It’s afternoon in the country, and some people are furiously refreshing Weibo during their lunch break.
The comments are lively and buzzing, all clamoring for Qiao Huaiyao to post a front-facing photo.
Why would anyone take a photo without a front view?
From this angle and the footprints beside it, it’s clear that photos were taken from various angles!
Fans lurking in the comment section are all saying, [Come on, put #Bai Jinyan is stingy# on the screen.]
[Trying to show off his wife but not letting others see him, tsk tsk tsk. Bai Jinyan’s little tricks are all figured out by me.]
The only reply Bai Jinyan made was that back view photo, and he didn’t respond to any other comments.
Qiao Huaiyao washed the cup and poured another cup of hot water for Bai Jinyan. “Go to sleep; we have work tomorrow.”
He had planned to accompany Bai Jinyan for work these two days.
But plans couldn’t keep up with changes; he needed to handle matters with the international lab first.
“Mm.” Bai Jinyan lay down next to Qiao Huaiyao after he settled in, wrapping his arms around him, “Good night.”
Qiao Huaiyao turned over and rested his head on Bai Jinyan’s arm, “Good night.”
…
In the international lab’s screening room:
It was packed with people even before eight o’clock.
Everyone was curious to see this student who could complete an entire experiment in such a short time.
The seats in the room were all taken.
Qiao Huaiyao arrived just in time and saw Qiu Shufeng and others standing in the aisles.
He raised an eyebrow in suspicion, “What’s going on?”
Qiu Shufeng shrugged helplessly, “The teacher asked us to come and watch together.”
It’s uncertain when this video will be available to the public, so it’s best to see it as early as possible.
Moreover, Qiao Huaiyao is their student and also came from the Tsinghua University tour group.
If they are explaining the experiment, it’s only natural that Tsinghua University students can also watch.
Teacher Peng was afraid of being late and called all the students early in the morning.
He didn’t expect other experiment staff to come so early.
Miao Wenxuan walked over and said, “Everything is ready. You can go up and present.”
The materials for the demonstration, including the beakers, were all neatly arranged on the table.
“Mm.” Qiao Huaiyao walked up the steps, stood in front of the podium, and adjusted the height of the microphone.
Before he could speak, an experimenter with a C-level badge on his chest said, “Hold on a moment, Mike hasn’t arrived yet. Can we start in half an hour?”
Miao Wenxuan frowned, “Qiu Yichen, what are you doing?”
The man in the lab coat shrugged, “I just want him to wait for Mike. You know how much Mike cares about this experiment.”
Miao Wenxuan crossed his arms, grumbling in dissatisfaction, “If he really cared, he should have come earlier.”
Qiao Huaiyao ignored them, checked the experimental data, and went over the procedure briefly.
At this moment, Qiu Yichen, who was sitting in the front row, played a voice message.
The foreign language was fast and garbled.
Qiao Huaiyao frowned as he listened.
The message meant: “This experiment can’t yield results in just a few hours. I’ve prepared to work on it for years. That data must be fake. I’m the only one in the world who can achieve this experiment.”
There was more, but Qiu Yichen realized it was inappropriate and turned off his phone.
With an unchanged expression, Qiu Yichen said, “He said he’ll be here soon, just wait a bit longer…”
Qiao Huaiyao responded calmly, “If Mike doesn’t believe the experimental data is real, he should be in the lab repeating the experiment himself.”
Qiu Yichen was stunned, “You can understand what he said?”
Qiao Huaiyao glanced at him coldly, “Either wait outside or keep quiet.”
Without waiting for a response, Qiao Huaiyao tapped his fingers on the table, “Regarding the analysis of the experimental data on the decomposition and extraction of solid materials from Xd-bcz3 solution, let’s begin.”
Qiu Yichen hesitated, looked at his colleagues, and said nothing more.
Qiao Huaiyao’s approach to explaining to professional experimenters was entirely different from addressing freshmen at Tsinghua University.
