“More interesting than before.”
Ming Yu nodded. “That’s good.”
Jiang Fuyue asked in return, “What about you?”
Are you doing well?
Ming Yu: “It wasn’t great at first. But now, it feels better than ever. I… plan to leave tomorrow and return to the Northwest Research Institute.”
“Something urgent?”
“Not exactly urgent, but there’s always work to do. Being able to find you on this trip is already the greatest gain.”
Jiang Fuyue thought for a moment. “If it’s not urgent, can you stay for two more days?”
“Why?”
“I want to introduce two friends to you. Maybe you already know them?”
Ming Yu quickly caught on: “It’s related to our field?”
“Mhm.”
Tomorrow, Xu Kaiqing and Peter were arriving.
The original schedule wasn’t for tomorrow, but two weeks ago.
Because Peter had passport issues and was held up at the border for seven days, he only managed to enter Huaxia after completing a series of procedures.
The ordeal was exhausting enough that even Xu Kaiqing complained on his behalf—but Peter himself remained optimistic.
“As long as I think about meeting Chou, I feel endlessly energized! It’s incredible, isn’t it? I can’t even believe it myself, but it’s true.”
—Peter, word for word.
Xu Kaiqing laughed at him: “If someone didn’t know better, they’d think you were going to meet your lover instead of an old friend.”
Peter replied: “You Chinese have a saying—hunqianmengying (dreaming of someone day and night). Believe me, Xu, the degree to which I long for Chou absolutely surpasses that of any lover. He’s so brilliant, sharp, agile—I need to know what he looks like.”
Xu Kaiqing: “I hope you’re not too shocked when you meet him.”
Peter: “Oh! I’m fully prepared, and filled with anticipation!”
Back to the present— Jiang Fuyue said: “I know you later chose nuclear physics. And honestly, it suits you well…”
During class this afternoon, she’d used her phone to look up Ming Yu’s research focus and academic achievements.
She even skimmed through the papers he’d published over the past ten years—each one impressive. He had racked up numerous accolades and was widely respected.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him “the foremost figure in today’s field of nuclear physics.”
She remembered, before her death, Ming Yu had still been wavering between several research institutes offering him top positions.
But now, he was already a pioneer and leader in the field.
Only at moments like this did Jiang Fuyue feel the weight of the phrase “time flies.”
While they had walked steadily down the long road of twenty years, she had flown over it—leaving nothing behind except her stop at the end.
But really, had she left nothing behind?
Ming Yu shook his head. “I can’t speak for others. But for myself—if it hadn’t been for your suggestion back then, I wouldn’t have chosen nuclear physics, and I wouldn’t have gone to the Northwest Research Institute.”
Then Lou Mingshen wouldn’t have broken ties with his sister Lou Mingxin and stayed away from the Lou family for twenty years.
That man wouldn’t have exiled himself and refused to show his face to this day.
And there were others too…
She may no longer be around, yet she had influenced not only the twenty years that followed, but the future path of everyone around her.
She wasn’t here, but it was as if she still was.
Though dead, as if still alive.
Ming Yu: “Alright. Then I’ll stay two more days.”
As they passed a dessert shop, he suddenly stopped.
“Yueyue, I remember you used to like sweets. Do you still?”
“Mhm,” Jiang Fuyue nodded.
“How about mango mille crepe cake?”
“Sure.”
….
After dinner, Xie Dingyuan went straight upstairs without saying a word.
Zhong Ziang was already used to his uncle’s unpredictable moods, but couldn’t help asking, “Aunt Liu, who ticked him off this time?”
Aunt Liu shook her head. “How would I know?”
Zhong Ziang shrugged and went back to eating.
….
8:00 p.m.
Zhong Ziang was watching TV on the sofa when Xie Dingyuan suddenly came downstairs and stopped in front of him.
“Did your midterm grades come out today?”
Zhong Ziang’s scalp tingled. “Y-yeah.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t play dumb. Each subject’s score. Total. Ranking.”
Zhong Ziang: “Uh… Chinese… Math… English… Science composite… Total score 511. Ranked 296 in the year.”
Xie Dingyuan raised an eyebrow.
Even though he didn’t think Zhong Ziang would cheat, he still asked, “You did it yourself?”
“Of course! Why would I need to cheat?!” He lifted his chin, full of pride.
“Uncle, I really tried hard. Even my homeroom teacher said I improved. Can you… maybe yell a little less this time?”
Xie Dingyuan stood up. “Why would I scold you?”
“Huh?”
He walked to the entryway and changed his shoes. Then turned to look back: “You’ve improved.”
What?!
Zhong Ziang realized it after a beat and immediately ran after him. “Uncle! Did you… did you just praise me?!”
Xie Dingyuan didn’t even look back: “Did I? I don’t remember.”
“You did! You totally did! I’m not stupid—I heard it loud and clear!”
Xie Dingyuan waved him off.
“Then I’m going to take it as praise! Yup, definitely a compliment!”
“Wait… where are you going this late?”
Xie Dingyuan opened the car door and got in. “To get some air.”
“Huh?”
The house is stuffy?
No way…
The temperature control system runs 24/7.
Just as the car rolled past him, Zhong Ziang called out, “Seriously?! You trying to fool a kid?”
Xie Dingyuan: “I’m also going to look for someone.”
Get some air—and find someone.
Zhong Ziang: “Who?”
His only answer was a puff of car exhaust.
