Feeling More Fulfilled Than Ever

"Director Shen treated Teacher He's group to lobster and abalone."

"Cao Fan is a lucky guy. He's been assigned to Teacher He's Receptor Stasis Agent group and is enjoying the good life."

"You're just jealous, aren't you? Cao Fan quite capable; he's not just slacking off. He did produce something."

While Teacher He and her group were enjoying lobster and abalone, Xia Longxin and Zhang Weiran, who remained in the lab, had not yet had dinner.

Xia Longxin, Zhang Weiran, and Cao Fan entered the Shen Qi Research Center for further studies, and Cao Fan has already stood out.

That's why they say teamwork makes the dream work; Xia Longxin and Zhang Weiran's group is all male, so their research efficiency is low.

One woman revitalized the entire group, and this was clearly demonstrated in He Lin's group.

"Director Shen is very good to Teacher He. He entrusted the most important research project to Teacher He, and he only passed on his 'Eighteen Pages Heart Sutra' to Teacher He." After all, everyone works in the same laboratory, which is only so big. Everyone sees everything, big and small.

"It's not that Director Shen treats our group leader Xiao badly, it's just that our group's research topic is too basic and won't yield any significant results."

"Why..."

The two lab dogs sighed; the saying "men fear choosing the wrong profession" is indeed true.

Even the differences between research groups meant that some people could afford to eat lobster and abalone, while others could only eat instant noodles in their dorm rooms.

At this moment, team leader Xiao Ming returned to the lab after using the restroom. He said to Xia Longxin and Zhang Weiran, "He Lin's group has achieved some preliminary results. Our group needs to work harder."

"We have to work overtime again..." Xia Longxin and Zhang Weiran were used to working overtime. To be honest, neither of them wanted to work overtime.

Legitimate companies outside the company strictly abide by labor laws, and overtime pay is calculated at 1.5 times the regular wage on weekdays, twice the regular wage on weekends, and three times the regular wage on statutory holidays.

Yenching University is different from other companies; overtime pay is optional.

It's not about the overtime pay; it's mainly that my body can't handle the long hours.

"You two seem quite averse to working overtime?"

"Teacher Xiao, to be honest, besides workaholics, who would want to work overtime every day?"

"Nobody's born a workaholic; we just don't want to lose." Xiao Ming unbuttoned his white coat and said, "It's almost nine o'clock. We're not working overtime today; I'll treat you to a late-night snack."

"Good, good!" Xia Longxin and Zhang Weiran breathed a sigh of relief.

Xiao Ming, a returnee from overseas, earns a decent salary, so treating two poor students to some barbecue skewers shouldn't be a problem.

A few plates of skewers, a case of beer, letting the evening breeze tousle my hair, I light a Hongtashan cigarette and leisurely exhale smoke rings.

"I didn't realize you two smoked." Xiao Ming never smoked, even when he drank beer. Even when he was eating skewers at a street food stall, his clean white shirt was neatly tucked into his belt, and his shiny leather shoes reflected the moonlight.

"Xia Longxin and I are both in our mid-twenties. We occasionally smoke to find some inspiration for our research." Zhang Weiran was afraid that the smoke would ruin Professor Xiao's handsome face, so he quickly put out his cigarette.

"Have your doctoral stipends arrived yet?" Xiao Ming asked with concern.

"We're in position, we're in position."

"Work hard and learn more in the lab. You two will have a bright future. I know you two have your own ideas. You think the experiments our platelet activation research group does are too basic and don't offer any opportunities to stand out, right?" Xiao Ming said slowly. He ate very little; Xia Longxin and Zhang Weiran had almost swallowed all the skewers.

"Acceptance means admission." Xiao Ming smiled and added, "I made Military Order to Director Shen that we will complete our group's task before August. We don't have much time left, only one month."

"To be honest, platelet activation is indeed a very basic topic; anyone could do it. We should take a longer-term view. After August, new research projects will naturally be assigned to our group. What will this new project be? I suspect its potential is very high. How high? Look into the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences."

Xia Longxin and Zhang Weiran couldn't resist lighting up another Hongtashan cigarette, and they listened quietly as Teacher Xiao bragged in a serious tone.

Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences

This organization is, of course, very familiar to everyone.

Even if you were to receive an award at the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences, it wouldn't be your turn, Professor Xiao.

It certainly won't be Xia Longxin or Zhang Weiran's turn.

There is only one person in the entire center who has the opportunity and is qualified to go to Sweden, and everyone knows who that person is.

Xiao Ming poured himself a beer and said, "Actually, I talked to Director Shen privately. He's quite laid-back right now. He doesn't care about awards from the Royal Academy of Sciences; he just wants to do what interests him. If you were in his shoes, and you went to Sweden twice to receive the award, you'd also see through everything and return to your original aspirations. I boldly predict that LPJK1, and the subsequent LPJK2, 3... in short, the 'Wife's Health' series, will definitely create an amazing achievement. Director Shen will undoubtedly be the first author of the overall project paper. Let him be laid-back; his name must be on the first author list. Such a big project, there must be enough papers to fill several truckloads, right? Have you thought about how to distribute the papers?"

"Dividing... dividing into papers?" Xia Longxin and Zhang Weiran couldn't help but sit up straight. Professor Xiao might have been bragging just now, but the more he talked, the more believable it seemed.

"Having more papers won't be a burden," Xiao Ming said with a charming smile, seemingly quite pleased to see his two assistants' anuses tighten.

"There's competition everywhere, Shen Qi Research Center is no exception." Xiao Ming said with great enthusiasm, slapping his hand on the table. "He Lin is very strong and hardworking, but we are not weak either. So please give us your utmost attention and cooperate with me to finish the platelet activation. The real test for us will come after August. Let's do our best."

He Lin's research group works more than ten hours a day, and Xiao Ming's research group has a similar workload.

Xia Longxin and Zhang Weiran were so exhausted from doing experiments for a few days that they didn't even have the strength to walk back to their dormitory, so they slept in the center and continued working after waking up.

Doing experiments is mentally taxing and physically exhausting. It's tiring to concentrate for seven or eight hours a day, and a workload of more than ten hours is like risking your life.

But Team Leader Xiao is right, no one is born a workaholic, we just don't want to lose.

"Teacher Xiao, thank you for treating us to drinks and meat, and even more so for your guidance. Director Shen instructed us that we'll work with you for the first year; wherever you point, we'll follow." Xia Longxin and Zhang Weiran suddenly felt unprecedented pressure. Yes, there's competition everywhere, and wasn't their competition with Cao Fan no different?

Xiao Ming's brainwashing was very effective.

After finishing their drinks and barbecue, Xia Longxin and Zhang Weiran, feeling a great sense of urgency, quietly slipped back to the lab and worked on their lab all night, feeling very fulfilled.