"These few days?" Zou Xiaoxiao looked up in confusion, a hint of reluctance in her heart, "You're only staying for a few days?"
She also wanted to witness the success of this project, but she didn't know if she would be able to wait for that day.
"Do I look like I have a lot of free time?" Huo Rou teased her, without saying anything specific.
Zou Xiaoxiao pouted and took her materials to find the professor.
She silently grumbled to herself, so their extremely important project, in Huo Rou's eyes, wasn't even worth her putting aside her director's work to fully participate?
The fatigue she felt every day was likely due to company matters calling her.
This Director Xiao, who had promised full and strong support for the project, was now bothering Huo Rou with company issues. How annoying!
A passing colleague saw Zou Xiaoxiao's displeased expression and asked, "Xiaoxiao, what's wrong? Are you discouraged by Teacher Huo Rou's capabilities again?"
"Not at all, am I that bad?" Zou Xiaoxiao lifted her chin, her sour expression vanishing as she returned to her usual confident self.
The colleague chuckled, "That's good. After you're done asking, it'll be our turn. You're always the most aggressive in seeking out Teacher Huo Rou, and we only get a little bit of her time."
Zou Xiaoxiao retorted fiercely, "Ask fewer questions!"
"Hey, you get to ask for so long, and you won't let us ask a few more," the colleague teased, hugging their materials and pulling another colleague along to find Huo Rou.
Zou Xiaoxiao watched them go with a hint of worry in her eyes, her words stuck in her throat, unable to be spoken.
She was too tired, let her rest a bit more!
After a while, she withdrew her gaze and used her phone to place a takeout order for Zhao Hengyu.
Zhao Hengyu, having finally finished the tasks Qin Ningyi had assigned him, received such an outrageous food request.
"Hey, Sister Xiaoxiao, what is this ginseng cake you're talking about?" He couldn't help but call Zou Xiaoxiao.
"Aren't you a master chef? It's a cake made from ginseng, literally!" Zou Xiaoxiao said with disdain, not understanding how this self-proclaimed master chef couldn't even make such a pastry.
Zhao Hengyu's voice rose, "Hey, no. Ginseng! Do you know what ginseng is, my dear aunt?"
"And you want so many portions, where am I supposed to find that much for you?"
Zou Xiaoxiao said lightly, "Are you that poor? Wait, I'll have someone bring it to you. Make it quickly and deliver it."
Before Zhao Hengyu could say anything else, she hung up the phone crisply.
Taking so long to make a cake, she really didn't know how Qin Ningyi could be friends with him.
Not as efficient as Huo Rou.
"Xiaoxiao! Call your team over for a quick meeting!" The professor walked in from outside, calling her urgently.
Putting down her phone, Zou Xiaoxiao quickly gathered her team and walked over, "What is it, Professor?"
"The project might have to be paused for a while," the professor said with a grave expression.
"What happened?" Zou Xiaoxiao had just heard that Huo Rou wouldn't be staying long and wanted to take advantage of the materials arriving today to start experiments quickly, to show Huo Rou their progress.
Now it had to be paused?
The professor waved his phone, "I just received a call from the manufacturer. The materials won't arrive today. The materials being transported had an accident and are all gone."
"Don't manufacturers usually keep some surplus material for future inspections and comparisons?" Zou Xiaoxiao's mind was racing as she thought of this.
The professor said helplessly, "The little bit of surplus material they had left in stock has also been acquired."
"Raw materials are scarce now. It will likely take a month to collect the raw materials and then produce them," the professor sighed, "Everyone should perfect the work they have on hand for now. We can only proceed when the materials arrive."
"How could it be such a coincidence?" Huo Rou, feeling a bit drowsy, found a corner to sit in. After hearing everything, she couldn't help but frown with a hint of conspiracy theory.
"The manufacturer has explained the specific situation. It should all be a coincidence," the professor also found the events too coincidental. He had asked a few more questions at the time, and the manufacturer had explained everything to him, which seemed reasonable.
It could only be explained as a coincidence.
Where did so many coincidences come from, happening precisely when their project was progressing smoothly? Huo Rou still suspected, "Will the relevant departments supervise the manufacturer and the buyer of the surplus materials?"
"They will," Zou Xiaoxiao answered for the professor. "For special materials, all transactions must be recorded and tracked. When ordering, thorough background checks are usually done."
"In this situation, the relevant departments will intervene and continue to supervise."
Zou Xiaoxiao also found it strange, but few people would be foolish enough to sabotage, leaving behind traces that could easily be discovered by subsequent supervision.
As they were speaking, the person on duty outside knocked on the door, "Zou Xiaoxiao, someone is looking for you!"
The professor cleared his throat, told everyone to prepare themselves mentally, and then dismissed them.
"Go ahead. At this point, we can only wait," the professor nodded, signaling her to go and see. He and his deputy had already done a lot of work but found no solutions, so they could only wait.
The short meeting was just to explain the situation to everyone so they would be mentally prepared.
The entrance.
"My dear aunt, your ginseng cakes!" Zhao Hengyu, with a hint of annoyance, shoved two large bags of pastries into her hands. It wasn't easy to make these taste good.
Only he could make them.
"Hey! I worked so hard to make them, and you're not even giving me money, let alone a thank you?" Zhao Hengyu pulled her sleeve with annoyance, complaining about his hard work.
Zou Xiaoxiao, with a dark expression, put the items on a nearby table and searched for her phone. She said indignantly, "I'll transfer the money to you!"
After searching everywhere, she finally remembered she hadn't taken her phone to the meeting. Her face darkened, "I'll transfer it to you later! I have to go."
"What's wrong? Why are you so angry?" Zhao Hengyu had never seen her like this. The tomboyish Zou Xiaoxiao had always been cheerful. He was clearly joking, surely she could tell?
"Is your work not going smoothly?" Zhao Hengyu knew the situation; their project involved something very new that hadn't been publicized. He could only ask indirectly.
Zou Xiaoxiao looked at his concerned expression and said irritably, "Yes, so don't bother me today!"
"Is there anything you can't solve?" Zhao Hengyu said with a smile, "When it comes to professional matters, who are you afraid of? What could make you so angry?"
"If it were truly professional matters, that would be great!" Zou Xiaoxiao seemed to find an outlet and spoke of the suspicion she hadn't been able to voice earlier, "Where in the world are there so many coincidences? Materials ordered so far in advance, and problems arise just as they're about to be delivered."
"It's a waste of so much time, Huo..."
When she mentioned Huo Rou, she paused, remembering that she hadn't been very friendly to her earlier.
Her expression became a little unnatural as she changed the subject, "Oh, why am I telling you, a chef, about this? Let's go, let's go! I'll transfer the money to you."
"Coincidence?"
Zhao Hengyu watched her angrily walk inside with the two large bags of pastries, his eyes lowered in thought.