ORCBRB – Chapter 14
Chapter 14
As Jian Cenyu left the office, she passed by the first-floor laboratory and saw a familiar figure in the corridor.
Seeing her stop, Jian Zhiyan followed her gaze and saw a female student being stopped by a third-year male graduate student from their college.
Jian Zhiyan had no impression of this girl, but she was aware of how students under other professors would order new students around. Still, since the girl wasn't her student, she had no standing to interfere.
Just as she was about to head towards the side entrance parking lot, she saw her niece, who usually never meddled in other people's business, take a turn and walk towards the two of them.
Sang Shi'an had come to deliver a document for Gu Yao to the teacher in charge of the Youth League Committee. It concerned this semester's organizational plan, which needed to be filed in hard copy according to regulations.
It was her first time in this laboratory building. Each lab required registration before a student card could be used for access.
The lab buildings for the School of Economics and Management were mostly computer rooms, equipped with various types of sandbox software. This building, however, was completely different. Even through the thick glass, one could sense the immense wealth of the Chemistry College.
As she was looking around curiously, a student she didn't know came out of the lab across the hall and called out to her, “First-year grad student? You look a bit familiar. What’s your name?”
Sang Shi'an didn't think much of it and shook her head in response to his words. “Hello, Senior. I’m a sophomore. Professor Shen said he would be in this lab building this afternoon. I’m here to deliver a document to him.”
“Professor Shen is my advisor. He’s waiting for a set of experiment data right now. Come give me a hand first.” The man looked several years older and directly reached for the sealed file folder in Sang Shi'an’s hand. “You’ll be going to grad school after your sophomore year anyway. It’s not a bad thing to get more experience. How else will you publish papers in the future?”
This was the first time Sang Shi'an had ever encountered something like this. She didn't react at first, stunned for two seconds before realizing she was being roped into forced labor.
She hid the sealed folder behind her back. “Senior, I’m not…”
The male student cut her off, his tone becoming heavier. “Not what? Don’t you undergraduates have to be assigned advisors too? Which advisor are you under? Do you want to graduate smoothly or not?”
Sang Shi'an tried to explain, “Senior, I’m not a student from your college. I’m just here to deliver a document.”
The male student said, “Everyone who doesn’t want to work says that. Don’t think you can get away with it just because it’s the beginning of the semester and I don’t recognize everyone. Don’t come crying to me when you fail your final exams.”
Sang Shi'an: …
What an abuse of power.
She couldn't be bothered to waste her breath on such an idiot and turned to take another staircase upstairs.
“What are you doing?” A voice came from behind. Sang Shi'an turned her head and was surprised to see Jian Cenyu stopping the male student’s hand from reaching for her. “She is not a student of the Chemistry College.”
“Senior Jian?” The other person was stunned. He was a fourth-year graduate student under Professor Shen, his thesis having been delayed. He had heard Professor Shen mention Jian Cenyu’s research papers several times and vaguely knew about the relationship between the Jian family and this laboratory building.
When he first saw Jian Cenyu at the start of the semester, he had enthusiastically gone up to greet her, hoping she could offer some guidance, but he was rebuffed. Jian Cenyu had merely given him a cold nod before walking straight past.
But that didn't matter. People who were talented in research were often eccentric.
He hadn't expected their next interaction would be because of a sophomore. He immediately grew excited. “Senior Jian, you know each other?”
“This is my junior. It’s her first time here. If she has offended you in any way, I apologize on her behalf,” Jian Cenyu said.
The male student waved his hands repeatedly. “You’re too kind, Senior. Your junior is my junior too.”
Standing to the side, Sang Shi'an was on the verge of cursing him out.
The initial shock of running into Jian Cenyu now morphed into a deeper curiosity. This man was clearly quite old; she couldn't understand why he would call Jian Cenyu ‘Senior’.
Sang Shi'an disliked the senior’s two-faced behavior and discreetly tugged on Jian Cenyu’s sleeve, urging her to leave quickly.
The male student was still talking. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Senior. It’s about time for a meal. Why don’t I treat you and your junior? I’ve read your graduation thesis and have always wanted a chance to ask for your guidance.”
