Marrying the Scumbag Gong’s Villainous Older Brother [Transmigration] - Chapter 14

[Jingxun: ?] [Sir: My information.] [Jingxun: I know.]

Of course I can see that it’s your information.

Actually, there really was no need to be so formal… That was what Jingxun wanted to say. But since the other party had already sent it, there was no point in saying anything else. He long-pressed the image and saved the form to his phone.

Jingxun began editing a message: [Thank you for the cake, Sir, and the watch…]

Before he could finish, the WeChat notification sounded again.

[Sir: Go to sleep early.]

Jingxun: …

Was this his way of ending today’s conversation? Urging him to sleep was essentially the same as saying goodnight directly. Jingxun instinctively deleted the text he was editing.

It was quite normal, he supposed…

After all, President Shen was always so busy. Even if it weren’t bedtime, the two of them likely wouldn’t be chatting much via WeChat anyway. Particularly during the three hours they spent together earlier, aside from answering necessary phone calls, this “Big Brother Sir” hadn’t looked at his phone once. It was clear he didn’t have a habit of playing on his phone.

Adding him on WeChat was probably just for “official business” like this.

Jingxun understood this well. He wasn’t someone who particularly enjoyed using a phone, and in the past, he hadn’t had the habit of chatting on WeChat at all.

Though in his memories, the original owner and the scumbag chatted quite frequently through messaging apps. The original owner was usually busy with part-time jobs, but during their “passionate” phase, the scumbag would often message him to ask what he was doing or if he had eaten. Blinded by his “love brain,” the original owner would squeeze out time to reply no matter how busy he was.

To that person, it might have been a form of flirting—a bit of romantic fun between a couple to nurture their relationship. But for Jingxun… if he imagined someone messaging him all day just to ask if he’d eaten or what he was up to…

He would, in all likelihood, be too lazy to reply.

So, this current arrangement was for the best. They gave each other space and took only what they needed.

[Mhm, mhm, going to sleep soon. Goodnight, Sir.]

After the text, Jingxun added a “goodnight” emoji.

[Goodnight.]

After that “goodnight,” the phone remained silent.

Certain that the other party wouldn’t contact him again, Jingxun lightheartedly set his phone aside and continued browsing various recruitment websites. However, whether it was because of that “goodnight” or because the day had truly been exhausting, a wave of sleepiness soon washed over him.

He simply shut down the computer, pushed his chair back under the desk, and climbed the ladder back to his top bunk.

“Eh? Ah-Xun, you’re sleeping so early?” Yang Yi was the first to notice the movement and glanced at the time. “The lights haven’t even gone out yet.”

“Mhm.”

Jingxun curled into his air-conditioned blanket, leaving only his handsome face exposed. “I’m tired.”

“Alright then, go ahead and sleep. I’ll turn off the light.”

The dormitory ceiling had two fluorescent lights. To manage life after the lights-out policy, everyone had a small desk lamp prepared. Generally, no one in the dorm manually turned off the ceiling lights; they usually just waited for the scheduled power cut for them to turn off automatically.

Jingxun didn’t want his roommates to give up their light for him and said, “It’s fine, I can sleep even if I cover my head with the blanket.”

Below, Yang Yi had already turned off the light without another word.

“…Thank you,” Jingxun said.

“No problem, get some sleep,” Yang Yi’s lazy voice drifted up.

His roommates still had to feverishly memorize the key points for the final exams. Amidst the slight rustling of their turning pages, Jingxun drifted into a dreamland.

Perhaps because he was truly exhausted, he slept very deeply. A night without dreams.

The next day at noon, Jingxun actually received a call from Professor Huo.

It was an unfamiliar string of numbers. Initially, Jingxun mistook it for an advertisement, but after answering, he realized the situation was entirely beyond his expectations.

On the phone, Professor Huo asked him if he was interested in participating in a scientific research project.

“The schedule is quite tight; the interview and joining the team happen tomorrow. I’m not sure if you’re interested in participating, Xiao Yan?” Professor Huo’s voice on the phone sounded very kind and patient.

Jingxun asked, “May I ask how long this project will last?”

“Not long. The investors require us to wrap it up within three weeks,” Professor Huo answered, while also introducing it with high spirits:

“Because this is a sponsorship secured by the university, all team members will receive a salary this time, and there will be bonuses if it’s done well. Moreover, the project isn’t difficult; it’s a perfect internship opportunity for you and can serve as preparation for next year’s postgraduate entrance exam practice. I think this opportunity is very suitable for you, Xiao Yan. You should consider it carefully.”

Jingxun could also tell that this project was likely a perfect fit for him. Unfortunately…

He replied with immense regret, “I’m sorry, Professor. I have my final exams next week, so I might not be able to participate in this project…”

His voice of refusal was very soft. One could tell he truly felt it was a pity.

