Chapter 148: Chapter 139: An Eye for an Eye, How Satisfying

When the vice-principal of Jiangsu Forestry University heard that Lu Fan was looking for Professor Chen Laide, he immediately asked in a fluster, "President Lu, is something wrong?"

"It’s nothing," Lu Fan said with a smile. "Just take me to Professor Chen, Principal."

"Alright... very well." Principal Zhou immediately made a call to ask where Professor Chen was.

As it happened, Professor Chen had just finished teaching a public lecture.

He was resting in his office.

A number of students were gathered around him, all seeming to want his feedback on their design projects.

Because Principal Zhou had called ahead, he’d had other teachers inform Professor Chen first.

When Professor Chen learned that someone wanted to see him, he was rather puzzled.

’President Lu? I don’t know him,’ Professor Chen wondered, a bit confused.

By now, Lu Fan had arrived at the office. He looked at Chen Laide, who was sitting on the sofa, a serious expression in his eyes.

Principal Zhou enthusiastically made the introduction. "Professor Chen, allow me to introduce you. This is President Lu, from a publicly listed company. He has always been a passionate supporter of higher education. He even established a merit scholarship foundation that has elevated the academic atmosphere throughout Jiangsu Province. He came today specifically to seek your guidance."

At first, Chen Laide was a bit aloof, but after hearing about Lu Fan’s status, he sat up straight, stood, and said, "Hello, President Lu."

"Professor Chen, I presume? Hello." Lu Fan gave a humorless smile.

Chen Laide nodded, his curiosity piqued. "May I ask what brings you to see me today, President Lu?"

"Perhaps we could speak privately?" President Lu inquired.

Chen Laide didn’t know Lu Fan. He figured that with Principal Zhou present, it would be easier to explain things, so he smiled and said, "That won’t be necessary. Why don’t we just talk here? Principal Zhou is no stranger. Perhaps he can even offer some of his own insights."

"Well, I’ve recently taken an interest in the field of garden design," Lu Fan began, circling the topic. "I happened to hear that you are an honorary professor here, so I made a special trip to learn from you."

Chen Laide was pleased to hear this.

Sometimes, these older professors are just like that.

It’s easy for them to become self-important and look down on everyone else.

He waved his hand, feigning modesty. "I’m just a professor in name only. It’s nothing special."

"Professor Chen, please help me analyze whether these two works show any signs of plagiarism." Seeing his opening, Lu Fan had Jiali hand over a tablet.

Professor Chen was baffled. ’Did he really make a special trip to consult with me just to determine if some work was plagiarized?’

He was a famous professor of garden design in Jiangsu Province, after all.

’Seeking me out just for this... isn’t that a bit demeaning?’

Still, the man before him was a person of status, so Chen Laide didn’t refuse. He nodded and said, "Alright, let me have a look."

After looking at the design concepts in the two images, he stated bluntly, "This is obvious plagiarism by imitation."

"Is that so?" Lu Fan gestured. "Jiali, show Professor Chen a few more."

Jiali then continued to swipe through the following images.

Although Chen Laide didn’t understand Lu Fan’s intentions, he still answered, "These are all clearly plagiarized through imitation. What’s this about? Whose works are these?"

Lu Fan didn’t answer directly, instead having Jiali continue swiping. "Jiali, bring up the last one."

Jiali then displayed Jiang Silu’s project.

Lu Fan looked at Chen Laide, his earlier politeness gone. He asked in a cold, stern voice, "Well, Professor Chen? This one. Do you think it’s plagiarized?"

Chen Laide first glanced at Lu Fan, noticing the change in his expression, before looking back at the tablet.

Something suddenly occurred to him. He asked uncertainly, "This design... it must be from the Jiangnan Garden Cup a few days ago, right?"

"It seems Professor Chen truly has a photographic memory," Lu Fan said with a smile. "So, do you think this work is plagiarized?"

"Er..." Chen Laide began to stammer.

This exchange completely bewildered Principal Zhou, who stood by, oblivious to the situation.

’This... why have they been asking about plagiarism ever since they sat down?’

’What on earth is going on?’

Principal Zhou gave an awkward laugh. "President Lu, what is all this about? I’m afraid I don’t understand."

Lu Fan didn’t answer Principal Zhou. He continued to stare at Chen Laide, waiting for him to give a final answer.

Chen Laide finally explained, "This work does indeed have signs of plagiarism. The renderings are very similar to an award-winning project by one of my students. I don’t know why President Lu would bring up a disqualified entry to ask me about."

After hearing his final answer, Lu Fan chuckled. "If that’s the case, then what about the works I showed you just before? Were they also plagiarized?"

Chen Laide nodded. "Yes, those were plagiarized as well. But I didn’t see any of them in this year’s Jiangnan Garden Cup."

"Of course you didn’t. Because all of those were your own award-winning projects, or those of your students." As Lu Fan spoke, his gaze was piercing.

Hearing this, Chen Laide’s eyes went wide in disbelief. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

He snatched the tablet again, swiping back through the images and comparing them carefully.

A few seconds later, he realized that Lu Fan had just been digging a pit for him to fall into.

’All those works just now were his own or his students’ award-winning projects!’

Chen Laide forced an awkward laugh. "Uhm... President Lu, why don’t we have a chat in private?"

"That won’t be necessary. Principal Zhou is no stranger. Perhaps he can even offer some of his own insights," Lu Fan retorted, throwing the professor’s own words back at him.

At that, Chen Laide was left utterly mortified.