Sang Shi'an was displeased and tugged again.
“Senior…”
This was the first time Sang Shi'an had called Jian Cenyu ‘Senior’ since the semester started. Jian Cenyu finally deigned to turn and look at her, a hint of surprise in her eyes.
Sang Shi'an tugged on Jian Cenyu again.
Aren't we leaving yet?
Just as she muttered this softly, her mischievous hand was caught and held by Jian Cenyu. The cool pads of Jian Cenyu’s fingers tapped twice on the back of her hand, as if to say: Don't be hasty.
Sang Shi'an’s lowered gaze fell on their joined hands. That familiar sense of comfort made memories well up from the depths of her mind.
Perhaps because of Jian Corporation, Jian Cenyu had always excelled in math, physics, and chemistry. When Sang Shi'an was in middle school, she often swooned over Jian Cenyu’s quick problem-solving skills. Then, as Jian Cenyu was about to take back the scratch paper, she would grab Jian Cenyu’s hand. “Oh my god, oh my god, Jiejie, you’re so amazing!”
Jian Cenyu would still use her other hand to take away the paper with the solution steps, saying expressionlessly, “Write down what I just said yourself.”
Sang Shi'an, immersed in her admiration for Jian Cenyu and asking about competition-level problems, how could she have been listening seriously? She would chew on her pen and start to fret, as if seeing the problem for the first time.
Jian Cenyu was much more patient than her brother. As she stood there stunned, Jian Cenyu wouldn't rush her, giving her plenty of time.
It wasn't until the cowlick on Sang Shi'an’s head started to droop and the problem-solving formulas on the scratch paper looked more and more similar that Jian Cenyu squeezed her hand back, taking the blame herself. “I think I just used a formula that’s beyond your level. Why didn’t you remind me?”
Sang Shi'an blinked. “Did you?”
“Yes. Remember to tell me right away next time.” Jian Cenyu’s fingertips tapped twice on the back of Sang Shi'an’s hand as she leaned over to teach the problem again.
“How did I say to draw the auxiliary line just now?”
Sang Shi'an smelled the faint, warm, sunny fragrance on Jian Cenyu.
She couldn't help but secretly move closer.
This small movement didn't escape Jian Cenyu’s eyes. She asked, “You don’t want to go to the same school as Jiejie anymore?”
Sang Shi'an’s wandering thoughts immediately returned. “I do, I do, I dream about it.”
Jian Cenyu glanced at her lightly. “Then listen carefully. Get into Yancheng No. 1 High School first.”
Admiring her older sister in her youth wasn't embarrassing, but Sang Shi'an never expected that she, a student who leaned heavily towards humanities, could actually make up for her deficiencies in math, physics, and chemistry, successfully entering the competition training camp for early admission to the provincial key high school.
But thankfully, she was extremely motivated back then. The thought of being able to go to the same school as Jian Cenyu and spend every day together was like a shot of adrenaline.
She had suspected it might have been an excuse Jian Cenyu made up to cooperate with her parents. But Jian Cenyu was true to her word, tutoring her for a whole year starting from the winter break of her second year of middle school, spending almost all her holidays on her.
Even when Jian Cenyu entered her third year of high school and her studies became busy, she would still find time to come to her house and do homework with her.
But things didn't go as planned. While she was in closed-door pre-exam tutoring at the competition camp, Jian Cenyu made the decision to study abroad.
The promise from back then dissipated lightly into the air, along with the plane that carried Jian Cenyu across the ocean.
On the day Jian Cenyu’s plane left, she refused to see her off. When her parents returned from the airport, she was in their garden, burning Jian Cenyu’s used scratch papers one by one.
“If you keep burning them, I’m going to have to call 119,” Sang Shiyue found her.
Sang Shi'an was so angry she threw the rest of the stack into the fire. “I’ll burn them, I’ll burn them, I’ll burn them!”
Sang Shiyue raised his hands and took half a step back. “Alright, alright, my little ancestor. I’ll just watch you burn them, okay?”
…
Sang Shi'an squeezed her eyes shut, dispelling the images popping up in her mind.
