Chapter 32: Exception
Taiya’s Ivy League school, the best university since the founding of the country, not only enjoyed a high reputation in the international community but was also highly praised and respected locally.
This was Ming Fei’s second time attending an academic exchange at the Ivy League school.
She had changed into a more formal, handmade black coat from her suitcase, paired with a white shirt and black trousers. Silver-framed glasses perched on her nose, adding a touch of maturity and elegance.
Snowflakes fell on the ginkgo trees lining both sides of the campus road, and the students passing by were bundled up warmly, occasionally building snowmen and playing under the trees.
Ming Fei sat in the back row of the automated school bus, surrounded by her colleagues, all smiling at her.
Associate Professor Qin on the left said, “Xiao Fei, when will the wedding be?”
Teacher Wen on the right nodded: “Yes, we’ll all give you a big red envelope!”
Hearing this, the other colleagues in the bus perked up their ears.
After all, the youngest teacher in the institute, Ming, had suddenly announced her marriage to the Chief Judge. The two, who usually had no interaction, suddenly had such a deep connection. While everyone expressed their blessings, they were also very curious.
Ming Fei, the center of attention, although not very good at handling these situations, didn’t reveal any flaws.
She said softly, “She’s very busy with work, and we’ve considered many factors. We probably won’t have a wedding ceremony.”
Few of the teachers present were married, and the only one who had been married for a long time, Teacher Shu, was almost forty years old. Therefore, they could understand her saying this. After all, the marriage rate in the country had fallen to its lowest point, and most people didn’t hold wedding ceremonies after getting their marriage certificate.
“As long as you two have decided.” Teacher Wen said, “I’ll give you the wedding gift when we get back.”
Associate Professor Qin said, “Me too. Xiao Fei, happy wedding.”
“Wishing Teacher Xiao Fei and Chief Judge Zhu a long and happy life together!”
“May you two grow old together and have a happy life!”
…
Ming Fei could still handle the wedding blessings from others, but the people in the bus were colleagues she had known for a long time and who were very kind to her. Ming Fei, already shy, felt her ears burning slightly, knowing the truth.
After thanking them one by one, she tried to change the subject.
But before she could come up with a new topic, everyone, who had met Ming Zaozao at the school celebration, asked when she would bring Ming Zaozao to play again.
Ming Fei breathed a sigh of relief and promised them that she would bring Ming Zaozao to school when she had time, to see the newly developed WE137 bionic robot in the lab.
Soon, the automated school bus arrived at its destination, and Ming Fei, sitting in the back row, was the last one to get off. She put on the cashmere scarf Zhu Yiqiao had given her and didn’t feel cold even in the biting wind.
The Ivy League school’s Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Academy was located in the south area of the campus, near Crescent Moon Lake.
Due to different development histories, the overall architectural style of the Ivy League school was more post-surrealist, and the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Academy’s building had a strong sense of technology.
Walking up the steps, two bionic lions on either side opened their mouths wide, their green eyes emitting a cold light. Their wagging tails, according to the program design, wrote the word “welcome” on the virtual screen behind them.
Ming Fei’s gaze paused on the lion’s tail.
“I heard that this robot just passed the experimental and testing phase and hasn’t been put into use yet,” Teacher Wen said.
“Like our bionic goose?”
“Not quite, right?” Associate Professor Qin shook her head. “Xiao Fei’s model can already swim and fly in the middle of the lake. Their balance control system isn’t perfected yet. Look, their tails only swing between thirty and sixty degrees.”
Seeing the student representatives and the dean of the Ivy League academy, Ming Fei coughed softly as a reminder.
Everyone looked up. After some greetings and pleasantries, they followed Director An of the academy and took the elevator to the conference room on the sixth floor.
In the already prepared conference room, the most senior Professor Mu sat at the head of the table, followed by other professors who had been working in the professional field for many years.
Ming Fei wasn’t good at small talk, and her colleagues knew her personality. Therefore, all the pre-meeting chatter was handled by Associate Professor Qin, who was the best at socializing.
Ming Fei, quietly sitting in her seat, was carefully reviewing the prepared presentation.
However, several Ivy League teachers sitting opposite her were looking at her, and one of their gazes made Ming Fei feel uncomfortable.
Teacher Wen, noticing the strangeness, frowned.
She had a frank and straightforward personality and was very protective of her colleagues. Without hesitation, she picked up a partition and placed it in the middle, pushed her computer towards Ming Fei, leaned in, and discussed important points of the presentation with her.
Ming Fei smiled: “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” Teacher Wen said. “Focus on your presentation.”
“Mm.”
This meeting was broadcast live, and students majoring in related fields from universities in various countries would watch online. However, many students still found it boring, and the number of online viewers for regular exchange meetings usually didn’t exceed six figures.
