About an hour later, around nine o'clock, in the large conference room of a certain research institution.
The conference room could seat at least several dozen people, but today, only seven or eight were scattered around inside, with the remaining seats empty.
However, the projection screen on the large wall display was lit up, showing the names and list of attendees. Rows of online avatars were also displayed, some lit and some dark, and there seemed to be quite a few participants.
"I'm telling you!"
Yet a certain "great scientist," An Yunxiu, paid no attention to any of that. The moment she entered the conference room, she slammed her phone onto the table and immediately gave one of her direct superiors a piece of her mind:
"I'm telling you, boss, I'm really busy!"
"If it isn't something important, couldn't you just tell me in the group chat on my phone?"
"Did you really have to make me come all the way here?!"
The leader she was giving attitude to was none other than the middle-aged man in his forties or fifties whom she had labeled "Old Wang Next Door" in her phone contacts—Old Wang.
"..."
Seeing her attitude, Old Wang sat at the head of the table, leaning forward slightly with his hands clasped, his expression somewhat helpless.
"Comrade An!"
"This is a formal occasion. Watch yourself a little."
"You already work here. Is it really such a hardship to come sit in person for a while?"
"Go back to your seat!"
"You have no sense of decorum!"
Hearing that, An Yunxiu looked at the attendees all turning to stare at her, then at the online avatars. In the end, she gave a quiet "Tch," turned around, and briskly headed toward the empty seat behind the nameplate bearing her name.