Jian Cenyu spoke, asking the male student, “You’re a graduate student in the Chemistry College?”
The male student nodded repeatedly. “I’m Gao Lin, Professor Shen’s student, in my third year.”
“I heard your conversation when I came over. Let’s not even discuss whether my junior is a student of the Chemistry College or not. Undergraduates have their own courses and study tasks. I don’t know if randomly pulling people to work is your idea, or if it was instructed by Professor Shen?”
Jian Cenyu’s voice suddenly deepened. “And as for you threatening a junior student with her final grades, whether you were just saying it or it’s something that actually happens, I will report it to the university. Please be prepared for an investigation.”
Gao Lin’s face instantly turned pale.
It was a common practice in their research group to exploit junior students. Even if word got out, it wasn't a big deal. By the time one reached graduate school, this kind of unwritten rule was tacitly accepted.
Even his threat about final grades, since there was no concrete evidence, they couldn't really do anything to him.
But the person saying these words was backed by Jian Corporation, the company that sponsored this entire lab building and had a close cooperative relationship with the university.
He had already delayed his graduation by a year. It would be incredibly easy for Jian Cenyu to make things difficult for him.
Cold sweat suddenly trickled down Gao Lin’s forehead.
He immediately bowed towards Sang Shi'an. “Junior… ah no, fellow student, this student, your senior’s words and actions were inappropriate just now. I apologize. Please don’t hold it against me. I’m truly sorry for scaring you.”
Sang Shi'an was completely bewildered and turned to look at Jian Cenyu.
She couldn't figure out why things turned out this way. Jian Cenyu didn't speak, just gestured towards Gao Lin with her eyes.
As if asking: Are you satisfied?
Sang Shi'an was even more bewildered. She belatedly realized, was Jian Cenyu standing up for her?
“Fellow student, I…”
“That’s enough.” Sang Shi'an interrupted Gao Lin’s endless stream of words. She was just here to deliver a document. As long as Gao Lin got out of her sight, it was fine. “You can go.”
Gao Lin looked at Jian Cenyu again, and after getting permission, quickly left.
Seeing Sang Shi'an still in a daze, Jian Cenyu reached out and flicked her between the eyebrows. “Weren’t you going to deliver a document to Professor Shen? Follow me.”
Sang Shi'an’s thoughts were pulled back, her mind full of questions that turned into dissatisfaction. “Don’t touch me. I have something to ask you.”
Jian Cenyu seemed to know what Sang Shi'an was going to ask and told her directly, “The lab building was sponsored by the Jian family.”
Sang Shi'an followed her and asked another question, “How does he know you? And why did he call you senior?”
Although campus belle and beau contests were just a form of entertainment for some students, the fact that Gao Lin didn't recognize her but recognized Jian Cenyu was clearly for another reason.
“You can chase after him and ask.” Jian Cenyu walked up the stairs.
Jian Zhiyan, who had been waiting at the end of the corridor, had planned to wait a bit longer. But upon recognizing Sang Shi'an and seeing the two of them go upstairs, she walked out directly.
Well, it seemed like they'd have another person for dinner.
She was from the Sang family, so this could be considered vetting her for Jian Cenyu in advance.
Sang Shi'an blocked Jian Cenyu’s path. “You obviously know.”
“I really don’t know.” Jian Cenyu pushed her aside and continued to lead the way. “But if you insist that I guess, it’s probably because he read my master’s thesis.”
Sang Shi'an’s brain froze for a moment. By the time she reacted, Jian Cenyu was already two meters away.
Sang Shi'an chased after her, raising her voice, “What master’s?”
Jian Cenyu slowed her pace. “I completed a project ahead of schedule during my undergraduate studies, so I didn't need to extend my master's program. I just received my degree before returning to the country.”
Sang Shi'an found it hard to understand. “Why didn’t you say so before? Wait, then what are you doing at Yanjing University?”
“Did you want to listen before?” Jian Cenyu stopped in front of an office and turned around. “The light is still on. Professor Shen should be inside. Go on in.”
Jian Cenyu knocked lightly on the door. Sang Shi'an had no choice but to go in first to deliver the document for Gu Yao.
