Chapter 28: Has the Bride Agreed?

Shen Qingyi understood this principle, but when she saw Chen Haixia being carried to the infirmary earlier today, she still couldn’t help feeling upset. After a moment’s silence, she said, “Let’s wait and see.”

Xia Guifen wanted to persuade her again, but seeing the look on Shen Qingyi’s face, she held her tongue.

Cheng Youqing took Shen Qingyi’s hand. “If you really can’t get past this, don’t force yourself. Watch how he acts in the future. At least I think he did well today.”

Shen Qingyi nodded. “All right. I’ll take An’an home now.”

On their way back, An’an trailed behind her, head hanging, holding her hand in silence.

Shen Qingyi shook the hand her son was holding and smiled. “What’s wrong? Is An’an unhappy?”

An’an shook his head gently. “No, but if you’re unhappy, then I am too.”

Shen Qingyi stopped and crouched before her son. “What makes you think I’m unhappy?”

“Ever since that injured auntie showed up in the infirmary, you’ve been unhappy.”

This little one was indeed sensitive, but she also felt comforted. She patted his head. “I’m not.”

“Then why don’t you want Dad to live with us? I still want him to take me swimming and compete with Doudou’s dad to see who can pee farther.” An’an lifted his little face.

“Dad comes to spend time with you, doesn’t he?”

An’an grinned. “But I want Dad to be good to you, talk with you, and keep you company.”

Shen Qingyi couldn’t help but laugh. “Having you is enough for me.”

An’an fell silent.

Mother and son went home, washed up, and went to sleep.

Early the next morning, Lu Yan was already at his desk, working through a series of test calculations when Wang Zhifang arrived.

Seeing the stack of manuscripts piled high on Lu Yan’s desk and the focus in his expression, Wang Zhifang realized Lu Yan hadn’t noticed him and simply pulled a chair over to sit behind him.

About an hour later, Lu Yan finally stopped, picked up his cup to get some water, and only then noticed Wang Zhifang sitting nearby.

“What is it?” Lu Yan put his cup back on the desk.

Wang Zhifang pointed at the tall stack of handwritten calculations. “Didn’t we get you a new computer imported from Country E? Why aren’t you using it? Several of the experts from Shanghai are overseas returnees. If they find out you’re still doing calculations the old-fashioned way, they might think our talent can’t keep up with the times.”

Lu Yan smiled. “You said yourself, I can’t embarrass you. So I need to be prepared either way.”

Wang Zhifang leaned over and flipped through the manuscript. “Why include Country A’s HB Space Telescope? Isn’t that just inflating others’ prestige and diminishing our own?”

Lu Yan was unfazed. “If you don’t mention it, does that mean no one else will? Besides, it hasn’t even been launched yet—still five years until its scheduled launch, and the results remain unknown. How does that amount to inflating others’ prestige? Still, their design is currently the most advanced and feasible. It’s not affected by atmospheric turbulence, can reach the physical diffraction limit, and achieve the best possible spatial resolution. Since it’ll be on TV, why not let people who care about this field know the truth, so they’ll be inspired to catch up and innovate? If our people don’t even have the concept, how can they find the direction for breakthroughs? Covering our ears is the real way to inflate others and diminish ourselves.”

Sometimes Lu Yan found Wang Zhifang’s narrow-mindedness irritating—always worried about saving face. What was face compared to the future of Chinese science?

Seeing that Lu Yan seemed a little angry, Wang Zhifang’s expression turned sheepish. “Fine, fine, write what you want.”

He flipped a few more pages. “You’ve included the SL Digital Sky Survey too?”

Lu Yan’s face cooled. “Is there a problem?”

“No, not at all!” Wang Zhifang forced a smile. “I know your plan will surpass the SL Digital Sky Survey. You’ve done your homework.”

Lu Yan returned with a glass of water and saw Wang Zhifang still sitting there. “Is there something else?”

“I’ve tracked down Wang Xuemei—she’s working in city tax reception. I’ve sent someone to collect the evidence. Once this round of visitors is dealt with, I’ll go see her supervisor.” This was Wang Zhifang’s main reason for coming.

Lu Yan nodded and took an envelope from the drawer. “I’ve already checked with the operator about my wife’s usual phone. Here are the call logs to Lín City.”

Wang Zhifang accepted the envelope, opened it, and was stunned. “Isn’t the operator only supposed to keep records for six months?”

But remembering it was Lu Yan, he relaxed. Seeing the number of calls, his face darkened. “In the year An’an was conceived and born, she called you fifty-two times?”

Lu Yan said nothing, his expression grim.

“What’s wrong with this woman? What grudge does she have against you?” Suddenly Wang Zhifang felt a surge of sympathy for Shen Qingyi.

He pocketed the call record evidence and stood, patting Lu Yan on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, I won’t let her off. While our people are working night and day, these petty types dare make trouble for their families behind the scenes. I know you want results, but if we go by procedure, it’ll take at least ten days or half a month. Let’s postpone this until after the seminar. How about that?”

Lu Yan nodded. “All right.”

After Wang Zhifang left, Lu Yan buried himself in work again.

He had a private office, and once he got focused, he could even forget the end of the workday—if not for Su Yang.

When the afternoon shift ended, as usual, Su Yang came to fetch him. “Not eating at the cafeteria again?”

Lu Yan nodded. “No. And I won’t be over at your place tonight, sorry for the trouble lately.”

Su Yang laughed. “With the state of my home, how could it be any trouble? Did your wife finally give you permission?”

Lu Yan paused. “Sort of.”

He packed his bag for the day, intending to go straight to Shen Qingyi’s place. But remembering the letters, he decided to go home first. Having missed so many of her calls, even if it was all a misunderstanding, she would still be angry.

He wanted Shen Qingyi to know that he had written her many letters, that he hadn’t forgotten her. Even though it was late, maybe seeing those letters would ease her heart.

With this in mind, he headed straight for the institute’s family quarters.

Qian Guihua, seeing her son return after several days away—and with a week still left until payday—knew he must be back for a reason.

She greeted him briefly. “You’re back?”

Lu Yan nodded, glancing at the others in the room. Good, everyone was here.

He pulled up a chair and sat down, looking at Qian Guihua again. “Mom, did you ever find the letters I asked you about last time?”

Lu Tiesheng had expected his second son wouldn’t let this go. He’d already sifted through all the letters, wisely holding onto this batch. Any mentioning money being sent had been picked out.

It was only upon seeing those letters he realized his son had sent that woman three hundred and fifty yuan a month. He and his wife together only earned eighty a month—the whole family was furious.

Fortunately, he got hold of the letters first. If his son sent another, and that woman found out money had been sent without her getting it, it would cause a huge row. Given his son’s position, the supervisors would surely side with him, so better to use this as an excuse to send her away.

“It’s been a long time, some of them couldn’t be found,” Lu Tiesheng replied.