Chapter 29

"Hey, Professor Lei... Professor Lei, I’m sorry, but I have a question. What exactly does this special admissions class specialize in?"

The differences between people often stem from their status and position. Hearing the title of Professor Lei, Su Xiaofan couldn’t help but stutter a bit.

However, out of responsibility for his sister, Su Xiaofan still needed to understand the uniqueness of this special admissions class.

"Call me Professor Lei. I’m here today to answer any questions you parents might have..."

Professor Lei smiled and said, "Our special admissions class is actually an experimental class, admitting only extremely outstanding and promising students. The main focus of their studies will be a deeper exploration of natural sciences..."

Listening to Professor Lei’s explanation, Su Xiaofan and Zhao Zhengshan not only failed to get their questions answered but their expressions became even more puzzled.

According to Professor Lei, Su Xiao and Zhao Qingyao both have great potential and are suitable for the in-depth study of natural sciences in this special admissions class. However, the explanation was so vague that Su Xiaofan and Zhao Zhengshan didn’t understand much of it.

If they weren’t sitting in the meeting room of Yanjing University, Su Xiaofan and Zhao Zhengshan might have thought they were dealing with a scam. Professor Lei spoke eloquently, but didn’t hit the key points at all.

"Cough, cough, Professor Lei, I’m sorry to interrupt."

Zhao Zhengshan couldn’t hold back any longer and interrupted, "I want to know, how can a high school student like Qingyao enter a special admissions class to do research? Shouldn’t they be studying in college?"

"It’s a combination of studying and researching."

Professor Lei explained, "This special admissions class is run by the Institute of Natural Sciences. Since it’s a special admissions program, it’s different from regular college students. After graduation, they will all have the status of researchers."

"Professor Lei, I’m not questioning you, but becoming a researcher right after graduation seems a bit too far-fetched, doesn’t it?"

This time, it was Su Xiaofan’s turn to interrupt. The more he heard, the less he believed it. Although he hadn’t attended college, he knew the basic rules.

Su Xiaofan knew that a researcher is a professional title in the field of research, equivalent to a professor in the education system.

Everyone knows that in the domestic system, advancing in one’s career requires seniority and experience.

Typically, after graduating with a master’s degree, one has to wait two years before applying for an intern researcher position. After four years as an intern researcher, one can apply for an assistant researcher position, which is equivalent to an associate professor.

One must serve as an assistant researcher for at least five years before applying for a researcher position.

During the process from intern researcher to researcher, there are many conditions, such as publishing papers in professional journals or completing research tasks. Even with special consideration, it usually takes people in their thirties or forties to achieve this.

If, as Professor Lei said, Su Xiao could become a researcher equivalent to a professor after graduation, Su Xiaofan wouldn’t believe it unless the title was issued by a fake document maker under a bridge.

"Brother, come here, should we sign this?"

Just as Su Xiaofan was about to call it a scam, Su Xiao waved her hand at her brother.

"What is it?"

Su Xiaofan walked over. While he was talking with Professor Lei, Su Xiao and Zhao Qingyao had also been chatting, whispering to each other.

"Disclaimer?"

Su Xiaofan took the paper his sister handed him. When he saw the content, his brows furrowed.

"Professor Lei, this is a bit excessive."

Su Xiaofan looked up at Lei Songwei and said, "My sister is here to study, not to serve the country. What’s the purpose of this disclaimer?"

Su Xiaofan read clearly that the disclaimer stated that accidents might occur during the study period, and after signing, the institute would not be held responsible but would provide some compensation to the family.

"It’s just a formality."

Lei Songwei explained, "You should know that even our official researchers might encounter accidents during their research..."

"Alright, we won’t attend this school."

Su Xiaofan shook his head and stood up, saying, "Xiao, you’ll retake the year and take the college entrance exam next year. This special admissions class is too unclear, and we won’t attend it."

"Ah? Brother, really not attending?"

Su Xiao looked at her brother with a pained expression. The opportunity to attend a top university without the college entrance exam is hard to resist. The thought of preparing for the exam for another 300 days made her reluctant.

"We won’t attend unless they can explain clearly."

Su Xiaofan’s eyes fell on Zhao Zhengshan, who looked conflicted.

Unlike Su Xiaofan, Zhao Qingyao’s decision to attend Yanjing University was made by Zhao Hengjian. Zhao Zhengshan was just there to see his daughter off, and he didn’t have the final say.

