dognovel Chapter 1251 Yunrui's sincere words: golden words
Chapter 1251 Yunrui's sincere words: golden words
The principal, who was talking loudly while holding a glass of wine, was dazzled by the sudden flash of light and squinted his eyes, and the smile on his face froze in place.
But his many years of experience in officialdom allowed him to quickly adjust his attitude and put on a friendly look: "Welcome to all media friends! For this seminar, our Xiangtan University..."
The reporters skillfully cooperated with the principal's performance. Each question they asked revolved around the results of the seminar, which made the principal feel proud.
Gu Yunxi stood aside and watched this farce, sneering in his heart. However, just as the president was talking, a reporter suddenly turned to look at Gu Yunqian, and after receiving a subtle nod from the other party, he suddenly changed the subject: "President, may I ask if the sudden retirement of Professor Zhou Zhengming and the former Dean of the Department of Chemistry is related to the personnel changes in Professor Gu Yunxi's team?"
The principal's smile froze instantly, and the veins on his forehead throbbed slightly: "This... This is a normal personnel adjustment in the school..."
Another reporter followed up with a follow-up question: "What about the rumors of Professor Gu's affair with his student? Was the school's decision to quickly suspend Professor Gu related to Professor Zhou Zhengming? Is your school in a dilemma of having no one available?"
The banquet hall was silent, and everyone's eyes were focused on the principal. The principal's face turned from red to white, and then gradually turned liver-colored, and anger almost burst out of his eyes.
But facing the camera, he had to take a deep breath and force a smile: "After investigation, it was a complete misunderstanding. Professor Gu Yunxi and his team have made outstanding contributions to the school and are the pride of Xiangtan University. As for Professor Zhou... As for Mr. Zhou Zhengming... We also thank him for his many years of dedication. People always have to accept old age. I hope he can enjoy his retirement life..."
Gu Yunxi looked at the principal's embarrassed appearance, and the long-suppressed anger in her heart finally dissipated. She turned her head to look at her brother, Gu Yunqian was holding a wine glass elegantly and winked at her.
At this moment, without words, the brother and sister both understood that they had won this silent war.
The crystal chandelier in the banquet hall became a shadow in front of the principal's eyes. He loosened his tight tie and wiped the cold sweat on his forehead with his fingertips, which were still sticky with alcohol.
The moment he turned around, he met Gu Yunqian's half-smile. The man was leaning against a carved pillar, twirling the whiskey glass with his slender fingers. The sound of the ice cubes colliding penetrated the noisy voices, like some kind of subtle mockery.
"The principal is so charming." Gu Yunqian raised his glass, and the amber wine rippled under the light. In the eyes of the principal, the action of raising the glass seemed like a condescending salute from a victor.
His throat tightened as he thought of the traps that the reporters had set when they asked him questions, and of his own excuses that were full of loopholes and that he had tried to remain calm in front of the camera.
It turned out that from the moment the media entered the scene, he became a chess piece controlled by others on the chessboard.
The air suddenly became thick, and the principal felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Gu Yunxi stood beside her brother, and changed her white coat into a slim black dress, which made her look more sharp than when she was wearing a lab coat.
He suddenly realized that when he acquiesced to the suspension decision, he underestimated not only the academic ability of the young professor, but also the unfathomable means of the Gu family.
"Mr. Gu, is this glass of wine to celebrate the school's scientific breakthrough, or..." The principal's voice was heavy, and he deliberately dragged out the tail tone to test it, but it stopped abruptly when he met Gu Yunqian's suddenly cold eyes.
The other party put down his wine glass, took out a gold-stamped envelope from his inner pocket and pushed it over. His movements were as elegant as if he was signing a business contract.
"The catalytic materials laboratory at Xiangtan University needs to be renovated." Gu Yunqian's voice was filled with an unquestionable sense of oppression. "My father always said that education is a century-old foundation."
