CHAPTER 517: CHAPTER 163: THE WORLD OF THE BIG BOSS_2

It’s not easy living in Beijing.

Earning some extra money while studying is good. After all, doing scientific research also requires eating. Everyone has to face the pressure of survival.

Naturally, Qiao Yu became the most popular person at today’s dinner party. From the moment they entered the private room, a group of people started.

"Boss, you must take the seat."

"Boss, let me pour you some tea."

"Boss, thank you so much."

...

Even Qiao Yu felt a bit embarrassed. Fortunately, Professor Zhang was there to keep things in check; otherwise, Qiao Yu couldn’t imagine how overboard these brothers... um, no, uncles might get.

Of course, it might be precisely because the mentor was present that these people saw how much their mentor valued Qiao Yu, so they deliberately acted this way.

In any case, ever since Elder Yuan helped him analyze Senior Brother Chen’s various mindsets, Qiao Yu hadn’t underestimated the emotional intelligence of these graduate students at Yanbei University who were doing research with their mentors.

They were all very smart. Even when they pretended to be weak, it was certainly with comprehensive consideration.

"Come on, let’s raise a toast to Qiao Yu together, and thank Qiao Yu for the contribution to our project! Really, Qiao Yu, if it weren’t for you, I would have gone crazy! I dread doing these horizontal projects, and we can’t even make up data, sigh..."

Liu Hao raised his beer mug and said.

Qiao Yu smiled and picked up the juice.

Next to him, Professor Zhang also picked up a glass of beer.

Qiao Yu doesn’t drink alcohol, not entirely because he’s underage, but mainly because he doesn’t like alcohol, not even beer.

Previously, when Qiao Xi drank, he had tried it. White, beer, red... none tasted good.

Beer tasted bitter, red wine tasted bland, and as for white wine, it was both bitter and spicy, giving him an instinctive repulsion when swallowing it.

That’s why Qiao Yu never quite understood why people drink... isn’t sweet juice tasty enough? Plus, no matter how much juice you drink, it doesn’t affect your judgment.

Alcohol is different; drinking too much can really make your brain go berserk and make you do stupid things.

"Brother Liu, you’re too kind. The main credit is still yours. Without the preliminary data you provided, and since the data is really accurate and not made up, even if you kill me, I couldn’t manage it."

Qiao Yu responded modestly with a smile.

"Qiao Yu, you don’t have to..." Zhang Zuolin put down his glass and began to speak, but the private room door was suddenly opened by a server.

Then Qiao Yu saw another burly middle-aged man in his forties stride in.

Yes, this man seemed about the same age as Zhang Zuolin but was clearly a lot more robust, looking much sturdier.

Zhang Zuolin also saw the newcomer and stood up.

The students, seeing their mentor take the initiative to stand, promptly stood up as well.

Qiao Yu hesitated for a moment, seeing everyone standing while he was the only one sitting, it felt a bit out of place, so he stood up too, having roughly guessed the newcomer’s identity in his heart.

"Brother Botao, I thought you weren’t coming today? Seems like you’re really curious about meeting your young brother here."

Zhang Zuolin greeted warmly, which confirmed Qiao Yu’s guess.

"Haha, Brother Zuo Lin, speaking like that is wrong. When you invite me to dinner, even if there were no friends around, I’d definitely come. Not to mention today the laboratory had such results – it’s a big happy event, I definitely have to come to offer my congratulations."

Ma Botao replied with a smile.

Well, regardless of whether those words were genuine or not, Qiao Yu’s impression was still quite positive.

He likes interacting with people who have presence. Mainly, as long as no one is openly hostile, Qiao Yu isn’t afraid of anyone playing dirty.

Likewise, Qiao Yu hates disputes that have no intricacy, especially the kind where people throw harsh words or directly fight, with no sense of beauty.

Of course, maybe it’s because in direct confrontation, his slender arms and legs provide no advantage...

Qiao Yu thought this person was alright, but the students who also guessed who this person was had various expressions.

After all, this was the current competitor. When Qiao Yu had Zhang Zuolin call Ma Botao, they weren’t around, so they really didn’t know their mentor had invited this big shot too.

"Alright, since you’ve said so, next time I treat you to a meal, I must call you. By the way, let me introduce you, this is Qiao Yu, Tian Yanzhen’s student. You can’t say you haven’t heard of this name."

After the greeting, Zhang Zuolin directly introduced Qiao Yu to Ma Botao.

"Qiao Yu? Ah, hello, hello, nice to finally meet you in person! During my entire journey, I was wondering who Brother Zuo Lin’s young brother might be? Turns out it’s the prized student of Professor Tian."

He smiled at Qiao Yu and then looked at Zhang Zuolin, "Brother Zuo Lin, you didn’t say earlier it was Qiao Yu. How could I not have heard of him? After returning from the conference in Linhai, several academicians mentioned that Professor Tian had taken on a great student to everyone they met."

"Hello, Professor Ma." Qiao Yu nodded slightly in greeting.

"Alright, let’s skip the formalities, take a seat first. Since I’m late, should I be punishing myself with a drink?"

"Haha, I wasn’t planning on drinking today. But since our young brother Qiao Yu is here, I must have a couple of drinks."

...

After exchanging a few words, Ma Botao took his seat.

Others noticeably quickened their eating pace. Soon after, when Zhang Haoyuan, under the pretext of bringing food to the remaining Chen Jiang, was about to leave first, others in the research group also left together after finishing their juice.