Workplace 2

Professor Zhang said "as an elder," which obviously went beyond the scope of a teacher.

Professor Zhang continued, "Mr. Liu, you should tell your headquarters clearly not to send legal letters casually. Look how scared the child is."

Liu Zhang, on the other end of the phone, sounded apologetic, "I've already spoken to them; this is indeed out of line. The legal department didn't consult me, or I would have definitely stopped it."

"Is that so! I'm mainly afraid of causing misunderstandings. Although our school is an old engineering college, it hasn't neglected the development of its law school."

Lin Yuan almost couldn't hold back his laughter; this was basically saying, "Don't think we don't have weapons."

"Yes, yes, yes, it's all a misunderstanding. But according to the Labor Law, Lin Yuan still needs to perfect the algorithm details, right?"

Facing the true master, Liu Zhang also dropped his pretense and went straight to the point.

"Didn't he provide the algorithm?"

"He didn't provide the implementation process."

"I specifically asked, and the implementation process was also provided. Of course, our understanding of the implementation process might differ."

"Indeed, following the implementation process provided by Lin Yuan, we couldn't reproduce this version of the algorithm."

"Then..." Professor Zhang deliberately feigned surprise, "After reading Einstein's paper, can we still ask Einstein, 'Why can't I become you?'"

"Professor Zhang, these are two different matters."

"This is one matter." Professor Zhang's tone was firm, "Mr. Liu, you should explain the situation clearly to your headquarters. If they think the technical details provided by my student are not detailed enough, then they have doubts about his work ability. In that case, as his teacher, I will definitely make him resign voluntarily. As for the algorithm, that's where it ends."

"No, no, no, it's not that serious. But if you do this, it's really difficult for me."

"You can pass the problem up. If anyone above you has an opinion, I can personally explain it to him."

"Alright, I'll discuss it with headquarters again."

"One more thing I'd like to remind your company through Mr. Liu: Lin Yuan is a good comrade, and this concerns not only him personally but also the honor of our school."

"Okay, I understand your meaning."

This was the first time Lin Yuan felt the intimidating pressure from his mentor.

He didn't say a single harsh word to the other party, but the lines constantly warned the other party—Lin Yuan had the school's backing.

This was also the first time Lin Yuan felt how insignificant an individual was in the workplace.

Just because he didn't listen to the company, his direct superior and the legal department played good cop, bad cop, colluding to engage in workplace PUA.

Without his mentor and the school's backing, a small employee would surely be taken in and treated like a dog.

"You'll get used to it. Commercial companies have their own commercial considerations. They won't allow the core algorithm code to not be in their hands."

"Teacher, if I don't give it to them, will nothing really happen?"

"No," Professor Zhang said nonchalantly, "The implementation process falls within the scope of work experience, and the law will not support such a demand. It's just that individuals don't have the energy to contend with large companies, but rest assured, the Law School is in need of practical projects.

I doubt they have the guts to fight with the school. After all, the school is a public institution; do they really want to defy the heavens?"

"However, to avoid future trouble, it seems I need to bring you into the organization sooner."

Lin Yuan became excited, "My ideology has undergone sufficient baptism."

"What are you babbling about? Be serious. Be like your teacher, have a bottom line and principles."

"Mm, I understand." Lin Yuan thought, 'I love how you just 'bullied people with your power'.'

"Get lost."

"Alright!"

So Lin Yuan quickly got lost.

After he went out, he actually ran into Gu Xuan waiting at the door.

"You're here to see the teacher too?"

"Yes," Gu Xuan forced a smile, "What were you talking about with the teacher?"

"Just chatted for a bit while passing by. I have something else to do, so I'm leaving now."

Gu Xuan watched Lin Yuan's retreating figure, 'Just chatted for a bit. Hmph!' He had actually been waiting at the door for a while. And hearing the lively conversation inside, he didn't feel right about knocking.

Lin Yuan had only walked a few steps when he remembered something.

'The system is forcing me to publish SCI papers, so I can talk to Gu Xuan about his paper.'

So, Lin Yuan went back. This time it was his turn to wait at the door.

Inside Professor Zhang's office, Gu Xuan was very excited, "Thank you so much, Teacher, for helping me secure this project..."

Professor Zhang waved his hand, stopping Gu Xuan's gratitude, "The teacher respects your choice, after all, the pace of society is too fast now. Since you've got the project, do it well."

