116: 116. Aftermath and Ridicule

Subsequently, Tingfeng Capital efficiently registered "Tingfeng Energy" and officially signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Jiangcheng University, jointly announcing the establishment of the "Future Energy Joint Laboratory."

This series of actions was like a massive stone thrown into a calm lake, quickly stirring up ripples in the relevant academic and investment circles.

Especially the initial investment of several hundred million yuan, it drew the attention and discussion of both the covetous universities nearby and the keen-nosed investment institutions.

Within the same Jiangcheng University Town, there was another institution: Jiangcheng University of Science and Technology.

This university was also a 211 key university, always performing exceptionally well in chemical engineering and energy fields, and had achieved a series of important scientific research results, considered among the top-tier polytechnic schools.

At this moment, in the office of President Liang Shouqun, the atmosphere was unusually somber.

A news report was playing on the TV, showing the signing ceremony for the joint laboratory between Tingfeng Capital and Jiangcheng University.

Yu Tianxiong and Zhou Chu were shaking hands and smiling, and standing beside them was a figure that President Liang Shouqun found incredibly familiar but dared not confirm.

When the news caption clearly displayed: "Tingfeng Capital's initial investment of 200 million supports Professor Qin Tian's team in developing a new generation of solid-state battery technology."

"Clang!"

The teacup in the President's hand smashed to pieces on the floor.

"Qin... Qin Tian?! Wait a minute! It can't be that... that Qin Tian we dismissed, can it?! Holy crap!!!"

President Liang Shouqun sprang from his chair, his eyes fixed on the somewhat reserved figure on the screen, his heart pounding!

He immediately called the office of Zhou Run, the head of the School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering. As soon as the call connected, he roared into the phone, "Old Zhou! Qin Tian's contact information! Immediately! Give it to me now!!"

Zhou Run was stunned, not knowing why the President was looking for Qin Tian, and for a moment, he didn't react: "President... You're looking for Qin Tian? Which Qin Tian? He seems to have already..."

"It's Qin Tian, the one working on solid-state batteries! Hurry! His contact information!!" President Liang Shouqun was practically yelling.

Zhou Run covered the receiver and quickly turned to the others in the office: "Quick! Who has Qin Tian's contact information?! The President needs it urgently!"

Everyone in the office looked up, exchanging glances.

Bi Hua, who had previously had a conflict with Qin Tian, sneered, guessing that the President must be looking to hold Qin Tian accountable. Without hesitation, and with a hint of schadenfreude, he loudly said, "Director, I have it! I'll tell you now!"

He quickly recited a string of numbers. Zhou Run hastily wrote it down and passed it to the President.

Zhou Run couldn't help but ask, "President... what happened? Why are you looking for Qin Tian so urgently?"

"You! Immediately! Watch the news! The news about Jiangcheng University!!" President Liang Shouqun dropped these words and abruptly hung up the phone.

Everyone present heard it; their faces showed nothing, but they began searching on their computers. The next second, they all widened their eyes in disbelief.

"Hiss... This... This can't be true, can it?!"

"It really is Qin Tian! He... he actually went to Jiangcheng University?!"

"Tingfeng Capital... initial investment of 200 million?! Co-building a laboratory?! This scale..."

"My goodness... Qin Tian has... finally made it big? No wonder the President is anxious..."

"If... if he were still with our school... this sky-high investment and this top-tier laboratory... would have belonged to our University of Science and Technology!!"

The office instantly erupted into a clamor, with exclamations and gasps of shock filling the air.

The department head stared blankly at the news on the screen, completely stunned.

Among the crowd, only Bi Hua's face, which had initially shown schadenfreude, instantly turned ashen.

He clenched his fists tightly, his fingernails almost digging into his palms.

How could this be?! That loser he considered academic trash?! How could he?! Was that Tingfeng Capital blind?! To invest 200 million in him?!

...The President personally dialed Qin Tian's number, and it took a moment for the call to connect. A calm voice came from the other end: "Hello, who is this?"

"Professor Qin! It's me! Liang Shouqun from the University of Science and Technology!" President Liang Shouqun's voice was filled with unprecedented enthusiasm and a hint of imperceptible awkwardness.

"President Liang, may I ask what the matter is?" Qin Tian's voice remained calm, without any discernible emotional fluctuations.

President Liang Shouqun quickly said, "Professor Qin! First, I must apologize to you on behalf of the school! After this period of deep reflection, we truly realize that our previous handling of your case was too hasty! A talented and ambitious scientist like you is a valuable asset to our school!"

