a young, gorgeous college student!
She looked only a little over twenty.
How could she possibly be the white-haired female doctor who had been old and frail when William played the game?
The male student finished packing his bag and slung it over his shoulder. As he passed William, he advised him:
"Buddy, if you want to ask Professor Halsey a question, you'd better get in line. She really hates being interrupted."
"Uh... thanks, bro." William nodded.
He then found a random seat and sat down, placing his backpack on the desk while watching the students around Halsey gradually disperse.
Only when one student remained did he get up and walk to the lectern, waiting for the last female student to leave.
"Thanks, Professor Halsey! Have a great weekend!"
The female student hugged her textbooks, thanked Halsey, and left the classroom.
"Mm. Have a good weekend too."
Halsey replied indifferently before looking at William, who had been waiting nearby for quite some time. "Do you have a question?"
William briefly organized his thoughts, leaned his upper body slightly forward, and spoke with great sincerity:
"Hello, Professor. My name is William Russell. Would you like to come work for my company?"
???
Is there something wrong with this guy's head?
That was exactly what Halsey was thinking at that moment.
However, as a professor, she did not reveal her thoughts. She waved her hand and politely refused:
"Thanks, but I'm not interested in changing jobs for now."
After saying that, Halsey returned behind the lectern and quickly packed up her teaching materials, preparing to leave.
"This?" William was also somewhat dumbfounded.
After thinking it over, he felt that what he had just said really was too brief.
He needed to get straight to the point.
William did not give up. Instead, he chased after Halsey, who was walking away quickly, and shouted:
"Professor, once you come to my company, you can research whatever you want. Funding won't be a problem!"
"Step, step!... Step."
Halsey had originally been walking quickly, clutching her teaching materials with both hands as she prepared to flee from the pervert. Her steps suddenly halted.
With her back to William, she asked in a low voice, "Really? Anything?"
"Of course!" William walked over to Halsey's side and thumped his chest as he assured her:
"I'll support all your research unconditionally. The only condition is that you join—"
"Fine! Let's go right now!"
Before he could finish, Halsey's attitude abruptly changed. Her eyes even shone with fervent excitement.
William shrugged. He did not care what Halsey's personality was like.
All he cared about was having her seriously research Individual Equipment and the Super Soldier project after she signed the contract.
"Heh, all right. Please come with me."
William smiled and took Halsey to the parking lot in front of the university.
His driver's license still needed another year before he could obtain a full license, so he could only have Andre drive over to pick up both him and Halsey.
While they waited, Halsey had already called the school administration and directly submitted her resignation.
As for the way this Halsey handled things...
All William could say was that she was decisive and reckless.
He checked the time again and estimated that Andre would still need a few minutes to arrive.
William scratched the back of his head, trying to find a topic to ease the awkwardness, and said:
"Professor, you quit without even learning what my company actually does. Aren't you afraid the school will give you trouble?"
"Afraid?" Halsey, who had also been silent, answered without hesitation after hearing his question:
"What's there to be afraid of? St. Mary's begged me repeatedly to come here. If I want to leave, they can't stop me."
"Uh..." William hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Professor...
"You're probably only in your twenties, right? It's really impressive that you earned a medical doctorate at such a young age."
"Twenty?! You think I'm twenty?!" Halsey pointed at her own nose, her face becoming extremely furious. "I'm only nineteen, okay!"
"Huh?!" William was stunned.
His question seemed to open the floodgates, and Halsey began speaking at length:
"And another thing! I don't only have a doctorate in medicine. I also have a doctorate in physics and a master's degree in mechanical engineering.
"You didn't even bother to learn about the background of the person you were hiring. I'm seriously offended!"
After saying that, she hugged her materials with both arms and turned away. With her back to William, she huffed angrily:
"Forget it. I'll forgive you this time. What was your name again?"
"Wil... William. William Russell." William stammered, somewhat "frightened."
After all, Halsey had earned two doctorates and a master's degree at only nineteen.
If Halsey had not been created by the system, this genius might not even have bothered to speak to him.
Before you continue