Striving for Science C61

Yang Shu initially didn't understand the meaning behind Shen Chang'an's gaze, but once he did, he wanted to turn around and die with Shen Tu.

But after a moment's thought, considering the difference in their strength, he chose to endure it.

With Shen Chang'an around, the old men and women stopped arguing, because they had a common target for their nagging: Shen Chang'an.

"Did you eat breakfast properly? Don't eat while walking. Xiao Nian, did Chang'an eat anything he shouldn't while he was in Wuming City?"

Dao Nian turned his head and glanced at Shen Chang'an, who kept shaking his head at him.

"No," Dao Nian said, "Don't worry, everyone. Chang'an lives with me, and I'll take good care of him."

Grandma Zhao thanked Dao Nian and turned to Shen Chang'an: "Since you've decided to stay in Wuming City, then develop yourself well? What are your plans for the future, what are your thoughts, you need to work hard. The country has cultivated you young people, hoping that you can make society better."

After Grandma Zhao finished speaking and got up to go to the bathroom, Grandpa Wang whispered to Shen Chang'an and Dao Nian: "She's getting more and more naggy, you guys just bear with it. In half an hour, it'll be her nap time."

Less than half an hour later, Shen Chang'an saw Grandma Zhao sitting on a stool, dozing off, but still trying to stay awake to keep Shen Chang'an company. Shen Chang'an coaxed the old woman back to her room and helped her take off her coat: "Grandma Zhao, you go to sleep for a while, I'll leave after dinner tonight."

Grandma Zhao's wrinkled hand held Shen Chang'an's: "Chang'an, take good care of yourself."

They were all old, they didn't know how many years they could protect Chang'an. She was afraid that when they were gone, Chang'an would be wronged, bullied, and suffer outside, without anyone to confide in.

"Don't resent Grandma for always nagging you, making you strive for progress." Grandma Zhao patted Shen Chang'an's back, her palm was cool, carrying endless tolerance and gentleness, "In the future, if no one has your back, you are your own backbone. If you are hurt and have no one to confide in, make yourself strong, so you won't be hurt again."

They were old, they couldn't protect him anymore. Rather than spoiling him so he doesn't know the world, it's better to let him grow, grow to the point where no one can hurt him.

"Grandma Zhao, don't worry, I'll take good care of you." Shen Chang'an tucked the blanket for Grandma Zhao and gently patted her back, "I'll come and wake you up in an hour."

The old woman slept lightly. After Grandma Zhao fell asleep, Shen Chang'an quietly closed the door, walked back to Dao Nian and sat down: "When I was a kid, my grandparents would teach me homework, and they would always go off-topic. Once, Grandpa Wang used university-level problem-solving methods to teach me a junior high school problem. The teacher marked it wrong, and Grandpa Wang was so angry that he almost chased after the teacher to discuss the ten different ways to answer that question. He was persuaded by the other grandparents for a long time before he didn't go to school."

"The room I used to live in is still empty, do you want to go take a look?"

Seeing Dao Nian nod, Shen Chang'an got up and pushed him towards the inside: "When I moved here, I was about eight years old. I was always taken care of by my grandparents and the guards in the courtyard."

His room was further inside, but it was a safe location. The adults living nearby could keep an eye on him: "Back then, I almost got sent to an orphanage, but I told those uncles and aunts that I had parents and I didn't want to go to an orphanage."

"Then I was sent here."

"My grandparents often arranged for the guards to drive their cars to take me to school, which made many classmates think I was a rich kid."

Opening the door, there wasn't much dust in the room, someone must have cleaned it from time to time. The old bookcase was filled with various books. Shen Chang'an randomly pulled out one, it was his high school textbook, filled with notes.

Bending down to open the drawer, he took out the biscuit tin hidden inside. Shen Chang'an lifted the lid, inside was a stack of photos and a yearbook.

"I was very handsome when I was young." Shen Chang'an brought the photo to Dao Nian, "Look."

Dao Nian took the photo. The photo showed Shen Chang'an with a crew cut, wearing a blue and white school uniform, standing with a few boys. This kind of school uniform had no design sense, it was like a sack thrown over a person.

But even so, Shen Chang'an, with his bright smile, was the most eye-catching boy in this group photo.

"Is this girl also a classmate of yours?" Dao Nian pointed at a female student in the background of the photo.

Shen Chang'an leaned in to take a look. The boys in their school wore blue and white uniforms, while the girls wore red and white uniforms. The styles were identical, only the colors differed slightly. Of course, the biggest similarity was that they were all ugly.

"I think so." Shen Chang'an didn't have much of an impression of this classmate. Seeing Dao Nian specifically ask about her, he asked, "What's wrong with her?"

"Nothing, just asking." Dao Nian tucked the photo under the box. Shen Chang'an probably didn't notice that this girl's gaze was fixed on him the entire time.

Soon, Dao Nian discovered that this girl appeared several times in Shen Chang'an's high school photos. Each time, her gaze was fixed on Shen Chang'an. However, he didn't mention her again, and Shen Chang'an didn't notice her gaze.

"This is my high school graduation photo." Shen Chang'an stroked the graduation photo, which was half the size of the other photos. It had been nearly six years since he last saw these classmates. They looked so young and green in the photo. They must have undergone tremendous changes.

