You tricked me into raising your son? You'll divorce me and become my aunt.

Stepping out of the building, Xin Yao could no longer hold back her grievances. With red eyes, she choked out, "Ting Chen, am I too stupid...? Is that why Old Master Zhou didn't want to take me as his apprentice and even said those things about me in public?"

Fu Tingchen looked at her, her eyes red from crying, and felt a pang of pity.

He gently stroked Bai Xinyao's face, coaxing her softly, "No, don't think like that."

He gently comforted her, "It's not your problem. It's that Academician Zhou is too rigid and stubborn, and his standards are too high. His students are all top talents and are used to high standards. Actually, you are also very excellent, but you are just not suitable to be his student."

Bai Xinyao looked up at him, tears streaming down her face.

"But I really want to learn from Academician Zhou, and he refused to take me on as his apprentice. Does this mean I'll miss out on that brain-computer interface research project?"

"It's okay." Fu Tingchen gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and coaxed her tenderly.

"If one path doesn't work, we'll try another. There are other people leading that project besides him. I'll help you find other teachers who are willing to take you on."

The scene of the two of them standing under a tree at the entrance of the residential area, whispering sweet nothings, was witnessed by Ruan Ning, who had just gotten out of the car.

She didn't hear what they were saying and didn't know why these two people were there.

Ruan Ning did not care about this.

She didn't intend to go up and talk to the couple. She looked away, ignored them, and walked straight into the residential area.

Fu Tingchen, however, inadvertently caught sight of a figure not far away, and his body stiffened.

Almost instinctively, he immediately released his grip on Bai Xinyao.

Bai Xinyao followed his gaze and looked over.

Bai Xinyao's face darkened the moment she saw Ruan Ning.

Fu Tingchen strode over and grabbed Ruan Ning's wrist. "Why are you here?"

Ruan Ning remained calm and indifferent. "I've come to meet an elder."

"What elders?"

"My mother's friend."

Ruan Ning did not lie.

My mother was indeed friends with my teacher's wife when she was still alive.

Fu Tingchen paused for a moment, then said, "Since they are elders, shall I go with you?"

"Need not."

She didn't know what was wrong with Fu Tingchen lately.

He used to be indifferent to her, never offered to accompany her to meet her elders, and didn't care where she went or when she came home.

Recently, however, he has been asking her from time to time when she is coming home, and now he even offers to accompany her to visit her elders.

Fortunately, Bai Xinyao came over at that moment.

"Tingchen, it's okay. If you want to go with Xiaoning, go ahead. I'll be fine on my own. I can have some peace and quiet by myself."

Fu Tingchen looked back at Bai Xinyao's red eyes, worried that she might get into trouble if she stayed alone in her bad mood. He hesitated for a moment and then let go of Ruan Ning's hand.

Ruan Ning entered the residential area without looking back.

Bai Xinyao, seeing the man's gaze following Ruan Ning, asked the same question again, "Tingchen, have you fallen for her?"

Fu Tingchen looked away, replying somewhat absentmindedly, "No, don't overthink it."

-

As soon as Ruan Ning entered the room, she noticed that the atmosphere was a bit off.

She couldn't help but ask, "Teacher, Teacher's wife, why do you both look so unhappy? Who upset you?"

Zhou Chongshan snorted coldly: "What kind of man did you marry?"

Ruan Ning frowned, recalling the sight of Fu Tingchen and Bai Xinyao she had just seen at the entrance of the residential area, and she suddenly realized what had happened.

"You just saw Fu Tingchen?"

Zhou Chongshan remained silent with a cold expression.

However, it was Teacher Shen Zhilan who sighed, "Alas, he not only saw her, but just now he brought a woman over and asked your teacher to take that woman as a student."

"Ningning, tell your teacher's wife the truth, is it because Fu Tingchen cheated on you that you want a divorce?" Shen Zhilan asked with a pained expression.

Upon hearing this, Ruan Ning was stunned.

Bai Xinyao actually wants to become the teacher's apprentice?

This is utterly ridiculous.

What qualifications does she have to be a teacher's student?

What's even more ridiculous is Fu Tingchen. They've been married for three years, and he's never cared about her affairs, unaware that she's already been taken in as a disciple by Old Master Zhou.

Ruan Ning lowered her eyes and answered her teacher's wife's question with a simple, "Yes."

Shen Zhilan sighed, "Fortunately, you don't have any children. It's better to get a divorce. From now on, just focus on yourself and don't give up your career for a man again."

Ruan Ning said softly, "I know, Master's wife."

Zhou Chongshan glanced at him sideways, "You still know how to turn back from the wrong path."

Ruan Ning obediently lowered her head and dared not speak.

In the evening, Ruan Ning had dinner with her teacher and his wife, and chatted with them for a while before going home.

The new apartment complex she bought is called Jingxi.

Back at Jingxi, in the underground parking lot.

As soon as Ruan Ning parked her car, she saw a man and a woman pulling at each other not far away.

The man's figure looked somewhat familiar.

Ruan Ning looked closely and realized that the man was Jin Xiuhan.

He was wearing a minimalist black suit today, and the dim light fell on his sharply defined face, highlighting his high nose bridge and well-defined jawline.

The woman standing opposite him was very eye-catching.

The woman was tall and slender, with long, platinum blonde wavy hair cascading over her shoulders. Her features were exceptionally beautiful, a striking and captivating appearance that would leave a lasting impression. She wore a sexy and alluring burgundy fitted dress.

These two are a perfect match in terms of looks.

However, Ruan Ning didn't care about Jin Xiuhan's gossip.

She got out of the car nonchalantly, pretending not to see Jin Xiuhan and that woman, and walked straight toward the elevator without looking to either side.

She didn't want to be a bystander.

But Jin Xiuhan and that woman were standing in her way.

She had to walk towards them.

Ruan Ning overheard Jin Xiuhan's conversation with that woman.

"Jin Xiuhan, I returned to the country for you, so why won't you see me?"

The woman looked up at the man in front of her.

Jin Xiuhan stood upright, his hands hanging casually at his sides, his gaze cold and devoid of warmth.

"There's no need." The man's voice was deep and cold, as if it were magnetic, carrying an electric current.

Upon hearing this, the light in the woman's eyes went out, her body swayed slightly, and her reddened eyes made her bright face look somewhat pitiful.

She lowered her eyelashes, not caring about passersby, and said to herself, "I don't mean anything else. I don't want to disturb your life, nor do I ask for any title. I just haven't seen you for too long, and I simply want to see you, that's all."

Humility reduced to dust.

But the man remained unmoved.

His dark eyes were devoid of any emotion, and his thin lips parted slightly: "Don't waste your time on me."

"I know you don't like me, but I just can't help it..." The woman's voice trembled slightly, and soft sobs escaped her lips.

"Every day I'm abroad, all I can think about is you, Jin Xiuhan. I think about you every single moment."

"I thought that by coming back, I could be closer to you, even if it was just to see you from afar, I would be content. But you won't even let us meet?"

Such devotion moved even Ruan Ning.

But Jin Xiuhan's expression remained unchanged, his eyes still cold and stern.

The man's attitude was cold and almost heartless. "Finished talking? Then leave."

The woman stood there, head bowed, shoulders trembling slightly, looking as if she were crying.

As Ruan Ning passed by them, she seemed to feel Jin Xiuhan's piercing gaze directed at her.