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

Fu Hua looked at him and understood a bit.

Yin Xian took over the conversation, his tone much more polite than when he dealt with Hua earlier.

There is indeed a demand for artificial heart assist devices in China.

The approach of materials improvement is technically mature.

If there is prior experience with animal testing, it can be implemented very quickly.

Professor Shi nodded and finally revealed the key point.

"Let me tell you the truth."

He leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the table.

"The Chinese Academy of Sciences is indeed going to support a number of projects recently, but resources are limited and it is impossible to do everything."

He glanced at Professor Lü, then at Professor Yan.

"Huaqing University has provincial and ministerial-level laboratories, a long-standing collaborative foundation in cardiac surgery, and mature technical approaches, which can produce results as soon as possible. We are confident in their capabilities."

He then looked at Fu Hua.

"As for biological valves for children..." He shook his head.

"It's too advanced, too difficult, and too risky. Our institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences wouldn't dare to cooperate on such a project."

Fu Hua spoke.

"I've already contacted Anzhen Hospital. Clinical collaboration is no problem."

She took a stack of papers out of her bag and placed them on the table.

"This contains the experimental data I've been working on these past few days. It includes material screening, in vitro simulations, and preliminary animal experimental protocols."

Professor Shi glanced down at the stack of papers but didn't reach out to touch them.

"Student Fu,"

His tone was more polite than before, but his meaning was clear.

"This decision wasn't something I could make alone; it was a collective decision made by the entire organization."

He paused.

"I'm saying this today to save face for both professors, so that there won't be any unpleasantness later."

Professor Yan's face darkened.

Fu Hua looked at the stack of untouched data and her lips twitched slightly.

Zhou Ming lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought.

Upon hearing this, Fu Hua's anger flared up completely.

She raised her head and looked at Instructor Shi with a cold gaze.

"So why did you call us here today?"

The smile on Professor Shi's face froze for a moment.

He slammed his wine glass down on the table with a loud "thud".

"Student Fu,"

He adopted a more authoritative tone, putting on airs.

"It's good that young people are energetic, but they also need to know the rules."

Scientific research cannot be accomplished with just enthusiasm.

If you talk like that, who will dare to cooperate with you in the future?

He paused, glanced at Professor Yan, and spoke with a hint of sarcasm.

"Professor Yan, you haven't been doing a very good job of mentoring your students. No wonder your research station hasn't produced any good projects in recent years."

Professor Yan was about to reach out to stop Fu Hua from continuing.

Upon hearing this, his hand froze in mid-air.

He slowly withdrew his hand, sat up straight, and looked at Instructor Shi.

"Professor Shi,"

Professor Yan's tone was cold and solemn; he didn't raise his voice, but exuded an undeniable authority.

You might not be aware of the projects our research station has produced over the years.

"The layered encrypted communication project was inspected and approved by the military; Commander Hua personally signed off on it."

That project was supervised by one of my students. You just said I haven't produced any good projects, so does this count?

Instructor Shi opened his mouth.

Professor Yan continued, "As for whether I will mentor students, Fu Hua is nineteen years old this year and has been mentoring projects for a year."

The results of layered encryption are now being used by the military.

If you consider this kind of student to be "not properly supervised," then I have nothing to say.

He stood up.

"Huahua, since the Chinese Academy of Sciences has already made a decision, let's go."

Fu Hua then stood up.

Just as the two reached the door, Instructor Shi's voice came from behind them.

"etc."

Professor Yan stopped but didn't turn around.

Professor Shi chuckled dryly: "Professor Yan, don't forget to pay the bill. You promised to treat us."

Professor Yan turned around and looked at him.

Neither of us ate.

He pointed to his and Fu Hua's plates on the table, "What bill are we set?"

When Professor Shi looked down, he saw that both of their plates were clean, and their chopsticks were placed to the side; they hadn't touched a single bite.

His expression froze, and he looked embarrassed.

Professor Yan withdrew his gaze, pushed open the door, and strode out.

Fu Hua followed behind, and the door closed behind her.

The private room was silent for a few seconds.

Professor Shi looked rather grim. He picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and then put it down.

"Your old classmate,"

He told Professor Lü,

"His temper is still so bad. No wonder he hasn't achieved much over the years."

Professor Lü nodded and responded with "uh-huhs," without saying anything.

He rolled his eyes inwardly.

You don't know anything.

Do you know the current scale of their research station and how many projects they have in hand?

If it weren't for the fact that biomedicine is a national project,

Would Old Man Yan really lower himself to come here?

If word gets out about this, Professor Lü feels he'll never be able to face his old classmates again.

Professor Shi poured himself another glass of wine and began to speak slowly.

"Alright, let's get down to business."

He looked at Professor Lü.

"Peking University has given up. The Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences can cooperate with Tsinghua University, but there is a condition."

Professor Lü was taken aback.

Professor Shi said, "Yin Xian, he will be the chief person in charge of the project."

Professor Lü's expression changed slightly.

"Instructor Shi, that's not what we said before."

His gaze was cold and deep. "Wasn't it agreed that Zhou Ming would take the lead and Yin Xian would assist? Why the sudden change of heart?"

Professor Shi picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and slowly put it down.

"That was before. Things are different now."

He glanced at Yin Xian, then at Zhou Ming.

"Yin Xian is in charge, and Zhou Ming is also excellent; he'll be in charge of building the team. This arrangement is very reasonable."

Zhou Ming suddenly raised his head.

"Professor Shi,"

Her voice was a little tense, "It was agreed before that I would lead this project. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't have..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but everyone understood.

If it weren't for this, she wouldn't have drunk that glass of wine today.

Professor Shi looked at her and smiled.

"Zhou Ming, if you feel this is unreasonable, you can withdraw. I believe Tsinghua University has many outstanding talents."

Zhou Ming's face turned pale instantly.

She looked at Professor Lü, hoping he could say a few words on her behalf.

Professor Lü looked away again, picked up his teacup, and slowly took a sip.

After the meal, Professor Lü offered to pay the bill.

He stood in front of the cashier, looking at the bill the cashier brought him, his eyelids twitching.

Four hundred and thirty-six pieces.

Three foreign exchange certificates also need to be added.

His hands were shaking when he took the money out of his pocket.

This meal is enough for him to earn almost half a year's salary.

"Hello, is the invoice issued to your company?"

The waiter asked.

Professor Lü twitched the corner of his mouth and shook his head.

"Need not."

He counted the money, handed it over, took the small stack of receipts, and put them in his pocket.

As he turned to leave, he couldn't help but glance back at the direction of that private room and muttered a curse under his breath.

That old man can really drink.

Not afraid of alcohol poisoning.

……

On the other side, Professor Yan led Fu Hua through a maze of twists and turns, eventually entering a small alley.