Success comes from perseverance; no effort is wasted!

"Through hard work and perseverance, no effort is wasted!"

69.

Meng Lanjian was full of resentment, but she could only suppress it in front of everyone on the twelfth floor. She glanced at Chongming several times, and even Wen Chu, who was sitting next to her, secretly asked her if she had quarreled with her senior.

Meng Lanjian sneered inwardly. In the past few days, when she was preparing for the exam, if she had any energy at home, he would punish her repeatedly.

She tested his patience with her studies, so he tested her willpower in bed.

He even euphemistically called it relieving her stress.

She has an oral exam tomorrow, so the two of them are staying in Senjing's duplex apartment for the time being. As soon as Lanjian got home, she pushed Chongming onto the big bed in the game room; it was clear she was about to have a big fight.

Chongming probably knew why Lan Jian had suddenly pushed him down on the bed and made him ride on his lap. He laughed and picked her up, saying, "You're still on Tomato Sauce Week today, aren't you? Don't mess with me!"

Meng Lanjian's lower abdomen felt heavy and was indeed still sore. She restlessly grabbed his arm and sat back down, asking, "What's wrong now?"

She rubbed her hips against his firm abs, completely disregarding whether he was aroused or not.

She left him feeling utterly frustrated, and angrily punched his abs, saying, "You know it's Old Tong who sets the questions! You still torture me with so many difficult questions every day! I have my oral exam tomorrow! Look at my dark circles!"

“You know you have to present your thesis tomorrow,” Chongming said quietly. “Go through it yourself first, and then recite it to me later.”

After saying that, he did a sit-up and lifted Meng Lanjian off him. Meng Lanjian instinctively called out to him, "Where are you going?"

Chongming glanced back at her irritably, "You've already gotten me hard and you're asking me where I'm going?"

"Oh~" Meng Lanjian heard him ask "Where to?" and brought up the old topic again in a sarcastic tone, "So you want to 'have so much fun you'll die!'"

Chongming suddenly turned around and hoisted Meng Lanjian onto his shoulder. She screamed in fright, "What are you doing! Put me down right now! My menstrual blood is about to come out! If it gets on you, you'll be in trouble!"

"I think you'll get out of control if I don't discipline you for a day, huh!" Chongming hoisted her onto his shoulder, one hand protecting her waist, while the other reached over to slap her bottom. "Do you think your period will never end, or your exams will never end?"

Lan Jian was dizzy from being jostled around so much. She finally remembered that she was an invited observer for tomorrow's oral exam and could ask questions. If she angered him now, he might ask her a question on the spot tomorrow, leaving her humiliated and potentially in serious trouble. She pleaded, "Senior brother, I know I was wrong!"

"Prepare your report properly!" Chongming carried her to the computer desk in the study on the second floor. "If you cause any more trouble, I'll order cabbage for your oral exam lunchbox tomorrow!"

What?! It's all cabbage! Meng Lanjian sat up straight in shock. "I'm starting to practice!"

The next day at noon, the five professors who had taken time out of their busy schedules to attend Meng Lanjian's doctoral qualification oral examination sat in the conference room, eating their lunch boxes while listening to her report.

Zhong Shiqing looked at the cabbage in the lunchbox, chewed it several times suspiciously, and then confirmed that there was no cabbage in the lunchbox ordered by his secretary this time.

He listened to Lan Jian's report with a pleasant mood. The oral exam for the thesis proposal was usually just a formality, unlike the written exam which was more rigorous. The more ruthless the professors were when setting the exam, the more pleasant the interview would be.

Each professor politely asked some theoretical questions, but no one asked many about the details of the research technology, since Lan Jian's topic was a collaboration with X University, and no one at the Nuclear Research Institute was currently working on ballistic system design. Professor Bruce from X University, a collaborator of his doctoral advisor during his studies at Chongming University, also asked a question online. Lan Jian answered the technical questions in great detail and with clear logic, and the professor on the other end of the video call nodded frequently.

Finally, Professor Bruce specifically mentioned Chongming, saying that he had come to see him specifically so that Lanjian could successfully pursue a joint doctoral degree at X University. Upon hearing this, Lanjian glanced in Chongming's direction. When Xue Xiang went to sign the contract, it was already through the administrative process. The real opportunity for her to do research with Bruce was facilitated by Chongming.

She smiled and thanked Bruce for his question. After looking around the room, her gaze fell on Chongming.

"Are there any teachers, students, or upperclassmen and underclassmen who want to ask questions?"

After their eyes met, Chongming slowly raised his hand. "I have a question. I want to know, what does pursuing a doctorate mean to you?"

This is a truly clichéd yet thought-provoking question.

