Rong Wangtian wasn’t sure how he made it back home.
Seeing his dazed expression, Shen Lin asked, "Did you find Xiao Yu? Where did she stay last night?"
Rong Ruoyao, who had been helping Rong Qing'an with his homework nearby, immediately looked up. She was genuinely curious about where Rong Yu had been staying all this time.
Rong Wangtian sat down and drank a glass of water before speaking. "Xiao Yu stayed at the Aerospace Institute last night."
"What?" Shen Lin set down the book in her hands. "You mean the Fourth Aerospace Institute?"
Rong Wangtian nodded. "She was hired as an assistant to Professor Lin Rang at the Fourth Aerospace Institute..."
"How is that possible?" Rong Ruoyao’s face was full of disbelief. "Sister is still in her last year of high school. How could the Aerospace Institute hire a high school student...?"
She had heard from Song Huai that even graduates from top universities like Tsinghua had to go through rigorous evaluations just to become interns at such prestigious national institutions. Yet Rong Yu, an eighteen-year-old high schooler, had become a professor’s assistant?
This completely defied protocol!
As a teacher, Shen Lin was well aware of the regulations. She frowned. "It’s highly unlikely the Aerospace Institute would hire a high school student. Are you sure you heard correctly?"
"Lin Rang himself confirmed it, and there’s an official employment letter. How could it be wrong?" Rong Wangtian said. "I never expected Xiao Yu to have saved Old Master Ji, becoming the Ji family’s lifesaver. She even moved into the Ji residence as their private tutor. Even Ji Zhiyuan, the CEO of the Ji Group, personally opens the door for her..."
Getting into the Fourth Aerospace Institute was impressive, but it was more about prestige than tangible benefits for the Rong family.
However, becoming Old Master Ji’s savior and forging close ties with the Ji family was a golden opportunity. It might even elevate Rong Group into the ranks of Haicheng’s elite circles...
Shen Lin paused. "I heard that the Ji family has military roots—Old Master Ji’s ancestors were soldiers who sacrificed themselves for the nation. They still hold some influence with the government. Could it be that Old Master Ji used the family’s connections to secure Rong Yu a position at the Aerospace Institute as repayment?"
"That must be it," Rong Ruoyao chimed in. "Everyone who works at the Aerospace Institute is a genius or a top scholar. Sister is just trying to craft an image for herself..."
Shen Lin shot her daughter a glance.
The daughter she had meticulously raised was suddenly overshadowed by her stepdaughter.
Her emotions were undeniably complicated.
She exhaled slowly and said softly, "The Aerospace Institute is a classified institution. They wouldn’t normally hire someone from the entertainment industry. If she was indeed hired, it must be a low-level honorary position... But even that is quite impressive."
Hearing it was just an honorary position, Rong Ruoyao’s resentment faded slightly.
"The Song family recently held a small celebration for Song Huai winning the National Physics Gold Award. We should do the same for Xiao Yu," Shen Lin suggested. "She has a show recording on Saturday. How about we arrange it for Sunday noon?"
Rong Wangtian nodded. "You handle it."
His mind felt heavy as he went upstairs. Passing his eldest daughter’s room, he unconsciously stopped and pushed the door open.
The room was minimalist, lacking the warmth of Ruoyao’s bedroom. A few old clothes hung in the wardrobe, a stark contrast to Ruoyao’s walk-in closet filled with designer dresses...
On the desk were some books, beneath which lay a photo of Rong Yu and her mother.
Under the photo was a bank card.
It was the card he had arranged for Rong Yu when she returned to the Rong family, promising a monthly allowance. But he had forgotten to deposit the money, and Shen Lin, as the stepmother, had overlooked it too. It wasn’t until recently that he reminded Shen Lin to transfer 30,000 yuan monthly.
He had thought this gesture might mend their strained relationship.
Yet Rong Yu had never even touched the card.
Was that why she took up tutoring the fifth young master of the Ji family?
Was that why she joined the Aerospace Institute to earn a living?
Rong Wangtian tucked the photo back into the book, closed it, and left with the book in hand.
The Ji family’s car pulled into Hibiscus Manor.
The security at the entrance had been reinforced, leaving no trace of suspicious individuals.
Rong Yu stepped out, and Ji Zhiyuan carried her bag inside, reporting, "I’ve traced it. It was someone from Kou Technology who tipped off the reporters, which is why they were lurking outside the manor for photos."
Rong Yu thought for a moment before recalling. "Kou Technology—Lan Rouxue’s new employer?"
Ji Zhiyuan nodded. "Lan Rouxue used to visit the Ji residence almost daily for a period. She knew about the close relationship between Great-Grandmother and Old Master Ji. She’s undoubtedly involved."
"At least she’s not completely brainless," Rong Yu remarked, glancing at him. "So, how do you plan to handle it?"
"A full industry blacklist for Kou Technology." Ji Zhiyuan’s eyes turned icy. "Kou Xing returned to China to expand into Haicheng’s market. But someone who only plays dirty doesn’t deserve to be my competitor. He can crawl back to his home turf."
"As for Lan Rouxue," he paused, "she once stole trade secrets from the Ji Group. I didn’t pursue legal action then, but if she insists on testing my patience, I won’t hesitate to take her to court."
"Well said!" Old Master Ji clapped. "Zhiyuan, you’ve finally climbed out of the Lan Rouxue pit. Worthy of being my chosen successor."
Rong Yu rolled her eyes. "Are you in a hurry to reincarnate? Why appoint a successor so early?"
Old Master Ji: "..."
Damn, her words were sharp—too sharp.
Ji Zhiyuan: "..."
Great-Grandmother still wasn’t fully satisfied with him as the heir. No matter—he would keep proving himself. Before Duoduo grew up, he still had time.
Just then, Rong Yu’s phone rang. It was Tang Che. "Yu, I just saw the news online. I’m sorry I couldn’t step in to clarify things for you in time."
Rong Yu smiled. "It’s already resolved. No need to worry."
"Yu, you’re always like this—never needing anything from me." Tang Che sighed. "Since we were kids, it feels like you’ve never once relied on me for anything..."
His voice carried a hint of melancholy, like an evening breeze brushing over fragments of their youth.
Rong Yu relented. "This incident was orchestrated by Kou Technology. Could you help me blacklist them?"
"Of course." Tang Che’s voice warmed with amusement. "Consider it done."
After hanging up, he pressed a bell. Tang Youyi, who had been working in the study, hurried over. "Uncle, what do you need?"
Tang Che ordered, "Issue a directive: Tang Corporation and all its subsidiaries are to cease any collaboration with Kou Technology. Cancel all existing contracts immediately."
Tang Youyi froze.
His uncle, long retired from active management and merely a figurehead chairman, was suddenly giving such orders?
He began, "Uncle, you may not be aware, but Kou Technologies recently encountered some difficulties and is now preparing to sell its core technology. The Tang Group happens to have a need in this area, and the Commerce Department has already nearly finalized the negotiations. This collaboration would bring significant benefits to the Tang Group, and I believe..."
