Auntie Qin Ru visibly started when she heard the name Wang Hansheng, her smile fading slightly.
“Professor Wang? Of course, I know him!”
Auntie Qin took Ji Shuyu’s hand and gave it a gentle pat.
“He was the teacher your mother and I admired most in high school! Immensely knowledgeable, taught so well, and genuinely cared about us students.”
“Back when he came here to teach as a volunteer, he was the one who first introduced your mother and me to materials science.”
She seemed to be recalling her youth, her gaze growing distant.
“In those days, your mother, Su Wanning, had the best grades and the most natural talent. Professor Wang liked her immensely, often praising her as the most gifted and promising student among us.”
“He even said he would definitely recommend her for the best universities and have her do research with him!”
Ji Shuyu’s heart tightened. Remembering the words in the notebook, she hurriedly asked,
“What happened later? Why didn’t my mom… go to university? Or continue researching with Professor Wang?”
She probed carefully, “Was it… related to my father?”
Auntie Qin’s expression shifted slightly upon hearing this. She seemed hesitant and sighed.
“Well, to talk about that… it’s a bit… Your father, Ji Guodong, pursued your mother very intensely back then. Your mother was young, maybe she just… Ah.”
She paused, seemingly reluctant to discuss her old classmate’s private affairs, especially the less savory parts.
Ji Shuyu had asked about this before, directly and indirectly, but Qin Ru had always deflected.
So, eventually, Ji Shuyu had stopped asking.
But seeing the look in Ji Shuyu’s eyes now, she lowered her voice and shared a little.
“Anyway, later, your mother suddenly announced she wouldn’t take the university entrance exams and wanted to get married as soon as possible. When Professor Wang found out, he was very upset. He came to see her several times, pleading earnestly, saying she couldn’t waste her talent and future…”
“But for some reason, your mother was dead set on it and wouldn’t listen to anyone.”
Auntie Qin shook her head, full of regret. “Professor Wang was disappointed for a long time because of this. Eventually, they lost touch. But why are you asking about Professor Wang all of a sudden?”
Ji Shuyu’s heart sank. It really was related to Ji Guodong.
She had asked He Yuan to investigate for her. Although Ji Guodong’s family wasn’t exactly wealthy back then, his father’s permanent position at the bank was a significant advantage. Her mother’s family had been quite willing.
In those days, a permanent job at a bank was considered extremely respectable.
After all, the Su family wasn’t primarily after money; they just wanted to find a lifelong support for their daughter.
Especially since Su’s father was a bit traditional, believing that girls didn’t need so much education as they would just get married in the end.
Although Auntie Qin phrased it delicately, Ji Shuyu could almost guess that Ji Guodong likely used some method to block her mother’s path to further education, trapping her in marriage.
Steadying herself, she offered the excuse she had prepared: “It’s nothing, really. I just happened to hear someone mention Professor Wang, saying he was a leading authority in materials science. I remembered that Mom seemed to have mentioned his name before, so I thought I’d ask you.”
“Since I’m in this field now, I thought it would be good to learn more about the pioneers.”
Auntie Qin didn’t suspect anything and nodded. “Yes, but Professor Wang has passed away now. Ah.”
After she said this, Ji Shuyu pretended not to know and casually agreed.
“Oh, right. The last time I did research with your mother, she was studying some kind of ‘coral medium’. She said if the research succeeded, it could help people recall forgotten memories.”
“Recall forgotten memories?”
Ji Shuyu’s heart gave a violent leap, but she struggled to maintain a calm exterior, pretending to be merely curious.
“Coral medium? My mom researched that? It sounds fascinating. What kind of coral was it? How exactly was it supposed to work?”
Auntie Qin Ru seemed to fall into deeper recollection, her brow slightly furrowed.
“Back then, we all thought her ideas were quite fanciful, not quite aligned with mainstream materials science research. It seems… she used a rather special type of red coral?”
“Yes, red coral. She said the structure of that coral was very unique. I can’t remember the specifics clearly; it was all so long ago. And her experimental notes later…”
Auntie Qin stopped abruptly here, her eyes flickering.
She seemed to realize she had said something she shouldn’t have and quickly stopped herself, taking a sip of tea to cover her unease.
“What happened to the experimental notes later?”
Ji Shuyu immediately seized on this lead. So, the two centennial red coral fragments were indeed significant.
She never expected Su Wanning’s research to be so ahead of its time, actually venturing into this area.
“N-nothing…” Auntie Qin’s eyes evaded Ji Shuyu’s gaze. She put down her teacup, her tone becoming vague.
“It’s all in the past. Those notes probably weren’t preserved. After your mother got married, she gradually stopped doing that kind of research. It’s a pity.”
Ji Shuyu keenly sensed Auntie Qin’s evasion.
Why would she react like that when the experimental notes were mentioned?
Did something happen to the notes, or… did they fall into someone else’s hands?
Auntie Qin, afraid that continuing would raise more suspicion, hurriedly said goodbye to Ji Shuyu and left.
“Who’s there?”
Just as Ji Shuyu was pondering Su Wanning’s research, she heard faint footsteps.
She turned her head but found no one there, which struck her as odd.
She was sure she heard a sound.
The Mole, hiding in the shadows, took a deep breath and left quietly, lightening his steps.
He never expected to hear so much today.
It was a truly fruitful haul.
That evening, after Ji Shuyu returned home, she also shared the news with He Yuan.
“Really? Shuyu, you’re amazing!”
As soon as He Yuan heard about the significant potential of Ji Shuyu’s material, he picked her up in a hug.
If Ji Shuyu hadn’t mentioned it was pressing on her stomach, he wouldn’t have been willing to let go.
“By the way, Shuyu, some unidentified individuals have appeared on the island recently. We suspect they might be connected to foreign forces. It’s essential to keep the important experimental data from the research institute secure.”
He Yuan’s words reminded Ji Shuyu of the strange footsteps in the research institute earlier that day.
She nodded gently. “Alright, I understand.”
In the following days, Ji Shuyu had the technicians work overtime on the research.
She pondered the two centennial coral fragments, her brow tightly knit.
Su Wanning’s experimental notes were clearly not the one she possessed.
Where was the other one?
The Ji family?
After all, that was where she had lived for a long time. But after so many years, given Ji Guodong and Lin Xiumei’s characters, the notes were probably long gone.
Or perhaps, Su Wanning had hidden them somewhere unknown?
Ji Shuyu sighed. Only by obtaining Su Wanning’s experimental notes could she figure out the true purpose of those two coral fragments.
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