Huo Yao nodded. Before long, she pulled her hand back after taking his pulse. She paused briefly and said, “I know someone from the Apothecaries’ Association. I will get my friend to send you something for your condition.”
Zhao Lian was a little surprised when he found that Huo Yao knew how to take his pulse, but he was even more astonished when he learned that she knew someone from the Apothecaries’ Association. “You certainly have friends in high places. I’m impressed you know someone from the association.”
Huo Yao smiled modestly.
Zhao Lian knew that medicine from the Apothecaries’ Association was worth a lot on the market, so he felt bad about accepting the offer and tried to refuse. Since Huo Yao insisted, he decided to take her up on her kind offer.
“Let me show you my paper.” Zhao Lian got up from the chair. He went over to his computer and printed his paper. He walked back to Huo Yao and handed her the document.
Huo Yao quickly read through the article. Even though it was four pages long, she finished reading it in roughly five minutes and handed it back to Zhao Lian. “It’s good, but I doubt the journal will appreciate the part about infectious diseases.”
“I get what you mean, but someone has to do this,” said Zhao Lian with grit.
Huo Yao could tell he was determined to keep it in his paper, so she did not continue with the subject. She simply said, “Prof Zhao, I know you’re an upright man with every intention of following your beliefs.”
Zhao Lian smiled as he waved his hand. He paused before he said, “Why don’t you start working as my assistant next term?”
Qi Hui wanted to see Zhao Lian. Since the office door was open, Qi Hui walked straight in and heard what Zhao Lian said. He could not help halting in his steps abruptly.
He looked at Huo Yao with complicated emotions running through his heart.
The young woman wanted to join his division, but he deliberately sabotaged her chances and kicked her out of pure bias.
Thanks to their collaboration with the National Research Institute of Science and Technology, she was now quite the legend in the Biology department.
She was proof that Arts students could undoubtedly excel in Science subjects.
Qi Hui regretted ruining Huo Yao’s chances of entering the Biotechnology division. Any teacher would be proud to have a student like her since she was undoubtedly a prodigy.
The moment Huo Yao heard what Zhao Lian wanted from her, she promptly turned down his suggestion. “No thanks, Prof Zhao. I’m afraid I don’t have time to do it.”
She still had to worry about her Physics studies. Ever since she decided to do a double major, she felt it might have been a bad decision.
Zhao Lian naturally knew Huo Yao had a mind of her own, so he did not insist. “Fine then. Anytime you change your mind, just let me know.”
Huo Yao nodded. She raised her head and noticed someone standing at the door, so she promptly stood up. “I see you have company. In that case, I shall make myself scarce.”
Zhao Lian finally let her go.
Huo Yao quickly walked out of the office. When she walked past Qi Hui, she simply nodded to him mildly without even greeting him.
Qi Hui was holding a document in his hand. In the past, he would have called her back and reprimanded her.
Instead, he entered Zhao Lian’s office calmly.
*
Huo Yao went to the Physics department after leaving the Biology department.
Prof Rong had to leave, but he had passed some extra reading for the holidays to Wu Yue so that he could hand them to Huo Yao when she came.
When Huo Yao took the extra reading from Wu Yue, she nearly wanted to give up on her second major.
“You have to work hard, okay? You should’ve seen him when he prepared your holiday reading for you. I have never seen him care about a student so much,” said Wu Yue excitedly.
Huo Yao’s lips twitched annoyingly.
She saw no reason to thank Prof Rong for encroaching on her time.