Seeing Su Xiaofan’s firm stance, Professor Lei hesitated for a moment, then stood up and said, "Alright, Xiao, let’s talk somewhere else. Mr. Zhao, you come too."

Su Xiaofan nodded and followed Professor Lei out of the meeting room. The three of them went to an office on the second floor.

"Would you like something to drink?" Professor Lei gestured for Su Xiaofan and Zhao Zhengshan to sit on the sofa in the office.

"No, thank you." Su Xiaofan waved his hand and said, "Professor Lei, I’m responsible for my sister. Please get straight to the point."

"Alright, how much do you two know about natural sciences?" Lei Songwei paused and asked.

"Natural sciences?"

Su Xiaofan thought for a moment and said, "Natural sciences should include mechanics, physics, chemistry, astronomy, earth sciences, and life sciences, the six major foundational disciplines. As for the branches and interdisciplinary fields derived from natural sciences, I’m not very familiar with them."

After learning that his sister had been accepted into the Institute of Natural Sciences at Yanjing University, Su Xiaofan had done some research. He wanted to help his sister choose a good major, but he didn’t expect the special admissions class to be so problematic.

"Right, what you said is correct." Professor Lei nodded and said, "Actually, our institute is not called the Institute of Natural Sciences, but the Institute of Non-Natural Sciences."

"What? Institute of Non-Natural Sciences?" Su Xiaofan and Zhao Zhengshan were both taken aback. They had never heard of such a term.

"Yes, the Institute of Non-Natural Sciences. We study all non-natural phenomena, which can also be called supernatural phenomena—phenomena that go beyond the conventional scope of natural sciences..."

Professor Lei’s explanation clearly exceeded Su Xiaofan and Zhao Zhengshan’s understanding, but compared to before, he was more straightforward.

Supernatural phenomena are forces or events that cannot be observed in nature and cannot be verified by conventional means. They are beyond the scope of scientific knowledge and are considered impossible or unexplainable.

The reason Professor Lei was hesitant to explain clearly was that these phenomena, whose authenticity is not confirmed, are generally not recognized by mainstream scientists.

Supernatural phenomena include humans with special abilities, such as precognition, clairvoyance, and telekinesis, as well as events that occur under unusual circumstances and cannot be explained by conventional reasoning.

Professor Lei gave them a simple example: frequently sighted unidentified flying objects (UFOs) are considered supernatural phenomena and are one of their research topics.

However, the Institute of Non-Natural Sciences studies more than just UFOs.

It includes extraordinary mental states or abilities, extraordinary physical functions, and even religious beliefs from different countries and non-natural phenomena occurring in various regions, all of which fall within their research scope.

"Professor Lei, does the phenomenon of ‘ghost wall’ in rural areas count as a non-natural phenomenon?"

Su Xiaofan suddenly thought of something that had happened a few days ago.

"Yes, it does. It’s one of our research topics." Professor Lei nodded and said, "‘Ghost wall’ is likely a form of mental confusion caused by magnetic field anomalies. We have colleagues specifically researching this."

"By the way, if we have to categorize it as a discipline, we can define our research as mysticism."

After introducing non-natural sciences to Su Xiaofan and Zhao Zhengshan, Professor Lei summarized his explanation.

"Mysticism sounds good. Why didn’t you say it clearly from the beginning?"

After hearing Professor Lei’s explanation, Su Xiaofan had already accepted this field. Unlike ordinary people, he had personally experienced several non-natural phenomena in recent times.

Being struck by lightning and not dying, having repair values appear in his mind, his body functions being repaired in a short time, and encountering a ‘ghost wall’—any of these events could be considered non-natural phenomena.

"Xiao, mysticism and the study of non-natural sciences are not mainstream sciences in this world. They can’t be openly discussed."

Professor Lei chuckled. Although the times have progressed, it’s not as extreme as in medieval Europe, where heretics were burned at the stake.

However, the state still needs to consider the public’s acceptance of the study of supernatural phenomena to avoid negative social impacts, so it can’t be openly promoted.

"I have another question."

Su Xiaofan said, "Why was my sister chosen for this special admissions class? Does she have any special qualities?"

"During the tests conducted by our researchers, we found that your sister has an unusually strong resistance to certain mental energies. Zhao Qingyao also has this quality.

This resistance can make certain research more convenient. Typically, only one in a million or even fewer people have such resistance..."

"Are my sister and the others going to be guinea pigs? And, can a simple test determine that they have mental resistance?"

Su Xiaofan felt a bit uneasy. His sister always wears a jade Buddha. Could the low-level magical artifact have influenced the test results?