Chapter 56: Is There a Photo of Dr. Jiang?

Ke Zhongyu didn't answer immediately.

"You see, you still can't be certain of your feelings," Ms. Nian looked at him deeply, "Son, you know Jiang Lai's situation, right?"

"Hmm." Ke Zhongyu nodded, "She and Shen Xun are getting a divorce."

"What about her background?"

Ke Zhongyu looked at his mother a bit nervously, "Growing up in Fuli Yuan doesn't mean anything."

"It represents her first abandonment," Ms. Nian said calmly, "And the divorce from Shen Xun is the second."

"Mom, using the word 'abandonment' for Jiang Lai's marriage is inappropriate," Ke Zhongyu corrected.

Ms. Nian nodded, realizing her wording was imprecise, and changed it: "That is a second injury. Jiang Lai is a person who has suffered a second injury. If you cannot be certain of your feelings, cannot heal the wounds on her, cannot catch all her joys, angers, sorrows, and delights, cannot understand her past, cannot bear her future, then please do not inflict a third injury on her."

Each word and sentence from his mother hammered into his heart like a warning bell.

Ke Zhongyu's fingers curled slightly, his gaze lowered a little.

"Zhongyu, instead of pondering the vague notion of a second marriage, you should first determine your heart," Ms. Nian said with a gentle smile.

Ke Fu nodded calmly, "You must seriously consider your mother's words; love is a lifelong matter, and only with love can there be marriage."

"Hmm." Ke Zhongyu nodded.

…

Ji Family.

Lin Shutong had just entered the Ji Family when someone immediately went to tell Ji Lao, Miss Lin has arrived!

Miss Lin is Ji Lao's most beloved child!

Everyone in the Ji Family was friendly and kind to her, and Lin Shutong greeted each of them.

"Ji Lao is practicing calligraphy in the Shufang; Miss Lin can just go in directly as before."

"Alright." Lin Shutong entered without knocking.

Hearing the noise, Ji Lao said, "It's been over ten days before you think of coming over; did your parents tie your hands and feet?"

"Not at all, Grandfather, my dad and mom would love for me to stay here every day, to travel less, to bother them less; they've been busy lately too."

When Lin Shutong's parents were mentioned, Ji Lao showed a hint of displeasure: "They've been busy for so long yet have produced no results; the project they're handling has been ongoing for ages, and they've published hardly any papers. How can they lead their students? You also need to hurry; the Self-developed Chip Project's papers must keep up, and it's already out for bidding."

"Dr. Jiang never let me enter the core laboratory; I've seen only a few pieces of core data, so how can you expect me to write?" Lin Shutong came today for this very reason.

She wants Shen Xun to understand that only she can help him.

"Grandfather, that Dr. Jiang is truly arrogant; I've been back for over twenty days and still haven't seen her."

Ji Lao's face showed surprise, then quickly frowned, "Jiang Lai still hasn't let you into the core laboratory?"

"Yes." Lin Shutong nodded, walked to the desk, re‑laid fresh xuan paper for Grandfather, weighted it down, and went to the side to grind ink.

"How am I supposed to write a paper like this? Moreover, everyone calls me 'Expert Lin, Expert Lin,' but in fact, since I joined the project team, they have never asked me any opinion."

"Dr. Jiang refuses to see me; the others are pleasant to me only because of your (Grandfather's) face, but in reality they never involve me in project discussions. How is that any different from leading my isolation?"

"Dr. Jiang doesn't regard me; isn't that just because she doesn't consider you, Grandfather, important? Grandfather, you should keep her in check."

Ji Lao said with a composed face, "I do want to intervene. When Old Cui was around, Old Cui protected it; after Old Cui left, Professor Cheng protected it. How could I have any control? Moreover, this project cannot operate without her."

Lin Shutong pursed her lips, "Then what about my paper?"

"I'll go find her another day."

"I want to go together." She wanted to see what Jiang Lai looks like.

Ji Lao glared at her, "You still think there aren't enough whispers behind people's backs? If you go with me, won't everyone think we're using our positions to pressure her?"

Lin Shutong really wanted to meet Jiang Lai. At the last banquet, Shen Bingrui thought that Jiang Lai was Dr. Jiang, which actually left her with a slight doubt.

"Grandfather, Dr. Jiang has met Old Shen, right?"

"More than just met," Ji Lao snorted coldly, "Old Shen and Old Cui almost fought back then over a student, and the student they fought over was Jiang Lai."

Lin Shutong's heart thumped, "Did Old Shen's grandson, Shen Bingrui, ever meet Dr. Jiang?"

"The Shen family youngster…" Ji Lao thought for a moment, shook his head in denial, "It's impossible he saw her. Jiang Lai joined the project with Old Cui seven years ago, when the project was still classified. After Old Cui left, it paused for a while, then was secretly re‑started with Jiang Lai as the person in charge. Her information is protected by the state; the Shen youngster doesn't have that clearance, so he couldn't see her."

Lin Shutong let out a sudden sigh of relief.

That means she was mistaken.

"Why bring up the Shen youngster all of a sudden? Did you meet him at the banquet?" Ji Lao smiled with a hint of meaning.

Lin Shutong immediately said, "Grandfather, I've told you before that I have someone I like, and he's been waiting for me to return."

"I know, President Shen of Star Universe Technology. Star Universe Technology has been booming these past years, and he's even better; his name is very prominent in the industry."

"Yes, Grandfather, Shen Xun is impressive, and during my years abroad he's invested a lot," Lin Shutong thought of tonight's restaurant incident and felt a bit down.

"What's wrong? Did you argue?"

"Of course not. Shen Xun loves me, so he can't bear to argue with me. I'm just worried about my paper; although Grandfather will speak for me, if I don't know Dr. Jiang, will others believe I'm part of this project team?"

When the plan ran out, the dagger appeared.

"So, Grandfather, can you tell me what Dr. Jiang looks like? Is there a photo? Where is she from? Where does she live? I want to befriend her first; she just doesn't know me yet. If she understood me, she would surely like me, and all my friends like me a lot."

"I know you attract people," Ji Lao chuckled, "But I can't tell you Jiang Lai's information. Her photos and family details are all encrypted. Initially only Old Cui knew, later only Professor Cheng knew. I wasn't involved in this project, so many things I'm not allowed to inquire about; if I do, I'll be summoned for investigation."

It seems I can't get any information from Grandfather either.

Lin Shutong was helpless.

"Getting you into this project already took a lot of effort from me, and I can only keep pressing Jiang Lai to make her a bit more sensible."

"Will she become sensible? If she does, why would she still stay out of sight?"

"Old Cui is gone, she has no backing. If she wants to continue on this path, she can't be a lone wolf." Ji Lao was confident.

That night, before sleeping, Jiang Lai received a message from Professor Cheng, asking her to go to the research institute tomorrow afternoon.

Lin Shutong, knowing Grandfather would meet Dr. Jiang the next afternoon, resolved to secretly find a spot where she could see Grandfather's office and wait like a rabbit by a tree.