"Teacher Zhao, since there are no more issues, shall we head back?"
Wei Ziqin and the other two handed over the recorded audio to Teacher Zhao, who had just finished listening.
"Alright then, I won't keep you any longer," Zhao Rong said, nodding with satisfaction.
"Okay, thank you, Teacher Zhao. We won't bother you any further."
After speaking, the four of them walked out.
"Teacher Qi, it's truly... enviable!" Looking at the departing four, Zhao Rong couldn't help but sigh again.
After a long pause, the person finally turned around.
"You lot, what are you doing? Hurry up!"
"Teacher, weren't those people you called to help?"
"Why did they leave so quickly?"
They knew Teacher Zhao's temper best. She often called upon students from the school to help, and they never left for at least three to five hours.
But those four just now seemed to have been here for less than two hours.
"You're still asking!" Zhao Rong shot her students a mild glare. "Those four arrived much later than you, and they finished their tasks much faster."
"It's not just that they were efficient; their quality was also very good."
The more she spoke, the more Zhao Rong felt a pang of envy. When would her own sluggish students reach that level...
"Teacher... are you saying they've already finished their work?"
She found it hard to believe.
Having followed her mentor for over two years, she had seen many other mentors' students. If what Teacher Zhao said was true, this was truly the first time such a situation had occurred.
"Otherwise?" Zhao Rong glanced at her students. "The young lady who was with me earlier, the task I gave her was for other language audio that I had been delaying for a long time. Yet, she completed it with such ease."
"Teacher, you're not joking with us, are you?"
As soon as Zhao Rong said that, her students immediately retorted in surprise, then stared with wide eyes, seeking an explanation.
"Do I look like I'm joking with you right now?" Zhao Rong's expression turned serious, her lips sealed, showing no emotion.
"..."
Everyone was stunned for a moment, then took a collective step back.
"No!"
"Teacher, we won't disturb you any further."
With that, they quickly shifted their bodies and returned to their seats.
While the teacher wasn't looking, they started whispering again.
"Teacher Zhao's expression didn't seem like she was joking with us."
"Definitely not! I've been with the teacher for over two years. This means she's really serious."
"And she must really like that girl she mentioned."
"This indirectly shows that girl's level is quite impressive!"
"She must be! The teacher had been delaying that audio for so long, and she just handed it over to her, and she finished it so quickly."
"Simply peak efficiency!"
"Indeed..."
"Mhm!"
"...Let's stop talking about it, let's stop."
She felt it would be irresponsible of them to continue chatting like this.
"With this kind of pressure, I think we need to work harder. Otherwise, we might be going home late again today."
"Mhm! I'm not talking anymore, I'm going to practice."
"Me too!"
"...Then me too!"
Qiu Xi might not have known the significant impact her casual mention by Teacher Zhao would have.
In the time that followed, Teacher Zhao's students studied with exceptional focus.
Of course, these were later developments that brought relief to Teacher Zhao.
...
"Here, Teacher Zhao asked me to transfer your payment. I'm transferring it to you now."
Things had ended quickly, and since there were four of them, Teacher Zhao had directly transferred their payment to Qiu Xi, with whom she had exchanged contact details.
"Xiao Xi, you don't need to give this to us. How about we go out for a meal tonight? We can settle it then." Mo Yaya suggested.
"I have no objections," Wei Ziqin agreed.
They were about to graduate, and this kind of life might not be available in the future. They should cherish it now and go if they could.
Luo An also raised his hand after his senior spoke, "I can too!"
"Since you all say so, then I won't transfer it?"
"No need to transfer. How about we meet at the usual spot outside at 6 PM tonight?"
"Deal!"
"Okay!"
"No problem."
"Great! It's settled then."
After agreeing, the four of them smiled and walked back to the office.
"Teacher Qi, we're back!"
"We didn't manage to get the payment, we just got a little 'extra pocket money'."
"What? Did Teacher Zhao kick you out?" Qi Xizhi looked up and surveyed the four students before him.
"It shouldn't be that bad. You four..."
"Teacher! We didn't do anything wrong. It's just that Teacher Zhao's assignment was completed too quickly by us."
"..."
"Luo An, you seem quite proud?" Qi Xizhi felt a little annoyed looking at this student whose tail was almost wagging to his eyes.
"Teacher Qi! You misunderstand me!"
"Your student truly doesn't dare!"
"..."
How did they describe young people these days... terrible but loved to play?
Qi Xizhi stared at Luo An for a moment longer.
"Alright, seeing as you're all so inept!"
"To be slow and inept, truly... your brains have gone numb from studying!"
"..."
They were clearly too outstanding...
That's what they thought, but they dared not say it in front of their mentor.
"The teacher is right. We will definitely apply what we've learned and learn diligently from now on."
"..."
"Alright, since you're back, go attend to your own matters."
They didn't have much to do today, and he hadn't made any plans for them.
"Understood, Teacher."
"Qiu Xi, come here for a moment."
"Okay."
Watching the other three find their own seats, Qiu Xi moved her feet and sat down.
"Teacher, is this about my thesis?"
Qi Xizhi nodded, "Yes, good."
"Regarding your thesis, I told you before that there are no major issues. It's just some minor details that I think could be improved. I'll discuss them with you now."
Ideally, they should have discussed this during the snow, but it was delayed by a couple of days, so it had to be done now.
It was also convenient as there was less work today.
"Teacher, just tell me directly. If it's not much, I think I can give you the final draft today."
Qiu Xi spoke without any reservation.
Of course, this was also because she had the capability to back it up.
Qi Xizhi smiled upon hearing this.
He was naturally happy to have such a capable student.
If it were someone else, lacking confidence, he might have started scolding them by now.
He could have easily lectured them about being grounded and disciplined.
"Alright, look here, I'll tell you."
"After I finish explaining, I'll send you the manuscript. You can then ponder over it again."
"Okay."
For the next hour, the corner of the office was filled with the quiet discussion of the thesis between mentor and student.
The trio who accidentally passed by: "..."
Wei Ziqin: I need to hurry up! My junior classmate's thesis is about to be published, and I, a senior about to graduate, haven't even finished my graduation thesis... How embarrassing!
Mo Yaya: Junior classmate is amazing! I need to work hard too!
Luo An: I wonder when I'll be able to publish a thesis... I wonder if it's easy to latch onto a powerful figure?
...
"Alright, that's all for now."
Looking at the thesis that had already scrolled to the bottom, Qi Xizhi smiled with satisfaction.
Having such a student was truly a relief.
"Do you understand it all?"
"Teacher, I've noted it all down. There are no problems." Qiu Xi also closed her notebook.
"Good, then go find time to make the revisions."
"If you have any problems, come and find me."
"Okay."
...