The Scheming Ex-Husband's Courtship-Chapter 565 - 495: Heard What Shouldn’t Have Been Heard

Chapter 565: Chapter 495: Heard What Shouldn’t Have Been Heard
Luo Shangqing was watering the plants in his office when the door was knocked. He put the watering can aside and said, "Come in."
"Professor Luo." Qiao Tong briskly walked in, "Professor Luo, do you have a moment now?"
Luo Shangqing did not look up, picking up the watering can to continue watering the plants: "What is it?"
Qiao Tong was holding a magazine and although she admired Luo Shangqing, she still felt intimidated by his usually serious face. However, it was her dream to work on the new research project as his assistant, a dream shared by nearly everyone at the school.
"Professor Luo, I came to ask about the assistant position," Qiao Tong cautiously looked at him.
"Assistant?" Luo Shangqing seemed not quite understanding her, "What assistant?"
Qiao Tong choked up momentarily, swallowed saliva before saying, "Didn’t you say before that whoever successfully completes the PCR experiment could become your assistant for the new research topic? My article has been published in the magazine."
"I did say that." Luo Shangqing continued diligently watering his plants, "However, I’ve changed my mind now."
The color drained from Qiao Tong’s face, "Professor Luo, what, what do you mean?"
"It’s quite simple. My previous requirement was too low. Just doing a successful PCR experiment isn’t enough to qualify for my assistant. So, my current requirement is to publish in SCI."
Just a moment ago, Qiao Tong was in heaven, but now she suddenly felt like she was in a cold abyss. The PCR experiment had already been difficult enough; if it wasn’t for the accidental success achieved by Mu Chenxi, she wouldn’t have been able to stand here making such a request.
And SCI is the most authoritative and significant global database. The dream of every student and teacher in the school is to have a spot in it. But at the pyramid’s pinnacle, there’s only a tiny space. Only a few can reach the top, and with Qiao Tong’s capability, completing this experiment on her own is nearly impossible.
"Professor Luo." Qiao Tong pursed her somewhat dry lips, "Then, can you be my mentor?"
Luo Shangqing finally put down the watering can and looked at her, "Are you my student?"
Qiao Tong hurriedly nodded.
"During the exams, were you the one who ranked first?"
"Yes." Qiao Tong’s mood lifted slightly; it seems Professor Luo clearly remembered her. It appeared to her that he had already noticed her, so getting his personal mentorship might not be too difficult.
"Every one of my students, I wish for them to achieve scholarly success." Luo Shangqing picked up a homework book that the class monitor had brought, flipping it casually: "But, I don’t want my students to use their knowledge for nefarious means, nor do I want their skills to come not from their own effort but from... plagiarism."
Qiao Tong was shocked, subconsciously stepping back, bumping her shin against the sharp corner of the coffee table, the pain nearly bringing tears to her eyes.
"If I’m not mistaken, you’re still enrolled in my course this semester. I can tell you now, no matter what your score is, I will fail you. You know I have the power to do that," Luo Shangqing said calmly, yet resolutely sealing her fate.
"Professor Luo...."
"Enough, no need to explain. I believe you are well aware of what you’ve done. This resolution is already quite lenient. In the future, focus more on your studies. If there’s a next time, the consequences won’t be so simple." Luo Shangqing waved his hand, "You can leave now."
"Professor Luo, I...."
"Go." Luo Shangqing lowered his head to continue watering the plants, his voice now carrying a stern edge.
Qiao Tong bit her lip, wanting to defend herself, but she even felt her own words would be feeble. She believed that Luo Shangqing must know the truth to have spoken such words; any further defense would be superfluous.
Feeling dejected, Qiao Tong walked out of the office, just to see three male students approaching, one of whom was Qi Hao.
Qi Hao evidently saw her too and paused.
"Qi Hao, let’s go, what are you staring at?" His roommate, still dazed, called out to Qi Hao.
Qi Hao quickly said, "I just remembered I have to go back for something. You guys go ahead to the gym, I’ll be right there."
"Alright, then hurry up." Two classmates carrying a basketball left first.
Qi Hao thought for a moment, then quickly caught up with Qiao Tong in front: "Xiao Tong."
Qiao Tong paused, lowered her head and moved forward, Qi Hao didn’t say anything else but silently followed her until she stopped at the corner of the main building.
"Xiao Tong, what happened, why are you crying?" Qi Hao had noticed Qiao Tong’s reddened eyes before; she looked like she was about to cry, and when she saw him, her tears uncontrollably fell.
