Sensing the commotion outside, Xue Xi finally pushed open the glass door and walked over.
Just as she arrived, she heard Liu Xiu’s accusations. She looked at his face and realized that there was indeed a huge palm print there. His right face was swollen from the slap.
Hearing Xue Xi’s footsteps, Liu Xiu turned to look at her. “Sister Xi, you’re here just in time! Look at my face! It was your project team member who hit me. Even if it’s Zheng Zhi, an explanation is still necessary!”
The moment he said this, she heard a loud voice say, “Who did it?”
The group of them turned around in unison and saw the Physics Department’s Director Wang walking over with large strides. Behind him was the laboratory manager and the head of the Academic Affairs Office who had been called after Liu Xiu was beaten up.
Director Wang was very anxious. Sister Xi had finally sought him out to do something, but unfortunately, he was not in the school at that time. After receiving the call, he’d rushed over, but he was still a little late.
Wasn’t it still starting now?
Was Sister Xi beaten up? That’s terrible! He had to ask around clearly and give Sister Xi an explanation!
Liu Xiu was from the Physics Department. When he saw his director and heard those words, he instantly felt a sense of familiarity. He pointed at his face and said again, “Director, look at my face. Sister Xi is from the Math Department, so they are biased. Director, director, you have to stand up for me!”
Director Wang was stunned. “Wait, you mean that Sister Xi hit you?”
Liu Xiu nodded. “She didn’t exactly do it, but it was still a member of her project team!”
Among the crowd, only Liu Xiu had a swollen face. The head of the Academic Affairs Office could not pretend that he did not see it. Hence, he frowned and said, “No matter what conflicts there are, it’s wrong to resort to violence. The person who hit him should apologize first!”
Liu Xiu instantly revealed a smug expression.
Unfortunately, not long after he began feeling smug, he heard his director’s loud voice. “Apologize? What apology is necessary? Apologize, my ass!”
The head of the Academic Affairs Office: “?”
Liu Xiu: “?”
Before he could react, Director Wang slapped Liu Xiu on the head. “You must have done something bad first and angered Sister Xi. Tell me, what happened?”
Everyone: “?”
Li Man was Director Wang’s student. When he heard this, he hurriedly said, “It’s their project team. They insisted that since they had more people in their project team, they should be allowed to borrow our lab. But aren’t they just trying to snatch our space?”
Liu Xiu: “What do you mean by snatch? This is the school’s, not your personal spot. Or what, after you finished this project, are you not going to move aside and let others use it?”
Li Man: “But we haven’t finished our project!”
Liu Xiu: “You don’t work every day, so why do you need to hog this spot? You…”
Before he could finish speaking, he was slapped on the head by Director Wang. “This place is meant to be first come first serve! Moreover, I came here today to settle this matter!”
He turned to look at the laboratory manager. “What’s wrong with you? Back then, the three directors themselves booked this lab. Why did you give it to someone else? Did you ask them?”
The laboratory manager: “…Director Wang, I saw that the other team was indeed quite crowded, and there are indeed many empty spots on this side, so I wanted to…”
“What were you thinking? Let me tell you, this is a project for Sister Xi. Before she finishes this project, no one is allowed to disturb her! Now, immediately, get rid of everyone who is not a member here! Is Huaxia University going to start internally competing for a project? Our school doesn’t have such a tradition!”
The laboratory manager was originally in charge of this area. Logically speaking, he should not be controlled by the directors, but those particular directors were highly respected and not someone he could slight. Hence, he could only nod. “Alright, then, you guys can go back!”
When they were fighting just now, Li Xuelei had not been meddling. But when he heard this, he suddenly spoke up. “Director Wang, the laboratory has its own rules. You can’t abuse your authority just because of personal feelings, right? Everyone is in charge of projects and everyone is equal. Who is more important than who here?”
When Director Wang heard this, he turned to look at him and narrowed his eyes. “I’m abusing my authority? Alright, let me tell you. Once Sister Xi finishes this project, it will bring indescribable benefits to the entire country. Can your project compare to hers? If I really wanted to abuse my authority, I would totally give this entire floor to Sister Xi! Do you still want to argue about equality with me?”
Li Xuelei pouted and stopped arguing about this. Instead, he turned to look at Liu Xiu and said, “Forget it. It’s fine if you don’t want to lend me the laboratory. However, my personnel has been beaten up. Xue Xi, shouldn’t you give me an explanation?”