Dao Nian's gaze swept across every person in the photo. He couldn't find the girl.

"There are contact details left by classmates in the yearbook." Shen Chang'an flipped open the yearbook, then quickly closed it. "But I haven't contacted any of them in all these years."

"Why?" Dao Nian didn't understand.

"Perhaps when we wrote in the yearbook, our feelings were genuine." Shen Chang'an put the yearbook back in the iron box. "But when we graduated and went our separate ways, made new friends and built our futures, those beautiful memories of the past are best left in the past. Bringing them back might reveal that those beautiful memories have changed, or perhaps lost their flavor."

Closing the lid, Shen Chang'an decided to take the photos with him, leaving the yearbook here.

"When I was younger, I won a lot of awards, trophies, and medals." Shen Chang'an opened another cabinet door. Inside were trophies of various sizes, along with neatly arranged certificates and medals.

As he said this, he secretly glanced outside, then leaned down and whispered in Dao Nian's ear, "If Grandpa and Grandma ask about your company's achievements during dinner tonight, you absolutely must not be humble. But you must also never say anything about working hard in front of them. They'll take it seriously and might even send you a company development plan next month."

Dao Nian: "..."

Shen Tu, standing outside the door: "..."

Growing up in such a competitive environment, Shen Chang'an could still live so carefree. It was truly a miracle of life.

***

During dinner that night, the elderly gentlemen and ladies present had already become familiar with Dao Nian. As expected by Shen Chang'an, the conversation turned to career development.

Fortunately, Dao Nian was quiet and reserved, and he was also sitting in a wheelchair, which restrained the old men and women somewhat. However, they still felt that businesses needed to grow and become stronger to provide jobs for more people and stimulate economic consumption.

It was past ten o'clock at night, and Shen Chang'an didn't want them to stay up late, so he suggested leaving.

"Why leave? Stay here tonight." Grandma Zhao said, "Chang'an, your room is cleaned regularly, so it's very clean. You can just change the sheets and stay here. Why go out in the middle of the night?"

"Grandma Zhao, I know you mean well, but Dao Nian isn't a resident here. It's not appropriate for him to stay overnight." Everyone present was a big shot in the academic world. Any formula or idea they wrote down could be a major discovery.

Although he really wanted to stay, Dao Nian had no connection to them. If some data went wrong and was used by someone with malicious intent to frame Dao Nian, it would be a big problem.

Shen Chang'an didn't say it explicitly, but the elders understood what he meant. Children grow up, just like birds that need to spread their wings and fly. If you keep them in the nest forever, they'll never fly high, far, or well.

The old people saw Shen Chang'an to the door: "Take good care of yourself out there. If you suffer any injustice, don't bottle it up. We old folks are still here. We'll go cry at the entrance of your workplace if we have to."

"You guys also take care of yourselves. Argue less when playing chess, it's bad for your hearts." Shen Chang'an rubbed his hands. "It's cold outside, you all go back."

"I'll come back to see you often." Shen Chang'an stretched out his arms and hugged each of these elderly elders one by one.

"Good, we'll take good care of ourselves." Grandma Zhao took out a scarf and put it around Shen Chang'an's neck. "I saw this scarf at a conference I went to abroad, and I thought it was pretty, so I bought it. Is it warm?"

"It's warm." Shen Chang'an nodded.

"Alright, go ahead." Grandma Zhao gently pushed Shen Chang'an, like a big bird encouraging a little bird to fly out of its nest. "We old folks are still in good health, don't worry. We'll still be here to help you teach your kids their homework later."

Shen Chang'an smiled. "Okay."

Dao Nian lifted his eyelids, glanced at Shen Chang'an, then lowered them again.

Yang Shu stood beside them, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Shen Chang'an and Dao Nian several times. Finally, under Dao Nian's watchful eyes, he reached out and patted Shen Chang'an's shoulder. "Take good care of yourself, no matter what happens or what you encounter."

Shen Chang'an nodded. "Grandpa Yang, remember to get the detergent formula experiment results out as soon as possible. I asked Dao Nian, and as long as this goes into production, you'll have permanent dividends for this product."

That way, you won't have to worry about running out of money and borrowing from others anymore.

Yang Shu: "..."

He looked at Shen Tu, his smile stiffening: "I, I'll do it as soon as possible."

Abusing magic in the human realm and then making a struggling scientific monster take the blame? These gods are so irresponsible!

Although he was reluctant, Shen Chang'an still said goodbye to the old people. He sat in the car, staring blankly at the dazzling lights outside the window.

"Screech!" The brakes screeched, and if Shen Chang'an hadn't been wearing his seatbelt, he might have been thrown forward by the force of inertia.

"Dao Nian, are you okay?" Shen Chang'an quickly turned his head to look at Dao Nian.

"I'm fine." Dao Nian slowly shook his head, watching the red sports car that had run a red light across the street, his brows furrowing.

"Damn it, can't you drive?" Cao Jin got out of the sports car, reeking of alcohol, and walked to the black car blocking his way. He reached out and slammed his hand on its hood, "Get out here!"

The pedestrians on the sidewalk, who had been stopped by the black car and thus avoided being hit by the red sports car, were still recovering from the shock of escaping a near-death experience.