Chapter 5

Chapter 5

On Friday, I went home early to pack my bags.

I ran into Ning Yifan, who was already busy packing a suitcase.

I handed him the clothes I wanted to bring and said with a smile, “In the past, whenever we went to my parents’ place, you were always too busy to remember to pack. Today, you’re actually taking the initiative.”

His hands paused as he folded a shirt. He looked at me, hesitating slightly.

“I have to lead a team to an academic conference tonight. I can’t go with you this time.”

I frowned slightly. “What conference is happening now?”

“The one in City C,” Ning Yifan explained.

I fell silent, leaning against the back of the sofa, my fingers tapping rhythmically.

Ning Yifan was considered a prodigy in this field.

Even without a powerful family or prestigious mentors to back him, he had published in journals with impressive impact factors back when he was still an undergraduate.

Over the years, he had maintained a strict standard: he wouldn’t attend anything less than a top-tier conference, and he wouldn’t publish in anything outside the top four journals.

Yet today, he was going to a conference that even I couldn’t recall off the top of my head.

He lowered his head and gave a soft, helpless laugh.

“It’s mainly because the new recruits in the group want to snag some of the free refreshments. As for your parents, I’ll call them to apologize. I’ll definitely go with you next time.”

I glanced at the photo on the nightstand and then pointed toward the corner of the room.

“In that case, help me pack a separate suitcase.”

***

To my surprise, it was my brother who opened the door for me.

My initial shock quickly turned into delight.

Zha Wenyue was three years older than me. He worked abroad year-round, running a commercial research institute.

Since my grandparents’ generation, my family had been deeply rooted in academia.

Because of this, when he chose not to pursue a career in universities and opted for his current path instead, the whole family had disapproved.

But worldly success brings freedom.

Over the years, my parents had shifted their academic expectations onto me, while my brother became a major pillar of support for my research.

Every horizontal project our group handled was done in collaboration with him.

I placed a serving of greens into my brother’s bowl.

“What brings Boss Zha back this time?”

He ruffled my hair, just like he did when we were kids.

“I’m here to give you a gift. I’m planning to open a company for you. The investment in equipment won’t quite match my institute, but it won’t be far off.”

I was stunned, but also pained by the thought of the cost.

“That’s too expensive. Things are fine as they are now.”

My father let out a cold snort, his tone unfriendly.

“Fine? How is it fine? Because you have deep international collaborations, you aren’t eligible to apply for the National Natural Science Foundation of China. All the benefits end up falling into that husband of yours’ lap.”

Ning Yifan had achieved fame at a young age, which made him somewhat arrogant and dismissive of maintaining relationships.

My father had once taken him to a dinner party filled with industry heavyweights, but he refused to drink or even offer a polite tea toast.

My father hadn’t liked him to begin with, and his attitude since then had only soured things further.

My brother smiled, trying to smooth things over as he served my father a bowl of soup.

“It’s been so many years, Dad. Let it go. As long as Xinxin is happy, that’s all that matters.”

He then handed a bowl to me.

“But then again, if he’s really that capable, he should rely on himself. Running my equipment even once is very expensive.”

I put down my chopsticks and spoke calmly.

“Resources are a part of one’s strength, though. If you can uplift your daughter, why would you uplift your son-in-law?”

The three of them paused, and a look of relief washed over my parents’ faces.

“It’s good that you’ve finally seen the light.”