Chapter Fourteen: Competing for the Senior Research and Development Position
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Shen Zhuoran’s expression flickered in surprise as his dark eyes quietly fixed on Yu Lan. Yu Lan’s small mouth kept chattering, her chest rising and falling rapidly, clearly brimming with indignation.
“I submitted my resume through the official Research Institute channels, passed the interview through the proper procedures, and secured the position of Research Assistant. I have officially joined the Institute,” she declared.
“I haven’t even started working properly yet; on what grounds do you say I’m unfit?”
“Give me back my ID badge.”
While speaking, Yu Lan glared at Shen Zhuoran with a fierce look, her snow-white hand extended before him as if demanding he return her ID badge at once.
Shen Zhuoran thought he must be mad, or perhaps his brain was fogged from some recent infatuation—otherwise, how could he find the pouty, angry Yu Lan so endearing?
He cursed the heavens.
How could he possibly think such a thing?
He stubbornly refused to accept this notion.
Inside, Shen Zhuoran wrestled with himself, but outwardly he maintained a cold, expressionless silence.
Louisa, observing this, curled the corner of her lips slightly and spoke first.
“On what grounds?”
“Lanlan, let me tell you why.”
“Standing before you is Shen Zhuoran, Director of the Research Institute. He holds veto power over every researcher within the Institute.”
“If he doesn’t want you here, Lanlan, you’d better leave.”
“Stop embarrassing yourself here.”
What a disgrace.
Louisa didn’t say it outright, but the slight lift of her brow clearly showed how much she enjoyed seeing Yu Lan humiliated in front of Shen Zhuoran.
Ha!
Just a moment ago, Yu Lan refused to leave despite being paid, and now that Shen Zhuoran bluntly told her to get lost, she really was pushing her luck.
Shen Zhuoran’s silence and Louisa’s mocking tone only fueled the rising fury within Yu Lan.
All she wanted was a better-paying job to live a decent life, to study earnestly, and subtly reveal the fruits of her past life’s research.
Yet these people’s constant disdain ignited a blazing anger within her.
The fire of rage burned fiercely in her heart; she needed to prove her strength urgently.
Surely, no one actually thought she was useless.
“Shen Zhuoran.”
Yu Lan suddenly lifted her head, her crystal-clear amber eyes locked steadily on the tall man as she called out his name directly.
Their gazes met, and she curled her lips into a provocatively challenging smile.
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“How about we make a bet?”
“What?” Shen Zhuoran was momentarily stunned, a flicker of doubt appearing in his dark eyes.
He had no idea what Yu Lan intended to wager.
The next moment, Yu Lan spoke firmly, her voice resolute.
“I bet that by my own strength, I can make you admit you were wrong and personally invite me to join the Research Institute.”
Before Shen Zhuoran could respond, Louisa covered her mouth to stifle a light laugh.
“Alright, Lanlan.”
“I know that’s a new joke you just learned.”
“You actually made both me and Director Shen laugh.”
“But we still have experiments to run and are quite busy. If you want to tell more jokes, maybe contact me when I’m on leave?”
“For now, please leave. The lab is an important place; no unauthorized personnel allowed.”
Louisa’s tone increasingly treated Yu Lan like a joke.
But Yu Lan had calmed from her initial fury to a composed demeanor.
Someone destined to fail and not even worth considering as an opponent didn’t deserve more than a passing glance.
From start to finish, Yu Lan’s gaze remained locked on Shen Zhuoran’s face.
Louisa was merely a minor player; Shen Zhuoran held the real power of life and death.
“So? Director Shen, are you willing to take this bet with me?”
Not waiting for his refusal, Yu Lan preemptively laid out the terms.
“I just saw on the Institute’s intranet that there’s an open competition for the position of Senior Researcher. All staff members at the Institute are eligible.”
“According to Institute regulations, I have the right to apply and be assessed.”
The Senior Researcher competition was introduced after Shen Zhuoran became Director.
He realized scientific research wasn’t about seniority or age.
Meritocracy ruled.
For geniuses, breakthroughs happen early in their careers.
It was unfair to let them be buried among older researchers who lacked meaningful achievements.
He looked only at results, not background or age.
The announcement caused a major reshuffling within the Institute.
Countless incapable Senior Researchers who had been draining resources were ousted.
Meanwhile, a wave of capable, ambitious, and innovative young researchers rose to prominence.
Shen Zhuoran was both the architect and guardian of this system.
Yu Lan brought up her challenge, even though she knew she lacked skill.
But—
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Shen Zhuoran fixed his gaze on Yu Lan, his dark eyes studying the confident expression on the striking woman’s face. He spoke in a low voice.
“You want a chance.”
“Fine.”
“Then I’ll take this bet with you.”
Louisa hadn’t expected Shen Zhuoran to actually accept Yu Lan’s challenge and that ridiculous Senior Researcher competition.
This was meant for researchers; after all, Yu Lan was merely a Research Assistant. What right did she have to participate?
Yet Shen Zhuoran agreed.
Before everyone present, he sent a notification:
[Year 6888 of the Interstellar Era, Research Assistant Yu Lan has applied to compete for Senior Researcher. Researchers Zhao Ping, Bai Yun, Li Jie, and Wang Fang are requested to arrive at Room 308 within five minutes to supervise the competition.]
After sending the message, Shen Zhuoran showed it to Yu Lan, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
“Now, let’s see how you perform.”
“I hope you won’t disappoint me.”
“Hmph.”
Yu Lan puckered her lips in a dismissive snort, catching no hint of hope in his words.
Instead, it felt thick with anticipation for a good show.
Her small hand clenched into a tight fist. Since she had spoken her challenge, today, this proud Director of the Institute would have to apologize and admit he was wrong.
*
The Senior Researcher competition consisted of two parts:
Written questions and practical experiments.
The questions were randomly drawn from Shen Zhuoran’s personally developed intelligent database, which contained hundreds of thousands of comprehensive questions, ensuring no leaks or repeats.
Moreover, the entire process would be observed by Shen Zhuoran and four other randomly selected Senior Researchers.
They would deliberate together at the end.
This was not only a test but also a trial.
If Yu Lan became overly nervous under the watchful eyes of these five experts and made mistakes during the experiment, all would be in vain.
Meanwhile, the four Senior Researchers had already gathered in Room 308. Seeing Shen Zhuoran had not yet arrived, they quietly began to discuss.
“What’s going on with the Director? This is the first time a Research Assistant has competed for a Senior Researcher position.”
“I heard it’s a woman?”
“A woman? Aren’t females usually limited to auxiliary research roles? The Director is being reckless.”
One noticeably older and more conservative researcher scowled in displeasure.
“Hmph, I want to see just how capable this woman really is, daring to compete for a Senior Researcher position.”