The Rice Fragrance Hall at Sunshine Hot Spring Resort is actually a simply styled pavilion built with green bamboo, with a wide view from all sides.

To match the name "Rice Fragrance," the pavilion's canopy is made from fresh straw.

Inside the pavilion, there are three dining tables, each seating eight people.

As the night breeze gently blows, Lin Jie, An Kexin, and the others hurriedly enter the Rice Fragrance Hall, seeing that two tables are already full, while four seats are left empty at the main table, clearly reserved for them.

Moreover, no dishes have been served yet, only a few plates of dried fruits on each table, with everyone chatting softly.

"Brother, you're here!"

"Sister Kexin!"

"Teacher!"

"Expert Lin!"

Seeing Lin Jie and the others, everyone stood up to greet them.

Lin Jie apologized, "I'm really sorry for keeping everyone waiting. Please have a seat."

Everyone sat down, and Lin Jie unhesitatingly took the host seat at the main table.

Zhang Xiaoxiao said half reproachfully, half jokingly, "Ajie, why did you guys take so long?"

"So many of us are starving while waiting for you. If you were any later, we were planning to eat straw!"

An Kemeng stood up again and explained on Lin Jie's behalf, "Sister Xiaoxiao, it's not Brother Jie's fault that we're late. Something serious happened on the way."

She told loudly with a crisp, melodious voice about what happened in the hotel lobby, and then angrily said, "You wouldn't believe how annoying that troublemaker kid was."

"We watched the surveillance footage and found out that in the elevator, that troublemaker kid secretly placed a pet snake on a fat man's shoulder, scaring the man so much that he jumped and knocked the little girl beside him, like bouncing a ball."

"The little girl's head hit the elevator door and started bleeding profusely, and she fainted."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaoxiao showed an angry expression and said, "That's infuriating; a child of six or seven should understand some things."

"There are too many bratty kids nowadays!"

Yu Momo said in deep agreement, "I encountered one a few days ago who tried to lift my skirt, and the parents not only didn't stop him but laughed out loud!"

"That's a lack of education!"

Lin Miao angrily chimed in, "For a bratty kid like today who doesn't know boundaries, he should be given an unforgettable lesson."

"Hmm, no, wait..."

Lin Miao thought for a moment and said, "This is a family education issue. The parents should be given a profound lesson instead."

"Brother, did you give them a good scolding?"

Lin Jie shook his head and said, "I just said a few words to them."

"However, I did stomp on the brat's pet snake right in front of him and forced the brat to sincerely apologize to Zou Manqing."

"That's about all I could do."

He further explained, "The resort management also got involved. They promised to monitor the little girl's subsequent injuries and treatments and to coordinate some compensation matters."

"I hope this time the child, and his parents, learn their lesson and take heed."

An Kexin pessimistically said, "Ajie, I think your hopes will be dashed."

"I sensed that it's the wife who primarily educates the child, and I didn't see much remorse on her face."

Lin Jie said nonchalantly, "If the child is raised wrong, it'll be their regret in the future. There's only so much we can do about it, so let's not worry."

He spoke again, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. It's time to eat. Sister Xiaoxiao, have the dishes been ordered?"

"They've been ordered!"

Zhang Xiaoxiao handed over a menu and said, "You can all take a look, and if there's something you really want, we can order more."

An Kexin, An Kemeng, and Zou Manqing all shook their heads, indicating there was no need to order more.

Seeing this, Lin Jie promptly decided, "Let them serve the dishes. If it's not enough midway, we can order more then."

Following Zhang Xiaoxiao's instruction to serve the dishes, the waitstaff began continuously bringing in dishes to the Rice Fragrance Hall.

The specialty here focuses on farmhouse cuisine.

The ingredients include free-range poultry and livestock, self-grown vegetables, and a few common wild game dishes.

The main purpose for Lin Jie and his group of over twenty coming here was to relax and enhance communication with each other, with the least concern being food.

However, Lin Jie was quite pleased with the taste and texture of the food, a delightful surprise.

As the dishes rotated and flavors were savored, everyone shifted their focus to exchanging conversations.

"Teacher, thank you for sparing me and not expelling me."

Looking at Zhao Fang, who walked over with Yan Beichen, holding a drink and somewhat agitated, Lin Jie comforted, "I'm not someone who can't differentiate right from wrong or who isn't reasonable."

"The death of the sixth monkey was not your fault, and I won't make you a scapegoat."

"But..."

Lin Jie raised his voice, "You all listen to me!"

The Rice Fragrance Hall fell silent, and Tian Xiangyu, Fang Huanru, and others all looked at Lin Jie in unison.

"The incident with the sixth monkey was an accident, and I won't blame anyone."

"But if there's any accident in this research project again, regardless of whose responsibility it ultimately is, I will not let the person involved go so easily, no matter how innocent you are."

"Do you all understand?"

"Understood!" responded all of Lin Jie's students together.

Especially Huo Guangheng and Guo Peng, perhaps used to shouting slogans before, responded unusually loudly.

Lin Jie was very satisfied and said cheerfully, "Tonight, feel free to relax and be at ease."

He remembered something and instructed Yan Beichen, "Keep in touch with Lin Xiaoxiao's family and communicate any issues promptly."

Yan Beichen assured, patting his chest, "Teacher, don't worry about this."

"I'm in close contact with Lin Xiaoxiao's family, regularly communicating about the project's progress and Lin Xiaoxiao's health status through phone or WeChat..."

After Yan Beichen and Zhao Fang left, Lin Jie also sat down.

Lin Miao giggled and said, "Brother, you were so impressive earlier. I never realized you had such a strong side."

"Exactly, earlier Brother Jie had the demeanor of commanding troops, like an ancient general," An Kemeng flatteringly added.

Lin Jie chuckled self-satisfactorily, "You should see me in my classroom. With over a hundred students, they all listen attentively like well-behaved kittens as I lecture."

An Kexin softly laughed, "As they say, 'a person's temperament can be cultivated by their position and environment.'

"Now Ajie is a highly respected medical expert, with authoritative influence in the field of medicine, and many heed his words."

"This commanding temperament is cultivated gradually over time."

Zhang Xiaoxiao nodded in agreement, "Indeed, I feel this very deeply."

"Before, I looked at Ajie as a little brother, a boy who hadn't grown up completely. But now, when Ajie puts on a stern face or furrows his brows, it makes my heart skip a beat."

After laughing and chatting for a while, Zhang Xiaoxiao stood up and went out.

About ten minutes later, Zhang Xiaoxiao returned, leaned close to Lin Jie, and whispered, "Ajie, I just went to pay the bill, but the resort staff told me that our expenses for today have already been settled by someone."

"What do you make of this?"

Lin Jie thought for a moment and said softly, "Perhaps someone who knows me wants to build a connection or ask for a favor."

"I guess the one who paid the bill will reveal themselves soon. After all, it's unlikely for someone to do such a good deed without leaving a name. We'll see what happens when they come."

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