It was the height of summer in August, and the weather was exceptionally stuffy and hot.

On the morning of the meeting, the temperature soared to thirty-seven degrees. Heat waves undulated and cicadas chirped loudly, yet inside a meeting room in the college’s administrative building, it was extremely quiet.

A wooden long table was placed in the center of the meeting room, with the college’s leaders and teachers seated around it.

The vice dean picked up a glass cup, in which dried seeds of sterculia floated up and down. After taking several sips of water, he finally spoke: “Everyone knows that Professor Qian from our college has jumped ship to another school. Professor Qian was the academic leader in ‘Molecular Dynamics.’ His departure will have far-reaching effects in various aspects. Student issues, project issues, funding issues… this whole mess needs to be dealt with as soon as possible.”

A leader from the Academic Affairs Office interjected: “The current situation is just that—Professor Qian has left, and the academic leadership for ‘Molecular Dynamics’ will be taken over by our college’s Professor Qu. This is a temporary decision, and the specific regulations still need to be submitted for approval.”

“Professor Qu,” whose full name was Qu Zongyi, was about forty years old, in his prime, with strong academic abilities. He was indeed worthy of being the new academic leader for “Molecular Dynamics.”

Therefore, no one in the entire college opposed this.

The leader continued: “Professor Qian, who left, has left behind two doctoral students and four master’s students. Professor Qian went to a university in the Northwest, far from us. If he continues to advise these six students, he can only do so remotely via the internet, but the laboratory would be unmanaged. According to our students’ reports, Professor Qian hasn’t replied to their emails for more than half a month. What can I do about that?”

The vice dean frowned and prompted: “What can be done?”

That leader bent his left elbow on the table, picked up a pen with his right hand, and raised his voice: “I called Professor Qian. He said he just arrived at the new school, is too busy with work, and can only mentor students after he finishes his urgent tasks. His students have all requested to change advisors, and the college is taking this very seriously…”

While the leader was still explaining the cause and effect, the cicada sounds outside the window grew louder.

Lin Zhixia sat upright on her chair. Tan Qianche happened to be sitting next to Lin Zhixia. Although he and Lin Zhixia weren’t in the same college, his research direction overlapped with Professor Qian’s, so he attended the meeting with the department head.

He hadn’t expected this meeting to be so dull and tedious.

He was drowsy.

Lin Zhixia asked him quietly: “Are you tired?”

He curved his lips into a vibrant smile: “Me? I’m wide awake.”

Lin Zhixia stopped talking.

Tan Qianche asked her in return: “Have you considered taking on a new student?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” Lin Zhixia cautiously replied. “I don’t know what research topics they’re working on.”

Tan Qianche pulled out a stack of documents from his backpack and handed them to Lin Zhixia: “These are the students’ research reports, given to me by the department head. The department head asked me to pick a student to bring into my research group. The students have good fundamentals, they’re all promising seedlings. You should also select a few—you don’t have anyone in your group.”

Lin Zhixia opened the documents, not forgetting to express her gratitude: “Thank you.”

Tan Qianche replied calmly: “You’re my junior colleague, no need for formalities.”

Lin Zhixia quickly browsed through each page of the research reports. She took a liking to a doctoral student named Fang Yiwen. Fang Yiwen’s thinking was very clear, her research direction novel, and her future development immeasurable. She had just begun her second year of doctoral studies.

“This student is outstanding,” Lin Zhixia murmured to herself.

Tan Qianche glanced down: “Fang Yiwen? She is quite clever. I’ve heard her presentations.”

Lin Zhixia nodded slightly: “Professor Qu should be able to mentor her.”

“Can’t you mentor her yourself?” Tan Qianche reminded her. “You’re a specially appointed associate professor, qualified to supervise doctoral students.”

Lin Zhixia remained silent. She closed the report and fell into deep thought.

In the following days, Lin Zhixia still hadn’t expressed her position.

Lin Zhixia believed that for Fang Yiwen, the best new advisor should be one of the college’s academic stars. In comparison, Lin Zhixia’s qualifications were too shallow, her experience insufficient. She had never supervised doctoral students before and might hinder Fang Yiwen’s progress.

The actual developments, however, were beyond Lin Zhixia’s expectations.

Fang Yiwen couldn’t find any advisor willing to accept her.

Fang Yiwen had contacted four professors and had been rejected four times.

Why was this happening?!

Doctoral seniors a year above her had quickly found new advisors.

Fang Yiwen’s academic level wasn’t weak, and she was young. What exactly wasn’t good enough about her?

She couldn’t figure it out, no matter how hard she thought.

When she had nowhere to turn, she stood dazed in the teaching building and happened to meet Tan Qianche. Tan Qianche candidly told Fang Yiwen that Lin Zhixia from the Interdisciplinary College particularly admired her. Without wasting a day, she immediately sought out Lin Zhixia and described her situation.

Lin Zhixia didn’t hesitate at all and promptly decided on the spot.

Fang Yiwen breathed a sigh of relief.

She also brought another master’s student into Lin Zhixia’s group.

That master’s student was named Xu Lingbo, only twenty-three years old this year. He had a buzz cut, a lean build, and dark skin, looking like an energetic young man. On his first day meeting Lin Zhixia, he brought her a pile of rural specialties—walnuts, free-range eggs, sweet potato starch, dried mushrooms—two full bags, all brought from his rural hometown before returning from summer vacation.

Lin Zhixia, shocked, said very seriously: “You don’t need to give me gifts. I won’t accept anything.”