But today was very different.
Not only was the public network a little slow when she opened it, but the number of online viewers was close to eight figures.
Director An, who was presiding over the meeting, paused, then resumed speaking as usual.
Ming Fei’s computer was connected to the campus public network, and she could see the live broadcast window in the lower right corner. She clicked on the window and saw that many of the colorful barrage comments contained her name.
[Ahhh I see her, she’s even more beautiful in the video than in the photos! She’s such a good match with Chief Judge Zhu [electronic flowers.jpg]]
[Wow, so Chief Judge Zhu likes the gentle type ovo, feels like the spring rain.]
[Looking forward to it (＾－＾)V, looking forward to Teacher Xiao Fei’s speech.]
[Although they haven’t appeared in the same frame yet, I’m already hooked. I hope some great writer will write 100,000 words of fanfiction!]
…
Ming Fei exited the window, picked up her thermos, and took a sip of the hot tea she had prepared in advance. Her lips, without any lip gloss, looked much redder.
She didn’t get distracted by the barrage comments, instead listening attentively to the professors’ speeches.
When it was her turn, representing Q University of the Independent State of Yi Meng, to share the latest WE137 bionic robot developed by the lab, and talk about the problems and experiences encountered during the development process, she calmly stepped onto the stage.
But in reality, she still felt a little nervous.
There were no teachers younger than her in the Ivy League academy, and she was representing the entire lab this time. Moreover… the number of viewers in the live broadcast was still rising, all of which invisibly added some pressure.
But when she stood firmly on the podium and saw her colleagues looking at her with appreciation and expectation, her heart calmed down.
Then, she displayed the panoramic 3D image of the WE137 bionic robot, which had a rather special purpose, and after the video ended, she calmly and detailedly introduced the WE137 bionic robot to everyone.
“The WE137 is modeled after a cheetah.”
“The cheetah is the fastest land animal*, its body structure giving it a superior running speed*. This WE137 bionic robot uses the latest westry control system, cteris perception system developed by Q University’s Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Research Institute, and the smiloy motion execution system and operating software from Xi He City’s Ji team.”
Her voice was like a clear spring: “The average speed of the WE137 can reach the cheetah’s speed of 110 kilometers per hour*. Its main application is in military battlefields, belonging to military special bionic robots. When traversing dangerous battlefields, it can detect and avoid various traps under the detection of the sensor system, such as landmines and attack bombs. At the same time, it can also use precise positioning to deliver supplies at high speed, while also firing guns and cannons in multiple directions, and detecting and transmitting the latest battlefield situation according to instructions.”
The touch light of the floating screen lingered on her fingertips. She navigated her professional field, shining brightly on the stage under the spotlight.
“After a year and a half of research and development, design, and functional testing and adjustment, the WE137 has been approved for application.”
She gave a light smile: “It will be officially put into use in the military exercises at the end of the year.”
Taiya Military Police Department.
Last night’s attack seemed to have cast a shadow over the entire building.
The corridor on the eighth floor of the interrogation building was silent. Besides the Taiya police officers, there were also two Trial Court staff members in dark uniforms, their expressions serious and meticulous, standing on both sides of the interrogation room with the police officers.
Unlike the silence outside, the curses inside never stopped.
The Minister of Civil Affairs of Silla, Bai He, who was always gentle and elegant in public, finally dropped her long-maintained mask. She had fair skin, reddish-brown eyes, naturally smiling lips with a full Cupid’s bow, and her hair, usually tied up, was now messy and disheveled, her expression extremely ferocious.
Bound to the interrogation chair by handcuffs, she glared fiercely at Chief Superintendent Qian, who had arrested her, and Chief Judge Zhu, who had shot her and caused her mission to fail.
“I’ve said it before, I have nothing to do with the research institute you’re talking about!”
Chief Superintendent Qian chuckled: “Minister Bai, at this point, everyone knows your intention of using a minor offense to escape a major one. It would be more effective to confess honestly and provide us with more clues to reduce your sentence.”
“I repeat, I only gave Qi Yu the drug to control her illness. I don’t know why she suddenly went berserk and attacked Lan Lubai. I admit that I resented Lan Lubai because of the Trial Court’s investigation and wanted to take revenge on her, but I really have nothing to do with the research institute.”
After saying that, she suddenly pleaded with Zhu Yiqiao: “Chief Judge Zhu, please believe that I’m innocent. Lan Lubai is slandering me!”
Lan Lubai, standing next to Zhu Yiqiao, almost burst out laughing: “Bai He, did you inject yourself with a stupidity potion? I heard you say with my own ears last night that it was a death trap set by the research institute, and you’re still arguing here.”