The documents in the envelope slid out a long shadow on the desk. The president caught a glimpse of the words "50 million special research fund" and swallowed his saliva. This number was enough for him to be highlighted in the annual report of the Education Department, but it was also like a thorn reminding him: if it weren't for Gu Yunxi, this money would never have landed in Xiangda's account.
I don't know when a drizzle started outside the window, and the rain hit the stained glass, leaving colorful water marks.
The principal picked up the teacup and took a sip. The hot tea sobered him up.
Gu Yunqian turned his watch seemingly casually, and the diamonds on the dial flickered in the dark, like some kind of silent countdown.
He suddenly remembered how he had stood in the rain for two hours downstairs of the Gu family three days ago before he could see the miserable appearance of the people. Those who put on airs in front of their subordinates were nothing but a joke in front of the Gu family.
"The position of the Dean of the Chemistry Department is still vacant." The principal put down the teacup, and the ceramics collided with the mahogany tabletop with a light sound. "Professor Gu's academic ability is obvious to all, but..." He paused deliberately, observing the subtle movement of Gu Yunqian raising his eyebrows, "Administrative affairs are complicated. I wonder if President Gu is willing to recommend a talented person?"
Gu Yunqian's slender fingers tapped the table, and the rhythm gradually overlapped with the sound of rain. The principal noticed the emerald ring on his ring finger. The deep green was like a deep pool, reflecting his tense face.
"The president is a smart man." Gu Yunqian finally spoke, his tone carrying the almsgiving tone of a superior, "If Xiangda wants to make further progress in the Double First-Class Evaluation, perhaps it should listen more to the voices of young people."
These words made the principal feel cold on his back, but he had to put on a smile.
All the steps he had taken to suppress Gu Yunxi have now become a handle.
What Gu Yunqian sent was not only funds, but also a step for him to mend the rift - as long as he goes along with the other party's wishes, those embarrassing pasts might be covered up by the halo of scientific research achievements.
"Of course, of course." The principal nodded repeatedly, digging his fingernails deep into his palms. "The school will remember Mr. Gu's support for Xiangtan University."
He looked at the elegant posture of Gu Yunqian standing up and adjusting his suit, and suddenly realized that this celebration party was not held for Gu Yunxi at all, but a trap set by the Gu family to tame him.
And he had no other choice but to accept the olive branch with a smile...
A few days later, white mist rose from the spout of the purple clay teapot on the sandalwood tea tray in the principal's office, but it could not dispel the stagnation in the air.
Gu Yunxi sat upright in a dark brown leather chair, the wrinkles on the hem of his white coat forming a subtle contrast with the gold-plated Hunan University emblem behind the president.
The clinking of glasses at the celebration banquet seemed to still be ringing in my ears, but at this moment, the appointment document pushed over by the principal had been rubbed repeatedly and had frayed edges.
"Professor Gu, the Chemistry Department cannot be leaderless for too long." The president turned the Jingdezhen celadon cup, and the fish pattern on the bottom of the cup was distorted in the tea soup. "Your academic achievements are obvious to all, and so is your management team..."
"Principal, are you planning to do the same to me?" Gu Yunxi suddenly spoke, lightly tapping the faint marks on the appointment letter.
The north wind outside the window slapped the blinds, cutting the principal's suddenly tense expression into alternating light and dark stripes.
Of course she knew that her brother's 50 million research fund was currently lying in the school account with a cold glow, just like the way Gu Yunqian looked at people - a steel knife hidden in the gentleness.
The president's Adam's apple rolled, and the teacup made a dull sound when it hit the sandalwood tabletop. "Professor Gu, you are too kind. Xiangtan University needs talents like you, and the board of directors also unanimously agrees..."
"Which is more important, the opinion of the board of directors or the promise made by certain people in the Education Department?" Gu Yunxi took off his glasses and wiped the lenses. His movements were elegant but carried an unquestionable sense of oppression.
She thought of the old accounts dug up by the reporters at the celebration party, and her brother's silent arrangements behind the camera, and suddenly she felt that the air in the office was filled with the unique calculating smell of the Gu family.