My System Forces Me to Live off Women-Chapter 267 - 235: Leaking the Secrets of Heaven (Part 2)
"No." Li Peifeng shook his head and smiled, "It's all thanks to you, Director Chen. Absolutely no problems, but there is one good thing to mention."
"Oh? Is it related to your desire to graduate early?"
"Yes, because my manuscript royalties have increased." Li Peifeng beamed, "Last month, excluding copyrights, I earned 350,000 just in royalties. So, I want to graduate as soon as possible to focus on writing. I want to seize this wave of popularity and make some money, the opportunity is not to be missed. I'm planning to go all out."
Hearing the number 350,000, Chen Shucheng was taken aback for a moment. He then smiled, "Your first semester of the second year is about to end, but haven't you completed all the required courses by now?"
Li Peifeng nodded, "Pretty much. By the end of this semester, I will have enough credits to meet the graduation requirements."
"Right, you don't have any pressure with your studies now. In the second semester of your second year, you basically won't have any classes, so it won't affect your writing."
Chen Shucheng glanced at Zhao Qingge and joked, "Is it because Qingge gave Peifeng too much work? Is that why Peifeng wants to graduate early and stop working for you as the boss?"
"No, definitely no!"
Li Peifeng quickly answered, and then praised Old Zhao a great deal. He once again brought up the matter of graduating early, but Chen Shucheng still did not make a statement. Instead, he began to persuade him to pursue a PhD, promising again to offer him a teaching position after he graduated with a doctorate, and urged him to consider carefully before responding by the deadline for early graduation applications.
However, Li Peifeng immediately expressed his determination to graduate early, leaving Director Chen rather puzzled.
"This is the second time. Persuading you to pursue a PhD and become an associate professor feels like persuading an ancient emperor to ascend the throne. Are you planning to make me go through 'three invitations'?"
Chen Shucheng sat in his chair, scrutinizing Li Peifeng, utterly unable to comprehend the reason for his refusal. For so many students, directly teaching at Beihua Normal after a PhD is an unattainable dream.
Besides, he had already subtly mentioned favorable conditions like relaxed expectations on research output, with minimal pressure, yet Li Peifeng was as stubborn as a mule?
"Ring ring ring~"
Li Peifeng's phone rang. He picked it up and gestured, intending to take it outside, but Chen Shucheng amiably waved him to stay, "It's fine, take it here."
The call was from an editor at the publishing house responsible for the paper publication of "Evil Chief". This call was about the publication number having been approved, and the need to discuss cover design and other details before finalizing, paving the way for its release.
After a few words expressing his thoughts, Li Peifeng hung up. Chen Shucheng congratulated him with a smile and then asked, "Did you sell film rights for some of your other novels? How's that going, are they in production?"
"One has already set up a production team, and it's probably about to start filming soon."
Chen Shucheng felt quite pleased, offering some encouraging words. However, Li Peifeng did not forget the purpose of his visit and returned to the subject of his early graduation.
"Let's leave it at that for now."
Chen Shucheng's expression changed slightly, "Peifeng, go back and think over what I said. I'll hold onto your application form for now. Once you're truly certain, come find me again."
Having made things so clear, persisting further would seem ungrateful.
Li Peifeng hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Director Chen, I'll be going."
"Off you go."
Li Peifeng glanced at Zhao Qingge, left the medicine he bought, and whispered a reminder in her ear, "It's for a hangover, remember to drink it. I'll be waiting for you in the office."
Zhao Qingge nodded slightly, watching him until he left and closed the door. Then she picked up the bottles and packets of medicine from the bag and began examining them.
"Qingge."
Chen Shucheng slowly spoke, "You approve of his graduation, don't you?"
"He wants to graduate himself. I couldn't persuade him otherwise."
Zhao Qingge absentmindedly opened a small medicine bottle, drank the brownish-green liquid inside, and possibly due to the unpleasant taste, knitted her brows.
"What kind of medicine did Peifeng give you?"
"Hangover medicine. I had some drinks with friends yesterday and still felt a bit uncomfortable this morning. He..."
Zhao Qingge stopped short of finishing her sentence, turning serious instead, "Director Chen, please approve his application soon. The kid's been pestering me for a while now. I'm quite tired of it. Let him graduate quickly, out of sight, out of mind."
Chen Shucheng looked suspicious, "I thought Peifeng had a good relationship with you. Why do you also want him to graduate early?"
"Really? Not at all." Zhao Qingge shook her head, "I just don't want to hinder his development."
"How can you say that? No matter how you see it, letting him continue to a PhD and then teach would be the most beneficial for his personal development."
Chen Shucheng paused in his words and teased, "Are you planning to have him graduate early so he can then go back to your alma mater for his PhD and teach there? Qingge, you're already with Beihua Normal; your loyalties shouldn't lie elsewhere."
"No, you're overthinking it."
"What about the project you're overseeing? Without Peifeng, not only will the progress slow down, but the results may lose weight too."
"If there's an impact, so be it. I can't force someone to stay, right?" Zhao Qingge frowned, "Let's not talk about this. Do you agree to his application or not?"
Chen Shucheng didn't answer, but he was puzzled by Zhao Qingge's behavior. What kind of advisor acts like this?
Even if the top assistant doesn't continue or delay graduation to keep helping out, releasing them early doesn't make sense.
In reality, if meeting the school's criteria on paper was all it took, many outstanding students could graduate early. The school doesn't allow this to happen widely, and students' advisors certainly wouldn't approve.
