Limited Ambiguity Chapter 41

Chapter 41.1

Qi Yan, bundled up in a sweater and earmuffs, believed he was dressed warmly enough. However, upon entering the classroom, he was met with the sight of Xia Zhiyang, who appeared to have gained ten pounds overnight due to his excessive layers of clothing.

Xia Zhiyang was decked out in gloves, scarf, and everything else in between. Noticing Qi Yan’s gaze, he looked down at his bright orange coat and said, “Does it make me stand out from the crowd? This is the latest trending style in Leto!”

He clumsily unzipped his coat and pointed inside. “Look, it’s not only bulletproof but also shockproof, and it even has some blast protection. It could save my life in a critical moment!”

Qi Yan, comprehending the popularity of this clothing style, suggested, “Why don’t you try staying at school as much as possible? Turan’s security system would provide significantly enhanced safety.”

“Hey! That’s a good idea! I won’t have to take the hovercar home, which will reduce my chances of getting into a hovercar accident!” Xia Zhiyang’s eyes lit up, and he slammed his fist into his palm. “Great suggestion! I’ll try to apply to stay on campus for a while and see if it works.”

He sighed again. “I don’t want to die young. I still have so many limited-edition hovercars in my garage that I haven’t driven yet!”

Lu Fenghan changed the subject, “Is the situation really serious?”

Xia Zhiyang spilled everything he knew, “It should be very serious. My mom and dad don’t even have the time to keep an eye on me anymore. They’re either out for afternoon tea or dinner every day, gathering together to discuss things. I’m not entirely sure about the specifics, but staying safe is all that matters. My family has had a single heir for three generations. Ever since my uncle got seriously injured, my parents have wanted me to stay home and not go out, but they’re also afraid the house will be bombed. What would happen if the whole family died together?”

He then asked Qi Yan, “Did your family not even warn you?”

Qi Yan nodded.

Xia Zhiyang was furious. “I knew it! And didn’t Jiang Yunyue get released on bail? She’s acting like nothing happened, going to parties and tea gatherings everywhere! My mom was chatting with my dad last night, saying Jiang Yunyue is lucky. Not only did she become Madam Qi, but among the recent accident victims, two had recent conflicts with her.”

Lu Fenghan became intrigued. “That’s quite a coincidence, isn’t it?”

“Exactly! Someone at the afternoon tea said that Jiang Yunyue came from a lowly background, so going to jail wasn’t a big deal. Guess what? That same person died in an accident on their way home that night. I suspect Jiang Yunyue might have mastered the art of curses!”

Lu Fenghan, however, dismissed the notion of curses. He had deeper suspicions.

In the Qi family’s grand reception hall, a group of ladies were engaged in a lively tea-time conversation, their voices hushed with amusement as they also discussed the incident. They concluded that the person’s demise was a consequence of their poor judgment and lack of propriety.

Jiang Yunyue lowered her gaze, claiming she needed to check on something in the kitchen and excused herself temporarily.

As she walked a short distance, someone caught up with her. It was Sha Ke’s mother, whose son was a classmate of Jiang Qi’s. The boys had a good relationship, so naturally, the parents were close too.

Upon reaching the kitchen together, Jiang Yunyue carefully selected a few delicately crafted pastries and placed them on a plate, all the while keeping an eye on the time.

Sha Ke’s mother’s concern seemed genuine. “Jiang Qi is just a young man momentarily led astray. He’s still an exceptional student. Now that Turan is out of the picture, where does he plan to continue his education?”

Catching a glimpse of a figure at the door, Jiang Yunyue paused mid-sentence, changing her tone to one of melancholy. “I’m also troubled by this. After this incident, his father is also upset with us. You know, Jiang Qi and I have no other support besides him. We’ve always relied on his father. Wenshao used to be very fond of him, but now that Qi Yan has returned, everything has changed.”

Sensing the unspoken meaning in Jiang Yuyue’s words, Sha Ke’s mother covered her mouth in surprise. “I didn’t believe it when Sha Ke told me, but is it really true? Even though Qi Yan was raised outside, Qi Wenshao has always been grooming him because he ultimately intends for Qi Yan to inherit the Qi family’s fortune?

Jiang Yunyue’s eyes welled up with tears as she discreetly lowered her head. “After all, Qi Yan is Wenshao’s biological son, and he’s intelligent. I understand why Wenshao gave Qi Yan money and paved his way into Turan.”

