“Sigh, it’s understandable for them to give up, right?”
“I think Li Xuekai’s mathematics team has reached another extreme recently. They’ve been working hard for half a month and still haven’t solved that problem.”
“Oh right, I heard that Professor Li Fan has already ordered the Math Department of Huazhong University to not let anyone come over!”
“No way, how can he give such an order? This is the freedom of students!”
“If the professor wants to manage you, isn’t there a lot of ways he could do so? Think about it. If he requires their attendance for every class, will they still be able to come if they’re not allowed to go out? Also, I heard that the third and fourth-year students are all going to participate in his project! This is also considered a credit!”
“Sigh, my heart is beating like a drum.”
“I originally thought that our physics team would be the first to withdraw, but I didn’t expect it to be the math team! Even Li Xuekai didn’t come.”
“…Actually, when we came here, we all knew that this project was very difficult and impossible to complete. However, we still came. Isn’t it just to learn more from Sister Xi? Hence, there’s no medicine for regret in this world!”
“But I really can’t hold on any longer. A person’s university stay lasts for only four years, and we’re only a year away from graduation. Can we really give half a year to this project?”
“Didn’t you think it through when you came?”
“At that time, we were actually just hot-headed. We felt that since Sister Xi could do this for the sake of the country, why can’t we help? But after so many days and the progress being what it is, we were all woken up! Sister Xi is only nineteen years old. She can waste half a year, or a year even, but what about us? Can this project really be done well?”
“Now that you mention it, I suddenly feel uncertain.”
“What should we do?”
Everyone discussed softly. Everyone thought that their voices were already very soft, but they did not know that these words had entered Xue Xi’s ears.
She clenched her jaw and looked at the people in the laboratory.
Recently, the project had been stuck and could not progress. It had indeed affected the morale of these people, but what she was most not good at was encouraging them!
These people had been dealt a blow by reality. She did not blame them. After all, they had been so busy recently that even she had started to suspect that they might not be able to settle it in three months.
She picked up her phone and was about to call Li Xuekai when she heard hurried footsteps at the door.
Li Xuekai hurriedly walked in. His eyes were dark and he was in low spirits. It was obvious that he had not rested well.
He said, “Sorry, Sister Xi. I didn’t hear the alarm. If I’m late, according to the rules, my allowance for this month will be deducted.”
The moment he entered, the rest calmed down.
However, he seemed to be sick. Xue Xi said worriedly, “It’s no good if you’re too tired. Go to the lounge at the side and sleep for a while!”
Li Xuekai shook his head. “No need. I thought of some ideas about this project yesterday. I’ll try again.”
After Li Xuekai entered the mathematics team’s room, the rest of the mathematics team rushed over one after another. All of them had dark circles under their eyes and were listless, as though they were sleep-walking.
After apologizing to Xue Xi, they went to the mathematics team’s room beside them. However, after they entered, they lay on the table and fell asleep.
One look and one could tell that they were too tired.
Xue Xi stared at them and sighed silently.
She knew that the mathematics team was under a lot of pressure recently. After thinking for a while, she called Senior Zhou Hong. “Senior, can you help?”
Zhou Hong also said weakly over the phone, “Recently, I’ve been following my mentor as he focuses on his research project, so I can’t make time for yours for the time being. Sister Xi, don’t be anxious. In your laboratory, the mathematics team’s problem can be put aside for now. In two days, the teacher will help you get back the research paper from Huazhong University.”
Xue Xi heaved a sigh of relief when she heard this.
Doing this project was really different from researching the nerve acid.
If the nerve acid failed, she could just test it repeatedly.
However, making a light source machine required a lot of help.
She said, “Senior, does the teacher need my help with anything?”
Zhou Hong said, “No need. The teacher is very stubborn. He doesn’t need any of our help right now. I’ll stay here and look after him.”
Xue Xi: “…Okay.”
After hanging up, for some unknown reason, the news of Zhou Hong not coming to help was suddenly leaked. This became the fuse for the laboratory.
The rest discussed in private.
“Even Senior Zhou Hong is not coming, so why would Director Feng himself help?”
“Since Director Feng is ignoring us, what else can we do?”
“Oh my god, could our project have been abandoned?”
“We have already worked hard for so long. It’s too much to give up just like that!”
Someone’s eyes turned red. “I’ve wanted to rely on this project to hold my head up high. It’s over now!”
“That’s right. I’ve always been mocked, with others saying I overestimated myself to participate in this project. When my mother found out, she even persuaded me to leave. Now, we’ve really become a joke!”
Even the school’s intranet forum was crazily spreading the word that their project was going to fail.
Instantly, rumors started spreading.
The lack of funds, the lack of manpower, and the lack of knowledge made their project a complete joke.
In Xue Xi’s room, as she was arranging the following matters, someone knocked on the door and entered.
“Sister Xi, I-I came here to tell you that I want to withdraw from this project.”
Xue Xi paused and looked up to see that it was one of the main members of the physics team. Hence, she asked, “What’s wrong?”
That person said, “The project can’t be completed anyway. I don’t want to waste time!”
The moment he said this, Li Zixia flared up. “You’re too much! This project itself is very difficult. Even if we can’t do it, all kinds of experimental data can be used by future generations! How can you say that?”
Xie Yingying’s eyes turned red as well. “Yes. How much money did Sister Xi invest in this project? The person who should be the most aggrieved is her! What right do you have to say such things here?!”
That person stubbornly lifted his head. “So what if that’s the case? Professor Feng doesn’t care about us anymore. Anyway, I want to withdraw from this project!”
At the same time.
In Feng Xingshen’s office, Zhou Hong was sleeping outside when he suddenly heard the teacher’s voice. “It’s out! I’ve solved it! Let’s see what Old Li will say now! Zhou Hong, give Old Li a call!”
