"Sorry."
Qin Siyang rose and bowed twice, once to Gu Weihong and once to Liu Yufei.
"I can't accept the terms offered by the Human Prosperity Research Institute and the Benevolence Virtue Research Institute."
"I feel terrible that both deans came in person only to leave empty-handed."
"Although we can't agree on special admission, that doesn't stop us from having other exchanges in the future."
"I hope to build a lasting friendship with both of you."
Seeing Qin Siyang get up to see them out, Gu Weihong and Liu Yufei could only resign themselves to the outcome.
They really couldn't meet Qin Siyang's demands.
Research institutes weren't universities, where a few members of the Board of Trustees could shut the doors and make a decision on the spot.
Anything their institutes wanted to do had to be reported up the chain.
Even as deans, they didn't have much authority.
There was no reason to feel wronged, either.
They earned so much money, with salaries dozens of times those of ordinary university professors. They had to give something in return.
They couldn't have everything.
Both men rose graciously and expressed their regret.
At Qin Siyang's insistence, however, they still exchanged contact information with him.
Qin Siyang also asked for brochures introducing both institutes, saying he would learn more about them and that there might be opportunities to cooperate in the future.
After all those pleasantries, the two felt considerably better about having traveled so far only to leave empty-handed.
Qin Siyang and Li Tianming escorted the representatives of both institutes out through the school gates. The entire exchange remained cordial.
But Gu Weihong and Liu Yufei didn't immediately get into their cars and leave.
The two walked along the roadside, chatting, while their drivers followed silently behind.
"Liu, you got here