Chapter 12: The Intense Tug-of-War Between the Three Examiners!

Listening to the busy signal on the phone, Zhang Gongnong was completely bewildered.

"What's going on? Did Old Li take something wrong? Everything was fine, and now he wants to burn down my lab?"

"And what does 'stealing a student' mean?"

Zhang Gongnong felt a massive headache coming on, his brain buzzing.

He had originally intended to go to the lab for one last look, but after thinking it over, he ultimately decided not to go.

"Forget it, if Dean Sun says to pause, then we pause. I'll head back first and wait for the 956E project to restart!"

"I just don't know how long I'll have to wait. Sigh... those two old fogies, sabotaging the grand plan for our Navy's development!"

Immediately, without even packing his things, Zhang Gongnong headed straight for Harbin Institute of Technology.

On the other side, Professor Li hung up the phone, cursing under his breath.

Damn things!

They can't distinguish between what's urgent and what's not!

If Dingping is snatched away by the National Defense Armaments Department, just wait until I get back—I'll burn that lab of yours to the ground!

The moment he turned around, his face was once again covered in smiles.

"Dingping, I've spoken to Professor Zhang; he'll be back shortly."

"If he knew you had made such great progress, he'd wake up laughing from his dreams tonight."

Professor Huang looked at him with suspicion.

He always felt that Professor Li's smiles were ill-intentioned, but ultimately, Zhang Gongnong was Dingping's mentor, so it made sense to call him back.

After a moment of thought, Professor Huang decided it was better to build a closer relationship with Su Dingping.

"Dingping, let me tell you about the benefits we have at the National Defense Armaments Department..."

Seeing Professor Huang pulling Su Dingping aside to whisper, Professor Li pulled Colonel Zhang to the side and whispered.

"Colonel Zhang, no matter what, we are people of the Navy. If it really comes down to competing with Professor Huang for people, you have to help me."

Colonel Zhang nodded.

Regardless of whether Su Dingping eventually went to the 335 Research Institute or the Naval Equipment Demonstration and Research Center, he would still be part of the Navy. But if he went to the National Defense Armaments Department, that would be a different story.

The models and the room full of design drawings before them were important, but Su Dingping, who had no other offers yet, was even more important. The three of them had already begun a silent competition.

After the two of them had exchanged words, Professor Li began pacing around the room.

Looking at the room full of drawings, he grew more energized the more he looked.

Previously, he had noticed that many important detailed drawings were missing from the five large crates of blueprints, but he had found them here.

"Professor Huang, come look at this."

...

On the periphery of the laboratory, Major Wan, a subordinate of Colonel Zhang, came running up with a group of people.

"First Squad, immediately surround the laboratory. No one is allowed entry!"

"Yes, Major!"

"Second Squad, go to the security office immediately and take over the surrounding surveillance!"

"Yes, Major!"

"Third Squad, do you have all the gear?"

"Reporting Major, everything is ready!"

"Follow me inside!"

Immediately, the three squads dispersed. The first squad guarded all the exits and windows of the lab, the second squad rushed to the campus security office, and the third squad followed Major Wan straight to the lounge.

Inside the lounge, Zhao Haikuo and the others were sitting in their seats, staring blankly.

"Teacher, how long are we supposed to stay here?"

"Stop talking! We just wait!"

Just as the instructor finished speaking, Major Wan arrived with his men.

"Hello, Teacher Qian. I will be taking over this area from now on."

The instructor breathed a sigh of relief; he was finally free.

He exchanged a few pleasantries and was about to leave when he was blocked by two soldiers guarding the door.

Seeing this, Zhao Haikuo and the others felt a sudden sinking sensation in their hearts, a feeling that something bad was happening.

"Teacher Qian, we ask for your continued cooperation with our work."

Major Wan didn't say much and directly handed over a document.

"Teacher Qian, the information recorded in here is correct, isn't it?"

The instructor took the materials and flipped through them, his heart pounding.

In the documents, his personal relationships, resume, and everything else were all recorded.

"Major, it's correct, not a single mistake," the instructor said with a forced smile.

Immediately after, Major Wan brought another document and handed it over.

"Teacher Qian, please sign this."

The instructor opened it and saw the title on the cover page: Non-Disclosure Agreement!

Major Wan turned his gaze toward Zhao Haikuo and the others.

He signaled to the soldiers behind him, who quickly stepped forward with a stack of documents to distribute them.

Flipping through the documents belonging to them, Zhao Haikuo and the others looked at each other, filled with confusion.

At that moment, Major Wan said, "Everyone, take a look and see if there are any issues."

The group was too nervous to speak. This was the first time they had encountered such a scene, so they hurriedly shook their heads to indicate there were no problems.

"Next, sign this document."

As he spoke, Major Wan took a stack of documents and distributed them personally.

When the group saw the words "Non-Disclosure Agreement," their hearts jumped into their throats.

What a disaster! We only came for a graduation project review; what on earth have we seen that we shouldn't have!

Once everything was arranged, Major Wan said to the instructor, "Teacher Qian, I believe you understand the relevant procedures."

"I understand!"

The instructor sighed inwardly. High-level security measures were no joke; it wasn't just about signing a name—all the regulations had to be memorized.

"I'll leave the rest to you. I will station people at the door. Call us if anything happens." With that, he strode out.

Although Major Wan and his men had left the lounge, the atmosphere in the room remained suffocatingly tense.

"Instructor, what exactly is going on?" Zhao Haikuo asked in a low voice.

"Shut up! Don't ask what you shouldn't ask!" The instructor's tone shifted as he continued, "After you sign, remember to memorize all of it!"

"Huh? We have to memorize it? There are so many regulations!"

"No room for negotiation! If you don't finish memorizing by lunch, you don't eat! If you haven't finished by the afternoon, you don't eat dinner! In short, you eat only when you've finished memorizing! I will be conducting spot checks!"

After a pause, the instructor added, "I have to memorize it too."

Zhao Haikuo and the others, who had intended to struggle a bit, immediately slumped their heads in silence upon hearing that last sentence.

A moment later, the sound of crisp "recitation" filled the lounge.

Meanwhile, on a road not far from the laboratory, Wang Xin was rushing toward the area with Guo Xueyun.

"I wonder how your senior's review is going."

Wang Xin looked worried.

The strictness of the three examiners had exceeded her imagination; they hadn't even reached 80 points. In all her years of schooling, this was a first! She estimated that Zhao Haikuo must be completely stunned right now.

"Senior Zhao should be fine."

"I hope so. By the way, I heard that Su Dingping is participating too? Professor Zhang is really strict with his students! Professor Wu didn't let you participate."

"It's a good thing I didn't. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to sleep for days."

"If that's the case, what happens if Su Dingping can't sleep for the next few days?" Wang Xin looked at Guo Xueyun with a mischievous smile.

Guo Xueyun hesitated for a long time before finally saying, "If he can't sleep, he can't sleep. What does that have to do with me?"

Wang Xin mimicked her tone, and the two of them immediately began to play around.

The moment they saw the laboratory, they stopped playing and froze in place.

"Xueyun, what's going on? Were there soldiers here when you came before?"

Guo Xueyun shook her head repeatedly.

Driven by curiosity, the two continued walking forward.

Before they could get close, they saw two fully armed soldiers running toward them and blocking their path.

"Halt."