Chapter 915: Rent

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

In Sihwa’s knowledge of Zhang Zian, he was a cheapskate and a super rational person. He would even clearly calculate the charges of her phone bill with her… So how could he do anything that was meaningless and wasteful? His parents had passed away, but he was still keeping their previous numbers active. It just didn’t fit his character!

Zhang Zian didn’t know why she was asking such a question, so he nodded. “If you don’t pay the bills, the line will be terminated. China Mobile isn’t a charity organization, after all.”

“So, you’ve not only been paying the bills, but you’ve also been charging their mobile phones every day?” Sihwa asked. “Didn’t you say that we’re commercial consumers of electricity, and it pains you each time you pay the bills?”

Zhang Zian was really speechless. “How much of a cheapskate am I in your eyes?”

Sihwa had a mix of complicated feelings in her heart. It was like she had re-recognized Zhang Zian, who not only kept the number of his deceased parents in his contact list, but also kept their numbers active and charged their phones daily. They were the same as they were before. It was just like… they had not passed on.

Sihwa had always thought that she was lonely, but in fact, Zhang Zian was lonely, too.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Zhang Zian looked down at his pants to confirm if his crotch was also wet.

“Nothing.” Sihwa swished her hair and swiped down the contact list until she reached W, then selected Wei Kang from the list and pressed dial. When she heard the other party answer, she handed the phone back to Zhang Zian, but still continued to stare at him.

“Hello? Professor Wei, it’s me, Zhang Zian.” Zhang Zian was embarrassed from being stared at by Sihwa, so he slowly backed out from the bathroom.

“Oh, Xiao Zhang, what is it? Is it about the expedition?”

Wei Kang’s tone suddenly became tense. He’s worried that Zhang Zian would suddenly propose to withdraw from the expedition team and no longer participate in the trip to Egypt. That would be a great loss to the expedition team.

“No, it’s nothing to do with that. Actually… I would like to borrow a scientific instrument from you, and I’m not sure if it’s convenient for you.” Zhang Zian said.

“What instrument? Tell me about it. It won’t be a problem If it’s just a normal instrument that I can make decisions for, but if it’s a valuable and expensive instrument, then it will be out of my authority and I can only consult the Dean…” Wei Kang had his reservations and dragged the last word out a little longer.

Zhang Zian said, “It shouldn’t be a particularly expensive instrument. It’s an underwater pickup device. I’m not sure if you have it there?”

“An underwater pickup device?” There was a brief pause in Wei Kang’s voice, then he asked with surprise, “I can make the decisions for this instrument, but do you mind if I ask why you require this instrument? There’s a need to fill out a form for all borrowed items, so I have to know the purpose of your usage.”

Wei Kang was implying that there didn’t seem to be a reason why someone who ran a pet shop would need an underwater pickup device.

Zhang Zian explained, “Professor Wei, I’ve recently opened a new branch––an aquarium. At the same time, I have also developed some interest in whales, especially the sounds of whales. It feels particularly melodious and mysterious, and listening to them can put you in a trance… Now, weren’t there a number of whales making their appearance in the sea just outside of the city? I want to record some of their sounds and play them in my aquarium to create the mysterious atmosphere of the underwater world.”

“I really couldn’t tell, Xiao Zhang, that you had quite an aesthetic sense! Few people around your age can calm down and listen to the songs of the whales.” Wei Kang’s tone had both astonishment and praise; there was nothing sarcastic. “But the sound of whales can be downloaded from the Internet. There are many downloadable ones available. Why do you want to record it yourself?”

Zhang Zian chuckled and said, “Professor Wei, this question shouldn’t be asked by someone like you… You’ve been going outfield to study so hard, and you may not even be able to find a new species as you wish. Why are you still going at it again and again? Although I might be able to download whale songs online, I’d still like to record it myself. I just might be able to discover something different and new.”

Wei Kang was silent for a moment, which had Zhang Zian think that his words might have made Wei Kang angry. Almost immediately, Wei Kang slapped the table and praised, “Good! This is exactly the spirit that we must not lack scientific explorations! It seems like you were born for this line of work! Are you really not going to consider taking the test to be my graduate student?”

“Professor Wei, you must be joking again!” Zhang Zian laughed. He had intentionally said words that would curry favor from Wei Kang, in order to successfully borrow the underwater pickup device. How could Zian have the spirit for scientific explorations…

Wei Kang let out a sigh. “Okay then, let me talk to my colleagues over at the marine life studies and see if they have a spare underwater pickup device… Right, how long do you plan to borrow it for?”

“Maybe a few days… I’ll try to have it back as soon as possible.” Zhang Zian wasn’t sure if he would run into the giant whale again at the beach, so he hoped he could extend the time required.

“Right, Professor Wei, help me relay a message to your colleagues that I do not intend to borrow it for free. Your colleagues will get a proper repayment,” he added.

“No need for that––there’s no need to give any money. I’ll borrow it under my name, so there’s no need to give any money.”

Wei Kang thought that Zian had wanted to pay the rental fee, so he told Zian that there was no need to pay. Zhang Zian had actually wanted to repay them in a special form. On a personal basis, he was planning to give them a few Antarctic Sea anemones to the Biology Department of Binhai University for them to do a research on.

Antarctic Sea anemones were a new species that had just been discovered under the Antarctic ice in recent years. So far, no one had understood their habits and how they were able to root themselves in the hard ice with their weak bodies. If the teachers and students of Binhai University could take the lead of the world to unlock the mystery of the Antarctic Sea anemones, or even discover some substance in the Antarctic Sea anemone that could be applied in medicinal areas, it would definitely cause quite a stir. By then, Zian would also be honored and that would make it much more convenient for him to borrow things in the future.

Zhang Zian did not have the corresponding knowledge and research instruments, and he was also not interested. As the Antarctic Sea anemone was only a pet to admire in his hands, it was better for him to give some out for the benefit of science. Zian could also take the opportunity to repay Wei Kang for his countless favors.

“I’m not paying any money. It’s too common to talk about money. My plan was to send you some good stuff.” Zian pretended to be mysterious to keep Wei Kang interested.

Wei Kang was in a blur for a moment; he thought that Zhang Zian had finally figured it out and was willing to hand over the original Egyptian Mau for him to do some research on. After giving it some careful thought, though, it didn’t seem like it.

No matter how much Wei Kang asked, Zhang Zian refused to spill the beans. Zian had planned to give him a surprise when he returned the underwater pickup device.

Wei Kang then hung up the phone, went off to borrow the instrument from his colleague, then gave Zhang Zian a call to say that everything was going well. Coincidentally, his colleague had exactly one spare one at the moment.

The two agreed on a time and place for the meeting. When it was time, Zhang Zian drove to Binhai University, filled in the corresponding loan form with the help of Wei Kang, and finally got the valuable underwater pickup device.

With the instrument, Zian could finally record and analyze the sound of the whale and unveil its mysterious veil.