Chapter 228 Eric's Past
Because she was going away for a while, Zhang Wei took the time to prepare everything in advance. She had retaken the paper to be published for the third time and finally passed it with Professor Laura. She then sent it off together with the letter of recommendation. Whether it was successful or not, she had tried her best.
The direction of her research project also changed a bit. After all, her previous considerations had many unrealistic aspects. After communicating with many professionals and listening to the advice of seniors, she narrowed the scope of the project a lot, which greatly reduced the workload and improved efficiency.
Zhang Wei felt that the project might yield results next year, so she was not in a hurry to catch up.
When Zhang Wei met Eric occasionally, he was no longer angry because of his unfriendly attitude. Instead, when he looked at him, he looked directly at him decisively, as if asking him with his eyes: What other tricks do you have? Try them.
As a result, Eric retreated on his own. When he saw Zhang Wei, he no longer provoked her, but just hurriedly avoided her. He still often went to Professor Laura to find a job, but refused to open his own laboratory to give it a try.
Zhang Wei thought he was pathetic, wasting such good resources and his own time on these meaningless things. She felt that Eric simply had a mental problem. Logically speaking, he still had the ability to study for a doctorate, but now he was acting like he had cut off both his arms. He was really useless.
The collection of materials from Zhang Wei's laboratory was back to normal. Eric's previous little movements seemed to have never happened, and he returned to his previous calm state.
On this day, Professor Laura was looking for them to hold a meeting to discuss the materials to be reported for the meeting in Hong Kong. Suddenly, Professor Laura received a phone call. She didn't know what was said on the other end of the phone, but Professor Laura's face changed instantly.
"What? Central Hospital? Okay, I'll be there now!"
After Professor Laura hung up the phone, she immediately said, "Someone drive me to the hospital!"
"Me!" Zhang Wei said immediately. Professor Laura looked very anxious, and Zhang Wei did not hesitate at all.
"Do you need us to join you, Professor?" other students asked.
Professor Laura thought for a moment, called the most steady senior, and then they all got into Zhang Wei's old jeep.
When Zhang Wei arrived at the central hospital and saw Eric lying unconscious on the hospital bed, he still found it a little hard to believe.
After all, I saw him a few days ago and he was still very energetic. I only found out from what the doctor said that this coward actually committed suicide by turning on the gas, and the landlord discovered it when he was urging him to pay the rent.
The hospital could only contact the only contact in his phone, Professor Laura.
Professor Laura stood aside with a grim expression on her face. Zhang Wei felt a little timid. Could it be that she was angry with her?
She seemed so timid that she was not afraid of death and dared to commit suicide. She always felt that she did not have such great destructive power.
"I heard from the people next door that a woman came to see him yesterday morning and they started arguing. He hasn't left his room since then."
His landlord was a fat white lady, who was quite nice. She had been in the hospital all the time, and when she saw them coming, she took the initiative to speak.
Professor Laura took out her credit card and asked the senior to pay the bill. She was relieved to see the landlady, as she was a kind person.
Then she talked a lot, all about Eric. It was unclear whether she heard it or Eric told her.
She said that Eric had rented the house from her many years ago, and he was with a friend of his at the time. Then the two of them fell out overnight, and Eric was betrayed by his friend and lost his friendship and love overnight.
The landlord sympathized with him and often gave him waivers on his rent, so Eric stayed there.
The landlord speculated that it was the ex-girlfriend who came back and stimulated him, causing him to choose to end his life overnight.
Zhang Wei: I said I don’t have that much power…
The landlord said that after she told everyone what she knew, she left the hospital when she saw that someone was there on Eric's side.
Professor Laura didn't say anything and just sat in front of the bed without moving. Zhang Wei and the senior student stayed with her.
Not long after, the machine on Eric's body rang, and he opened his eyes slightly, then closed them again. It was obvious that he had regained some consciousness.
"If this is how you want your life to end, I regret coming here."
Professor Laura said with a stiff face,
"I don't think it's worth my time and the time of other students to spend on someone like you who is ready to end his life at any time."
Eric's eyelids twitched slightly, obviously reacting to what he heard.
"I know you're blaming me in your heart. You're putting off your graduation project as a form of revenge. After all, only the most demanding professors have students who perpetually fail to graduate."
Hearing this, Eric opened his eyes with difficulty and shook his head.
"As for what happened two years ago, you can't produce any substantial evidence to prove that the project was yours. You don't even have a piece of experimental record. How can I defend you?"
At this time, Eric said with difficulty: "You have seen it, you know..."
"But this isn't a decision I can make alone. Cook is also my student. In the face of the evidence, I can only follow the dean's decision."
Zhang Wei finally pieced together the truth of what happened from these fragments:
Eric has a good friend named Cook who is like-minded with Eric. Someone stole Eric's graduation thesis, along with all the materials, on the eve of the defense. Then he accused Cook, but Cook turned the tables and said that Eric stole his thesis.
However, Eric had lost all his information, so the accusation was obviously unfounded. However, Cook graduated successfully. Eric was not popular to begin with, and he was accused of plagiarism. His girlfriend was also stolen away. He thought he trusted his teacher, but he didn't help him, so he was disheartened.
This time, it was probably his ex-girlfriend who provoked him again, forcing him to commit suicide.
Although Zhang Wei didn't like Eric, when he learned about this, he could only sigh and say it was too tragic.
However, he has to bear the consequences of his own bad choices in friendships. Seeking death is not like a real man.
Seeing that Professor Laura was in a bad mood, Zhang Wei also wanted to help her, so Zhang Wei said:
"Since Cook doesn't have any real talent or knowledge, and barely graduating isn't necessarily a good idea, that's why your ex-girlfriend is trying to gain recognition from you."
"If I were you, I'd graduate quickly, publish my findings, find a high-paying job, and achieve some success. There's nothing more frustrating than seeing former losers climbing over your head!"
At this time, Professor Laura also nodded and said:
"Cook's academic talent is indeed mediocre. He was able to graduate only because you did an excellent job on your subject. He spent a lot of time memorizing it."
"You are indeed the most talented student in that class."
As soon as Professor Laura said this, Eric looked at her intently, tears streaming from the corners of his eyes.
Perhaps this is what Eric has been waiting for all this time. After hearing this, he should be able to feel relieved and stand up again...
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