The Glamorous Comeback of the Ousted Heiress

Chapter 382: 148 Ma Institute Fellow’s favorable view, hit her strong suit now_1

Xu Wenyao held the notebook that Bai Lian had returned to him, and amidst his surprise, the two people not far away had already approached.

“You arrived a bit late,” Bai Lian said, resting her right hand on the handle of her suitcase, her white coat casually draped over her arm.

Jiang Fulai had met Xu Wenyao before, so it was not unexpected to see him here.

Listening to Bai Lian’s words, Jiang Fulai only glanced coldly at the academician from the Ma Institute beside him.

Today, the academician found out his car plate was restricted just when he was about to leave, which led to Jiang Family’s driver taking a detour to pick him up. But he wasn’t the least bit embarrassed and instead continued talking to Bai Lian, “There are still 160 days left, you must not relax in your studies.”

“I know,” Bai Lian nodded in acknowledgment.

The academician knew about Bai Lian’s comprehension ability. He was just puzzled how someone with such a strong spatial sense hadn’t been discovered earlier: “Once you’ve finished the review, you can start looking at some high-quality master’s and doctoral theses.”

“Hmph,” Jiang Fulai, who had been waiting for the two to finish talking, sneered in response to this.

He questioned the academician’s use of “high-quality.”

Indeed, there were many subpar works nowadays, and the academician couldn’t refute it: “…I’ll make another list of books for you, to get familiar with the professional vocabulary and definitions first.”

As for top-tier journals, Bai Lian didn’t yet have the qualifications to access them. She was to be nurtured from a smaller scope first. Some major academic families start fostering a scientific spirit in their children from childhood, and Bai Lian’s enlightenment was not considered early.

“We need to catch our flight,” Jiang Fulai reminded without disturbing their conversation, his hand pressing on the handle of Bai Lian’s suitcase. He stood there languidly, only mentioning it when the time reached 5:50.

Their requested airline slot was from 6 to 9 AM.

Finally, the academician looked at Bai Lian, “I’ll be waiting for you in Jiangjing.”

Once the two were done talking, Jiang Fulai tapped lightly on the handle, slightly turning his gaze, as aloof as ever, “Where are you headed?”

He asked Xu Wenyao.

“The, the university.” Xu Wenyao’s gaze still lingered on the academician, not fully recovering his composure.

That would be Jiangjing University. Jiang Fulai arranged for him, “Can you take the academician with you? He’s also heading to Jiangjing University.”

The academician turned to Xu Wenyao, saying in a grave tone, “Then I’ll trouble you, student.”

Xu Wenyao, well-mannered since childhood and stable by nature, was for the first time in so many years at a loss for words—

Was Bai Lian waiting for the academician?

Being able to enter the academician’s laboratory… no, perhaps just to meet the academician in person, that was the dream of all physics students, for the academician was not only an enlightener but also a leading figure in physics domestically.

Due to health reasons, he had been deeply immersed in research on quantum physics and chips for the recent years, rarely making public appearances, the last one being a lecture a year ago.

For Xu Wenyao, this figure who appeared in textbooks was a mythic presence. freewёbnoνel.com

The academician and his kind needed to be closely protected, avoiding too much public exposure even while they were still alive.

**

“Then we’ll take our leave first,” Bai Lian said goodbye to the academician and Xu Wenyao.

She reached for her suitcase and, beneath Jiang Fulai’s somewhat gloomy gaze, tossed her jacket to him, and together they headed toward the gate.

Xu Wenyao stood in place until their figures were out of sight.

Only then did he turn to the academician, his voice sounding a bit wooden, “Shall we go now, Academician?”

“Sure.” The academician, who wasn’t lecturing or teaching, had no airs about him. He wore a dull-gray cotton jacket, not any international brand, his face wore a gentle smile, and walking along the road, he looked indistinguishable from an average elderly person.

Xu Wenyao led him to his car, and once the academician was seated in the backseat, Wenyao caught sight of the old man through the rearview mirror, and it finally sank in that this was truly the academician.

The academician chuckled, “Don’t be nervous, are you also from the physics department?”

“Yes,” Xu Wenyao clenched and then unclenched his fists before explaining, “I had no idea Alian was waiting for you…”

“There’s nothing to talk about,” the academician waved his hand dismissively, “Aside from physics, I’m just an ordinary old man. When placed among the myriad of stars and celestial bodies, I’m merely a speck of dust, so there’s no reason for you to be nervous.”

The more one studies physics, the more one realizes their own insignificance. Civilization is merely a transient visitor on Earth, and it takes a strong mind to withstand such profound feelings of insignificance.

“Bai Lian is a very talented individual,” the academician thought of Bai Lian, her exceptional talent, and her strong inner character, rare among people, “I truly hope she comes to the university sooner.”