As the Life Science Institute had recently brought in several internationally educated professors and was expanding enrollment, the institute redistributed some resources, including the faculty offices.
Mr. Jiao's original office was converted into space for three young lecturers, and the institute allocated him a separate office, albeit smaller than the original, at less than 30 square meters.
The institute's leaders were initially worried that Professor Jiao might express grievances, but they were surprised when he showed understanding and moved his belongings to the new office the next day. His good impression on the institute's leadership thus climbed a notch.
Of course, Professor Jiao's easy move wasn't just out of consideration for the higher-ups' urgency. Zheng Tan could guess some of the reasons. Since the institute had already decided on the allocation, as teaching staff, one could only accept it. Arguing would only be detrimental to oneself, especially for a junior professor like Mr. Jiao.
But Mr. Jiao not only agreed to the office move but also didn't seem reluctant. The primary reason was the geographical location of the new office. The office's window faced south, allowing for enjoyable sunlight during winter. The most crucial point was that it was located at a corner on the second floor, above a road with a large sycamore tree. Its branches stretched out towards the window, making it convenient for Zheng Tan to jump through the window when visiting Mr. Jiao.
So often, when Zheng Tan was tired or bored, he would run to the Life Science Building and jump directly from the sycamore tree to Mr. Jiao's office windowsill. Generally, Mr. Jiao wouldn't lock the window unless he was leaving at night. Thus, Zheng Tan could easily push the screen and window open with his paws, as the windows opened horizontally and were easy to slide open when unlocked.
Next to Mr. Jiao's office desk chair, there was also a small chair where Zheng Tan would lie down and sleep when Jiao Yuan and the others were not around.
That day too, after having a midday nap at home with Jiao Yuan and the others who then went to school, Zheng Tan ran to the Life Science Building and climbed into Mr. Jiao's office through the window to sleep. The sunlight just happened to shine on the chair, offering Zheng Tan a sunny nap without disturbance.
He slept until after five, stretched lazily after looking at the wall clock. Mr. Jiao probably wouldn't come home for dinner today; he had been having his students bring meals recently.
Now Mr. Jiao had three students under him: Yi Xin, who was pursuing graduate studies under him, and two others doing their undergraduate theses with him. Recently, Mr. Jiao had been dining with them, often staying busy until midnight.
Although Boss Jiao had said that they would take on several more graduate students next year, when it came to selection, he still followed his usual standards. Some professors in the institute already had several reserve students starting projects in their labs, but Mr. Jiao only had Yi Xin as his true direct student.
The promising prospects either went abroad or were recruited by a few big shots in the institute. The slightly better ones among the remaining were divided among the wealthier professors with many projects. Boss Jiao wasn't interested in any of the reserve students that remained, thinking of waiting until after the national graduate exams to see the students who applied.
Besides being busy with project research, Mr. Jiao also needed to pay attention to Yi Zhiyi's company.
Yuan Zhiyi's company was named "Tianyuan Biotechnology." "Tian" was taken from a character in Professor Yuan's name, while "Yuan" was a pun on his last name.
Zheng Tan had heard Mr. Jiao and Yuan Zhiyi talk about possibly setting up a dedicated R&D department in the future, but currently, the company's limited human resources were a challenge. Many talented individuals were reluctant to join a newly established small company. Thus, for Mr. Jiao and Yuan Zhiyi, the task ahead was both significant and challenging.
Professor Jiao bought some experimental instruments and supplies from the company, which allowed him to get more essentials for less money. Yuan Zhiyi also supported this, acknowledging that a successful project could greatly benefit Mr. Jiao's promotion to a professorship.
Professor Jiao would also recommend the company to other professors looking to save on project funds. He didn't openly claim his share in the company but would mention it casually during conversations with other professors. These professors had many research topics with funds running into hundreds of thousands or even millions, and they also thought about profiting from these grants. Both Professor Jiao and Yuan Zhiyi understood the intricacies involved with purchasing equipment and supplies but chose not to elaborate.
After waiting another ten or so minutes, when the clock struck six, Zheng Tan jumped out the window, closed it, and went home to eat. After dinner, he continued to wander outside. Lately, Ah Huang had been kept under stricter control, but the sheriff and Da Pang were still following their usual routine, often staying out late playing with Zheng Tan.
Since it was cold, the night was sparsely populated save for some students who ventured out for classes or self-study. This was favorable for the cats, as they could play without being disturbed.
Occasionally, they would encounter young couples engaging in their romantic activities in secluded corners. During such instances, Zheng Tan would hide and watch, reminiscing about his own early days at university when he too would take girls to secluded areas of the school for some fresh and thrilling experiences.
Whenever he witnessed such moments, Zheng Tan couldn't help but wonder how he had never noticed any cats spying during his own intimate moments. Perhaps even if he had seen a cat at that time, Zheng Tan wouldn't have considered it important.
