Yun Sheng had been teaching students and then spent a considerable time in the laboratory. Finally free, he remembered that Meng Huai had sent him a message and decided to check it.
He was astonished by what he saw. Yun Sheng rubbed his eyes and read it again. He was utterly certain that the potted plant was the one he had casually given to Meng Huai, having deemed it beyond saving at the time. Yet, after only a few days, it seemed to have been revived?
"No, no, no, this little girl must have a plant of the same species at home and swapped it!"
Yun Sheng couldn't believe the plant in the picture was the one he had given to Meng Huai, so he called her.
"Student Meng, your plant? Is it the one I gave you?"
Yun Sheng, wary of Meng Huai trying to deceive him, used the word "plant" instead of "pot" to emphasize the specimen.
"Yes, Teacher Yun. Can you tell if it's looking okay now? If it is, I can bring it over to you."
Looking at Meng Huai's determined gaze in the video, Yun Sheng felt she wasn't lying. But it was just too unbelievable, even for a plant to be saved so quickly.
Nevertheless, Yun Sheng agreed to have Meng Huai bring the plant back. "Then please bring the plant back to me, Teacher. It's in my laboratory, the same place you came to last time, remember?"
Meng Huai nodded. "I remember. I'll head over now."
Yun Sheng was still looking at the plant. Just as Meng Huai was about to end the call, he finally noticed some green sprouts next to the flowerpot.
Because the green sprouts were not yet fully grown, Yun Sheng had not noticed them. However, when he zoomed in on the pot in the corner, he confirmed they were vegetable seedlings.
Yun Sheng's voice once again rose in excitement. "Student Meng, are those the vegetable seedlings you took before on the windowsill? Have they sprouted already?"
Seeing Yun Sheng ask about the seedlings, Meng Huai turned the video back to the pots of seedlings on the windowsill. She replied, "Yes, I've been so focused on studying lately that I haven't paid much attention to them, so they're growing a bit slowly."
What Meng Huai didn't mention was that the seedlings in her spatial dimension had already been eaten. The ones placed in her dorm room, planted at the same time, had only just sprouted.
Yun Sheng was now completely astounded. He finally believed that the flowers Di Wen had bought were indeed from Meng Huai. He was no longer satisfied with seeing them only on video and wanted to ask Meng Huai how she managed to grow these plants.
"Student Meng, if it's convenient, could you also bring some of these vegetable seedlings over for me to see?"
Meng Huai readily agreed with a nod. "Of course, no problem."
After ending the call, Meng Huai went towards the research institute, holding a flowerpot in each hand. On the other side, Yun Sheng immediately contacted Nie Hong. "Dean, could you come to my office for a moment?"
Nie Hong, unsure of what Yun Sheng was up to, asked, "Why?"
Yun Sheng explained everything to Nie Hong. Upon hearing that Meng Huai was bringing the plant over, Nie Hong put down his work and headed towards Yun Sheng's location. Their laboratories were not far apart, only a few steps away. However, Meng Huai had not yet arrived, and both of them were growing anxious.
Fortunately, Meng Huai did not delay and came directly. Otherwise, they would have had to wait for quite some time.
Along the way, Meng Huai encountered an acquaintance, Senior Qiu Han.
"Senior Qiu Han!" Meng Huai greeted her upon seeing her.
Qiu Han had been preoccupied with her mentor, researching a certain magic robe for the past few days, which allowed her to leave. However, after days of research, they still couldn't figure out how the robe was made or what materials were used.
Qiu Han had been busy for days and hadn't slept much. She looked extremely exhausted and, having finally been released, wanted to go back and get some sleep. But seeing Meng Huai instantly invigorated her. She leaned closer to Meng Huai and said, "Junior, the magic robe you gave me has been incredibly useful!"
Qiu Han spoke in a very low voice, afraid of being overheard. This was because people, including her mentor, had been asking about the origin of the robe, and Qiu Han had been keeping it a secret.
Meng Huai waved her hand. "I'm glad I could help you, Senior."
The fact that Qiu Han could use the magic robe indicated her trust in her, which made Meng Huai very happy. It felt wonderful to have her good intentions not be unappreciated after giving something away.
Qiu Han noticed the flowers in Meng Huai's hand and asked curiously, "Are you going to deliver an order?"
Qiu Han knew Meng Huai had been selling flowers and assumed she was delivering an order.
"No, this is something Teacher Yun gave me a couple of days ago and asked me to help nurture. He gave me these seeds, and they've sprouted, so I'm taking them to show him."
Qiu Han was surprised to learn that these were not flowers Meng Huai was selling but were given to her by a teacher. Wait, Teacher Yun?
"Teacher Yun? The Vice Dean of the Research Institute at our Military Academy?"
Since when did Junior Meng know him?
Meng Huai felt it wasn't surprising. "Yes, that Teacher Yun."
After saying goodbye to Qiu Han, Meng Huai quickly arrived at the Research Institute. Entering the institute was easy. However, the experimental building was not so accommodating. Even though Meng Huai was carrying things, she was still blocked by the building's security system.
The last time Meng Huai had entered directly behind Yun Sheng, who had the authority to bring people into the experimental building. The experimental building housed many confidential matters, so its security system was quite advanced.
Meng Huai was stopped at the main entrance, and many people were looking at her. Some were curious about the unfamiliar face, while others were fixated on the flowers in Meng Huai's hands.
The experimental building housed not only researchers of ancient plants but also those in other fields. However, due to the expertise of Yun Sheng and Nie Hong in this area, the Imperial Military Academy had a large number of students specializing in it.
Some people pretended to have business there and lingered, slowly approaching Meng Huai to seemingly glance at the flowers in her hands. Others directly struck up a conversation with Meng Huai, and she gestured for them to look freely.
However, unable to enter the experimental building, she had to contact Yun Sheng.
"Teacher Yun, I'm downstairs at the experimental building. Yes, I can't get in."
Yun Sheng sent his most promising student to pick her up. This student had never met Meng Huai before. But upon seeing Meng Huai downstairs holding two flowerpots, and recognizing that one of them contained the very plant his mentor was about to discard days ago, he was shocked.
Ju Qiwen murmured in disbelief when he saw the plant, "It's really been saved!"
Ju Qiwen approached and asked, "Are you Junior Meng?"
Meng Huai nodded. "Yes, I'm Meng Huai. And you are?"
Ju Qiwen introduced himself. "My name is Ju Qiwen. I'm a student of the mentor, and he sent me to pick you up."
Meng Huai followed Ju Qiwen into the experimental building and then to Yun Sheng's laboratory. Yun Sheng and Nie Hong were already waiting there. Upon seeing Meng Huai finally arrive with the flowers, they excitedly stood up and gazed at the flowers she was holding.