Professor Shen was one of the teachers she had met in the cafeteria last time. Sang Shi'an wasn't as familiar with him as Gu Yao was, so she left after exchanging a few words.
She gazed at Jian Cenyu’s back, her brow gradually furrowing as she thought about what she had just learned. It was like a thin veil had been draped over everything, its light, intricate patterns obscuring the truth she wanted to uncover.
“Jian Cenyu.” Sang Shi'an called out to her in front of the staircase.
Jian Cenyu heard her and half-turned. A strand of long hair fell beside her neck, swaying gently. “Hm?”
Sang Shi'an stared at that strand of hair for a moment, then her gaze moved up to meet Jian Cenyu’s eyes. “Since you already got your degree in the UK, why did you come to Yanjing University for graduate school?”
Jian Cenyu said, “I studied chemistry before, but I’ll have to take over the company later, so I still need to learn some finance.”
Sang Shi'an gazed into her eyes and quickly walked up the stairs until she stopped on the step above Jian Cenyu. “Is that the only reason?”
Jian Cenyu looked back at her, her gaze frank. “What else?”
Sang Shi'an opened her mouth, feeling like she was cursed today. First, she inexplicably remembered things from the past, and then after hearing that Jian Cenyu already had a master’s degree, she inexplicably rushed to ask for the reason.
Why else would she come to Yanjing University to study finance? Naturally, to better take over the company in the future. She couldn't be fooled by the finance department just because she couldn't read a financial report.
Just like when Jian Cenyu went abroad, it was to attend a school with a stronger ranking in her field.
Sang Shi'an was very rational in this regard. If she had a better choice during her college entrance exams, she would have changed her mind at the last minute too. But as the one whose plans were changed, it would be a lie to say she didn't mind.
The only one to blame was herself for being too dependent on Jian Cenyu back then, even closer to her than to her own brother, to the point that she never considered they would have to part ways after growing up.
“I thought you were kicked out of Jian Corporation for being too inexperienced, so you’re using graduate school as an excuse to save face.”
“Perhaps that’s also possible.”
Jian Cenyu wasn't provoked at all, her expression still faint and unreadable.
Sang Shi'an stopped talking and walked past Jian Cenyu down the stairs.
She had actually heard bits and pieces about the mess in the Jian family. The current head of the family was Jian Cenyu’s father, but Old Master Jian had more than one son, and the other children who didn't get the top position held a significant number of shares.
The old master thought he was being considerate, believing he had treated all his children equally. But the children who only received shares felt they had been tacitly permitted to compete. When Jian Cenyu was in middle school, she was often brought to the Sang family's house. Jian Cenyu’s mother was in poor health and often recuperated in Australia, leaving only a nanny to care for her at home. Sang Shi'an’s parents couldn't bear to see it and simply brought her over.
Now, the power struggle of the previous generation was nearing its end, and the competition among Jian Cenyu’s generation had begun.
And among their generation, the others had already been granted permission by the old master to enter the inner circle, while Jian Cenyu happened to be the youngest.
As she walked around the corner, Jian Cenyu caught up to her and tilted her head slightly. “Are you interested in the Jian family’s affairs?”
Sang Shi'an’s steps faltered for a beat. “Who told your PR department not to do their job? The business section has written about it over and over again.”
“So that’s how it is.” Jian Cenyu watched Sang Shi'an reach for the handrail and suddenly let out a laugh.
Sang Shi'an frowned. “What are you laughing at?”
“I was just thinking about the past.” Jian Cenyu’s tone was very light. “When you were little, watching the evening news seemed like it would kill you. Now you’ve learned to read the financial news.”
Sang Shi'an’s face flushed from Jian Cenyu’s laughter, and her voice turned cold. “Bring up the past again and we’re done.”
Jian Cenyu followed her, her voice like a gentle morning breeze passing through a mountain forest, drifting over. “That won’t do. It wasn’t easy for me to become your friend.”
The word ‘friend’ fell into her ears, seeming to carry a special kind of indulgence.
Sang Shi'an pressed her lips together tightly. Finally, she let out a reluctant, breathy sound. “…Mm.”
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