A sob caught in her throat as she continued, “And my poor child was used as a stepping stone by Wenshao to elevate Qi Yan. It was out of desperation, driven by a sense of crisis, that I recklessly tried to secure an award for Jiang Qi, hoping to give him some edge. But I never expected—”

“Never expected all the praise and attention would go to Qi Yan,” Sha Ke’s mother sighed along with her. “You were too hasty.”

“How could I not be hasty?” Jiang Yunyue’s distress deepened as she spoke. “Now Qi Yan is basking in the limelight, while Jiang Qi has been expelled from Turan and no other school wants to accept him. He’s only eighteen. What will become of him?”

Meanwhile, Jiang Qi, who had been hiding behind the door, had only intended to grab a snack from the kitchen as usual, but unexpectedly overheard the “truth” of the matter.

Everything suddenly made sense!

His expulsion, the public scorn, the humiliation at the Roentgen Awards ceremony, becoming a laughingstock—all because he was just a stepping stone for Qi Yan!

In that moment, his faltering spirit found a foothold as a surge of anger erupted within him. With pale face, he staggered towards the exit.

His mind raced with thoughts. If only Qi Yan could disappear from this world, if only he vanished—

Meanwhile, after ensuring that Jiang Qi had left, Jiang Yunyue wiped away her tears and composed herself, continuing to select pastries while pondering—

Even though she couldn’t rely on the son she had nurtured for over a decade, he could still play a small role.

With Qi Yan out of the picture, the Qi family would be temporarily without an heir. As for Qi Wenshao, that man was no longer the young, dashing, and talented young master who had once captivated Lin Zhi’s heart.

In a head-to-head confrontation, it was unclear who would emerge victorious.

Gracefully, she made her way to the flower garden, a smile blooming on her face—Jiang Qi, don’t disappoint your mother.

Qi Yan spent an extra two hours in the laboratory, working overtime with his teammates to finalize the data analysis.

This experience was quite novel for Qi Yan. “I always thought scientific research was a solitary and lonely endeavor, but now I realize—”

“Isn’t it lively?” Ye Pei’s high ponytail swayed as she walked. “I enjoy quietly contemplating by myself, but I also like this lively atmosphere of working together with everyone!”

She looked at Qi Yan with a playful glint in her eyes. “Do you know your major flaw?”

Qi Yan: “What flaw?”

“You’re too aloof! It’s not that being aloof is bad, but sometimes, you should experience the warmth of human interaction. You might find a different kind of joy!”

Ye Pei looked as if she was still attempting to recruit Lu Fenghan as an ally. “Right?”

Lu Fenghan trailed beside Qi Yan, simply smiling. “As long as he’s happy.”

Once seated in the car, Qi Yan pulled up the screen again, continuing to work on Pojun.

Lu Fenghan drove the hovercar steadily and asked him, “With another task from the research group on top of the Pojun project, aren’t you exhausted?”

Qi Yan shook his head. “No, working on tasks for the research group is like my relaxation time. When designing Pojun becomes tiring, working on tasks for the research group gives my brain a break.”

To further illustrate his point, he drew an analogy. “It’s like taking a break from calculating the Shapley-Grothendieck values by doing simple arithmetic like two plus two equals four.”

Lu Fenghan smiled in response.

“Don’t say that in front of Ye Pei and the others.”

Qi Yan looked puzzled. “Why?”

“It might cause irreversible damage to their self-esteem.” Lu Fenghan playfully pinched Qi Yan’s cheek. “You’re so smart. How did you grow up?”

Qi Yan: “By breathing oxygen.”

Lu Fenghan raised an eyebrow. “We both breathe oxygen, why didn’t I grow up so smart?”

After pondering for two seconds, Qi Yan half-jokingly said, “You grew up so handsome.”

Lu Fenghan’s grip on the control lever tightened.

For a moment, he didn’t know what to say. He avoided eye contact and refused to look at Qi Yan.

After driving in silence for a while, Lu Fenghan broke the silence inside the car. “Someone is tracking us,” he remarked lazily. “Their technology isn’t great. It’s hard not to notice.”

Qi Yan shifted his gaze away from the screen, listening to Lu Fenghan’s account. “It’s strange.”

Lu Fenghan felt the same way.

If it was the same individuals who had recently attacked Leto’s elites, their technology wouldn’t be this poor. If not, Qi Yan hadn’t made any new enemies recently.

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