In the spacious office, the air conditioner blew continuously. Xu Lingbo stood straight, explaining without changing his expression: “My dad told me to bring something for Professor Lin. If I don’t bring anything, my dad will nag me every day. These mountain goods are made by my family. If Professor Lin doesn’t want them, I have no place to store them in my dorm, and I’m afraid they’ll spoil.”

Lin Zhixia came up with a solution: “How about this, I’ll transfer you two thousand yuan, consider it as if I bought these things from you. In the future, don’t give gifts anymore. I don’t lack anything.”

After saying this, Lin Zhixia opened her mobile payment app, intending to transfer two thousand yuan to Xu Lingbo.

How could Xu Lingbo dare to accept Lin Zhixia’s money?

Moreover, those mountain goods weren’t worth two thousand yuan!

Xu Lingbo picked up the snakeskin bags and quickly ran out of Lin Zhixia’s office.

On his way back to the dormitory, Xu Lingbo bumped into his dormmates. They all asked him what Professor Lin was like. Xu Lingbo could only say that Professor Lin was unassuming, beautiful, and kind-hearted, but whether she was easy to get along with remained to be seen.

*

The provincial capital’s summer heat ended in late August. A fall rain in early September brought long-absent coolness to the city. For several consecutive days, mist hung like smoke and rain fell continuously, while Lin Zhixia’s mood was exceptionally bright. Her research group now had three students—two master’s students and one doctoral student. The laboratory was also nearly ready, sufficient to carry out some preliminary work.

Lin Zhixia and her three students agreed that every Thursday morning, they would hold a group meeting. All students must report their work for the current week and plans for the next week, and Lin Zhixia would also arrange study tasks for them.

Before Lin Zhixia could finish speaking, Fang Yiwen interrupted her: “Professor Lin, I want to publish a paper this semester.”

Fang Yiwen wore a long-sleeved t-shirt and loose, wide-leg pants. She wore black-framed glasses with her hair hanging down on both sides of the frames, her hair fluffy and messy. Her junior schoolmate Xu Lingbo quietly said, “Senior, before the next meeting… please wash your hair.”

Fang Yiwen whispered to him: “I washed it with soap this morning.”

“Senior,” Xu Lingbo said helplessly, “even the grandparents in my hometown don’t wash their hair with soap anymore.”

Fang Yiwen was very particular. She immediately argued: “I use shampoo soap, the main component is sodium fatty acid salt, with an alkaline pH value not exceeding 9. Hair is keratin, and the chemical reaction between keratin and sodium fatty acid salt in thirty-seven-degree Celsius warm water…”

“Se-se-senior!” Zhan Rui called out loudly to stop her.

She turned her head and asked: “What’s up?”

Zhan Rui pointed at Lin Zhixia.

Fang Yiwen suddenly realized they were still in a group meeting! How had she started bickering with her junior? It was really inappropriate. She hurriedly apologized to Lin Zhixia: “I’m sorry, Professor Lin, I…”

“It’s alright,” Lin Zhixia didn’t seem to mind at all. “We’ve just met recently and need some time to adjust. I’ll gradually get to know you.”

After saying this, Lin Zhixia handed her a document: “You didn’t publish a paper in your first year of doctoral studies. I checked the training plan left by your previous advisor. He wrote it quite concisely, and I reviewed it quickly… These are materials I prepared for you.”

Fang Yiwen directly took the document without saying thank you and immediately lowered her head to read it.

Xu Lingbo displayed an awkward but polite smile.

Zhan Rui’s gaze wandered, his face slightly reddened.

Today’s group meeting ended in a strange and indescribable atmosphere.

*

A few days later, the undergraduates who had just entered their junior year received a notice from the school to start online course selection. A very novel course, “Quantum Bits and Computing,” appeared in the public eye for the first time.

Students also discovered that Professor Lin Zhixia, who offered “Quantum Bits and Computing,” had just turned twenty-two this year, with an impressively bright academic record. Many students, attracted by her reputation, chose this course without hesitation. Some male students, after seeing Lin Zhixia’s photo, also rushed to participate in a “course-grabbing campaign.”

In the end, all one hundred and ten spots for this course were snatched up, leaving not a single place available within just two days.

Lin Zhixia was somewhat pleased.

She couldn’t wait to share this news with Jiang Yubai.

That morning, Jiang Yubai happened to arrive at the university town with his secretary, assistant, lawyer, executives from an internet company, and equipment suppliers for the “Quantum Technology Laboratory.”

Jiang Yubai had already arranged with the college leadership to allow Lin Zhixia to serve as the director and senior advisor of the “Quantum Technology Laboratory,” which would also help promote the development of emerging disciplines at the school. Today, Jiang Yubai came to the college in person to sign contracts, also to avoid future labor disputes within the company.

At ten in the morning, two Mercedes-Benz business vehicles stopped in the university parking lot.

The sky was dim, with a fine drizzle falling. Jiang Yubai’s secretary was the first to get out of the car, opening a black umbrella and holding it over Jiang Yubai’s head.

Jiang Yubai wore a suit and walked slowly through the all-encompassing curtain of rain. Rainwater fell on his leather shoes, wetting the pure black leather toe. Everyone followed behind him as he entered the college’s office building.

Although this group was low-key and quiet, they still attracted frequent glances from passersby.

Someone took a short video, uploaded it to their social media circle, and concisely wrote: “Look! Super handsome guy!”

They only captured Jiang Yubai from behind.

However, even viewing Jiang Yubai from behind, one could see his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs. His physique was like that of a top global male model, almost flawless.