Zane automatically filtered out his student''s ''I''m not joking'' expression, only to
sigh again, "Any other student would jump at the chance to take credit for this, but you''re pushing it away."
Mirabe waved her hand, unabashed, "What can I say? I''m just that selfless!"
Zane couldn''t help butugh at Mirabe''sment, "Alright, I get your point. I''ll talk to the otherster."
Mirabe hummed in response, not dwelling further on the topic, "By the way, have you heard from DO Group recently?"
She had received a message from ''J'' yesterday, asking about their artificial life system project.
Zane''s gaze flickered, trying to keep his voice as neutral as possible, "They''re probably still considering. Haven''t heard from them since ourst contact."
Mirabe nodded at his words, "They''ll get back to you, don''t worry."
Zane, harboring his own concerns, didn''t ponder over Mirabe''s words much, fearing she might notice something. He then said, "With coborations in artificial intelligence and biology, there are plenty of options. You don''t need to delve too deeply into it, Mirabe. This project might even fall through in the end."
Seeing Zane''sck of hope, Mirabe wanted to reassure him, but knowing he might not listen, she chose to drop it.
Just then, a knock came from the door.
Zane, eager to switch topics, breathed a sigh of relief at the interruption and called out, "Come in."
Soon, the door opened, and Zane''s brows furrowed slightly upon seeing Mr. Calvin enter. He stood up, then turned to Mirabe, "Mirabe, you can head back first."
His demeanor was no longer as rxed.
Mirabe nced at Zane and nodded, "Okay, Professor."
She got up and walked out, passing by Calvin without a greeting.
Calvin simply frowned but wasn''t upset. He turned to Zane, "Have you thought about what we discussed the other day? It would be good to give Hank a response."
Mirabe paused briefly at the door but, having no interest in eavesdropping, closed the office door behind her.
With Mirabe gone and the office
door shut, Zane sarcastically said to Calvin, I''ve already made the
biggest concession by giving up on the DO Group project. I can''t agree to anything else."
"Do you have to be so stubborn?" Calvin massaged his brow, "Making enemies at the tech institute doesn''t benefit you."
Zane scoffed, won''t even start on the patent issue. Now, after taking our department''s project, you want my students to continue research for the tech institute? Mr. Calvin, if you were in my shoes, would you agree?"
Calvin, unfazed by Zane''s questioning, replied calmly, "The project manager at DO Group is only contacting Hank now. What can I do?"
"Sorry, but as a professor, I can''t be irresponsible to my students." Zane turned back to his desk, unwilling to continue this topic with Mr. Calvin.
Calvin stepped forward, leaning on the desk, and suddenly said, "I heard your student submitted that paper to SCI."
Zane, who was opening a drawer, paused abruptly and looked up sharply.