The bar lobby was bustling with activity.
Ji Zhouye had been here several times before and, acting like a regular, called over seven or eight glamorous women to join them for drinks.
The women, dressed provocatively, surrounded Ji Zhouye and Ji Zhiyuan.
Rong Yu’s face darkened.
Wasn’t a bar supposed to be a place for drinking? Since when did it offer this kind of entertainment?
She shot Ji Zhouye a sharp glare.
Ji Zhouye raised his hands innocently. "Great-grandma, I’m still a pure virgin—I’ve definitely never done anything bad."
Ji Zhiyuan, overwhelmed by the strong perfume, felt uncomfortable and moved to another spot.
The hostesses, seasoned professionals, could tell Ji Zhouye was just a brash young man with little to offer, so they naturally followed Ji Zhiyuan, encircling him completely.
Not far away, Lan Rouxue bit her lower lip.
Just hours after their breakup, her ex-boyfriend was already here indulging in pleasure, surrounded by hostesses… Truly, men were inherently fickle.
"Can’t let go?" Kou Xing’s cold voice cut in. "If you go over and beg him now, he might take you back."
Lan Rouxue clenched her lips tighter.
She knew Ji Zhiyuan well—given how things had unfolded, there was no way he would ever accept her again.
This was her second betrayal.
The first was years ago, when she hastily married someone else while he was abroad.
The second was stealing the Ji Corporation’s chip technology.
He would never reconcile with her.
Besides, she had no intention of marrying a man stripped of his heir status.
Lan Rouxue quickly composed herself and glanced to her right. "The expert is over there. Let’s go."
Kou Xing recognized the expert—a renowned figure in software engineering circles, Professor Xu, a lecturer who frequently gave talks at universities.
"Professor Xu," Lan Rouxue approached the booth with a smile. "I’m Lan Rouxue. Do you remember me?"
Professor Xu, a middle-aged man in his forties, studied her for a moment before recognition dawned. "Ah, Secretary Lan, from CEO Ji’s side?"
"That’s me," Lan Rouxue replied. "This is Kou Xing, founder of Kou Technology..."
Kou Xing stepped forward and shook Professor Xu’s hand. "Professor Xu, it’s an honor."
Professor Xu understood immediately.
Kou Technology was still in the news—paralyzed by a Trojan virus that needed urgent resolution, or the consequences would be dire.
As an expert in the field, dealing with malware wasn’t particularly difficult for him.
He was about to respond when a figure suddenly appeared.
Rong Yu sat down directly across from Professor Xu.
Lan Rouxue nearly laughed in disbelief.
Professor Xu was a respected authority in the industry—even Ji Zhiyuan had to show deference in his presence.
Yet Rong Yu, a mere high school student, had the audacity to sit without permission.
How ill-mannered.
Who knew why Old Master Ji had taken a liking to someone like her?
Did Rong Yu really think that being Old Master Ji’s kept lover gave her free rein everywhere?
The business world and academia were entirely different spheres!
Professor Xu wasn’t known for his patience—Rong Yu was about to learn a lesson.
"Xiao Yu?" Professor Xu’s face lit up before quickly turning stern. "You’re still so young—what are you doing in a bar? Let me call your senior brother to take you home."
During the recent asteroid project, the Fourth Aerospace Institute had gathered top talents from various fields. As an engineer, Professor Xu had participated and met Rong Yu there.
At just eighteen, she had already displayed extraordinary mathematical talent as a protégé of Academician Yun Xiaoyuan.
Though both were professors, Yun Xiaoyuan had been honored as an academician, while he was still entangled in commercial work—even now, meeting clients late at night…
A student of Professor Yun’s was destined to shine in the industry.
Who wouldn’t admire such a genius?
As Professor Xu reached for his phone to call Lin Rang, Rong Yu pointed elsewhere. "I came with family. No need to bother my senior brother."
She then seemed to notice Lan Rouxue for the first time and smiled. "Were you two looking for Professor Xu for something?"
Lan Rouxue stood frozen.
She had expected Professor Xu to scold Rong Yu for her rudeness and send her away.
Instead, he had affectionately called her "Xiao Yu"—they were already acquainted.
Kou Xing, unfamiliar with Rong Yu, stated his purpose. "Professor Xu, Kou Technology has been hit by a Trojan virus. We’d like to hire you to resolve it urgently. We’re willing to pay triple the market rate."
Rong Yu leaned back leisurely. "Professor Xu won’t have time for that."
"Who are you to speak for him?" Lan Rouxue’s nails dug into her palms as she suppressed her anger. "A junior like you answering on Professor Xu’s behalf—how disrespectful!"
Professor Xu frowned. "Xiao Yu speaking for me is perfectly fine. My apologies, Mr. Kou, Secretary Lan."
"Professor Xu, a correction—Ms. Lan is no longer a secretary at Ji Corporation," Rong Yu interjected. "From now on, she represents only herself. Her actions have nothing to do with Ji Group."
Lan Rouxue’s face twisted in humiliation.
Though she had been fired from Ji Corporation long ago, few knew—most still addressed her as "Secretary Lan," a title that had granted her many privileges.
Now, Rong Yu had ruthlessly exposed her.
Kou Xing tried again. "Professor Xu, if you could just—"
Professor Xu waved him off. "Mr. Kou, please don’t linger. You’re interrupting my conversation."
Kou Xing nearly choked on his frustration.
Once the two left, Professor Xu eagerly turned to Rong Yu. "Xiao Yu, you said I wouldn’t have time—does your teacher have a project for me?"
Rong Yu nodded. "There’s a rocket computer program optimization project. If you’re interested, I can recommend you to my teacher."
Professor Xu was thrilled.
A national-level rocket project far outweighed commercial work. Profit was secondary—the real value lay in broadening his horizons.
The more he looked at Rong Yu, the more he admired her.
Rong Yu’s gaze followed Lan Rouxue and Kou Xing as they exited the bar.
She didn’t enjoy making things difficult for others.
But Kou Xing and Lan Rouxue had crossed a line.
If she did nothing, it would seem like the Ji family was easy to bully.
Rong Yu and Professor Xu chatted amiably about the development of software engineering in the country. Since arriving in this era, she had self-studied programming and found it fascinating. Their conversation lasted over half an hour.
By then, it was past eleven at night.
Ji Zhiyuan was drunk.
Ji Zhouye was having the time of his life.
As Rong Yu and Ji Zhouye helped Ji Zhiyuan to the car, they ran into Hai Chang’an, Si Lin, and their group, whose night was just beginning.
Si Lin’s eyes lit up at the sight of Rong Yu. "If I’d known Miss Rong was here, I would’ve come earlier."
After meeting her at Ji Zhouye’s birthday party, he had been captivated. A beauty like this—if he didn’t pursue her, it would be the regret of a lifetime.
