Nan Zhubin remained silent.
What Weng Pinting said was certainly reasonable.
No, it was too reasonable.
Nan Zhubin still did not respond.
At this moment, Weng Pinting appeared particularly patient.
She finally persuaded with reason: "Besides, if this visitor indeed had issues, why would your teacher and that clinic pass them over to you? Wouldn’t that be foolish for them?"
Nan Zhubin left Weng Pinting’s supervisor’s office, feeling convinced.
And felt he should be convinced.
Because Weng Pinting’s points each struck at the heart of the matter.
Firstly, even if the private clinic had issues that harmed Li Minglu, those were problems of the past. A consultant’s job is to soothe the present and look to the future, not to trace back and vent on behalf of a visitor’s past grievances.
Secondly, if the private clinic indeed had issues, and Nan Zhubin really intended to oppose it, the difficulties he would face would far exceed those he faced with Wang An before.
Moreover, this private clinic is also related to Jiang University Affiliated Hospital, and could possibly extend to Jiang University.
Nan Zhubin neither needed to, nor was capable of, countering it.
"It’s none of my business; I just need to focus on the visitor and my current work."
"But... for some reason, there’s something inside that seems to be shouting."
That wasn’t some so-called professional ethics, but rather a part from the subconscious rising to the consciousness level, continuously affecting Nan Zhubin emotionally.
Agitation, impulsiveness.
Nan Zhubin took a deep breath, did not perform Emotion Rebalancing, but instead used his own emotional management to suppress this unusual feeling.
Just as he prepared to return to his desk, all of a sudden.
He took it out, and on the caller ID were the words [Teacher].
Nan Zhubin pressed the answer button: "Hello, Teacher?"
A voice came through, stranger but mixed with some familiarity: "It’s me. Zhuren, how have you been lately?"
"Good, I’ve returned to the country recently, and I heard that you’re also responsible for a joint project at the university. Can we meet when you have time?"
The conversation was quite brief.
It only confirmed the time, place, and people involved, and then ended hastily.
It seemed like a letter exchanged between duelists, sent not for courtesy but to give both parties psychological preparation before a big confrontation.
Nan Zhubin silently looked at the phone, took a deep breath.
He let out a breath slowly.
"Now, it seems this matter does involve me..."
"If there are no other issues, this group meeting ends here. If you have individual questions, come see me separately. The rest can leave."
Hearing the steady voice from behind the desk, the students agreed.
Afterwards came the gradual chorus of "Goodbye, Teacher."
Those voices carried respect, awe, and even longing, emotions that Huang Xin had grown accustomed to from hearing for so long.
After their greetings, the students left one by one, leaving behind the somewhat uneasy small-eyed grad student Huang Xin, and the inexplicably but also nervously following Big Nose junior.
And the host of this meeting, their mentor, Lin Lulin.
They had just finished a group meeting.
Master’s students typically have a three-year program with few classes. Most of the theoretical courses are concentrated in the first year, and by systematically progressing to the second year, they usually complete the credits required in the classroom, with no further courses arranged by the university or college.
At this point, the "group meetings" led by mentors replaced classes, becoming the most important part of students’ campus life.
And all sorts of experiments, projects, or miscellaneous off-campus work deriving from them, are tailored according to the mentor’s situation.
One could say that whether a master’s student has a successful three years depends entirely on the mentor.
Big Nose junior felt his current situation was decent.
Small-eyed senior did not feel the same.
Lin Lulin did not lift his head while organizing the documents in his hands.
It was a while before he seemed to realize there were still people in the room.
"Ah, Xiao Liu, why are you still here, have you found a suitable research direction recently?"
Liu Pan, the Big Nose junior, was stunned.
"Then no rush, just slowly browse the literature, research directions can’t be hurried—how’s your father’s work recently? His health?"
"That’s good." Lin Lulin turned to look at Huang Xin, "And you, what’s the matter?"
Huang Xin’s small eyes squinted almost shut from nervousness: "Nan Zhubin..."
"You don’t need to worry about Zhuren’s matters," Lin Lulin interrupted, "I’ve taken over. Are there any other research questions?"
"If not, leave quickly, or there won’t be food left in the cafeteria."
Huang Xin felt relieved as if granted amnesty, and hurriedly left with junior Liu Pan.
Once at the stairwell, Huang Xin let out a long breath, revealing a relaxed expression.
"Senior." Seeing a tense Huang Xin, Liu Pan looked puzzled.
"Why do I always feel you’re afraid of the teacher? Isn’t he easy to talk to?"
Because you’re different.
Huang Xin glanced at his junior, but ultimately didn’t speak these words aloud.
"I’m not relaxed because I’m away from the teacher, but because of Nan Zhubin’s issue..."
Huang Xin exhaled deeply: "Fortunately, the teacher is now handling this. I admit, Nan Zhubin has now gained a backing and access to more consultations than before, but I’m still no match for him."
"But now that the teacher is involved, everything will be fine. Does Nan Zhubin have the ability to deal with the teacher too?"
"I’m not afraid of him anymore, hahaha!"
"I’ll treat you to lunch today, junior, we..."
Huang Xin’s words suddenly stopped.
Because at that moment, he suddenly heard the voices of senior sisters and junior sisters in the corridor.
They hadn’t stayed in the office for long, so their fellow group members hadn’t gone far.
And since the psychology project group was predominantly female, with Huang Xin and Liu Pan as the only male master’s students currently on campus, those not far were all senior and junior sisters.
From afar, their crisp voices could be heard.
"Junior, long time no see!"
"When did you come back?"
"Ah, is it senior? Haven’t seen you, good afternoon senior..."
Those voices carried energy, freedom, and an indispensable sense of anticipation, emotions Huang Xin had long become familiar with from listening to them often.
Even though he hadn’t heard them for a long time, they still felt familiar.
Huang Xin’s small eyes suddenly widened—
The man had returned!