Chapter 111 An ominous premonition

"Let's go ask the teacher first!"

Jiang Yao's proposal was unanimously approved by everyone.

The group hurried to the teaching building, but were told that several professors including Shi Ruishan and Xue Haiquan were in the office of the school director.

These two mortal enemies actually got together.

Jiang Yao's eyelids twitched, and he instantly had an ominous premonition in his heart.

She took her team to the leadership office.

The door was half open, and several people happened to be looking inside through the gap.

"Professor Xue, congratulations! After three years, you have once again led your team to win the championship of this airplane model competition!"

The satisfied voice of school director Luo Hong came from inside.

"It is my job to bring honor to the school and glory to the team," Xue Haiquan said modestly.

"Hey, this is all your credit. Professor Xue, there's no need to be modest."

Principal Luo's face was beaming with joy, and he was smiling so hard that the wrinkles on his face were exposed.

"After unanimous discussion among our leaders, we have finally decided that this year, your laboratory will once again be selected as the best laboratory and an additional 100 million yuan in project funding will be allocated."

Xue Haiquan was immediately filled with gratitude when he heard this. "Thank you, Mr. Luo, for your respect for our team. I will definitely continue to work hard and lead everyone to a higher level.

It’s just… Although we have received additional funding for our current project, we still lack several laboratories and equipment to carry out our activities—"

As he spoke, his eyes seemed to inadvertently sweep over Shi Ruishan, who was silent beside him.

Director Luo immediately understood what he meant and turned his gaze to Shi Ruishan.

"How about this, Professor Shi? You and Professor Xue are from the same research institute. This time, I'll have to ask you to lend your lab and equipment to Professor Xue and his team."

After he finished speaking, Shi Ruishan, who had been indifferent just now, suddenly widened his eyes and said, "Mr. Luo, this laboratory and equipment are also needed for our team's project..."

President Luo clearly favored Xue Haiquan. "Everything should be prioritized. Professor Xue's research project is currently at the top of the list. As for funding, we have to ask Professor Shi to allocate some first—"

Lian Yingying at the door couldn't stand it anymore and wanted to rush in angrily, but Jiang Yao grabbed her arm.

He took a few people away from the school director's office.

"Yaoyao, why did you try to stop me? They're simply going too far. They're clearly trying to use this opportunity to suppress Teacher Shi and even embezzle our project funds. How shameless!"

Lian Yingying's little face turned red with anger.

Before Jiang Yao could explain, Bi Siyuan on the side spoke first: "Xiao Jiang is right to do this. Can we, a few students, really sway the opinions of the school directors?

Unless we can prove the ranking is wrong."

Lian Yingying immediately lowered her head in frustration.

After a moment, she suddenly seemed to have thought of something, and her eyes lit up. "By the way, Yaoyao, why don't you contact Senior Li and ask if there's any reason behind this ranking? Isn't Senior Li a behind-the-scenes guest of the competition?"

"yes!"

Everyone's eyes fell on her at the same time, and the scorching light in their eyes almost burned her.

Jiang Yao felt a lot of pressure, but finally agreed reluctantly.

"Then let me ask!"

Although her mood was still a little delicate after yesterday's incident, Jiang Yao was still able to distinguish between public and private matters.

She stood up and walked to the side and called Li Beiting.

However, the phone rang for a full sixty seconds, but no one answered.

Jiang Yao was puzzled and guessed that he might be busy with something important, so he opened the WeChat chat box, briefly explained the matter, and sent him a message to ask.

However, there was still no response.

"Senior is currently unavailable, let's go back to the institute first!"

Everyone nodded and followed her back to the institute to do the task at hand.

Half a day passed in a flash.

During lunch break, Jiang Yao picked up his phone several times, but still didn't receive a reply from Li Beiting.

"Yaoyao, how is it?"

In the restaurant, Lian Yingying curiously asked, "Did the senior respond? What did he say? Will he help with the investigation?"

Jiang Yao put his phone on the table and tried to appear calm. "He didn't reply to me."

"Ah? How could this happen? Aren't you a couple? I thought you were inseparable all the time."

Lian Yingying blurted out this sentence with a half-joking tone.

However, Jiang Yao's expression changed.

"You think too much. He and I...are not a couple."

Her tone was calm and composed.

But as soon as I said this, I felt a sense of emptiness in my heart.

Lian Yingying touched her nose guiltily, and looked at Bi Siyuan and the others, signaling with her eyes that they should say something to ease the atmosphere.

"Actually, senior didn't come to school today. Maybe he was delayed by something!" Bi Siyuan quickly tried to smooth things over.

Ning Sheng also agreed: "Yeah, there's no way he saw your message and deliberately didn't reply."

"Hahahaha, how is it possible..."

Several people laughed as they talked.

Jiang Yao shook his head helplessly, "Okay, don't worry about it. Go see the teacher first."

Now is not the time to think about emotional problems. Jiang Yao quickly adjusted his mood and put Li Beiting out of his mind.

Everyone nodded.

After dinner, the group went to Shi Ruishan’s office again and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Jiang Yao and others cautiously poked their heads in.

"Teacher, have you had lunch? We brought you some fruit."

Shi Ruishan couldn't help but narrow his eyes when he saw that several people looked unhappy.

"What's wrong with you? You all look so dejected. You don't think that I'll turn hostile and scold you mercilessly just because you didn't place in a competition, do you?"

Several people looked at each other, still unsure how to explain.

Shi Ruishan instantly put away his serious expression and smiled comfortingly, "Alright, it's just a competition. What can it prove? I won't look down on you for this. No matter what, you are all my most valued students."

Several people were moved.

Jiang Yao took the initiative to step forward and said, "Teacher, we all saw it in the school director's office just now. Please rest assured that we will not allow you to continue to be suppressed. This matter will not end so easily."

"You know that Old Xue. He's just young and hot-tempered, so he's trying to suppress me in various ways. Don't worry, I won't compromise because of this."

Shi Ruishan's eyes fell on them, "As for you, don't do anything stupid just because you lost once!"

"Teacher, actually..." Lian Yingying wanted to express their suspicions, but when the words came to her lips, she was afraid that she had no evidence and would implicate Shi Ruishan instead.

"What actually?" Shi Ruishan asked curiously.

"In fact, we all understand that you are the most professional and powerful professor. Professor Xue is too utilitarian and cannot compare to you."

Bi Siyuan took over the conversation and said with concern: "So, teacher, please don't be affected by it. You must take care of your health."

"Of course!"

After comforting Shi Ruishan, Jiang Yao left with a few others.

Since Li Beiting had not responded yet, Jiang Yao went with the rest of the team to find out the truth.

"But where should we start?"

Lian Yingying asked the question in her heart, "If the judges are all right, then where is the problem?"

Jiang Yao pulled out the ranking list and read it over and over again.

A guess suddenly came to my mind.

She slammed the table, her eyes sharp and clear, "If there's no shady dealings on the judges' side, then the problem is with this ranking list—"