Chapter 122:

At a university, students in a classroom were whispering among themselves, waiting for class to begin and for the teacher to arrive.

The center of their conversation was this very teacher—a renowned beauty in their school. With her intelligent curls and clothes that, while not particularly special, seemed impossible to look away from when worn by her, especially for the female students who were eager to find out the brand so they could buy the same outfit.

This beautiful teacher looked young, an alumna from who-knows-how-many generations ago, yet she already had two daughters. She was also a member of the calligraphy association, having studied under a master calligrapher. A single piece of her writing could fetch hundreds of thousands on the market—effortlessly earning her a fortune with just a stroke of her brush, though she rarely sold her work.

Naturally, such a teacher was a hot topic among the students.

They also knew that some students had even confessed their feelings to her, which was both amusing and exasperating. One boy, who had never seen her husband around, later found out that she was a military spouse—her husband was not only handsome but also formidable in combat. The poor boy slunk away in defeat.

After all, disrupting a military marriage was not only illegal but also likely to get you beaten up.

When the teacher finally appeared, the students were stunned by her beauty, followed by a burst of cheers: “Welcome, Professor Lin!”

Some bold ones even shouted, “Professor Lin, I like you!”

“Professor Lin, I love you!”

Lin Yining couldn’t help but laugh, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. It was hard not to feel happy around such a lively group of students.

“Thank you for your enthusiasm. Let me start with a brief introduction—my surname is Lin, the character with two ‘woods’… Now, let’s get to the point. Take out your textbooks and turn to the table of contents. Today, we’ll cover the second section.”

The students rustled through their books.

…

By the end of class, she was immediately surrounded.

“Professor Lin, can I give you my contact info? I have some questions I’d like to ask you.”

“Please discuss any concerns with the class monitor first. She’ll relay them to me.”

It wasn’t until the bell for the next class was about to ring that she finally managed to leave the room—there were just too many people blocking her way.

Thinking about it, Lin Yining shook her head. Every time she had a new class, this same scene played out. She had no idea how these rumors spread. Some of the stories were so exaggerated that if she didn’t know they were about her, she’d think they were describing someone else entirely.

Her teaching schedule wasn’t heavy, so once her classes were done, she could leave. She headed to the parking lot, ready to go home.

After exiting the school gates, she stopped at a small market nearby. Many local residents sold fresh and affordable goods there, attracting quite a crowd.

She bought some groceries before returning to her courtyard home. As she entered, she saw a chessboard set up under a tree in the yard, where Lin Duzhong and Shi Changtian were deep in a game.

A small table beside them held tea, fruits, and snacks, while a black dog lounged lazily at their feet. Life couldn’t get any more idyllic.

“Great-grandfather, Master.”

The black dog at Lin Duzhong’s feet lifted its head lazily to glance at her before settling back down, its tail wagging gently. Utterly content.

She placed the groceries in the kitchen, where the housekeeper took over.

“Master, what do you think of this piece I wrote? Have I improved?”

Lin Yining brought out a calligraphy piece she had worked on the night before.

Shi Changtian waved her off. “Hold on, we’re at a critical moment. Just wait a bit.”

His brow furrowed as he stared intently at the board, a stark contrast to Lin Duzhong’s relaxed demeanor. Clearly, her great-grandfather had the upper hand.

Lin Yining sat down beside them, popping a grape into her mouth.

Her master was excellent in all things—except chess. He was terrible at it. Lin Duzhong wasn’t much better, but against Shi Changtian, he won effortlessly. Yet, Shi Changtian insisted on playing every time. True dedication.

Once the game concluded, Shi Changtian finally picked up Lin Yining’s calligraphy for a closer look, while Lin Duzhong tidied the pieces and spoke to her.

“Someone came looking for you today.”

Lin Yining: “Who?”

Few knew her address—only close friends. If they had come to see her, why hadn’t they called ahead? Was it urgent?

Lin Duzhong blinked at her. “A man named Gu Shi.”

Though old, he still remembered this man—he had once gone out of his way to investigate him.

This was his great-granddaughter’s first love.

They had dated for a while before Gu Shi went abroad to study and eventually settled there. Naturally, they broke up—different paths, different goals.

After all this time, with Lin Yining’s children now grown, Gu Shi’s sudden reappearance puzzled Lin Duzhong.

Lin Yining froze for a moment. “Did he say why he was looking for me?”

