95: Chapter 95 What is the Backfire Method?

The same words, yet they carried a slightly different meaning. If their first meeting was just a casual greeting, this greeting gave Wang Shuo a very solemn feeling, even though the Middle-aged man before him wore a very warm smile.

“Hello, Professor Qian.”

Wang Shuo felt a bit uncomfortable with this sudden formality and was about to say something when Liu Yemei suddenly chimed in, “Mr. Wang, the meeting room on the second floor has been prepared for you. Would you and Professor Qian care to move there?”

Wang Shuo glanced at Liu Yemei in surprise.

The meeting room on the second floor was a place for discussing private matters. Although it couldn't compare to the private reception room on the third floor, it was close enough. After all, he didn't allow just anyone to enter and leave the third floor at will. Although there weren't many people in the company yet, and it seemed the few of them could freely access the third floor, this rule had to be established now. This was also one of the few strict rules that Liu Yemei had set for the company.

Professor Qian Qidong smiled slightly. “A meeting room would be even better. It just so happens that I also have a few things I would like to discuss with student Wang Shuo.”

Is it really just a coincidence? Wang Shuo was somewhat speechless. Who would wait outside someone's door for no reason just to 'happen' to have something to discuss?

He nodded helplessly to Liu Yemei, who then gave a slight nod. “Professor Qian, Mr. Wang, please follow me.”

The meeting room on the second floor was not large. Professor Qian Qidong scanned the room casually after entering and nodded slightly. The decor in the room was very simple, with only two sofas, a coffee table, and some decorative green plants. However, one could tell that they were carefully arranged and placed, with very deliberate positioning. A few ordinary items, when paired together, became simple yet elegant.

Once Liu Yemei served the tea and left, leaving only the two of them in the room, Wang Shuo spoke helplessly, “Professor Qian, you must be very busy, right?”

“Busy?” Professor Qian Qidong took a sip of tea. Thinking of the mess he had left behind, he smiled sheepishly and subconsciously took another sip. “I suppose I should be very busy.”

“Should be?” Wang Shuo raised an eyebrow. Were professors nowadays really this irresponsible? From the sound of it, he had dumped everything onto his students. Mourning for them for three seconds... Wang Shuo decided to stop beating around the bush and asked directly, “Professor Qian, I don't think I've offended you, have I? There's no need for you to keep hounding me over such a small matter, is there? If you really feel that I've done something wrong to offend you, I apologize. Please let me off the hook, and let's just act as if we never met at school, okay?”

Seeing Professor Qian Qidong open his mouth as if hesitating to speak, Wang Shuo went straight to his cards: “If you really can't let this go, I'm also willing to compensate you. You should also know that I do know a few professors at school, like Professor Zeng...”

Before he could finish, Wang Shuo saw Professor Qian Qidong's eyes light up as he stared at him. Wang Shuo felt extremely uncomfortable. “Professor Qian, what are you...”

“Is that true?” Professor Qian Qidong leaned forward, his eyes shining brightly.

“Is what true?”

“That you'll compensate me?” Professor Qian Qidong pressed.

“Of course...”

Professor Qian Qidong suddenly sat back. He paused, seemingly lost in thought, and then nodded slowly. “Student Wang Shuo, you indeed offended me.”

“And you offended me thoroughly, very thoroughly, extremely thoroughly.” Professor Qian Qidong had a deadpan, serious look on his face.

Wang Shuo: “...”

If I offended you so thoroughly, why did you even come to my place...

“To think that I, Professor Qian Qidong, have dominated academia for decades and enjoy a great reputation—even your... cough, our academy's dean grew up hearing of my fame. Although I have long seen through the secular world and don't care for such vanity, living in this world, one cannot escape the dread of public gossip. Student Wang Shuo, do you understand what I mean?”

Wang Shuo was completely baffled. What on earth did he understand? He was just a newly enrolled college student. How could he have caused any public gossip for him, or made him care about vanity?

This is way too big of a label to pin on me...

Besides... I've been enrolled for so long, and even though I've only been to school for four or five days, I've never heard of your great name. Are you sure your reputation isn't just a boast? And the university president grew up hearing of your fame... Wang Shuo couldn't help but complain in his mind. The president is about the same age as you, okay?!

