Chapter 256 - 152: Fight! Fight

Chapter 256: Chapter 152: Fight! Fight

But now, they were like two children on the street, eyes red with greed as they fought over a priceless treasure. They traded insults and exposed each other’s faults, mercilessly attacking the weak points of the other’s discipline with the harshest language.

And just behind the Alchemist.

Chen Zhuo, at the center of this immense storm, stood quietly.

A distinct red mark was now visible on his left arm, right where Li Jianming had gripped it so tightly.

The dull ache hadn’t completely faded. He quietly raised his right hand and, through the thin fabric of his plain white T-shirt, gently rubbed his left forearm.

He rubbed it a couple of times, and the pain eased slightly.

Chen Zhuo lowered his hand, looking on helplessly at the two old men who were so close they were practically nose-to-nose.

He wasn’t terrified by the red-faced squabble between these two titans. But as a twelve-year-old, he felt a helpless sense of awkwardness and unease watching his elders trade such undignified accusations.

He couldn’t get a word in.

In a conversation about "strategic national assets" and "absolute truth," any attempt to mediate would be utterly futile. It might even be the spark that lit the next powder keg.

To escape the awkward situation, Chen Zhuo’s gaze naturally fell to his hands.

In his right hand, he held the black, softcover notebook. Tucked between his fingers was the silver mechanical pencil, its lead snapped moments earlier by Li Jianming during his frantic calculations.

In the office, the sounds of the adults’ argument ebbed and flowed.

Chen Zhuo lowered his head slightly.

His thumb rested on the metal cap at the top of the mechanical pencil.

CLICK.

An incredibly faint mechanical sound.

Chen Zhuo pressed the cap once, and a small, broken piece of gray lead fell from the tip, landing silently on the thick carpet.

Without looking at the broken piece on the floor, he pressed the cap again, holding it down, and emptied the remaining fragment of lead from the barrel into his palm.

Next, he pinched the metal tip of the pencil with his thumb and forefinger, made a small adjustment, and let go.

CLICK, CLICK.

He clicked it twice more, and a new stick of black lead slid out smoothly to a perfect length.

He gently pressed the pad of his index finger against the tip, testing the lead’s length and firmness.

A faint, almost imperceptible smudge of graphite was left on his clean fingertip.

The argument between the Alchemist and Li Jianming still showed no sign of stopping.

Chen Zhuo’s gaze passed over the shoulders of the two titans and fell on the spot behind the wide, solid wood desk.

Zhou Qiping was holding a cup of long-since-cold green tea, sitting in a large leather chair, quietly watching the farce before him.

Chen Zhuo’s eyes met Zhou Qiping’s.

Separated by the two furiously arguing old men, the twelve-year-old boy and the vice principal of university research shared a fleeting glance.

Chen Zhuo’s eyes were clear, holding the pure innocence of a student, along with a trace of weary resignation at being trapped.

His gaze seemed to be silently asking:

’Principal Zhou, how much longer are these two professors going to argue?’

Zhou Qiping received the unspoken question.

He glanced at the freshly repaired mechanical pencil in Chen Zhuo’s hand, then back at the two department heads who were shamelessly fighting over a student. The scene suddenly struck him as utterly absurd.

’To think, the prestigious Science Department of Keda, losing all composure like this in front of a child.’

Zhou Qiping placed the glass teacup in his hand back on the desk.

He didn’t slam the table, nor did he shout loudly like Li Jianming.

He simply reached out, picked up the heavy lid from the desk, and then, tapped it lightly against the rim of the cup.

CLINK.