Zhu Haifeng's appearance made everyone's hearts tighten once again.
But listening to his calm, casual tone, the members of the paper review committee present gradually relaxed.
Seeing that Zhu Haifeng looked like he was about to leave, it seemed he had just come to watch the fun.
Although no one understood what his purpose was in coming to watch.
But, watching the fun didn't really need a reason.
Even though Zhu Haifeng said he would only say a couple of words, Jiang Hao still said to him, "Today's hearing is about whether Qin Siyang's papers should be approved…"
"I know."
"You know?"
"Of course. If I'm attending a meeting, how could I not know what it's about? President Jiang, have the standing council members started voting yet?"
Jiang Hao was about to answer when Qian Wenzhao cut in, "Mr. Zhu, the standing council vote is currently in progress."
Jiang Hao glanced at Qian Wenzhao, his expression showing a trace of displeasure.
"Is that so?", Zhu Haifeng smiled, "Then I really came at the right time. Since I'm already here, I'll cast my vote before leaving."
Hearing that Zhu Haifeng was going to vote, for some reason, everyone felt a faint sense of unease.
All the members of the paper review committee present felt that Zhu Haifeng's appearance was a major variable.
Qin Siyang was equally uneasy.
From the moment Zhu Haifeng entered the room to when he walked up to the stage and spoke with Jiang Hao, he hadn't even glanced at Qin Siyang once.
'Sure enough, not a friend but an enem—'
"I vote in favor."
Zhu Haifeng didn't drag it out, casting his vote simply and directly.
Everyone's gaze turned toward Zhu Haifeng at once.
Guo Jiuxiao could no longer hold back after the twists and turns of the voting results and asked, "Professor Zhu, why did you vote in favor just like that?"
"What's wrong? Isn't it a vote?"
"But you haven't even looked into Qin Siyang's papers! Voting so rashly, wouldn't that be unfair?"
Zhu Haifeng thought for a moment, "Oh… so you're saying that during this hearing, you've already had a detailed discussion of Qin Siyang's papers, and based on sufficient arguments from both sides, you cast your votes?"
"I…", Faced with Zhu Haifeng's question, Guo Jiuxiao was completely speechless.
They hadn't held any so-called hearing at all, they had gone straight to voting.
"If that's the case, then I really was careless. How about this, Professor Guo, you can trouble yourself to briefly recount the process of the hearing, and then I'll vote again."
Guo Jiuxiao glared at Zhu Haifeng, his expression ugly.
He couldn't tell whether Zhu Haifeng truly didn't know or was pretending to be confused.
In front of everyone, Guo Jiuxiao couldn't possibly make up a story on the spot, so he could only give up and say, "I don't know."
At this moment, Xiao Zhigang spoke again, "Professor Zhu, why did you vote in favor?"
Zhu Haifeng looked slightly puzzled, "Do you need to explain your reason when voting?"
"No, I'm just curious."
"Oh, alright then. What about the votes and reasons of the other standing council members?"
"..."
After Zhu Haifeng asked, the entire podium fell silent.
Several standing council members either stared blankly at the table or fiddled with the pens in their hands. Not a single one gave a reason for their vote.
It wasn't that they couldn't come up with excuses.
They were all worried that someone might turn on a lie detector at this moment and expose their grand-sounding reasons, making them lose face.
Zhu Haifeng looked helpless, "You won't say a word for the same question, so how am I supposed to answer?"
Zhu Haifeng stood alone on the podium, while the others sitting remained silent with him.
The atmosphere was a bit awkward.
Qian Wenzhao then said, "Mr. Zhu, I'll get you a chair."
"No need, I'm leaving now," As he spoke, Zhu Haifeng stepped down from the podium and walked toward the door, "I still have other things to take care of. Enjoy your meeting."
Before long, his figure disappeared outside the hall.
As if he had never appeared at all.
Only a room full of stunned people remained.
Shock and silence.
A moment later, Qian Wenzhao continued, "Now, regarding the standing council vote on whether Qin Siyang's papers pass: four votes in favor, three against. Therefore, Qin Siyang's papers are approved and may all be published normally."
After Qian Wenzhao finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent.
The votes of the seven standing council members had tossed everyone in the room back and forth three or four times, and now no one had quite figured out what had just happened.
As for Qin Siyang, he was even more astonished inside.
He had some connections with the Gu family, and even then had to rely on pushing the crystal currency issuance plan to gain support.
With Zhu Haifeng, he had no connection at all, nor had he promised any benefits, so how did he get his supporting vote?
'This wasn't scientific!'
No, this didn't align with his idea of Safe Zone.
He looked at Li Tianming beside him, "Old Li, did you persuade Zhu Haifeng?"
Li Tianming shook his head, "I'm not familiar with Zhu Haifeng."
He then glanced at Zhang Kuang.
Zhang Kuang yawned, "I barely socialize. If Old Li isn't familiar with him, then I definitely don't know him either. Maybe it's Principal Zhao."
'Zhao Longfei?'
If he had that kind of relationship with Zhu Haifeng, he would've probably asked Qin Siyang for benefits long ago.
Qin Siyang couldn't figure it out no matter how much he thought.
At this moment, Qian Wenzhao said again, "The paper hearing has successfully concluded. Thank you all for your participation. Please leave in an orderly manner."
Everyone was still sitting in their seats, dazed, and for a moment no one moved to leave.
Qian Wenzhao gave Qin Siyang a look.
Qin Siyang immediately understood, take the win and leave.
Now that his papers had been approved, if he didn't leave now, when would he?
Qin Siyang and Li Tianming quietly stood up from their seats, walking out of the hall with steady steps under everyone's gaze.
"WHAT THE FUCK?", As soon as they walked out of the hall, Qin Siyang immediately shouted, "Get in the car, get in the car! Hurry up and go! In case those old guys change their minds!"
Hao Liang comforted him, "Little Qin, if they were planning to go back on their word, we would've been stopped already. We wouldn't have made it out."
"I don't care! Let's go! Go back, pack up, and head back to South Glory! No, don't even pack, there are only one or two sets of clothes at the club anyway. Professor Lu, start the capsule cabin, we're heading back to South Glory right now!"
Lu Daoxing waved his hand, "You go ahead and take the drill cabin back yourself. I still have some technical issues to discuss with someone."
Chang Tianxiang nodded, "Same here. Anyway, Little Qin's problem is already solved, and from start to finish there wasn't anything I needed to do. It's rare for top professors from various fields to gather like this, I need to find a few people to have some discussions."
"Uh…"
It wasn't just Chang Tianxiang and Lu Daoxing, other professors also had plans for academic exchanges.
Even Zhang Kuang, who claimed not to socialize, had found someone to talk to.
"Don't worry, decisions made by the standing council of the paper review committee won't be easily overturned."
"Yeah, don't worry too much. Just go back and rest."
This group of professors had nothing but research on their minds.
Qin Siyang could only swallow his frustration and head back to the club alone.
———
Near the venue in District 134, in a corner where a streetlight's glow just didn't reach, two figures were hidden.
They activated conversation shielding and spoke in low voices.
"001, you told me you had fresh sandworm scales in hand, that's why I agreed to vote in favor."
"Relax, I don't have the time to mess with you. Here."
"They really are fresh. 001, why are you and 007 both targeting Qin Siyang?"
"Why ask so many questions? You're not on the same path as the two of us."
"Fair enough. Then see you."
A moment later, the two figures disappeared into the darkness.
[🎉 Shoutout to Jesus, Gavin, Jage and Pierre for joining p@treon. Thank you very much.🤗]
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