"Fang Zi is the worst; I really wish I could strangle this scourge." Lin Li vented to Mia, regardless of whether Xiang Lan was there or not. "If he weren't here, how could such a disgusting thing have happened to me?"
"What does it have to do with him?" Xiang Lan said, dissatisfied. "Isn't it all your own romantic entanglements?"
"Heh, he even told you this?" Lin Li glanced at him. "He told you that scoundrel was my ex-boyfriend, and he was deliberately getting revenge on me because of love turned to hate?"
"Isn't that right?"
"Did he tell you that he ruined someone's livelihood?"
“Go ahead and tell me!” Mia was intrigued. “This young man seems quite kind, so why are you making him sound so harsh?”
“He’s not a kind person at all,” Lin Li recounted. “When he came to America, I took care of him because he was young. At first, I really treated him like my own younger brother, worrying that he would be cold, hungry, or broke. I was completely open with my heart. First, I was blind and got taken advantage of, and second, I thought he was a good boy. My ex-boyfriend and I broke up and got back together for several years. Whenever I was upset, I would talk to him. Isn’t that just human nature?”
“Yes!” Mia agreed.
"That's not right—" Xiang Lan disagreed, "I wouldn't do that."
Lin Li rolled her eyes. "Your opinion doesn't count. Later, I told him, 'This man is too annoying. If I don't get rid of him, I'll be annoyed for the rest of my life. Do you have any good ideas on how to get rid of him?'"
He actually believed it!
"What did he do?" Mia asked, even more curious.
Xiang Lan also pricked up her ears and listened attentively.
“It was something similar to what happened this time.” Lin Li’s eyes were misty. “He went to look at all the papers that the other person had published since college, caught him borrowing data, collected all the evidence, and handed it to his boss. His boss is known for being strict and couldn’t tolerate this kind of behavior at all. He fired him the next day, and he lost his job and went to another city.”
"Hehe, as you wish." Xiang Lan expressed her appreciation.
"So, he brought this on himself, didn't he?"
"He did it for you."
"So he made me misunderstand, thinking he liked me. Tell me, if a man rolled up his sleeves and did this for you, wouldn't you misunderstand?" Lin Li said, dissatisfied. "At the time, I was very conflicted. I thought this guy had developed feelings for me over time but was too shy to say it. I made it clear and encouraged him to confess. But damn it, he remained unmoved. Do you understand how frustrated I was?"
Mia expressed her deep sympathy.
"Now, I actually have to take the blame for him." Lin Li glared at Xiang Lan resentfully, seemingly wanting to say more but forcing herself to swallow it back. "If I ever like him again, I'm a dog. I mean it!"
Having said all that, Xiang Lan was quite excited. "So, this time, do you want to help yourself and him too?"
Lin Li was almost in tears. Who wouldn't want to help him? Of course he did!
"If I could, wouldn't I have clarified it?" She shook her head and said, "Unfortunately, I am powerless to do so."
"Are we just going to stand by and watch the news spread like wildfire, portraying your team as thieves who plagiarize others?" Xiang Lan said angrily. "Those bastards are even spreading rumors online that I'm getting a divorce, it's infuriating—"
"Is there anyone else who can speak up for you?" Mia comforted softly. "You should know how things have turned out. Even without concrete evidence, your project has been going on for so long, there must be other people paying attention to it."
Lin Li's eyes flickered, but he still shook his head.
What's the worst-case scenario?
"After being disgraced, he should resign to take responsibility."
Xiang Lan thought for a moment and sighed, "He loves scientific research so much, he'll be so heartbroken if he can't continue in this field in the future! But my uncle is happy. He can't wait for his son to switch to art. He found him a teacher a long time ago, and the two of them are always thinking about how to attract his attention whenever they have free time."
"Are you going to let him just back down like that? Slink away from the scientific community to pursue art?" Lin Li's expression turned sharp. "As his wife, you should support him, so why are you causing trouble behind his back?"
"Sister Lin Li, you were just cursing him as a scumbag," Xiang Lan reminded her. "How come you're defending him all of a sudden?"
Lin Liqing cleared his throat, picked up the soup and took a sip. "Nonsense, I was the one who introduced him. If he's no good, wouldn't that mean there's something wrong with me? Now, even if he really is a complete mess, I have to help him up before I leave, understand?"
"So what do we do now? Are we just going to do nothing and wait for all this mudslinging?" Xiang Lan said anxiously. "Tell me anything I can help with—"
"You should have told me the prescription yourself. I was wondering why you came to me," Lin Li muttered. "Haven't you always disliked me?"
"Yes. If you were married and suddenly a young woman came out saying she had a good relationship with your husband, had supported him for many years, and told you to be independent and not hold him back, would you be able to stand her?"
I'll just slap him across the face.
"Then I really have a much better temper than you." Xiang Lan glared. "You knew that, yet you still did something like this?"
