Chapter 5

My followers on social media had soared from a few hundred familiar classmates to several hundred thousand.

The comments were full of praise.

“That was so cool! Our top student’s handling of this is gaining her so many fans!”

“Clear logic, solid evidence, calm from start to finish—this is what a real top student looks like!”

“That mother is unbelievably stupid. She ruined her own daughter’s future.”

I scrolled through a few pages, then turned off my phone.

Everything had been settled.

Next came the new life that belonged to me.

I changed clothes, put on sunglasses, and went to the hotel reception to book a sailboat.

I wanted to go out to sea.

The sea breeze was lovely, and the sunlight was bright.

The sailboat cut through the water, leaving a trail of white foam behind it.

I lay on the bow, gazing at the blue sky and white clouds. I had never felt so carefree.

I returned to the hotel at dusk.

I found a message from Academician Li.

“Chen Yue, I saw the news today. You handled it well. Before you can pursue academic research, you must first learn how to protect yourself. I look forward to meeting you.”

Warmth filled me, and I replied, “Thank you, Professor.”

I put down my phone and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.

The sun was slowly sinking toward the distant sea, tinting the entire sky a brilliant orange-red.

A new day was about to begin.

And I was ready to welcome the glory that would be mine.

8

The online storm had completely died down.

Because of her own foolish behavior, Lin Miaomiao’s mother had become a nationwide laughingstock.

I heard that after she was released from the detention center, she seemed a little unhinged.

She went around crying to anyone who would listen, saying her daughter’s future had been ruined and it was all my fault.

But this time, no one believed her.

Lin Miaomiao had dropped out of school.

She didn’t take the remaining college entrance exams.

Apparently, she couldn’t withstand the flood of public pressure and had completely broken down.

Later, someone saw her at a mental health clinic.

These bits of news reached me sporadically through old classmates.

I read them and made no comment.

Everyone had to take responsibility for their own actions.

That was true of Lin Miaomiao, her mother, and me.

Choosing to stay away from them was also my way of letting myself go.

After the college entrance examination ended, I went to the city where my university was located.

Academician Li personally sent one of his doctoral students to pick me up at the airport.

His name was Zhou Ming. He was a bespectacled senior with a refined air.

“You must be Chen Yue, our junior? I’m Zhou Ming. Professor asked me to come pick you up.”

He helped load my luggage into the car, then chatted with me as he drove.

“Professor has been talking about you for a while. He says he’s recruited a little treasure this year.”

I felt a little embarrassed. “You’re too kind, Senior. I’ll be counting on you to look after me from now on.”

“Haha, don’t be so formal! Everyone in our lab is family!”

The car drove onto the university campus.

This top university in the country had a solemn, historic atmosphere.

Zhou Ming took me to my dormitory building.

“Junior, get settled in first. I’ll come get you at nine tomorrow morning to meet the professor.”

“Okay. Thank you, Senior.”

The dorm room had two beds. My roommate hadn’t arrived yet.

I straightened up the bed and desk a little.

Then I took out my phone and made a video call to my parents.

“Dad, Mom, I’ve arrived at the university.”

On screen, my parents’ faces lit up with smiles.

“Good, good. If you need anything, go buy it. Don’t try to save money!”

“I know.”

“Take good care of yourself there and get along with your professors and classmates.”

“I will.”

We talked for a long time.

After ending the call, I felt warm inside.

In this life, I had a family who loved me and a bright future ahead.

I would not let anyone destroy any of it again.

Early the next morning, Zhou Ming came to get me right on time.

We crossed the campus and arrived at a separate laboratory building.

“We’re here. This is our national key laboratory,” Zhou Ming said.

I looked up at the stately building.

This would be where I worked hard over the next few years.

Academician Li’s office was on the third floor.

Zhou Ming knocked.

“Come in.”

We entered and saw an elderly man who looked vigorous and alert.

His hair was gray, but his eyes were bright and sharp.

It was Academician Li.

“Professor, junior Chen Yue is here.”

Academician Li put down the pen in his hand and looked up at me.