Looking at the expectant face of Professor Qian Qidong before him, Wang Shuo's lips twitched stiffly as he nodded slightly. “Your great name reverberates like thunder in my ears.”

This kid is quite sensible. As for where he offended me, who cares about something even I don't know? As long as he's sensible, it's fine.

Professor Qian Qidong smiled slightly and calmly picked up his teacup. At this moment, he actually exuded a hint of a scholarly, professorial aura.

“Student Wang Shuo, although you did indeed offend me, young people are bound to make mistakes. Making a mistake is no big deal; what matters is mending the fold after the sheep are lost.”

Putting down his teacup, Professor Qian Qidong secretly observed Wang Shuo's expression. Seeing his helpless look, he immediately said, “But since student Wang Shuo has put it this way, holding onto it would make me look a bit petty...”

Wang Shuo nodded in deep agreement. You don't just 'look' a bit petty; you are indeed extremely petty.

“How about this, student Wang Shuo...” Professor Qian Qidong paused. “Let's forget about the compensation. I'm not someone who fusses over gains and losses. Besides, we had a very pleasant conversation on the road yesterday and got along remarkably well.”

I don't want to get along well with you, Wang Shuo grumbled in his heart, though it didn't stop him from nodding repeatedly.

Professor Qian Qidong smiled with satisfaction. “Speaking of which, student Wang Shuo, you don't know how hard it is in our line of work... Not only do we often forget to eat and sleep, working through the night to run experiments, but we still might not get the results we want...”

“It's hard...”

Seemingly reminded of some of his own past experiences, Professor Qian Qidong sighed and lamented for a moment.

“Professor Qian, aren't you a professor in the materials Science department? Do you also have to run experiments so often?”

“It is precisely because I work in materials Science that I must run experiments so often.” Professor Qian Qidong sighed. “The materials are just sitting there. How to combine, arrange, and manufacture them, and whether they can achieve their theoretical properties—we can only find out through experimentation. Only through a vast amount of targeted experimental data can we understand the temper of the materials and formulate the right recipe. The process in between...”

Professor Qian Qidong looked up, his expression turning serious. “So, student Wang Shuo, what is... the Tempering Method?”

Wang Shuo, who was listening intently, was stunned. He couldn't quite react. This transition was way too abrupt, wasn't it?

Looking at the deadpan, serious Professor Qian Qidong, for some reason, Wang Shuo seemed to see a flush of red flash across Professor Qian Qidong's face. An illusion... It must be an illusion.

“This...” Wang Shuo felt like he had been tricked. “This was your real purpose for coming here, wasn't it?”

Professor Qian Qidong smiled without saying a word.

“So, all that talk about offending you earlier was fake, right?”

Professor Qian Qidong picked up his teacup, took a sip of tea, and smiled without saying a word.

“So... is it really worth all this trouble?” Wang Shuo was completely speechless.

“It is.” Professor Qian Qidong put down his teacup, his face full of seriousness. “As long as there is even a sliver of possibility to improve a material's properties, it is worth it to me.”

“You don't work with materials, so you don't know our ultimate pursuit of material properties. Even if the temperature resistance is increased by just one degree, it is as monumental as climbing to the heavens for us. What we face is never success, but failure... continuous failure... countless failures. We search for that tiny sliver of possibility amidst endless failures. I'm not afraid of failure, but it's exhausting, truly exhausting. Compared to that level of difficulty, when there's a possibility right in front of me that I can obtain just by throwing away my shame, which one would you choose?”

Wang Shuo gave it some serious thought and said helplessly, “I'd choose the latter.”

“My young friend, you really are cut out for scientific research.” Professor Qian Qidong glanced at Wang Shuo with great satisfaction, even changing his form of address. “Since we've come this far, I will truly throw my shame to the wind. I ask you, my young friend, to enlighten me on the specific process of this Tempering Method. If you feel reluctant, I won't take advantage of you. Any condition...”

At this moment, Professor Qian Qidong exuded a domineering aura.

“Name it!”