Xue Xi searched the laboratory building but could not find Li Chun. In the end, she asked around and heard that Li Chun was in Mr. Guo’s office.
At this moment, the skinny Li Chun was confronting Mr. Guo.
He was wearing glasses and his eyes were gloomy. He looked exactly the same as Mr. Guo, who was sitting on the chair. However, there was more pride in Mr. Guo’s face while Li Chun’s face was filled with despair.
Li Chun looked at Mr. Guo. He clenched his fists nervously, his shoulders trembling.
Mr. Guo smiled. “Li Chun, why are you looking for me?”
Li Chun gulped. He was clearly very nervous and timid. He seemed to have mustered up his courage and raised his head. “Mr. Guo, you must pass the thesis!”
Mr. Guo raised his eyebrows and said in confusion, “Why? Your thesis this time is still not up to standard. Look at this mathematical concept. It’s written very vaguely. I have always had high expectations for you guys.”
Li Chun’s fingers tugged at the corner of his shirt as he said, “You, don’t say all this. You’re targeting me. I-I’ll tell on you. I know that you’ve been investigated. If you still don’t give me a thesis, I-I’ll go report you to them!”
Mr. Guo frowned and said sternly, “Report me for what?”
Li Chun gulped again. “Report you for mistreating the students. Tell them everything you’ve done to me all these years! I… I’ll testify in court. By then, you won’t even have the right to be a teacher!”
Mr. Guo sighed. “Li Chun, have we reached this stage?”
Li Chun’s eyes turned red. “Mr. Guo, take it that I’m begging you! My parents worked so hard to let me come to such a huge place. I’ve already contacted a company and they’ll give me a very high salary. I beg you to let me go! The company is only giving me a month’s time. If I don’t report to them, this job will be gone!”
Mr. Guo shook his head. “I’m not blocking your way. I just have a stricter requirement for your thesis. Li Chun, I’ve taught you for so many years. Don’t tell me you don’t know my good intentions for you! You’d better do your project well. After you’re done, I won’t mistreat you.”
Li Chun shouted, “Mr. Guo! You always say that, but when have you ever given me an allowance for those projects in the past?!”
Mr. Guo shook his head and sighed. “Li Chun, it’s not right for you to threaten your teacher like this. Moreover, do you think it’ll be useful for you to report me?”
Li Chun took a step back. “I don’t care! Mr. Guo, you’re in a sensitive period now. If I report you, you’ll be finished! I beg you, let me off! I promise I won’t say a single word outside. Mr. Guo, I beg you!”
After saying that, Li Chun knelt down with a bang.
Two streams of tears flowed from his eyes.
It was said that men had gold under their knees, and they did not cry easily. However, Li Chun had suffered too much over the years. Ever since he entered university, he had been helping Mr. Guo with the project. During his four years in university, he had not been given a single cent by Mr. Guo.
And he’d foolishly thought that Mr. Guo was really good to him.
Later, after the post-graduate studies, he’d continued to work with Mr. Guo. He had never known what was happening outside, until one day, he realized that the students in the laboratory next door who helped the teachers do their work all had subsidies.
After doing five years of free work, he finally understood that Mr. Guo was suppressing him. This person was really too good.
He would treat him to a meal and even buy him clothes sometimes.
In the eyes of others, Mr. Guo treated him as though he was his son.
However, Li Chun would rather not have such intimacy!
Whenever he mentioned the matter of subsidies, Mr. Guo’s expression would change. Li Chun was timid and did not dare to make a scene. Hence, his anger remained bottled up until graduation approached.
He thought that he could finally leave him.
Unexpectedly, in the end, he was stuck on the graduation thesis.
Mr. Guo used the excuse that he did not meet the standards and forcefully made him stay. He wanted him to learn for another year, but the real reason was that the project he was in charge of was not completed yet!
Mr. Guo seemed to want him to finish it for free.
Free…
He was already 26 years old. His family was in so much difficulty, yet he still needed his father to pay for his living expenses every month. All these years, he had not earned a single cent.
However, Mr. Guo had squeezed him too hard. He did not even have time to enjoy his private life!
He yearned for freedom so, so much!
The man kneeling and crying here was enough to show how much despair he must be feeling!
Mr. Guo seemed to be touched by him.
He sighed and stood up from the chair. He walked to Li Chun and held his arm. “What are you doing? Get up!”
Li Chun: “Mr. Guo, have you agreed to pass my thesis?!”
Mr. Guo sighed. “I agree. You can go back first!”
Li Chun’s eyes lit up. “Okay!”
Li Chun walked out of Mr. Guo’s office. When he walked out, he happened to pass by the first office on this floor.
It was a temporary office for the team investigating Mr. Guo.
At this moment, Xue Xi was standing outside.
The investigation team had invited students who had interacted with Mr. Guo to ask about the situation. The rest of the students were queuing outside and could not enter the office.
The area around Xue Xi was empty, but on the other side was the group of people in Mr. Guo’s laboratory.
It was obvious that the honest Xue Xi was being isolated.
Li Chun knew that Xue Xi had reported Mr. Guo to the school.
He admired her courage. If he had been as brave as his junior back then, he might not have ended up like this.
However, he also knew that he was a timid person.
He did not dare to look at Xue Xi’s eyes and walked past her.
As he carefully walked past her, the girl’s cold voice sounded. “Senior, have you defended your thesis?”
Li Chun lowered his head and replied softly, “Yes.”
He quickened her pace.
He felt that he had let Xue Xi down.
Before Xue Xi came, she had expected such a situation to happen. After all, Mr. Guo was being investigated and he did not dare to commit crimes. If he did something wrong now, he would definitely quickly correct it.
She would not force Li Chun, so she said calmly, “Congratulations.”
Li Chun lowered his head even more and walked out without daring to stop.
He turned a corner and reached the staircase. He flashed to the side and supported himself against the wall. He carefully and slowly popped his head out.
Even though the girl was isolated, she was neither servile nor overbearing. She was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and her red hair gave off a different vibe, but her back was straight.
Opposite her, someone from the group said, “Xue Xi, do you have a conscience? Mr. Guo is such a good person and you even reported him. How can you do this?”
“That’s right, you heartless thing!”
“It’s a serious crime to slander a teacher.”
“When we go in later, you’ll be the only one we’ll report. We’ll all say that Mr. Guo is good. Just wait for your punishment!”
The words of this group of people were vicious, but the girl remained unmoved. She leaned against the wall and looked at her phone, as though she was unconcerned.
As Li Chun watched, he suddenly seemed to gain courage from her.
This should not be the case.
Bad people should not be forgiven, and good people should not be misunderstood.
Li Chun clenched his jaw and slowly walked out…