He paused, then offered a highly tempting condition: "Professor Qin, how about this? We sincerely invite you back! To make up for our past mistakes, we will directly appoint you as the department head, give you a full professorship, provide an independent laboratory, and allocate research startup funds at the highest standard! How does that sound?"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, then Qin Tian's cool reply came: "No, thank you for your kind offer, President Liang."

President Liang Shouqun's heart sank, knowing it would be difficult, but he still didn't give up and quickly offered a compromise: "Professor Qin! You see, you and our University of Science and Technology have many years of rapport, which is fate, isn't it?"

"I heard you are currently leading a laboratory at Jiangcheng University... Ahem, you see, you know best the foundation of our University of Science and Technology in chemical energy, it's definitely stronger, not weaker, than Jiangcheng University! Could we... strengthen the cooperation between our two universities? We also warmly welcome you to guide our work as an 'Outstanding Alumnus'..."

Qin Tian directly interrupted him: "Thank you for your concern, President Liang. My work is very busy right now. For cooperation matters, please contact President Yu of Tingfeng Capital directly to discuss. Also... there's one more thing. I have two students, Fang Li and Cheng Xiaokai, who are currently pursuing their master's degrees at the University of Science and Technology."

"During my most difficult time, they quietly helped me. They are very talented, and I hope they can transfer here to continue doing research with me. President Yu will contact Jiangcheng University to handle the graduate transfer procedures. I hope President you can approve it."

President Liang's smile froze, then he sighed deeply, saying helplessly, "I understand. I will inform them. If they wish to go, I will respect their decision."

"Thank you."

With that, Qin Tian hung up, leaving President Liang holding the phone, sighing softly, his face etched with regret and bitterness.

A moment later, he had someone contact Fang Li and Cheng Xiaokai, and also asked their advisors to come over.

Soon after, Bi Hua, with a gloomy face, arrived at the office with two confused students.

After President Liang explained the situation, he said with a complex tone, "That's the situation. Professor Qin wants you two to come over. What do you think?"

Bi Hua immediately interjected, his voice filled with suppressed anger and disdain: "President! Fang Li and Cheng Xiaokai are both my prized students! Several important national-level projects we have just started, and it's a critical time for personnel! I believe they understand the gravity of the situation and know where true academic work can be done, and they wouldn't be willing to..."

"We are willing!" From behind, Fang Li and Cheng Xiaokai said in unison.

They didn't even glance at their advisor, Bi Hua, their eyes shining with excitement, never expecting Professor Qin Tian would be willing to take them.

Compared to Professor Qin Tian, this advisor Bi Hua, who only knew how to take credit, suppress students, and had mediocre academic ability, was nothing at all!

Bi Hua clenched his fists tightly, his face turning a furious shade of liver red.

President Liang tried to persuade them to stay for a moment, but seeing that they were determined to leave, he could only let them go.

A brilliant professor who originally belonged to the University of Science and Technology, a huge investment, a top-tier laboratory, plus two highly promising students... all were lost just like that.

President Liang felt a pang of heartache... Meanwhile, at a high-end venture capital salon held in a first-tier city.

The manager of Tianxing Investment, swirling the champagne in his hand, said to his companion with a playful tone, "Did you hear? That new private equity firm, Tingfeng Capital, Yu Tianxiong's company, started 'Tingfeng Energy' and invested hundreds of millions in a professor dismissed by Jiangcheng University of Science and Technology, to work on solid-state batteries? Hahaha!"

The CEO of Huanhua Assets, upon hearing this, disdainfully said, "His name is Qin Tian, right? He also submitted a project proposal to us at the time, it was a mess. We internally evaluated it; it's a losing proposition."

A senior executive from Xinlong Private Equity leaned in and added, "I know that person too, a fanatic! Stubborn as a mule. What good are pretty lab data? Want to mass produce? Probably in the next century! Yu Tianxiong might have been lucky before, hitting it big once or twice, but it seems he's gotten carried away, truly thinking he can turn stone into gold? This time, he's probably going to lose his shirt!"

"Hahaha... indeed, another ignorant rich guy paying tuition fees. Rich and foolish, truly thinking the new energy market is easy to conquer? Just a joke in the industry."

"Just wait and see, this is definitely one of the biggest jokes in the investment circle this year! We'll just wait for the news of their spectacular failure!"

At the salon, veteran investors who heard this news only treated it as a joke and a negative example. No one believed Yu Tianxiong and Qin Tian could succeed; they were all waiting to see them take a big fall...