Lan Jian and Chong Ming had not rehearsed their lines beforehand, and his sudden question made all the professors present laugh.

What a scene of a senior brother teasing a junior sister!

Lan Jian considered his words carefully and said solemnly, "Thank you for your question, Senior Brother. This is indeed a very insightful and thought-provoking question."

"Actually, before I entered the Nuclear Research Institute, I heard a famous quote from the founder Rutherford, who said that all sciences in the world except physics are like stamp collecting."

Unfortunately, the founder of this field ultimately won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Xue Xiang couldn't resist the cheesy joke and burst out laughing again.

"Although the words of our ancestor may sound somewhat generalized, the essence is very important. He was advising us, the younger generation about to enter the field of nuclear physics, to focus on our own research and not to think that doing this or that is good, or to engage in stamp collecting. Before entering the Institute of Nuclear Physics, I was always worried that my previous research was doing the kind of stamp collecting that our ancestor mentioned. I learned a wide range of things, but I wasn't specialized in anything. But one day, I discovered that I could even use the code that I hated writing proficiently, and that every subject that had made me feel like I was dying was now permeating my current research in every way. I realized that perhaps what our ancestor called stamp collecting wasn't such a bad thing after all."

"Before starting my PhD, I was a very efficient person. I was used to working alone and getting results on a topic within two weeks. But since starting my PhD, I've experienced far too many projects failing. Every time I feel defeated and have to get back up, I remember a simple but very useful piece of advice: 'Effort will never be in vain. If the current method doesn't work, try another approach. If that still doesn't work, you can always ask your professors and senior students for help!'"

Lan Jian's oral exam came to an end in a cheerful atmosphere where the professors couldn't help but chuckle.

"So for me, pursuing a PhD means that while I can focus on my research, I can also collect stamps. And I believe that on this challenging journey, I will succeed and all my efforts will be worthwhile!"

Meng Lanjian, who gave the entire report in English, switched to Chinese only in the last sentence.

She bowed deeply in the center of the meeting room amidst thunderous applause, then was asked by Professor Zhong to wait outside. Chongming and other researchers from the department who had been invited to attend also came out one after another, and the professors discussed the scoring results in the meeting room.

Lan Jian was squatting by the round table outside the door, lost in thought. Chongming helped Lan Jian up and called him to sit down. His expression was somewhat serious, which contrasted sharply with Xue Xiang's calm demeanor inside.

"The quote you just mentioned about the founder was actually written by his close friend John Bernal in 'The Social Importance of Science.' The original sentence is: Rutherford once divided science into physics and stamp collecting, but if we make this analogy, science would be simplified to 'electronic device manufacturing' and stamp collecting."

"Someone once suggested that in this sentence written by Borner, Rutherford did not actually disrespect other disciplines, but was simply expressing his contempt for physical theories that did not originate from experiments."

After Lan Jian finished passionately expressing her views, she learned from Chong Ming that the argument she had cited was inaccurate. Looking at Chong Ming with a bewildered expression, she asked him with a mournful face, "Oh no, what should I do? Will I fail the oral exam because I offended the patriarch?"

"No, you won't." Chongming realized he might have overreacted when he saw her pale face. Not only Meng Lanjian, but he himself had been on edge lately. When he obtained his doctorate abroad, he had to take two oral exams, but that was nothing compared to the tension he felt accompanying Lanjian to her oral exam. "You will definitely pass."

Lan Jian pressed her thumbs together against the web between her thumb and index finger, her head bowed, looking as pitiful as a little dog soaked by the rain. "Senior brother, am I really that useless? I still messed up such an important oral exam because of my careless and thoughtless behavior."

“I don’t think so.” Chongming was flustered and began to regret that she shouldn’t have “nitpicked” when she was already so anxious. “Your entire oral exam was very smooth, your theoretical foundation was solid, and you answered the professional and technical questions very well. As far as I know Bruce is concerned, he wouldn’t have asked so many details if he wasn’t interested in your research.”

"Also, in my opinion, the last paragraph was flawed but not outstanding. 'You are made better by your own efforts, and no effort is wasted.' You delivered it exceptionally well. An oral exam is not research, and to be able to speak so fluently on the spot is something I, as your senior, do not believe I could have answered so completely and sincerely. Lan Jian, you did very well. Don't doubt yourself just because I pointed out some minor issues. My only intention was to help you improve."

"Lanjian," Xue Xiang interrupted the conversation between the two senior and junior disciples. He stood by the door of the conference room and waved to her, "Come in."

Lan Jian glanced at Chongming subconsciously, and Chongming smiled at her, "Go! Best wishes to you!"

Lan Jian walked into the meeting room with the air of a warrior going into battle.

