Chapter 612 - 185: The Outbreak of War (Part 2)

There are four young researchers in this car, and just from the number of drivers and bodyguards you can tell their status—they only count as entourage.

They rolled down the window, grinning from ear to ear, and greeted enthusiastically, "Professor Zhang, we all believe in you. You all checked the drawings; there’s no way there’s a mistake. Professor Ai Shengping is clearly making a fuss over nothing."

Professor Zhang snapped, "You don’t know shit."

The four researchers froze awkwardly; their attempt at flattery had landed on the horse’s hoof instead of its leg.

So...Professor Zhang’s temper is just as bad as the rumors say, with zero regard for social niceties.

Fine, Professor Zhang’s rich and brilliant; he doesn’t need to care about their feelings.

The four researchers could only silently make excuses for him in their hearts: geniuses are all eccentric.

Once Ai Shengping arrived at Su Xiaocai’s place, Xing Miao and Xiao Wanzi welcomed Professor Ai inside.

"Where’s Professor Su?"

"Coach is on a call, seems like something urgent came up. Professor, please wait a bit."

Su Xiaocai was trying to reach the person in charge on Blue Star. When she couldn’t get through on his comm, she switched to contacting an intern she knew.

The intern picked up quickly. "Professor Su, hello, what’s up?"

"I heard you contacted the professors today to go to outer space. Admiral Bai isn’t around—how did you even arrange for them to go?" Su Xiaocai knew perfectly well how important these experts were. You only move your main combat power to the front line if you absolutely have to.

The intern paused. "Professor Su, hold on a second."

After a few light but hurried footsteps and a rustling of clothes, the intern spoke again two minutes later.

In a low voice, the intern told Su Xiaocai, "Professor Su, I asked around. Yesterday the professors themselves discussed the next phase of the project and said they wanted to go double-check everything, do an on-site inspection."

Since it was the professors’ own proposal, the Blue Star side had no reason to refuse.

"Who signed off on it?"

The intern lowered her voice even more. "The deputy director of the space station."

"He’s got that much authority?"

"His uncle is a colonel in Blue Star’s Armed Forces Department."

The Armed Forces: the border front-lines are led by a Major General, while this colonel is in charge of Blue Star’s internal security.

But after Admiral Bai took over, he basically became dispensable, like someone parked in a sinecure.

If he wants real power, it can only happen after Admiral Bai is out of the picture.

This intern is no simple character. She’d said before she’d only just joined, yet in just a few days she’d already greased the wheels and dug up intel.

She can get answers from people across different departments—no wonder she’s someone Admiral Bai placed there.

"Thanks." Su Xiaocai hung up, then quickly walked to the hall. A dozen or so professors and their assistants were seated inside.

Ai Shengping stood up first, putting on a show. "Professor Su, there’s something I’d like to consult you about. Do you have a moment?"

Su Xiaocai suddenly understood, the corners of her lips curling into a smile.

So that’s how he managed to lure everyone over so fast. You don’t become chief engineer by being simple; that old fox had figured out her intentions in one go.

"Not much time, but if Professor Ai wants to ask something, I can still squeeze in a few minutes."

"Then shall we talk in a room?" Ai Shengping said.

"Old Man Ai, you suddenly said we had to come here halfway through. You owe us an explanation. What exactly is wrong with the drawings?" The previously opposed Professor Zhang had come too. He was very displeased and raised his voice, scaring the leopard-print cat into hiding behind Huahua.

Huahua’s big round eyes slanted over at him, not scared of him at all.

Such a tiny body, yet it could still shield its wife from the wind and rain.

"Professor Zhang, ease up. Among us scholars, whoever’s more capable leads the way. If Professor Ai spotted a problem and we didn’t, that’s on us. Professor Su is only talking to Professor Ai—that just means she trusts him more. We’ll still get to see the final version anyway, so what’s the big deal?"

At first listen it sounded like he was mediating, but it was actually loaded with barbs.

The professors weren’t some united front. Back in the day, they’d all been on roughly the same level academically, and being overshadowed by this Ai guy had always left a bad taste in their mouths.

They’d been itching to find the right moment to replace Ai Shengping.

But that was then. Now, Ai Shengping’s progress had been huge—his stride had suddenly lengthened, leaving them all behind.

And the culprit was this young upstart of dubious origin, Su Xiaocai.

Sure, you can improve, but if your improvement is that obvious and you don’t bring them along for the ride, you can’t blame them for getting snarky about it.

Su Xiaocai didn’t like butting heads with people, and she tried to keep her temper under control—except in emergencies or when dealing with idiots.

She gave them a glance. "Professor Ai is my student; you guys aren’t. If you want to ask me questions, I charge. For a big project like this, my rates are pretty steep. Are you paying?"

"How old are you, you haven’t even graduated, right?" How dare she talk back to them in that tone.

Just blurting out that the old guy was her student—arrogant, conceited.