"It's Rong Ruoyao!"
"Rong Ruoyao, who debuted in second place from the talent show 'Star Dream Project'. She looks even prettier in real life, her face is so small."
"Why is she with Yan Ting?"
"I heard she's about to star in a big production by Yan Ting, probably they know each other."
"..."
Fans on the scene recorded videos and uploaded them to Weibo.
Yan Ting's immense popularity meant a single video easily trended on the hot search list, giving Rong Ruoyao a bit of a boost as well.
Walking outside the airport, Ji Yanting spoke up, "Thank you. May I ask who you are?"
He probably didn't even know Rong Wangtian, let alone Shen Lin.
Rong Ruoyao introduced with a sweet smile, "This is my mother, a vocal music teacher at Haicheng University."
Ji Yanting glanced at Rong Ruoyao and frowned, "And you are?"
Rong Ruoyao's smile froze.
On the finals stage just yesterday, Yan Ting personally presented her with the award. How could he not recognize her?
"She is Rong Ruoyao, Rong Yu's sister," Shen Lin said generously with a laugh. "Yao Yao will also be attending tomorrow's project launch ceremony. We hope you'll look out for her then. We have matters to attend to, so we'll be going now."
She put her arm around Rong Ruoyao and quickly walked away, not lingering any further.
Ji Yanting stood at the entrance waiting for a while until Old Master Ji and Rong Yu came out together.
The old master glanced at a message on his phone, "Third Brother says he's at the East Exit. Where's the East Exit? Is it here?"
Ji Yanting nodded, "It's here."
The three of them looked around but didn't see anyone.
Suddenly, someone ran up in front of them and said loudly, "Grandpa, Second Brother, I've been waving over there for ages, and you just didn't see me at all?"
Rong Yu turned to look at the approaching person.
And was instantly stunned.
This young man was so dark, like a lump of charcoal. The key was he was also dressed head-to-toe in black. Standing that far away, who could possibly spot him?
"What on earth? How did you get this dark?" Old Master Ji's eyes widened. "You were still a fair, clean-looking kid half a year ago. What exactly have you been through?"
Ji Mohan scratched the back of his head, "Searching for raw materials in the desert every day will do that to you."
Ji Yanting spoke up, "Let me introduce. This is the birth mother of the old master, the Dowager of the Ji family, in other words, our great-grandmother."
Ji Mohan's eyes narrowed instantly.
His family had told him about this matter a long time ago.
Back then, he was really busy, his mind completely occupied with projects. He thought such an absurd thing was just his family playing a joke on him.
As he kept busy, the matter was completely forgotten.
Who would have thought this so-called great-grandmother would actually appear before his eyes?
"What are you staring at?" Old Master Ji slapped the back of his head. "Greet her. Don't you know how? Usually such a smart kid, and now you're mute?"
Ji Mohan crossed his arms and circled Rong Yu once, "A time-traveling great-grandmother. Interesting."
Old Master Ji kicked him in the rear, "What kind of tone is that? Say it again, properly, respectfully. Hey, Second Brother, you set an example."
Ji Yanting: "..."
He spoke quietly, "Great-grandmother, it's crowded at the airport entrance. Let's get in the car first, and we can chat slowly."
He respectfully led Rong Yu to the car, opened the door, and placed his hand above her head to shield her. Every movement was more attentive than when he served the old master.
Ji Mohan frowned.
Second Brother wasn't the smartest in the family, but he wasn't this foolish either.
How could he believe there was such a young great-grandmother?
He bent down to get into the car, scrutinizing Rong Yu.
Rong Yu couldn't help but chuckle, "Ying Bao, his serious, skeptical look is so much like you when you were little."
Old Master Ji's face darkened, "Mom, don't talk nonsense. I was fair and chubby as a child, not this dark, and certainly not this stupid."
Ji Mohan's lips twitched.
An octogenarian calling a teenage girl 'Mom' so naturally was really... pushing the boundaries of human decency.
He spoke earnestly, "Great-grandmother, is it? You say you traveled from seventy years ago, your soul possessing this body. May I ask, do you know what substance the soul is composed of? Without a medium, without a carrier, can consciousness possibly travel through time?"
"You brat..."
Just as Old Master Ji was about to scold him, Rong Yu pressed his arm.
She smiled and said, "A hundred years ago, humanity didn't know graphene existed, let alone imagine it would become a super material in the future. The unknown does not mean the impossible."
Ji Mohan sat up a bit straighter, "That's sophistry. Science requires empirical evidence, not empty talk about possibilities."
"In 1930, the most advanced scientists of our era believed neutrons did not exist, until someone proved their existence through experiment," Rong Yu's voice was calm and unhurried. "Later, no one believed in quantum entanglement. But now, it underpins global quantum communication."
Ji Mohan's expression grew a bit more serious.
This great-grandmother could casually reference this knowledge. She definitely had something to her, no wonder she managed to fool the old master.
Before he could speak again,
he heard Rong Yu continue.
"Human understanding of the universe is overturned every decade. The materials you're searching for now might have been considered science fiction fifty years ago."
"The universe contains vast amounts of dark matter, which humanity still cannot directly observe, but it undoubtedly exists. Perhaps souls traverse time and space relying on this kind of dark matter as a carrier..."
"You're a materials researcher. You should know about topological insulators—conductive on the surface, insulating internally—defying traditional understanding. If matter can exist in such a contradictory state, why can't consciousness?"
Ji Mohan's belly full of questions was forcefully pushed back down.
"Of course, all this is just my speculation," Rong Yu smiled. "Regardless of the truth behind time travel, it doesn't change the fact that I am your great-grandmother."
"Don't mind him. Let him think it over properly," Old Master Ji put his arm around Rong Yu's shoulders. "What shall we eat later? Western food or Chinese? I heard there's a restaurant that's really good. Should we try it?"
Ji Yanting said with a smile, "Alright, I'll have someone arrange it."
The car drove all the way to the entrance of a private kitchen restaurant.
After getting out, Rong Yu realized she had been here before. Last time, Min Shenyan brought her here to meet seven or eight national academicians.
It was a restaurant with excellent privacy.
"Great-grandmother."
Ji Mohan suddenly called out.
Rong Yu smiled and reached out to pat his head, but he was too tall, so she ended up patting his shoulder instead, "You're a good kid."
Ji Mohan scratched the back of his head.
It seemed that once he accepted this matter, he accepted it wholeheartedly. Having a teenage great-grandmother didn't seem so bad after all.
At least the old master looked much happier.
Before, when he was busy with work and would be out of contact for three or four months, he often worried about the old master's health.
With the great-grandmother around, the old master looked like the kind of old man who could climb six flights of stairs in one go, then plow three acres of land without even getting winded...
The family walked inside.
Just as they reached a corner, Ji Mohan's steps halted, "I think I saw a friend. You all go ahead to the private room. I'll be right there."
He strode quickly toward the other side.
