As soon as Rong Yu stood up, her legs went numb, nearly causing her to collapse to the ground.
She steadied herself against the table for a moment before walking over to Yun Xiaoyuan and handing him the last sheet of paper in her hand. "Professor, by using the Lyapunov exponent, we can locate the source of the magnetic field resonance. I believe that applying a precise thrust at the source point could disrupt the current chaotic state and eliminate the magnetic interference."
Min Shenyan was once again astonished by Rong Yu's mathematical talent.
A high school student not only knew about the Lyapunov exponent but also proposed such an original insight.
Whether her idea was correct or not, at the very least, she was thinking critically, striving to solve the problem, and had the courage to voice her thoughts.
Professor Li frowned. "Applying thrust?"
Rong Yu nodded. "We can increase thrust by activating a propulsion engine, but we’ll need to calculate the exact thrust value. I’ll require at least twenty people to assist with the computations—"
"Hold on," Professor Li raised his hand. "Do you know how much a spacecraft propulsion engine costs? Wasting one just because of your suggestion? And what if it backfires, causing the space station to crash? Do you realize how severe the consequences could be?"
"There won’t be any backfire," Rong Yu replied calmly. "Nor will there be any of the consequences Professor Li mentioned."
"We’ll proceed as Rong Yu suggested," Yun Xiaoyuan decided without hesitation. "Rather than altering our own orbit, it’s better to neutralize the magnetic field effect. Lin Rang, assist your junior sister. I’ll report the final plan to the director."
Professor Li’s eyes widened.
Was this really the final decision?
He glanced at Min Shenyan, hoping his mentor would say something.
Instead, he saw Min Shenyan gazing at Rong Yu with unmistakable admiration…
As Min Shenyan’s first student, he knew all too well what that look meant—it meant he very, very much wanted to take Rong Yu under his wing…
Swallowing his doubts, Professor Li spoke up. "Junior Sister Rong, I’ll arrange twenty people to assist you…"
Once immersed in her work, Rong Yu became utterly absorbed. By the time she finalized the results and submitted them to the two academicians, she looked out the window to find the sun blazing high in the sky.
She had been there since seven or eight o’clock the previous night, all the way until past two in the afternoon the next day.
In all that time, she hadn’t eaten, drunk, slept, or even used the restroom…
Yun Xiaoyuan, still busy, glanced up and said, "Rong Yu, go get some rest and recharge. I’ll apply for an honorary commendation for you later."
Rong Yu yawned and headed out.
At the door, she considered hailing a taxi, only to find Ji Zhiyuan’s car parked right outside.
She walked over and tapped on the window. "How long have you been waiting?"
Ji Zhiyuan stepped out and opened the car door for her. "I just got here."
In truth, ever since his great-grandmother had been urgently summoned to the research institute the night before, he had driven over and waited, assuming she’d emerge soon.
Unexpectedly, he had waited until now.
But it didn’t matter.
Much of his work could be handled directly from the car anyway.
Ji Zhiyuan had intended to take her for a meal first, but she fell asleep in the car before they could go anywhere. By the time they reached the estate, Old Master Ji was nearly heartbroken and instructed two maids to carry Rong Yu carefully to her room.
Rong Yu slept from around three or four in the afternoon until past eight in the evening, waking up completely refreshed.
She got up and went downstairs, where the two figures on the sofa—Old Master Ji and Duoduo—simultaneously looked up at her.
"Old Yu, prepare the meal," Old Master Ji called out with robust energy before leaning closer to Rong Yu. "Mom, you're not even a full researcher yet, and the institute is already exploiting you like this. Why don't you just quit?"
Rong Yu took a seat at the dining table. "If you quit, and I quit, who’s going to stop the Beacon Nation from dominating space?"
Mentioning the Beacon Nation was enough to stir fury in any citizen of Huaxia.
Once one of the imperialist powers, even in peacetime, the Beacon Nation continued its underhanded tactics—whether through trade wars, biological warfare, or now, the race for space dominance.
Old Master Ji’s patriotic fervor ran deep, and at this, he fell silent, quietly placing a large chicken drumstick into Rong Yu’s bowl.
Rong Yu had just eaten halfway to satisfaction when Steward Yu hurried into the dining room. "Old Master, Miss Rong, Miss Lan Yue is here."
Before Old Master Ji could respond, Ji Zhiyuan, who had been reviewing documents on his laptop from the couch, lifted his head abruptly. "Lan Yue?"
"Miss Lan Yue came alone. Miss Lan Rouxue isn’t with her," Steward Yu added, glancing up. "Shall we let her in?"
"Daddy!"
"I want Daddy!"
Lan Yue’s heart-wrenching sobs echoed from the entrance, raw and desperate.
"What kind of mother lets a child run around alone at night? Lan Rouxue has no sense of responsibility!" Old Master Ji frowned. "Old Yu, arrange for a driver to take her back personally. We don’t want the blame if something happens to her."
As Steward Yu turned to comply, Lan Yue broke free from the maid’s grip and dashed into the dining room, lunging straight for Ji Zhiyuan.
Ji Zhiyuan’s laptop, containing critical files, rested on his knees. Instinctively, he stood to shield it.
Lan Yue missed her target and tumbled onto the carpet.
"Daddy, don’t you want me anymore?" She sat crumpled on the floor, tear-streaked face lifted pleadingly. "I miss you so much, Daddy… I just want you to hold me…"
Ji Zhiyuan’s heart softened involuntarily.
When Lan Yue was born, he had been the first to cradle her in his arms.
After years of doting on her, how could he simply let go?
But then, the memory of Lan Rouxue’s betrayal resurfaced.
If Lan Rouxue had sent Lan Yue here, there was surely another scheme at play…
He had no patience for Lan Rouxue’s games.
"Daddy, why won’t you talk to me…?" Lan Yue sobbed, on the verge of hyperventilating. "Mom works until midnight every day. I’m so scared being home alone. I wanted to stay at her office, but Uncle Kou said I’d be a bother… I hate Uncle Kou! I love you, Daddy. I want you and Mom to get married…"
Ji Zhiyuan’s expression darkened.
After the Trojan virus incident, Kou Xing’s tech empire had crumbled overnight. Lan Rouxue had seized the opportunity to join Kou Corporation as an administrative manager.
She had chosen Kou Xing. That severed all ties between them.
His bond with Lan Yue had existed solely because Lan Rouxue was once his girlfriend. Now that they’d broken up, why should he care about Lan Yue?
His face hardened as he commanded coldly, "Steward Yu, take her back."
"Daddy, no!" Lan Yue shrieked hysterically. "Please, Daddy, let me stay at the Ji residence! I don’t want to be alone at home—I’m terrified, I really am!"
Duoduo bit her lip.
She couldn’t help but pity Lan Yue…
But no. It wasn’t possible.
If she allowed Lan Yue to stay, she would steal Father away.
She couldn't afford to soften her heart!