Lin Duzhong: “No. I told him you weren’t here, and he said he’d come back tomorrow. From the looks of it, he probably wants to catch up.”

Lin Yining frowned. “Catch up? After all this time with no contact? Who gave him my address? How annoying.”

Lin Duzhong nodded in agreement. “Exactly. Very annoying.”

His tone was entirely indulgent, making Lin Yining laugh despite herself. “Great-grandfather, I’m not a child anymore. Fine, I’ll wait for him tomorrow and see what he wants.”

Their breakup hadn’t been ugly. They weren’t lovers anymore, but they weren’t enemies either.

Still, his sudden, unannounced visit left a bad taste in her mouth.

After examining her calligraphy for a while, Shi Changtian cleared his throat. “No wonder you wanted me to see this. There’s something special about it.”

Praise from him was rare—if he said it was “special,” it was high praise indeed.

Lin Yining brightened. “I thought so too. Last night, I suddenly felt inspired and wrote it in one go.”

Suddenly, the black dog at Lin Duzhong’s feet stood up, ears perked, before darting to the gate. Clearly, its two little masters were about to return.

Wang Yushan and Wang Yuyan—the names of her two daughters, both in elementary school.

Right on schedule, the nanny brought them home.

Lin Yining smiled and stood. “Welcome back! What did you learn in school today…?”

The next day, Gu Shi arrived punctually. Lin Yining received him in the courtyard.

“What brings you here?”

Gu Shi looked at her, his expression complicated and somewhat distant. “Nothing much. I’ve been away for so long, and everything feels unfamiliar now. I just wanted to see you. How have you been all these years?”

Lin Yining remained impassive. “I’ve been well.”

Gu Shi: “I can see that. Are you married?”

Lin Yining: “Yes, with children. Did you achieve the life you wanted abroad?” She had no interest in small talk.

Gu Shi fell silent for a moment. “More or less.” He looked at his hands. “I’ve done well in surgery—gained some reputation, received many invitations.” There was a hint of pride in his voice.

Lin Yining understood. He was here to show off.

Gu Shi: “Career-wise, it’s been good. But my marriage didn’t work out. I married a foreign woman, but we divorced. She couldn’t understand some of my values. She took our son, and I’ve been single since.”

Lin Yining: “……”

Oh.

Awkward silence.

Gu Shi tried to salvage the mood. “After all this time, don’t you have anything to say to me?” He gave a small smile, reminiscent of his younger self.

Lin Yining shook her head. “We said everything we needed to back then. There’s nothing left to say.”

Gu Shi: “…Do you still resent me?”

Lin Yining: “Why would I? We broke up because we weren’t compatible. It happens all the time. Ours was amicable. At least you were honest about your intentions. Some people string their partners along while dating others abroad.”

The words stung Gu Shi. Was that all he was to her—just another cautionary tale?

Surely his character wasn’t that bad.

Lin Yining: “It’s not, but showing up unannounced at my home—how am I supposed to know what kind of person you are now?”

Gu Shi frowned. “No matter how much time passes, I’m still the same person. My marriage failed, but I truly learned more abroad than I could have here. The opportunities there were better. If I had to choose again, I’d make the same decision.”

Lin Yining raised a hand to stop him. “You don’t need to justify yourself to me.”

Gu Shi’s voice lowered. “I just don’t want you to misunderstand me.”

Lin Yining nodded dismissively. “Sure. Where did you get my address?”

That was what bothered her.

If a friend had given it to him without telling her, then that friend wasn’t much of a friend.

Gu Shi avoided the question. “I overheard it by chance. When I heard your name, I thought it might be someone else. Imagine my surprise.”

Lin Yining scoffed. “Well, if that’s all, I have other things to attend to.”

Gu Shi stared at her, baffled, as if she were some incomprehensible creature. “After all these years, I just wanted to see an old friend. Must you be so cold?”

Lin Yining: “I’m not being cold. This is how I treat people I’m not close to. If you misunderstood, I apologize.” Her tone was anything but apologetic.

Gu Shi realized his unannounced visit had offended her.

This wasn’t the right time for a long conversation. He stood and handed her his business card. “If you’re busy, we’ll talk another time. Here’s my contact.”

Lin Yining took it politely.

Gu Shi: “And yours?”

Lin Yining: “Didn’t bring it.”