He didn’t have to avoid technical terms and spoke more fluently.
Qiu Shufeng noticed several people who had been lounging in their seats slowly sitting up straight and reaching for paper and pens from their neighbors.
Clearly, they hadn’t taken this seriously and, like the absent Mike, doubted the experiment.
But they had to come due to others’ influence, so they sat at the back, not even bringing paper or pens.
Qiu Shufeng snorted lightly. Regretting it now, aren’t they?
Regretting not paying attention, huh?
Don’t you know there’s always someone better out there?
This should be an eye-opener for you.
Even though he don’t understand, it feels very impressive.
Qiu Shufeng didn’t dare speak out loud, so he could only silently cheer in his heart.
Wang Zhan noticed Qiu Shufeng sweating, even in the cold weather with the warm air conditioning, looking like he was overheating. “Why are you so nervous?”
Qiu Shufeng stared intently at Qiao Huaiyao on stage. “What do you know? I’m nervous on behalf of our study god.”
Wang Zhan sneered, “Then I’ll thank you on behalf of our study god.”
“Get lost, get lost.”
Qiao Huaiyao explained in English, speaking a bit quickly.
Those in the back, who hadn’t been paying attention at first, now found it hard to catch up. Experimental data is intricate; missing even a little can make it hard to follow. As they forced themselves to keep listening, it only seemed more complex.
“Hey—” Finally, a B-level experimenter raised his hand.
Qiao Huaiyao looked up, his brows slightly furrowed, and gave him a casual glance.
The experimenter felt a chill down his spine: “…”
Without saying a word, he quickly put his hand down, leaned over the table, and tried to hide behind the person in front of him, wishing he could disappear.
He quieted down.
Seeing this, Qiao Huaiyao continued his explanation.
Qiao Huaiyao kept his explanation within the planned time. After finishing, he looked at the A and S-level experimenters in the front row. “That’s all for the experiment content. Are there any questions?”
Albert nodded but didn’t ask any questions, seeming very satisfied with Qiao Huaiyao’s performance.
Instead, another experimenter voiced his doubts.
Qiao Huaiyao responded calmly, providing concise answers.
As he dissected the answers, the experimenter who asked the questions showed a clear understanding.
Qiu Yichen blinked in a daze. Coming to his senses, he hurriedly took out his phone to message Mike: [You’ll definitely regret not coming this time!!!]
Most questions were answered.
Qiao Huaiyao closed the data file that was still scrolling. “If there are any further questions, feel free to contact me…”
Miao Wenxuan added, “I have Qiao’s contact information. If you have any questions, reach out to me first, and I’ll convey them. If necessary, I’ll give you Qiao’s contact information.”
As he said this, Miao Wenxuan glanced at Qiao Huaiyao for approval. “Is this arrangement okay?”
Qiao Huaiyao nodded. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave now.”
Miao Wenxuan was stunned and couldn’t help but say, “Leaving so soon?”
He thought Qiao Huaiyao would stay a bit longer.
Qiao Huaiyao replied, “I have a flight at three.”
All the necessary issues had been resolved, so there was no need to stay at the international laboratory, even if he wasn’t rushing for a flight.
Miao Wenxuan responded with an “oh.” Although Qiao Huaiyao didn’t speak slowly, explaining the compressed experimental process in detail and answering all the questions took quite some time.
Miao Wenxuan, taking on his assistant duties, said, “Alright then, you go ahead and take care of your things. I’ll handle everything here. I’ll contact you if there are any problems.”
Qiao Huaiyao replied calmly, “Mm.”
Upon hearing this, Qiu Shufeng said, “You’re leaving today, Study God? In such a hurry. Sigh… I want to go back too.”
At first, they didn’t have much time to tour the lab, so they wandered around the nearby areas in their free time, almost exploring everything around the hotel.
After the lab tours ended, Qiu Shufeng didn’t know what to do.