"Our affair seems to have been discovered by Professor Luo." Qiao Tong sobbed, "What should I do, he said he will fail me in the course he teaches this semester, and if I fail one subject, I won’t be able to get the scholarship, also, he said he won’t use me as his assistant anymore."
"Don’t be too sad, if you don’t get the scholarship this year, try next year..." Qi Hao was interrupted by Qiao Tong’s sharp voice before he could finish.
"How can I not be upset? I get a scholarship every year, everyone knows I’m a top student, suddenly if I can’t even achieve third place one year, what would people think of me? And didn’t you say no one knows about the thesis, why does Professor Luo know about it? Is it that Susu has been spreading rumors, and it reached Professor Luo’s ears?"
"It’s not her, I’ve made it very clear to her, and she believes it was not me who stole the thesis." Qi Hao sighed, "Xiao Tong, helping you with this was unethical to begin with, it’s impossible to hide it forever, it was bound to be exposed."
"Ha, didn’t you say Susu is completely obedient to you?"
"Yes, she listens to me, but her dormmate Quan Jin is not someone to be underestimated, she seems to know everything, always trying to stir up trouble between us, and Chenxi is not a fool either, she’s silent now but might be plotting something, I think she must be the one who told Professor Luo."
"Enough, let’s stop talking about this, when exactly are you breaking up with her?" Qiao Tong, visibly agitated, looked at him, "Or is it that you can’t bear to break up with her?"
"Xiao Tong, I’m just looking for the right time, you know how dependent Susu is on me, even if I want to leave her, I need to find the appropriate moment, or else with her temperament she won’t let things go easily, I’m afraid she would trouble you." Qi Hao glanced around to make sure no one passed by, he put the basketball bag aside, stepped forward, hugged Qiao Tong, and softly said: "My heart only has room for you, it always has, and it always will. Don’t worry, I will come back to you eventually, I only love you."
"Really?" Qiao Tong also hugged him tightly, "I knew our long relationship wasn’t for nothing."
"Of course not." Qi Hao smiled and patted her back, "By the way, did you mention my work situation to your uncle?"
"I did, he said you won’t graduate for another three years, no rush."
"Although he says so, it’s always good to prepare beforehand, it’s so hard to find a job these days. I still need to give your uncle a heads-up, I want to secure a stable job and income to support you well in the future."
Upon hearing this, Qiao Tong was moved to tears: "Qi Hao, you always think of me, I’m really so lucky."
"As long as you don’t mind that I’m from a rural background, I’m willing to treat you well all my life."
"How could I? I never disliked your background, I only care about the person you are, nothing else matters."
Qi Hao held Qiao Tong’s face, affectionately kissed her cheek: "Thank you, Xiao Tong, you’re really great."
The two shared more loving moments before leaving the main building one after the other. As they left, Quan Jin who had been standing behind a nearby bulletin board appeared, holding two books in her hands. She came here to deliver materials to a friend and just happened to pass by, but unexpectedly saw Qi Hao and Qiao Tong. Her intuition told her to keep following them, and sure enough, she discovered their affair.
It seems she was right, Qi Hao and Qiao Tong were still entangled with each other, poor Susu is kept in the dark, being played for a fool.
Quan Jin clenched her fists, considering whether or not to tell Susu about this, but suddenly saw Qi Hao coming back. Their eyes met, Qi Hao looked somewhat panicked about why she was there, especially as she stood just behind where he and Qiao Tong were talking, a chill running down his spine - could it be that she heard everything they said?
Quan Jin had not expected Qi Hao to come back suddenly, she glanced at him, didn’t say much, and walked away directly.
"Quan Jin." Qi Hao suddenly grabbed her arm, "What did you hear?"
Quan Jin looked at his clearly panicked face, scoffed and said: "I heard everything I should have, and even more than I shouldn’t, what are you referring to?"
Qi Hao frowned, "Quan Jin, I warn you, don’t spread rumors, my affairs are none of your concern."
"How is it rumor-spreading when I saw it with my own eyes? Qi Hao, if you don’t want people to know, don’t do it at all. Aren’t you afraid of retribution?" Quan Jin jerked her arm away, just as a few students entered from the opposite side, she didn’t entangle with him any further, and left holding the materials in her hand.
Qi Hao watched her receding figure, his eyes gradually deepening, picked up the dropped basketball bag, and turned to leave as well.