Gu Shi: “……”

After he left, Lin Yining glanced at the card. Oh, deputy director. No wonder he was so smug.

She rolled her eyes. It wasn’t like she’d ever need his help.

Her mother-in-law was a top expert in military medicine.

If anything ever happened (though it was unlikely, given her excellent health), she’d turn to family first.

As Gu Shi walked away, his frown deepened. Some women passing by, drawn to his mature and handsome appearance, approached to ask if he needed help.

He politely declined.

With his looks and demeanor, women had always flocked to him.

When he and Lin Yining broke up, he hadn’t expected her to agree so readily—nor had he anticipated her cutting all contact so decisively.

She had moved on faster than he did.

Hadn’t she loved him?

He had even considered persuading her to go abroad with him. With her grades, studying and settling overseas would have been easy.

But she refused—vehemently.

She had chosen her principles over him.

It had infuriated him for a long time.

Clearly, she hadn’t loved him as much as he thought.

His attempt to convince her had been foolish.

This time, when he received an invitation to return, he hesitated. But with limited prospects for promotion abroad and growing homesickness, he accepted.

Back in China, he couldn’t resist asking old classmates about Lin Yining. The stories poured in.

She was doing well.

She had stayed at their alma mater, earned tenure, was beloved and respected by students, and had a happy family.

It seemed she had thrived just fine without him. So he came, wanting to see for himself.

One look at her confirmed the rumors. A person’s happiness was written on their face.

Her clothes, though understated, suited her perfectly. The necklace around her neck was from a luxury brand, the jade bracelet on her wrist exquisite and undoubtedly expensive.

Her family had been modestly well-off, but not wealthy. Clearly, she had married into money.

Her job was respectable but not lucrative.

Even after years abroad, he knew how much a courtyard home in the capital was worth.

After he left, Lin Yining immediately removed her bracelet. She disliked wearing accessories while writing.

She owned plenty of jewelry, but rarely wore it—today had been an exception.

She had carefully curated her outfit: nothing too flashy, but with subtle indicators of wealth.

She wanted to show him she was doing just fine.

Back then, Gu Shi had broken up with her in pursuit of a better life abroad. Now, he had probably come to flaunt his success.

Well, she wouldn’t let him outshine her.

Not for anything else, just to prove a point.

The next day, when Lin Yining arrived at school, she was in high spirits. On her way, she overheard two people discussing a certain survey about a ubiquitous chain restaurant.

“Wuwei Restaurant hasn’t gone public, but it’s everywhere. Do you know exactly how many branches there are?”

“I’ve looked it up. They’re spread across provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions in China, with tens of thousands of locations. There’s no exact count yet since they’re not publicly listed.”

“Did you include overseas branches? They’re definitely in Chinatowns abroad and are even ranked among the world’s top 100 brands.”

“No, just domestic. There’s no internal data for overseas branches, so it’s impossible to know.”

Lin Yining couldn’t help but smile at the conversation.

However, her good mood vanished when she reached the office building and unexpectedly ran into Gu Shi.

Seeing Lin Yining, Gu Shi was momentarily stunned before breaking into a smile. “What a coincidence.” He gestured to the person beside him. “My nephew got admitted here this year, so I came to ask about his progress.”

He hadn’t deliberately followed her here, though he had entertained the thought of passing by during her class to catch a glimpse of her teaching.

Lin Yining nodded with a polite smile. “I need to get ready for class. Take your time—I won’t disturb you.”

Even if he was telling the truth, she didn’t want to see him. Her good mood for the day was ruined.

Lin Yining and Yu Xiang’an’s relationship had never been made public.

While Lin Chuanbai wasn’t widely known, Yu Xiang’an was different. During a major flood years ago, she had gained national recognition.

Few at the school knew about this connection, but Gu Shi happened to find out.

A colleague at his hospital, who also attended the same university, recognized Lin Yining from a photo.

“That girl is practically a princess—way out of most people’s league.”

Gu Shi was puzzled. “What princess?”

“I don’t know the details, but I overheard a professor mention her family is extremely well-off, with significant connections.”

Gu Shi frowned. “I thought she said her family ran a small business.”

The colleague shook his head. “Definitely not. I heard she owns a villa in the capital’s elite district, a vineyard abroad, and even a helicopter. What ‘small business’ family has that?”

Gu Shi knew the elite district the colleague mentioned.