Professor Zhang's meaning was clear: although he didn't agree with Gu Xuan's decision, out of a teacher's sense of responsibility, he still helped him secure the project.

"I will, thank you, Teacher."

Professor Zhang then remembered something, "Why don't we let Lin Yuan participate in this project too? You can guide him more."

"Teacher, I can give him the second authorship."

"Nonsense. Author order depends on individual actual contribution to the project. I'm not asking you to favor him."

Gu Xuan said no more.

Actually, Professor Zhang saw that Lin Yuan wasn't very interested in academics, but he still needed papers to support him in school, so he simply had Gu Xuan bring Lin Yuan along. Even if it meant Lin Yuan getting early exposure to the process of fabricating SCI papers.

"That kid shouldn't have gone far; I'll give him a call."

As a result, the phone rang at the door.

Lin Yuan awkwardly entered, "Teacher, you called me?"

"You didn't leave?"

"I... I just happened to have something to discuss with Gu Xuan."

"What is it?"

"I wanted to talk to him about papers." Lin Yuan didn't want to hide it from his mentor, but he was afraid his mentor would have an opinion if he knew he wanted to publish papers right after entering graduate school. "I just want to see how papers are published; I'm just curious."

Lin Yuan specifically explained his intention, lest his mentor think he was also unreliable like Gu Xuan.

"Curiosity is a good thing. I called you because I wanted you to learn more about SCI papers with Gu Xuan. You'll be involved in them in the future anyway, so consider it gaining some experience in advance."

"Ah? Then it seems I'm in agreement with the teacher!"

"Alright then, it's settled. But let me say this first, I haven't secured the second authorship for you with Gu Xuan. And Gu Xuan, I need to make this clear to you beforehand. You will be the team leader for this project, and you can decide to recruit other students, but the first authorship will ultimately depend on ability. Just because I helped you get the project doesn't mean the first authorship is a done deal for you."

Gu Xuan confidently replied, "I understand, Teacher, I will speak with my ability. And don't worry, I will guide Lin Yuan well."

"Both of you can leave now; I'm going to rest for a bit."

After leaving, Lin Yuan and Gu Xuan walked side by side.

"Gu Xuan, is this second authorship difficult?" Lin Yuan asked sincerely, because the damn system rewarded computing power based on author order, and he wished he could get the first authorship, but he couldn't do such a scumbag thing as stealing someone else's labor.

"Don't worry, with me here, the second authorship will definitely be yours."

Lin Yuan was stunned, 'I was asking if it was difficult, I didn't want to engage in any backroom deals.'

"I, I still want to strive for it with my own ability. Didn't the teacher just say so?"

"Ah?? You're right. I believe in your ability, and I will help you too."

After the two parted ways, Gu Xuan had a million thoughts running through his mind.

'If I take on a project, I'm ambitious and unreliable, but if Lin Yuan participates, it's preparing for academics in advance. The second authorship is already reserved, yet he's still being hypocritical with me.'

Gu Xuan completed a self-PUA session.

He believed that Lin Yuan was secretly protected by Professor Zhang because he had seen Professor Zhang's special regard for Lin Yuan on the interview day. He also interpreted Professor Zhang's action of helping him secure the project as being mixed with personal bias. He believed that in some future project, he would likely have to give up the first authorship to Lin Yuan.

'Forget it, as long as the first authorship of this project is mine. I can tolerate everything else.'

But in reality, Professor Zhang simply saw that Lin Yuan had no interest in academics whatsoever. In his eyes, Lin Yuan was the extreme opposite of Gu Xuan.

Being down-to-earth is a good thing, but in a university, not engaging in any theoretical work is also not good. Professor Zhang was just afraid that Lin Yuan was too down-to-earth, so he asked Gu Xuan to bring him along, to let Lin Yuan adapt in advance.

However, Lin Yuan didn't seem to be very down-to-earth either.

He just understood the importance of choosing the right path more clearly.

Even when discussing the algorithm with his mentor, Lin Yuan didn't overlook a problem—he could fool Good Group, but he couldn't fool his mentor.

Although his mentor didn't bring up the algorithm details again, his mentor had previously said that he was interested in the algorithm for technical reasons.

Lin Yuan understood in his heart that he would eventually need to find a reasonable technical explanation for the algorithm, lest he disappoint his mentor.