Xiaoxin hesitated for a moment before accepting the package and opening it.
Inside were several brand-new high school self-study books on mathematics, physics, and chemistry, along with a beautiful notebook and a fountain pen.
“I heard from sister-in-law that you used to have good grades and liked reading… These are for you to read in your spare time.”
Zhao Qiang rubbed his hands together, somewhat embarrassed.
“I know just working hard isn’t enough—you need education too… I’m also studying! Life… life will definitely get better and better in the future!”
This was his most sincere promise: he would keep improving, so those who doubted him would see he was worthy of her.
Xiaoxin looked at the books and stationery in her hands, her eyes slightly reddening.
She never expected this seemingly rough man to be attentive enough to notice her interests and unspoken regrets.
She looked up at Zhao Qiang’s sun-tanned face, full of sincerity.
For the first time, she didn’t immediately lower her head to avoid his gaze.
“…Thank you,” she said softly, her fingers gently brushing the book spines.
A heavy weight lifted from Zhao Qiang’s heart, and he grinned foolishly. “No need to thank me! As long as you like them!”
When choosing the gifts, he had been afraid Xiaoxin wouldn’t like them.
The quarterly evaluation results were soon announced.
As expected, Zhao Qiang earned both the titles of Training Pace-setter and Spiritual Civilization Advanced Individual.
When the bright red certificates and official notices arrived, his first instinct was to show them to Xiaoxin.
But He Yuan stopped him.
“Be patient. A certificate alone isn’t enough. Here’s what we’ll do: in a couple of days, there’s a small ceremony for the research institute’s inauguration. Island units and families will be invited—I’ll make sure someone from Xiaoxin’s family attends.”
“By then, you can make an appearance as an active volunteer who helped out.”
If he just went over with the certificates now, it wouldn’t leave much of an impression. They needed Xiaoxin’s family to see Zhao Qiang as a key, indispensable talent—that was the goal.
On the day of the inauguration ceremony, the small courtyard of the research institute was bustling.
Though the location was somewhat remote, it was a standalone two-story building with plenty of rooms, ideal for categorization.
Zhao Qiang, dressed in a crisp military uniform with a large red flower pinned to his chest, bustled about energetically—maintaining order, helping serve tea and water—his demeanor both proper and diligent.
Ji Shuyu, as the person in charge, delivered a speech, concisely yet powerfully outlining the research institute’s future plans and its significance to the island.
Finally, she made a point to mention: “The smooth preparation of the research institute is also thanks to the strong support of our comrades in the military, especially outstanding soldiers like Zhao Qiang.”
“They not only excel in their duties of protecting our country but have also poured hard work into supporting the island’s development.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Zhao Qiang.
Zhao Qiang straightened his back and gave a standard military salute.
Xiaoxin’s father had been persuaded to attend and stood watching from the crowd.
He saw Zhao Qiang’s demeanor and heard the praise from military leadership and Ji Shuyu.
He couldn’t help but recall his daughter’s flushed face when she had spoken of him before.
She said he was very capable.
After the ceremony, Zhao Qiang found an opportunity to approach Xiaoxin’s father, respectfully addressing him, “Uncle.”
He pulled out the two bright red certificates from his chest and handed them over with both hands. His voice was nervous, but his attitude was utterly sincere.
“Uncle, I know my circumstances aren’t great now, and it makes you and Auntie uneasy, but my feelings for Xiaoxin are genuine. I will keep striving to make something of myself in the military. I would never let Xiaoxin suffer with me—please believe me!”
Xiaoxin’s father looked at the two honors, then lifted his gaze to the earnest young man.
He remained silent for a long while, finally sighing. He didn’t take the certificates.
“…Young man, having drive is good, but life is long… Let’s wait and see, let’s wait and see.”
Although he hadn’t gained immediate approval, the fact that her father hadn’t rejected him outright or shown him the door was, for Zhao Qiang, significant progress.
He had at least secured an opportunity to be observed.
He shared this joy with Xiaoxin at the first chance.
They walked along the beach, their shadows stretching long in the sunset.
This time, Xiaoxin seemed a bit more talkative.
“After my dad got back… he didn’t say anything negative,” she said quietly, a hint of relief in her voice.
Zhao Qiang grinned goofily. “I’ll keep working hard! I’ll aim for the Annual Outstanding Soldier award by year-end! And maybe… maybe I can even try for military academy in the future!”
For the first time, he dared to envision a future, one tightly intertwined with Xiaoxin.
Xiaoxin turned her head, looking at his profile gilded by the sunset, at the light shimmering in his eyes, and gave a soft nod.
That evening, back at home, Ji Shuyu rubbed her tired eyes and closed the hefty foreign-language materials spread open before her.
The initial preparations for the research institute were incredibly complex. Even with the assistance of the points mall, the coordination, communication, and planning were mentally draining.
She stood up to stretch, her gaze falling on the notebook not far away—the one she had brought from the Ji family, Su Wanning’s notebook.
Ji Shuyu picked it up.
The cover bore Su Wanning’s elegant handwriting.
She opened the notebook again. The pages had yellowed, but the writing was clear and neat.
The latter part of the notebook was densely filled with formulas and lengthy passages of insights and reflections.
Some of the viewpoints, even from Ji Shuyu’s advanced perspective, seemed quite forward-thinking.
She hadn’t examined this latter half carefully before.
In the middle and later sections, the handwriting appeared more hurried, the thoughts delving deeper.
On one page, in the margin, was a line of writing that was almost overlooked:
‘Professor Wang from Peking University once said this direction holds great promise; if pursuing advanced studies, he would surely invite me to join… However…’
“Professor Wang from Peking University?”
Ji Shuyu’s heart skipped a beat.
The original novel never mentioned any connection between Su Wanning and Peking University.
She quickly flipped forward and, indeed, found scattered earlier notes mentioning lecture reflections, researching at the Peking University library, and similar phrases.
A vague suspicion began to form in her mind.
The knowledge and depth of thought possessed by the original host’s mother were far beyond that of an ordinary housewife.
In the last few pages of the notebook, the handwriting became somewhat messy, even carrying a sense of helplessness.
The entries stopped abruptly. Flipping further, there were only sporadic, seemingly rushed notes.
On the very last page of the notebook, there were no formulas, no data—just a few lines of poetry.
The ink had blotted slightly, as if touched by tears.
Ideals are like stars, brilliant yet out of reach.
Confined within narrow bounds, wings clipped, trapped.
It is not unwillingness to fly, but inability.
Su Wanning, the original host’s mother, clearly possessed remarkable talent and a strong thirst for knowledge.
She should have had a bright and brilliant future, pursuing advanced studies at a prestigious university and achieving great things in her beloved field of materials science.
Instead, she was trapped in the Ji household, an obscure and ultimately forgotten wife.
“It is not unwillingness to fly, but inability.”
What made her unable?
Ji Shuyu rubbed her temples, thinking of Ji Guodong’s attitude toward her. Something felt off; Ji Guodong seemed to genuinely dislike the original host.
Could there be some connection hidden within all this?
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