The property prices were astronomical, and availability was scarce—new developments were often snapped up internally before hitting the market.

There was no reason for the colleague to lie, which meant Lin Yining had withheld the truth.

This half-knowledge only made Gu Shi more curious about her background.

After their last encounter, he knew Lin Yining wasn’t welcoming, so he reached out to mutual acquaintances.

Some were casual connections, others had stayed in touch.

As adults, networking was effortless—no one wanted to offend a doctor, given how unpredictable health could be.

Soon, Lin Yining found herself frequently running into Gu Shi, much to her irritation.

Lin Duzhong noticed her frustration. “You’ve had persistent admirers before. Why is this one bothering you so much?”

Lin Yining took a sip of water. “Back then, mentioning ‘military marriage’ scared them off. If anyone persisted, a ‘friendly chat’ with Li Pan made sure they disappeared. But this guy’s motives are unclear—I don’t know what he wants.”

She’d rather they forget each other, yet here he was, constantly reappearing.

Then, Gu Shi saw Yu Xiang’an enter the courtyard.

Comparing photos, the resemblance between mother and daughter was undeniable.

A quick search revealed Yu Xiang’an’s public profile—a self-made legend, even featured in textbooks.

Having spent years in capitalist countries, Gu Shi understood the power of wealth.

If Lin Yining was her daughter, it explained the lavish lifestyle.

In fact, it seemed almost modest.

This also meant Lin Yining had lied during their relationship—her mother was already successful back then.

“Small business”? If that was small, what counted as big? State-backed conglomerates?

Realizing this, Gu Shi felt a mix of emotions. She truly was a princess.

Had he missed out on something extraordinary?

Since returning to China, he’d become a sought-after bachelor, with many introducing him to eligible young women.

But compared to Lin Yining, they all paled in comparison.

When Yu Xiang’an and Lin Chuanbai returned from their overseas vacation, Lin Yining’s mood instantly lifted.

Hugging her mother’s arm like a little girl, she pouted. “You went traveling again without me!”

Yu Xiang’an laughed. “You’re busy with work. There’ll be time after you retire—then you can go wherever you want.”

With her business stable, Yu Xiang’an had semi-retired. Having achieved her goals, she now focused on enjoying life.

Major decisions still required her approval, but capable teams handled daily operations.

She’d even earned the title of “international gourmet” from her global culinary adventures.

Lin Chuanbai, too, often collaborated with foreign labs, exchanging knowledge.

Back in the day, restrictions and lack of recognition made such exchanges rare.

This time, they’d spent weeks on an island, soaked in hot springs, and gone skiing.

Hearing their itinerary, Lin Yining sighed. “I want to go too!”

Yu Xiang’an patted her. “Next time, I promise.” She handed over gifts—some luxurious, others simple.

Lin Yining adored the rain-patterned stones Lin Chuanbai brought back.

“Where did you find these?”

“Bought them on the trip. They look like landscape paintings—I knew you’d love them.”

She did, marveling at their beauty.

Lin Chuanbai glanced around. “Where are my granddaughters? Aren’t they back from school?”

Lin Yining shook her head. “They’re at tutoring. They’ll be back later.”

Extracurricular classes had become the norm.

In her youth, few classmates attended them. Now, families spared no expense, fearing their children might fall behind.

Some even asked Lin Yining to teach calligraphy, but she declined, feeling unqualified.

Yu Xiang’an smiled. “Times have changed.”

Many of her peers from the early days hadn’t prioritized education, but now, affluent families emphasized academics.

“That’s a good thing,” Lin Yining agreed.

Lin Duzhong joined them, beaming. “You’re back. Yining’s finally cheered up.”

Yu Xiang’an turned to her. “What’s been bothering you?”

Lin Yining sighed. “It’s about a former student. He went abroad, but lately, he’s been dismissive of home while praising foreign things. It’s disheartening—I’d planned to recommend him for the calligraphy association.”

Yu Xiang’an stroked her hair as Lin Yining leaned against her.

“People choose their own paths. As a teacher—or a parent—you can’t control them forever.”

Lin Duzhong nodded. “Exploring the world isn’t wrong, but belittling his roots shows poor character. Be glad you saw it early—imagine the embarrassment if he caused trouble later.”

Lin Yining felt lighter. “You’re right. Mom, you must be tired from the trip. Rest early.”

Outside, across the street, Gu Shi stood lost in thought.