["Professor Li, are you here seeking employment just for yourself, or are you representing the professors from your former lab at Central Glory University as well?"]
["By the way, you might not be aware, but over the past two years, most of your former assistants have made significant scientific achievements, and quite a few have already been appointed as professors."]
Everyone who heard this question immediately perked up and listened intently.
Li Tianming's capabilities were beyond question.
However, he alone couldn't handle everything; he would need time to rebuild a research team.
Most of his former research team members had worked with him before the apocalypse.
After years of collaboration, their experience and synergy had reached an ideal level.
If Li Tianming were to bring back his old team, it wouldn't just be a simple equation of one plus one equaling two.
Li Tianming smiled and said, "I can only represent myself; I cannot speak for them."
"After being falsely accused, all my forum accounts were banned, and I was prohibited from contacting other sequence ability users. So, in the past two years, I haven't had any contact with them at all."
At this point, a trace of melancholy flickered in his eyes.
Two years ago, Li Tianming had been falsely accused of a major crime involving the deaths of dozens of people. He had gone from being a revered professor to a murderer, falling from the heights of prestige into the depths of ruin.
If nothing unexpected had happened, he might never have been able to make a comeback.
When a tree falls, the monkeys scatter.
He had been removed and put on ice, while the researchers who followed him still had to continue their lives.
Thus, after Li Tianming was convicted, his team completely disbanded and crumbled.
Some of his former research colleagues stayed at Central Glory University, while others moved elsewhere.
However...
Having been exiled to Area 14121, Li Tianming knew nothing about any of this.
He was like an old man completely cut off from his former life, quietly living on the fringes of the safe zone.
Knowing he bore a criminal label and that every move he made was scrutinized, he didn't want to cause trouble for anyone else.
In these two years, Li Tianming hadn't even contacted his own son, let alone his former colleagues.
If not for Qin Siyang, the orphan with an unclear background who had suddenly risen to prominence, Li Tianming didn't know how much longer he would have remained buried in the principal's office.
Maybe three to five years. Maybe twenty or thirty. Maybe a lifetime.
Hearing the Central Pillar University representative's question, Li Tianming couldn't help but recall the past.
As he sat in the conference room, looking at the many institutions and individuals participating, it all felt like a dream.
That chapter of his life had long since ended.
Only, things had changed.
The assistants who once followed him in research had now become distinguished professors.
Back when they worked together, their relationships had been harmonious.
So, Li Tianming was genuinely happy for them.
He smiled again and said:
"I just learned from you that my former team members have become professors. Knowing that they're doing well brings me great comfort. It proves that their talent was always exceptional—it has nothing to do with me."
"In the past, I might have been the team leader, but they were all outstanding in their own right. I cannot represent any of them."
"And now, they are esteemed professors at various universities, while I am just a man who has been away from frontline research for two years. I have no authority to represent them."
"Representative of Central Pillar University, do you agree with what I've said?"
The person in the video nodded, ["Professor Li is absolutely right."]
"Good, then I hope my words have answered your question."
["It has been a pleasure speaking with you, Professor Li."]
Li Tianming maintained a humble demeanor.
Even though he had once been on good terms with his former team, even though many had promised to wait for his return, even though much of their success stemmed from the theories he developed, he still refrained from asking for their support.
The past was like a book; once the page was turned, it could no longer be seen.
Qin Siyang sneaked a glance at Li Tianming and saw that his gaze was deep, his lips pressed together as if lost in thought.
Perhaps he was recalling the past.
Ever since his ex-wife's betrayal, Li Tianming had become cautious and distrustful.
Aside from Qin Siyang and Chen Fenghe, he found it difficult to trust anyone.
To him, the past was the past. Promises made back then held no weight anymore.
If the research team were to be rebuilt, it would have to be done brick by brick from the ground up.
And it wasn't just him—other participants in the meeting felt the same.
There was an old saying in China: "The world bustles for profit; the world hustles for gain."
Friendships and loyalties that lacked binding interests would eventually fade.
They were scientists, not saints.
No one expected such high moral standards.
The representative from Central Pillar University continued, ["Professor Li, what you say makes sense. We understand that your former team members have become pivotal figures in academia, so it would be difficult..."]
Just then, someone unmuted their microphone:
["Apologies for the interruption. I am Wu Yu, a professor at West Glory University. I would like to personally express my willingness to continue research under Professor Li."]
His voice echoed through the conference room.
On the video screen, a middle-aged man in a suit with slicked-back hair sat upright.
Li Tianming looked up at the screen, his eyes trembling slightly.
"Wu Yu, you..."
Then, another microphone activated:
["Chang Tianxiang, Professor at Central Glory University. I personally wish to continue research under Professor Li."]
["Chang Tianxiong, Professor at Central Glory University. I personally wish to continue research under Professor Li."]
["Lu Daoxing, Professor at the Earthly Research Institute. I personally wish to continue research under Professor Li."]
["Hao Liang, Professor at Central Pillar University. I personally wish to continue research under Professor Li."]
One after another, voices rang out.
Each declaration struck against the fortress Li Tianming had built around his heart.
These professors had joined the conference as individuals rather than as representatives of their institutions.
They must have been waiting for this moment.
Waiting to publicly declare their intent to follow Li Tianming.
As he looked at the five familiar faces, Li Tianming's eyes turned red.
His lips trembled slightly.
It seemed like he wanted to say something, but he was afraid he'd be too emotional, so he held back.
The conference room fell into silence.
A brief silence, giving everyone a moment to process.
Because just now, every participant had been stunned.
One after another, five professors had spoken up, expressing their willingness to leave their current university positions and join Li Tianming's research team.
It was an absolute explosion in the conference.
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.
https://discord.gg/bYAfGyp98y