“You said I said it myself, is there anyone to prove it?” Bai He’s eyes flashed with disdain. “If you have no evidence, then after twenty-four hours, I have the right to request rescue from Silla.”
She wanted to continue, but Zhu Yiqiao, who had remained silent, directly displayed the recovered video from the compartment.
Just as the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind, this was a backup system they had prepared in advance. Although it was also hacked by the research institute, after twelve hours of emergency repairs, all the evidence from last night had been effectively preserved.
In the video, Bai He, dressed in a dark green suit, pointed a gun at Lan Lubai’s shoulder and sneered,
“You fools, you never thought tonight would be your last, did you? Soon, the name of the research institute will be recorded in the history books of the new century.”
“We will kill anyone who hinders our experiments!”
“The leader asked me to bring you back, but except for Chief Judge Zhu, it doesn’t matter if the rest of you are brought back dead—”
The video paused, and Zhu Yiqiao’s sharp gaze cut across Bai He’s face like a blade.
“Tell us,” Lan Lubai said, word by word, “who is the leader? Where is the research institute?”
Bai He, who had intended to keep up the act, finally dropped the pretense: “You are not worthy of knowing the leader’s name.”
Chief Superintendent Qian’s expression gradually turned serious: “Bai He, there are citizens of Silla among the research institute’s experimental subjects. As a minister of Silla, do you really not care about the safety of your citizens?”
“Being selected as a sample is the greatest fortune of their lives!”
Her red eyes flashed: “All humans will usher in the most perfect evolution. By then, humans will become gods ruling the universe. You are the despicable ones, using the slogan of citizen safety to try and stop this evolution.”
“Those chosen will be the first batch of new humans hahaha—”
Her maniacal laughter abruptly stopped. Bai He fainted for some reason, and the room suddenly fell silent.
Instantly, Chief Superintendent Qian stood up and checked Bai He’s condition. After confirming that her vital signs hadn’t disappeared, she immediately ordered the police and medical personnel to come in and take Bai He back to the detention room.
After doing all this, she looked back: “Chief Judge Zhu, in your opinion, is it necessary to investigate the Bai family of Silla?”
“Investigate.”
Zhu Yiqiao said, “If the Bai family doesn’t cooperate, issue an arrest warrant directly.”
“Okay.”
Because Bai He suddenly fainted, the interrogation had to be temporarily suspended. On the way back from the police department, Lan Lubai kept thinking about Bai He.
After getting into the hovercar, when the display screen switched to the live broadcast of the Ivy League academic exchange, Lan Lubai looked at Ming Fei on the screen and said meaningfully,
“Yiqiao, I suddenly remembered something.”
Zhu Yiqiao: “What?”
Lan Lubai looked at her friend and found that her gaze was fixed on the display screen, the coldness in her frosty eyes slightly diminished.
“Do you remember the military exercises the year before last?”
“At that time, Min Man and I were talking about that latest military special robot, and you agreed that it was quite well made?”
Zhu Yiqiao recalled for a moment: “Mm.”
Lan Lubai smiled: “Oh, no wonder I felt that Teacher Xiao Fei’s name sounded familiar the first time I heard it. It turns out that the research and development team for that special robot the year before last was from Teacher Xiao Fei’s lab.”
“Her name was listed as the lead creator.”
Zhu Yiqiao didn’t speak.
Lan Lubai teased, “You two are quite fated. Not many people can earn praise from our Chief Judge Zhu.”
The live broadcast on the display screen had entered its final stage. The barrage, which hadn’t been turned off, was constantly popping up with new comments, and several accounts were still continuously belittling Ming Fei.
[I still think she’s not worthy of Chief Judge Zhu!]
[I think so too. I checked the public information, she’s an orphan with nothing? Why didn’t Chief Judge Zhu choose someone of equal standing?]
[She must be the one with the worst background among all of Chief Judge Zhu’s pursuers!]
[Why do so many people say she is beautiful and gentle? I ******** can’t stand it.]
That red barrage comment was full of banned words, almost completely censored in the latter half.
This made Lan Lubai frown. She was about to ask if they needed to intervene when she heard Zhu Yiqiao’s voice.
“Have Wei Lingyu issue an official statement, emphasizing that I was the one pursuing Ming Fei, that I am deeply in love with her, and ask everyone not to pay too much attention to her life, let alone slander her.”
Before this, the official account of the Trial Court, managed entirely by the Secretariat, basically only published official content such as investigation announcements. Zhu Yiqiao herself had never made such a request before.
Lan Lubai smiled meaningfully: “Okay.”
“You didn’t answer Min Man’s question this morning, fine, but my question should be easy to answer, right?”
She then asked, “So, Chief Judge Zhu, are you going to pick up Teacher Xiao Fei from work?”
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