"Of course I have to do it?" Lin Li complained. "The lab is full of bachelors, and he's the only one who never works overtime. One minute his wife is hungry, the next he's taking her for a checkup, then he has to visit his brother-in-law. How can this be normal? It disrupts team cohesion, alienates him from the grassroots, and leaves all of us who work overtime every day out of place. I'd be lucky if I didn't do it—"
"I don't think there's anything to worry about," Mia said nonchalantly. "Don't you have leaders?"
“Yes! I’m too ashamed to face him. He’s been covering for us outside, never giving an inch, but then he turned around and ripped me and Zidu off. If we can’t explain this clearly, the whole team and even the project will be affected.” Lin Li put down his chopsticks. “That would be really bad.”
"So that means there is still a way?" Xiang Lan listened very attentively.
Lin Li didn't say anything, but turned to Mia and said, "How about some rice?"
Seeing that she could still eat, Xiang Lan felt a little more at ease and joked, "If he really quits his job, I can still support him."
Lin Li chewed on the fragrant food, and after a while said, "You, you're not exactly smart, not exactly ambitious, and your talent is just average. You're pretty, but there are plenty of women prettier than you. How did he fall for you?"
She pondered for a moment. Yes, what exactly did he see in her? When she met him, she was merely drawn to him like a moth to a flame; other than that, she really hadn't done anything else.
"If he becomes ugly, stupid, and loses everything, would you still be with him?" Lin Li shook his head. "If he were just an ordinary male college student, doing an ordinary job, and his family couldn't afford to support you, would you have a smooth year together?"
"Sister Lin Li, this is my destiny, don't be jealous." Xiang Lan thought for a moment and said seriously, "The reason why Fang Zidu is Fang Zidu is because he is handsome and smart, and his personality is extreme and annoying. If he lacks any of these qualities, he wouldn't be him."
The fortress in Xiang Lan's heart crumbled as she spoke. Yes, she loved this person, and that meant accepting everything about him, the good and the bad, the things that made her happy or desperate. With a smile on her face, she said firmly, "I'm so glad that when I first saw him, I didn't overthink things like you do."
After lunch, Xiang Lan didn't get a satisfactory answer, but she had a strange sense of certainty that Lin Li and Fang Zidu would be alright. So, after paying the bill, she asked Mia for a small, rustic potted plant to take home; she had found inspiration for making a wedding gift for Mia.
"What's going on with you guys?" Mia asked curiously, seeing Lin Li leaning back in his chair resting with a look of indignation on his face.
"Fang Zidu is a complete scoundrel. I deserve to have failed to see his true nature for five or six years."
"ah--"
"Before the paper was even published, he had already shown the entire text to the journal's editor-in-chief and they had also communicated via email. This is very strong evidence that our paper was already complete before that scoundrel's paper was published—"
"That's great, isn't it? We just need to submit this evidence, right?" Mia didn't understand.
"He won't!"
"Why?"
"That damn man, he said his wife is divorcing him, and he's trying to play the victim—"
"You actually let him do this?" Mia was also puzzled. "That's too willful."
“What can I do? He’s my boss, and he’s trying to tempt me with his own research project, saying that if I cooperate with him on the directional Lan project for now, he’ll take me on a ride.” Lin Li sighed. “You know, there are so many people who beg him to join his research group but can’t.”
I despise you.
Chapter 70
After talking with Lin Li, Xiang Lan put aside Fang Zidu's matter and focused all her attention on Gu Yuan's jade. Occasionally, when she felt tired from work, she would go downstairs to play with her little chubby dog for a while. Fang Zidu saw her leisurely attitude and was anxious, but he had to put on a nonchalant facade.
The controversy surrounding the thesis was escalating, and the pressure on Lin Li and the old professor was mounting. If he didn't quickly hand over the evidence, he risked being devoured by those two. Yet, despite his pitiful state, Xiang Lan remained unmoved, which was inconsistent with her usual persona. Even Fang Zi fell into silence.
Xiang Lan, of course, was unaware of Fang Zidu's inner thoughts. After resolving her own inner conflict, she became more at ease and able to observe from the sidelines. Fang Zidu did indeed behave much the same as before, but because she hadn't responded to his earlier statement agreeing to the divorce, he was happy, yet for some reason, he became cautious again. He constantly watched her expression, even when holding their little one. If her expression changed, he would either dart away like a startled bird or shamelessly cling to her, behaving in extreme and very abnormal ways.
The end of February is Fang Zidu's birthday, and it's also the time when spring is in full bloom.
Xiang Lan, unusually lenient, allowed him to take the little chubby baby to the rooftop garden to sunbathe. She and the nanny opened all the closets in the house, putting away the thick clothes that needed to be put away, in preparation for the change of seasons.