Qiao Huaiyao thought for a moment and said, “You can discuss it with the teacher.”
Qiu Shufeng felt a headache just hearing this suggestion. He sighed and said, “I asked. Teacher Peng said if we could reach Qiao Huaiyao’s level and each complete a full experiment, we could leave whenever we wanted, and he’d even act as our bodyguard and escort us back.”
As he spoke, Qiu Shufeng deliberately mimicked Teacher Peng’s voice and even imitated his expression.
Qiao Huaiyao chuckled softly, his gaze bypassing Qiu Shufeng and landing on Teacher Peng in the back.
Teacher Peng placed a hand on Qiu Shufeng’s shoulder. “Well, there’s quite a bit of resentment. So, have you completed your experiment?”
Qiu Shufeng: “?!”
Teacher Peng led Qiu Shufeng aside for a “heart-to-heart,” while Qiao Huaiyao took the opportunity to step out and call Bai Jinyan.
“Brother, are you done with work?” Qiao Huaiyao asked as he walked outside. “I’m planning to go straight to the airport since it’s closer from here.”
It would save him from making two trips.
After a moment, Bai Jinyan’s voice came through the phone. “Mm. Just finished, I’m heading to the airport now.”
Qiao Huaiyao stepped out the door and said, “Okay.”
…
The flight duration was several hours.
After the plane stabilized, Qiao Huaiyao put on his eye mask, reclined his seat, and went to sleep.
He had stayed up late and only slept at dawn, then got up early to go to the international laboratory.
He didn’t feel tired at the time, but waking up early in the morning was exhausting.
The flight time was perfect for catching up on sleep.
After landing, he didn’t go back to Tsinghua University but headed home instead, as it was a holiday and there was no need to return to school or adjust his sleep schedule immediately.
After getting off the plane, he got into the car heading home.
Qiao Huaiyao leaned on Bai Jinyan’s shoulder, still too sleepy to keep his eyes open.
Bai Jinyan held him, turning slightly so Qiao Huaiyao could rest more comfortably in his arms.
The drive from the airport to home wasn’t short.
Qiao Huaiyao woke up drowsily, burying his head in Bai Jinyan’s chest and asked groggily, “Where are we?”
“Almost there.” Bai Jinyan gently rubbed his head and patted his back twice, “Just two more blocks to go.”
Qiao Huaiyao squinted his eyes, “So fast?”
It felt quicker than usual to get home.
“Mm.” As the car turned, Bai Jinyan pulled him closer, “Do you want to sleep a bit more? When we get there, I’ll carry you upstairs.”
Qiao Huaiyao quickly shook his head, “I’m not that sleepy anymore.”
Bai Jinyan raised an eyebrow, even though Qiao Huaiyao’s eyes were barely open.
Even so, he didn’t expose him, instead soothingly patting his back, “Perfect timing then, I have a surprise for you.”
Qiao Huaiyao blinked, “What surprise?”
As soon as he asked, the car came to a stop.
Looking outside at the unfamiliar scenery, Qiao Huaiyao was slightly surprised; it seemed to be a villa community?
A high-end residential area.
Quite far from the villa area they used to live in, in a completely different district.
Qiao Huaiyao hadn’t seen the surprise yet, but he had a bold guess in his mind.
This seemingly far-fetched thought made his heart race, his breath quickening with anticipation.
As the car door opened, he stepped onto a gravel path.
They had driven directly into the villa’s courtyard.
In front of him, the single villa had its door open.
From the doorway, he could see the simply decorated living room, with just flooring and painted walls, no sofas or TV.
Qiao Huaiyao’s lips moved slightly, feeling a weight on his shoulder. He looked up to see Bai Jinyan smiling at him.
“Didn’t you ask me where we’d be spending the New Year this year?”
“I prepared a new house for us…” Bai Jinyan said, his voice lifting with joy, “A new home.”
A brand new home, just for the two of us.