Volume One, Chapter Four: Bringing You Back

After sending her new address to Zheng Lu, Su Wanqing was surprised that she had rushed back so quickly from her business trip. Behind her followed a tall man whose eyes were red as he stared at her.

Zheng Lu looked embarrassed and pointed behind her to Xu Jiang. “Sorry, Qingqing. When I called you, this guy overheard and said if I didn’t bring him to see you, he’d have me sent off to Africa…”

Su Wanqing said no more, just nodded to the two and invited them inside.

As soon as Zheng Lu entered, she eagerly greeted Xie Kexin. “Ah, my dear daughter~ Godmother gives you a kiss!”

Xie Kexin was building blocks and was somewhat displeased by Zheng Lu’s interruption, but she was familiar with Zheng Lu and had long grown accustomed to her boldness.

She turned away and continued playing by herself.

Zheng Lu, aware that Kexin had autism, did not force her, instead sitting quietly beside her to build blocks together.

After pouring a glass of water each for Zheng Lu and Xu Jiang, Su Wanqing sat on the sofa, organizing the books she had brought from the Xie household.

Xu Jiang stood nearby, casually flipping through a few books. Seeing they were all about algorithms, and several contained competition problems she had already solved, his expression grew darker.

“If you loved it so much, why did you give it up back then?”

Su Wanqing replied calmly, “Because I had someone I loved more.”

She was referring to Xie Yancheng.

Mentioning this only angered Xu Jiang further. “If you loved it so much, why did you divorce him?”

“Su Wanqing, are you really so quick to give up on everything?”

His words were like a sharp blade piercing her heart, causing her almost to lose breath.

Yet her face betrayed no emotion, and she said softly, “Xiao Jiang, if you’re here to argue, then please leave. Lu Lu probably told you already—my daughter is ill; she dislikes strangers and even more so people who make a fuss.”

Hearing their quarrel, Zheng Lu hurriedly pulled Xu Jiang aside, glaring at him. How could such a good man be so tactless!

“Let’s not bring up the past; it’s been so long, hasn’t it?”

She smoothed things over and then took Su Wanqing’s hand.

“Qingqing, Mr. Xu found out today you wanted to divorce Xie Yancheng and rushed over with me. He even personally went to plead with the professor. The professor has now agreed to forgive you.”

“We’re here to bring you back.”

Su Wanqing was stunned, her hands pausing as she packed, hardly believing her ears.

“R-Really?”

Back then, her anger had nearly caused the old lady a heart attack, and even after she left, she had been cruelly ignored, never once visited.

Would she truly forgive her?

Xu Jiang huffed proudly, folding his arms. “Of course! I’m her only son; she has to listen to me!”

“But she said you have to pass a test, probably something like these problems. I see you’ve been practicing over the years, so passing shouldn’t be an issue.”

He casually tossed an algorithm book on the table but then softened his tone. “Sister Wanqing, come back. You’re clearly gifted. You took a wrong path before, but now you’re back on track.”

After some persuasion, Su Wanqing’s heart wavered.

After all, the old lady had raised her, yet they had been strangers these five years. It pained her.

She nodded.

Xu Jiang finally exhaled in relief, and Zheng Lu wiped away happy tears.

Yongfang Technology was finally about to gain a powerhouse!

Su Wanqing followed Xu Jiang to the old lady’s study to wait.

What comforted her somewhat was that usually shy Xie Kexin was unusually well-behaved today, clutching her tightly and not fussing at all.

Even Xu Jiang’s teasing didn’t upset her; she just stared wide-eyed at the study, clearly intrigued.

At that moment, the study door opened. Su Wanqing instinctively stood up, afraid to look up.

But it was only the butler, who handed her something.

“The professor says whether you can stay depends on your ability.”

Su Wanqing looked down—it was the latest Chinese national math algorithm competition problem.

Xu Jiang stood up as well, winking at her with a “See, I told you” look, then wished her luck and left with the butler.

Su Wanqing knew this was the old lady’s last chance for her.

If she couldn’t solve this problem, she would be a failure with no face to return.

Thinking this, she bit her lip. Though she had been a full-time housewife these years, she had still enjoyed this kind of challenge when free. This year’s competition problems hadn’t been released yet; she hadn’t done this one before, but she had completed all past years’ problems.

Confident, she set Xie Kexin down and patted her head. “Be good and play for a while. Mommy has to solve this first.”

Kexin didn’t reply but curiously came closer.

Su Wanqing smiled and didn’t stop her.

Over the years, her daughter had been like this—though autistic, she seemed to have inherited her natural talent for math, especially a fondness for numbers.

She paid no attention and continued working on the problem, so focused she didn’t notice Kexin had climbed up to the table and taken a sheet of paper and pen to work alongside her.

When she finished, she glanced at the paper in front of her daughter, which was also filled with scribbles.

Thinking it was just random doodles, she didn’t look further.

She opened the door to hand her answers to the butler, then sat in the study, her heart uneasy. She hadn’t forgotten the knowledge over the years, but her solving was somewhat slow.

Still, she was certain the result was correct.

Meanwhile, Xie Yancheng, returning home around dinner time, saw no familiar figures at the table.

He frowned and casually asked the servant, “Where are madam and miss?”

The servant shook his head and pointed to the closed door upstairs.

Xie Yancheng nodded and said no more.

He lazily stretched and pretended to go change clothes.

Opening the door, he expected to see Su Wanqing, eyes swollen from crying, but instead the bed was neatly made, showing no sign anyone had slept there.

A flicker of doubt crossed his eyes. He instinctively looked towards his daughter’s room, thinking Su Wanqing might be there.

But he and his daughter were distant; he had no reasonable excuse to feign casualness and go see.

He glanced at the time—only 7:30 p.m. Su Wanqing usually took their daughter for a walk at eight.

Feeling reassured, he changed, then happily took a bath.

Unfortunately, even after coming out, he found no sign of those two familiar figures.