Zheng Tan, along with the sheriff and Da Pang, went to his usual tree-climbing spot in the woods, where they had been playing at night recently. Other cats from different areas also frequented this place, including pets from the logistics staff and some from outside the university. After all, this area was on the edge of Chuhua University near a side gate, and many outside cats often came here to play.
With more cats around, fights were inevitable. The sheriff had engaged in many, while Da Pang, as always, stayed the same, unprovoked and unbothered by other cats.
Zheng Tan had gotten into a fight once, which began over a female cat.
Zheng Tan swore he had no interest in that female cat. In his heart, he still considered himself human and could not get excited about a cat, preferring instead to watch the lovers in secluded corners of the campus. Yet, that female cat approached him, which incited his hostility.
Thus, Zheng Tan ended up fighting with that cat from outside the school. It was hardly a fight—Zheng Tan slapped the cat, and it rolled away. He hadn't controlled his strength well and had been slightly too forceful.
As a result, the cats that witnessed that scene kept a wide berth around Zheng Tan whenever they saw him again. The cat that Zheng Tan had slapped avoided the woods for a long time and even when it did return, it dared not provoke Zheng Tan.
The nighttime forest was alive with the rustling and falling of leaves, stirred by gusts of wind, complemented by the scurrying sounds of cats moving through the woods.
Cats express their emotions both straightforwardly and coyly. Two cats that get along might start by grooming each other, which could lead to biting, and then to kicking and slapping with their paws, but after the fight, they often end up cuddling together again.
Thus, Zheng Tan often saw two cats chasing and fighting in the bushes, heard the tragic cries of a cat being bitten, and soon after, the two would be back together grooming each other.
Under the tree, cats ran back and forth, their cries occasionally piercing the air. Zheng Tan ignored them.
Zheng Tan enjoyed such evenings, undisturbed by others; under the cover of darkness, he could behave shockingly without being noticed, allowing him to run freely without any restraints.
The cats darted through the bushes, while Zheng Tan leapt from tree to tree like a monkey, his vague shadow barely visible under the moonlight unless one looked closely.
Night, black cat.
Zheng Tan quickened his pace, the feeling of safety from being high up and the self-satisfaction of looking down on everything around him made him reluctant to stop. He ran along the branches, and when he reached the tip, he pushed off and leaped to another tree.
Meeting the evening breeze, he sometimes encountered falling leaves. Piercing through the leaves, he kept moving forward as if breaking through barriers made his spirit suddenly clear, filling Zheng Tan with inexplicable excitement.
By the time Zheng Tan paused and regained his senses, he realized he had outdistanced the other cats. However, the sheriff and Da Pang would probably head this way soon, followed by the other cats.
Standing on a branch, Zheng Tan caught his breath, inhaling the cool evening breeze that tingled his nerves and gradually calmed his emotions.
Raising his arm, he gathered fallen leaves and stepped on them with his paws, grinding them into small pieces. A gust of wind scattered the shredded leaves.
After scratching up two leaves, Zheng Tan still hadn't heard any movement from the sheriff and Da Pang, and he internally complained about their delay.
Suddenly, Zheng Tan's ears twitched, and he looked in a particular direction.
From there came dragging sounds and other noises, as if someone's mouth were covered, allowing only nasal sounds through, and their struggle caused the surrounding bushes to rustle with a quick and short frequency.
Listening, Zheng Tan could hear a muffled female voice and a soft male voice, indistinct in speech, moving deeper into the woods.
Zheng Tan lightened his steps, carefully leaping to another tree, using the rustling leaves in the breeze as cover, and approached the source of the noise.
Soon, Zheng Tan understood what had happened. In fact, even without seeing it for himself, he could have guessed.
Every university has one or two "Doctor Roads."
This wasn't a term of endearment but rather one filled with irony
In many large campuses, especially, secluded areas far from the central facilities often witness unpleasant incidents, with assaults being most typical.
For those affected, the administration would offer compensation based on the severity of the incidents. Options like academic concessions or scholarships for graduate studies became common. Over time, such high incident areas were dubbed "Doctor Road" or other such names by the students.
Because Zheng Tan often roamed this area, he was privy to the chats of students or staff who rested here, gossiping about such incidents.
Chuhua University had seen its share of incidents in this area. Its remote location, surrounded by mostly semi-abandoned old buildings that no longer fit modern planning, with too many winding roads, deterred all but essential service vehicles. Private cars seldom ventured here.
The area's streetlights were frequently smashed. They'd be repaired only to be destroyed again within a week, by unknown vandals. Attempts to install a campus-wide broadcast system were also ruined. With no culprits or evidence found, the school eventually gave up. Instead, teachers and counselors subtly warned students not to go to these remote places at night alone. This forest was one of the warned areas—an explanation for the rare sightings of female students by Zheng Tan here.
Perhaps, was this why the school had plans to demolish these old buildings and erect new ones, to rejuvenate the area and reduce the likelihood of such incidents?
As Zheng Tan approached the scene, thinking of the gossip he had heard, he could hear those damned cats also running towards the area.