Free Web NovelChapter 521: Chapter 310: An Annual First-class Natural Science Award_2
"Yes!"
Qian Hong gently nodded, a little depressed, "We originally agreed to meet at the mall, but he suddenly changed it to the faculty cafeteria, since it was closer."
Zhao Yi tugged at the corner of his mouth, tentatively asking, "Was it a blind date?"
"No, no...haha..." Qian Hong awkwardly waved her hands, and quickly said, "I should go!"
She dashed in.
Zhao Yi continued walking at his own pace, headed to the second floor, ordered two small dishes at the window, found a corner to sit and waited for his meal to be served.
Since it was not mealtime yet, there weren’t many people on the second floor of the cafeteria.
While the services here were no match for the restaurants outside, Zhao Yi, as a known figure at Yanhua University, was warmly received each time he came in. His orders were served swiftly, and one good-looking waitress always offered him free drinks.
Content with the service, Zhao Yi quietly sat, deep in thought, and the corner of his eye caught a familiar figure.
Qian Hong?
There was a man with glasses following her. They selected a seat next to the window diagonally across from Zhao Yi’s seat. Qian Hong faced away from Zhao Yi, and the man sat facing him.
Zhao Yi was not the type to pry into people’s private lives, but if he happened to see anything while eating, it couldn’t be deemed his fault for being nosy.
Qian Hong and the man with glasses seemed to be whispering, although it appeared the man was trying to keep the conversation going, and there was a lot of awkward silence.
Zhao Yi could feel the awkwardness from afar.
He simply focused on his meal, and when he looked up again, he was surprised to see the man with glasses had already left, and Qian Hong was sitting at his table.
"How did it go?" Zhao Yi ventured to ask.
Making a pouty face, Qian Hong replied unhappily, "What do you think?"
"Didn’t work out? Phew..."
Zhao Yi appeared to be relieved, "That’s good, that’s good."
"What’s that supposed to mean?" Qian Hong stared at him, catching her collar in her hand, suspicion in her voice, "You’re not..."
"Yes."
Zhao Yi nodded, "I was just worried. That guy seemed quite nice, looked well-mannered and appeared to have a good personality. I was really afraid you’d ruin him."
"... Go to hell!"
"Haha!"
Qian Hong glared at Zhao Yi angrily, declaring loudly, "If I ruined anyone, it would be you!"
"Huh?" frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
"Huh, what huh?"
Zhao Yi pointed at himself, "Are you confessing your feelings?"
"...umph."
Qian Hong finally caught on, stood up indignantly, and swung her purse at Zhao Yi, nearly hitting his head, before she hurriedly walked out.
Zhao Yi watched her retreating figure, letting out a soft sigh.
Women, so much trouble!
...
In the following several days, Zhao Yi spent a great deal of time pondering the concept of supersymmetry, yet he was unable to make much headway. Eventually, he decided not to force inspiration and refocused his attention on his laboratory work.
The structural analysis of the AIDS virus virulence gene VIF was in its final stages. Everyone in the lab was pouring their efforts into the research, hoping to complete it before the holiday.
The research was nearing its end.
One day, Dai Tianqing burst into the lab, excitedly shouting, "Congratulations!" at Zhao Yi.
"Congratulations to your lab, and more importantly, congratulations to you!"
"What?"
A few people in the lab looked over.
A crowd quickly formed at the entrance, including the director Yan Xuelin who walked in with a delighted expression, "Congratulations, Zhao Yi. Your lab’s project won the National Science and Technology Progress Award!"
"Really?"
Zhao Yi also seemed quite pleased.
The rest of the lab broke into cheers. Ai Lixin immediately asked, "Which rank?"
"I’m not sure."
Yan Xuelin responded, "The awarded projects are revealed, but the specific tiers are still unclear. This year, we have two award-winning projects, one is the research of myocarditis factors, and the other is your rheumatoid arthritis research."
"I bet it’s a first-class award!"
Dai Tianqing expressed with certainty, "The influence of the myocarditis research is minor, at most it will be a second-class award. The rheumatoid factor research has significant influence internationally, with numerous reports and citations. I’m sure you will get a first-class award."
"I think so too!"
Yan Xuelin agreed with Dai Tianqing.
Others at the entrance also joined the conversation, "I’ve also heard the news that we received two awards. The award ceremony in the grand hall is going to be lively."
"Indeed, two awards at once and possibly a first-class one. The question is who will represent us to collect the award? Brother Ai, you will be in the spotlight."
"Why?"
Ai Lixin seemed somewhat bewildered.
Dai Tianqing explained, "Zhao Yi probably won’t go. You could go, or Zhang Wei."
Zhang Wei laughed and said, "I actually really want to go."
The people were referring to the awards ceremony.
There are five national science and technology awards domestically, and the National Science and Technology Progress Award is one of them. It is awarded to innovative, influential research, or projects in the country. It’s a collective honor, but they can only send representatives to receive the award. These representatives are usually the leaders of the projects. For a first-class award, it’s very special. The National Science and Technology Progress award has three grading tiers: special class, first-class, and second-class. It’s very hard to achieve a special class award every several years or decades, so in effect, a first-class award is the highest honor. The rank one leader will personally present the award.
Ai Lixin still seemed a bit slow on the uptake and hastily asked, "Why can’t Zhao Yi go?"