Two minutes later, all the professors came out of the conference room. Chongming stood by the round table, and the professors who passed by couldn't help but make a few teasing remarks. Some said that Chongming was really dedicated to his work, some said that Chongming was also doing a great job, some said that Chongming had now become a scientist who could stand on his own, and some said, "Chongming, you've worked hard."

The last sentence was, of course, said by the hands-off boss, Boss Xue.

"Go inside and help Lan Jian tidy up the meeting room. I'll go upstairs and call the kids from the lab down to help."

After explaining things to Chongming, Xue Xiang took the elevator to the twelfth floor.

Chongming entered the conference room and saw that Meng Lanjian was already...

He regained his composure, though unable to contain his excitement, and breathed a sigh of relief. He then stepped forward and stopped Meng Lanjian, who was about to throw away the waste paper.

Lan Jian then noticed him, and she couldn't help but smile at him.

"Senior, I passed the doctoral qualifying exam and became a doctoral candidate!"

"Congratulations, Meng Lanjian."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chongming's eyes darkened. Lanjian had only ever seen this aggressive look in his eyes at home.

Meng Lanjian was suddenly pulled into Chongming's arms.

She was a little confused.

—Chongming, didn't he never have any intimate behavior with her in the teaching building?

The thought had barely crossed her mind when the person who was leaning down to hug her turned their head and kissed her lips.

His kiss was hot and passionate, his tongue pressing against her palate, plunging in and entwining with hers.

"Hmm, Chongming..."

Lan Jian glanced at the conference room door, which was slightly ajar, but she was still worried that passing students would see this. She pushed him away, pressing against his chest, but he held her captive, not giving her any room to escape. His kisses drew closer and closer, and he pulled her towards the projection screen.

The projector, which had already been turned off, emitted a blue light that illuminated Lan Jian's exquisite makeup, making her appear alluring and mesmerizing as she was being kissed. Chongming did not close his eyes, his gaze fixed intently on her amber eyes.

It takes at least thirty seconds to get from the first floor of the Nuclear Engineering Institute to the twelfth floor by elevator. Add to that the time it takes for the professors to leave and say goodbye on their respective floors, the time to walk from the elevator to the heavy particle lab, and the time it takes for the group of dawdling students to gather in the lab and come downstairs—

They could kiss for a full three minutes.

Chongming held Lanjian tightly around the waist. After she couldn't push him away, she was at a loss. He freed his hand and pulled her hand behind her back, making her waistline fit closer to his body, so that her chin could be raised higher and her lips and tongue could be put into his mouth.

Lan Jian was almost breathless from Chongming's kiss. At first, she could still stare back at him with wide eyes, but as he continued to penetrate her, she became unusually calm—anyway, if they were caught kissing, everyone would see him holding her and her being forced.

The thought of the senior brother embracing and kissing the junior sister who had just finished her oral exam in celebration deeply stimulated Meng Lanjian's nerve endings.

So she began to immerse herself in this forbidden kiss, enjoying it more and more with each kiss, and even instinctively began to reciprocate his advances.

Three minutes later, Chongming decisively ended the tender, lingering kiss.

He pecked at the glistening silver threads at the corners of Lan Jian's mouth a few times, then used his thumb to wipe away the lipstick smudged from his kisses on her lips.

"Pfft!" Lan Jian couldn't help but laugh at his infatuated look. "You should go look in the mirror and wipe your mouth first!"

Chongming was taken aback.

So when the female students came downstairs to help, they only saw the senior from Chongming covering his mouth and nose as he burst out of the door.

"Senior Lan Jian, we're here!" Nie Mumu ran cheerfully towards Lan Jian. "Congratulations on passing the oral exam!"

Man-cho also offered his congratulations.

Only Tan Xiaoxiao asked Lan Jian with a puzzled look, "Senior, what happened to Senior?"

"Him?" Lan Jian said mysteriously, "He probably exhausted himself these past few days helping me prepare for the exam, and that's why he had a nosebleed."

"My body's been completely drained, hahaha!"

"That senior is ruthless!"

Nie Mumu and Wen Chu burst into laughter, while Tan Xiaoxiao stared thoughtfully at Lan Jian's lips, which were smudged beyond the lip line with lipstick, and was greatly alarmed.

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The following is an additional quote from the founder:

The version Lan Jian knew:

AllScienceisEitherPhysicsorStampCollecting.––ErnestRutherford,Nobellaureateinchemistry

Chongming's version:

"Rutherford used todividescienceintophysicsandstampcollecting."

––John Bernal "TheSocialImportanceofScience"

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@Author's announcement: Tomorrow! It's tomorrow! Ludo is coming, hehe!