The fake heiress loves to act? The max-level boss isn't interested in playing along.

Fu Hua took her seat, her gaze sweeping over Zhou Ming.

She sat there, head down, without saying a word.

Zhou Ming also looked up at that moment, and their eyes met.

Zhou Mingchong nodded slightly, then lowered his head again.

The waiter began serving the dishes.

The steamed fish sits on a crystal plate, its skin intact and gleaming with a silvery sheen. The broth is clear and flavorful, with not a trace of fishiness.

The accompanying Western-style butter-fried asparagus was so tender that it burst with juice with every bite.

The Cantonese-style shrimp dumplings have paper-thin wrappers that reveal the tender pink shrimp inside, making them incredibly delicate.

The creamy mushroom soup was rich and flavorful without being greasy, and sprinkled with finely ground black pepper.

The plates were arranged neatly and elegantly; even the radishes on the cold appetizers were decorated with exquisite little peonies.

Saying it's a Michelin star from 86 isn't an exaggeration.

However, Fu Hua didn't have much of an appetite.

This meal was a waste of money; it was a terrible waste.

After starting the meal, we chatted for a bit.

Professor Shi stood up, holding his wine glass.

With a smile on his face, he walked up to Professor Yan first.

"Professor Yan, you are a towering figure in the Physics Department of Peking University. It is my honor to have dinner with you today!"

Professor Yan stood up, clinked glasses with him, and exchanged a few polite words.

Professor Shi then went over to Professor Lü and repeated the same thing, just in a different way.

Professor Lü chuckled in agreement, and the two shared a drink.

After toasting the two professors, Professor Shi turned to the waiter.

"Come on, pour some drinks for these young men! We're all happy today, let's drink together!"

The waiter came over carrying a bottle of wine.

Professor Shi personally took the wine bottle and walked up to Fu Hua.

He bent down, his eyes darting around, staring at Fu Hua's face.

"Fu, I've heard so much about you! Professor Yan's prized student, the leader of the layered encryption project, wow, so young and promising, and so beautiful too."

As he spoke, he pushed his wine glass toward Fu Hua.

The way he called out "Fu" was so greasy.

Fu Hua frowned.

This person is somewhat frivolous in his speech and actions.

He doesn't seem like a researcher at all, more like...

How could the Chinese Academy of Sciences have such a person?

Could it be a fake, a scam?

"Fu, why aren't you saying anything? Are you unhappy?"

"Professor Shi,"

Fu Hua spoke, but didn't touch the glass of wine.

"We're here today mainly to discuss cooperation. We'd like to ask you what materials we need to prepare to collaborate with the Chinese Academy of Sciences?"

Professor Shi's smile faltered for a moment.

He stood there, holding his wine glass, saying nothing, just staring at the wine in the glass.

The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.

Professor Yan's expression changed, and he stood up to take the wine glass from Professor Shi's hand.

"Professor Shi, this child is young and doesn't know the rules. I'll drink this wine for her. We can talk about work later."

He tilted his head back and downed the drink in one gulp.

"Professor Yan is right. What's the rush for work? It has to be done eventually."

Professor Shi then smiled again and patted Professor Yan on the shoulder.

"Professor Yan, your student has character; I like him!"

He picked up the wine bottle again and walked up to Zhou Ming.

"Zhou Ming, right? The talented girl from Huaqing University, I've heard of you too!"

He poured Zhou Ming a drink and kept praising him.

"Come on, let's have a drink. You can't refuse, we're happy today!"

Zhou Ming looked at the glass of wine and shook his head.

"Professor Shi, I don't drink alcohol."

The smile on Professor Shi's face faded slightly.

Reject both of them?

"Can't drink? Learn! Young people always need to practice."

"In scientific research, one must be flexible and understand human relationships; one cannot be completely ignorant of them."

Zhou Ming looked at Professor Lü.

Professor Lü was talking to Yin Xian with his head tilted to the side, completely oblivious to what was happening here.

Zhou Ming's eyes darkened.

She bit her lip, hesitated for a few seconds, then picked up her glass and drank it in one gulp.

After drinking it, her face flushed red, as if it were on fire.

Fu Hua and Professor Yan exchanged a glance.

There must be another reason for what happened today.

Sure enough, no matter how Fu Hua or Professor Yan tried to subtly bring up the project, Professor Shi remained silent.

Instead, Yin Xian talked at length.

Yin Xian pushed up his glasses and cleared his throat.

"During my years abroad, I have indeed witnessed a great deal. Biomedicine abroad is advancing by leaps and bounds, while our country lags far behind."

He looked at Fu Hua, his tone carrying a hint of condescension.

"For example, bioprosthetic valves. Abroad, they've already reached the third generation, with biodegradable scaffolds and tissue-engineered valves, which are almost ready for clinical use. What about in China? We're still researching the first generation."

He shook his head.

"I'm not trying to be pessimistic. Our materials, technology, and clinical experience are all lagging behind. We'd be lucky if we could even make it within ten years."

Worshiping foreign things and fawning on foreigners.

Fu Hua almost lost control of her facial expressions.

Does this kind of person even deserve to be called a Chinese citizen?

Where did this treacherous minister come from?

Fu Hua picked up her teacup and slowly took a sip.

She tried her best to remain calm.

Some of what Yin Xian said was indeed true.

China's basic research and materials technology are indeed lagging behind.

Retorting at this point would only make you seem like a sore loser, and would be pointless.

Only by demonstrating real skill can you silence the other party.

Yin Xian was still spitting as he spoke.

"The equipment and conditions in foreign laboratories are simply incomparable to ours."

I spent three years there before I learned what scientific research was.

Here, to put it nicely, we're catching up; to put it bluntly...

He shook his head, not finishing his sentence, but everyone understood what he meant.

Professor Shi listened from the side, looking smug, nodding occasionally and adding a few words.

"What Xiao Yin said is true. Everyone cried horribly, but that's the truth. Foreign countries are indeed more advanced, and we have to admit that and humbly learn from them."

He changed the subject and finally got to the point.

"Fu, what specific aspects of your project/research topic will you be working on?"

Fu Hua put down her teacup.

"Bioprosthetic valve, for children."

Professor Shi's lips twitched slightly; he wanted to laugh, but he managed to hold it back.

Yin Xian burst out laughing.

"A biological valve for children?"

He pushed up his glasses. "Do you know what the most difficult part is about pediatric valve repair?"

Growth potential! Children grow up, but valves don't.

Biological valves have a short lifespan; they calcify within a few years of placement.

A second surgery is needed. Do you know how risky a second surgery is?

He took a sip of tea, his tone becoming increasingly disdainful.

"Overseas researchers are now studying tissue-engineered valves using autologous cell culture, which offers hope for solving the growth problem."

"We can't even handle the basic materials properly, yet we're jumping straight to pediatric valves? Impossible, utterly a pipe dream. Scientific research can't be done with a get-rich-quick mentality."

Fu Hua looked at him without saying a word.

Professor Shi has switched to Professor Lü.

"Professor Lü, what about your end?"

Zhou Ming raised his head, glanced at Fu Hua, and then lowered his head again.

"Research on material improvement for artificial heart assist devices"

Her voice wasn't loud, but it was very clear.

Professor Shi's eyes lit up.

Yin Xian was also taken aback for a moment, then looked at Zhou Ming with a hint of something in his eyes.

"An artificial heart assist device?"

Professor Shi repeated it, his tone noticeably different.

"This is a good direction! It's practical, down-to-earth, and can produce results quickly."

He paused, then added another sentence.

"Our institute, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has recently been paying attention to this field."