Professor Huo paused briefly. He usually only supervised graduate students and above. The schedules for graduate and doctoral students at the university were not the same as undergraduates, which had caused him to overlook Jingxun’s final exams.

“What?” Professor Huo’s voice dropped slightly. “Don’t tell me you can’t even handle a tiny final exam?”

“That’s not what I meant,” Jingxun explained.

On his first day back at school after transmigration, he had already gone through the original owner’s courses for the semester. He was in a state where he could answer the questions even with his eyes closed, so he certainly wasn’t afraid of a small final exam.

However.

Jingxun said apologetically, “It’s just that I have to show up in person to take the exams. I might have to take frequent leave during the first two weeks after joining the team, and I feel that wouldn’t be right…”

At the end of the day, he didn’t want his personal matters to drag down the progress of the entire group. Not even by a fraction.

“If that’s the reason…” Hearing his explanation, Professor Huo’s tone suddenly improved.

Initially, what he valued was Jingxun’s capability. In Old Huo’s eyes, if a student couldn’t even handle basic undergraduate courses, they really didn’t deserve to be his student.

But he never expected that Student Yan Jingxun’s reason for a flat refusal was a fear of asking for leave…

Professor Huo even couldn’t help but chuckle twice, saying, “Taking a bit of leave is fine. You just need to give the teaching assistant a heads-up beforehand. Research isn’t without its breaks, and besides, you’re going to an exam. How could we not find time for that? Honestly.”

“Since you’ve agreed,” Jingxun smiled on his end of the phone, saying humbly, “then I’ll join the team and give it a try.”

Professor Huo added, “But let’s agree on this beforehand: use as much ability as you have. Although I really want you to join the team, Xiao Yan, don’t force yourself and neglect your regular studies because of this.”

“Okay, I understand, Professor. Don’t worry.”

Jingxun expressed his understanding of Professor Huo’s final warning. The old professor meant that while he believed undergraduate knowledge was simple and easy, he also hoped Jingxun would act within his means and not truly neglect his classes just to join the project.

The seemingly stern professor also had a delicate and considerate side for his students. Feeling grateful, Jingxun thanked him once more.

They chatted for a few more moments before a question suddenly occurred to Jingxun.

—He had only met the professor briefly at the recruitment fair, and he had intentionally hidden his true strength the whole time. Even if Professor Huo appreciated and liked him, surely he wouldn’t go out of his way to find his phone number and call to ask him about an internship?

After all, right now he was just an ordinary male college student. He wasn’t even from the Computer Science department. What project could possibly require seeking him out specifically?

Jingxun’s heart stirred slightly, and he couldn’t help but ask, “By the way, is this project invested in by Yiwei?”

It was only yesterday that Yiwei Technology had come to the school for recruitment, and that was where Jingxun had met Professor Huo. Asking this wasn’t abrupt; it would only make people think he just happened to remember Yiwei and asked in passing.

Sure enough, Professor Huo didn’t think much of it. He said, “Actually, it’s not Yiwei’s.”

“Xiao Yan, you’re working under me, so there’s no need for me to hide this from you… Yiwei does have a new partnership with our school, but the research direction is Big Data. That field is too specialized; you can’t do it yet. This current project is invested in by another company, but the workload is small and the difficulty isn’t high. Don’t be discouraged. Follow this project well, see how the other seniors do things, and with your foundation, you’ll surely catch up quickly. Then, you can come over and work on the Yiwei project…”

Jingxun responded, “Mhm, mhm.”

While his heart breathed a sigh of relief, he also felt a bit awkward.

…I thought too much.

Given the premise that Shen Yijin was now a major investor in the school, and having heard that Old Huo had mentioned him to Shen Yijin, Jingxun had naturally assumed Professor Huo’s invitation today… might have been Shen Yijin’s idea…

Sigh.

Really thought too much, thought too much.

How would he know I’m a programmer?

And know that I’m short on money.

Even if he learned of my level from Old Huo, even if he investigated my family situation and knew I needed money, he wouldn’t go as far as to collude with Old Huo and go to all this effort just to let me participate in a small project…

If he did, wouldn’t this person be far too considerate?!

Jingxun shook his head vigorously on his end of the line. He had truly listened to too many stories; he was already automatically filling in those romantic Mary Sue plotlines from novels.

Once again, he thanked Professor Huo for his promotion and trust over the phone. After hanging up, Jingxun was still blushing from his own nonsensical thoughts.

On the other side.

Shen Yijin, who was processing company documents, also received a call.

“President Shen, the legal department has finished drafting the contract for the cooperation with the University of Science and Technology.”

“Mhm, I see.”

“Also, regarding that small project assigned to the university under the name of the subsidiary, Professor Huo said he is very willing to bring students on board.”

“Mhm.”

Shen Yijin said, “Good.”