This little girl has a very delicate face, but she has a huge appetite. She always drinks her milk voraciously, and her bones seem stronger than other babies. She's not even three months old yet, but she can already lift her head quite easily, and she always tries to roll over and sit up on her own while playing. This fair-skinned little girl has a very strong temper; once she grabs something, she won't let go.
Fangzi took out several straw toys to amuse her. At first, she just followed the toys with great interest, but when they were brought closer, she reached out, grabbed one, and put it directly into her mouth.
"Hey, you can't eat this!" He tried to stop her, but to no avail. Her mouth was already full of saliva, so he had to use a wet wipe to reach inside and pull the hay out of her mouth with his fingers. "This isn't edible, you know? It's tasteless and very hard; it'll cut your tongue—"
"Ah—" Little Rou Rou complained, waving her little fist and staring at Fang Zidu with her round eyes.
"How about Daddy gets you another toy?"
don't want.
"How about Daddy takes you flying?" Fang Zi put down his toys, put his hands under her armpits, and carefully lifted her up and put her down again. The little girl was happy now, giggling and waving her little hands, her chubby cheeks turning red.
After playing for a while, she probably got hungry and started crying.
"Don't cry, don't cry, I'll go downstairs and get you some milk. You stay in the stroller and sunbathe." Fang Zi secured the stroller, tied her to the basket, and quickly went downstairs.
He heard dragging sounds coming from the room. He picked up the baby bottle to check and saw Xiang Lan and the nanny working together, practically turning the whole room upside down.
All the clothes in the closet had been taken out and piled on the bed, and several large storage boxes were lined up in a row, with various clothes and toys packed in different categories. His heart skipped a beat, and he stood at the door, unable to move.
"Xiang Lan, what are you doing?" Fang Zidu asked softly.
Xiang Lan turned to see him, smiled, and said, "You should go out quickly. There's a lot of dust here, and your throat will feel uncomfortable again later."
Fang Zi's heart pounded wildly, "You're here—"
"Collecting laundry?"
"Why are you packing up the clothes?" He didn't want to hear a negative answer, but he asked anyway, glancing down at the boxes. "Where are you moving them to?"
Xiang Lan noticed that Fang Zidu's voice sounded off. She looked up and saw that his face was pale and his lips were tightly pursed. He glanced back at the storage box at his feet and then at the empty wardrobe. She walked over, took the baby bottle from his hand, and handed it to the nanny, saying, "Auntie, you can go upstairs and feed the little one. I can tidy up here myself."
The nanny nodded and quickly left.
Fang Zi casually closed the door, and Xiang Lan, ignoring him, buried her head in the suitcase and closed it. He couldn't stand it any longer and grabbed her wrist to stop her, asking, "Where do you want to move to?"
Xiang Lan paused, then, wanting to play around, said, "My parents! What, you can't bear to part with me? Weren't they saying they'd agree to a divorce just a few days ago?"
Fang Zi felt his blood rush to his head. The usually calm and rational man was momentarily dizzy. How could he bear being caught in her probing questions? He shook his head and confessed, "I never wanted to divorce you. I just... I just—"
She tilted her head and looked at him. "Just what? Or are you just joking?"
“I’m not playing around.” He suppressed his emotions. “I’m serious. From the very beginning of our relationship, to our marriage, and even now, I’ve always been serious. I know you’re angry about Rou Rou, but what’s done is done. I’m a man, and I have to make decisions and bear the consequences. I offered my opinion, and you hate me, which I deserve, but please don’t leave me—”
"I'll do anything you want, as long as it's within my power." Fang Zidu's eyes reddened. "I'll try my best to be good to you, and I'll do everything I can think of for you. I will love Rou Rou for the rest of my life, not only because I feel sorry for her, but also because she is our child."
"I know you've been doing quite well lately."
"Then why are you doing this now?" He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly and not letting go for a moment. "You can't just jump into my world, mess everything up, and then leave. That's immoral."
Seeing his aggrieved expression and hearing his aggrieved words, Xiang Lan teased him, "Do you think I was just joking when I said I wanted a divorce? Or do you think I'll soften my attitude by coaxing you like before? Let me tell you, that's impossible. I didn't hold it against you before because I was magnanimous, but now I'm going to be a petty person."
"I have deeply reflected on my actions." Fang Zidu said anxiously, "There is something wrong with my mind. I shouldn't have instinctively modeled and processed everything. I should have separated my life from my work. Especially when it comes to family and relatives, I should not only consider their right or wrong, but also the emotional factors."
Xiang Lan remained silent, watching him. This man, who had always been so at ease in her presence, was beginning to grow restless and anxious. Yet, strangely enough, she felt she had found the key to controlling him. It was a victory that came too subtly and unexpectedly, and she wanted to savor it a little longer.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Fang Zi's heart sank even further. "Xiang Lan, you even packed up Xiao Rou Rou's clothes. Are you taking her with you?"
"Children this young should naturally stay with their mothers!"