A Legacy Passed Down

Lan Meng didn't choose to go with Wu Wei, even though she really wanted to.

But she was still the student union's vice president, after all.

As it happened, they were both quite busy.

Wu Wei, however, kept himself busy by choice. He had already mastered most of what he needed to learn during college and graduate school.

The teachers who knew him had already given him free rein. Geniuses always had privileges, and Wu Wei had long since proven himself.

He could chart his own course for the future.

Lan Meng, by contrast, was mostly busy because she had to be.

She didn't have much talent for research, but the student union at Imperial Capital University was no ordinary organization. It represented an enormous network of connections.

Even for the Lan Family, wealthy enough to outstrip the world, it was still an enormous network.

No one could deny that young people were the future, even now, as society's class structure grew increasingly rigid.

If anyone could break through those barriers, young people who attended elite universities were undoubtedly the most likely to do it.

So Lan Meng needed to cultivate those connections. She had already secured the next student union president, too; all she had to do was wait for Zhao Xin to step down.

Wu Wei thought that suited her well.

After all, money was its own superpower.

His own mother had already proved that.

This wasn't Wu Wei's first time at Professor Garden, but it was his first visit to the Chi Family home.

He'd heard Qin Yunhai describe Professor Chi as a refined, handsome man who was divorced and lived alone, with impressive academic credentials.

Still, the way he looked at Wu Wei always sent a chill down his spine.

Mothers-in-law grew more pleased with their sons-in-law the longer they looked at them. Fathers-in-law giving them the cold shoulder was perfectly normal.

Until now, neither Wu Wei nor Qin Yunhai had thought much of it.

But now Wu Wei was starting to have other ideas.

"Wu Wei?"

Professor Chi was clearly surprised to see him when he opened the door.

Wu Wei wasn't surprised that Professor Chi knew who he was.

He was actually quite well-known at Imperial Capital University.

"Professor Chi, I hope I'm not disturbing you. I have a few questions about biology I'd like to ask," Wu Wei said with a smile.

"Not at all, not at all." Professor Chi stepped aside and smiled back. "I've heard Wu Wei is a favored guest in the homes of professors from all the different departments, but I never expected you'd come to mine."

After entering, Wu Wei politely nodded to Professor Chi and said, "I just came from Professor Li's house. He couldn't answer a few of my questions, so he recommended I ask you."

Professor Chi's body went stiff for a moment.

Wu Wei's smile deepened.

"What questions? Go sit in the tea room first. I'll make you some tea."

As a professor at Imperial Capital University, Professor Chi's scholarship was beyond question, as was his wealth.

The very best scholars naturally earned the very best incomes. Knowledge was wealth; that wasn't just a slogan.

Wu Wei wasn't surprised by the wealth and refinement of Professor Chi's home. As he watched Professor Chi brew tea with fluid, practiced movements, his thoughts began to wander:

How many corpses had those deft hands dissected?

And how much blood had they been stained with?

He hadn't sensed any immediate danger, but his instincts told him something was off about Professor Chi.

Fortunately, he really had stopped by Professor Li's house before coming here.

He'd also contacted Li Xiong from the Six Fan Gate. After the Wang Zixuan incident, Li Xiong had proactively given him his contact information, and Wu Wei had now put it to use.

A wise man didn't place himself in danger. Wu Wei rarely acted on impulse.

So he wasn't worried.

After all, Great Qin still ran this society.

They discussed academic questions for about half an hour. Wu Wei genuinely had questions, and Professor Chi was indeed well-read; at least, none of Wu Wei's questions had stumped him.

Half an hour later, they looked at each other differently than they had before.

Their gazes were filled with surprise and admiration.

It was said that a reputation was never undeserved, but they hadn't expected the other to be so impressive.

"Wu Wei, you're truly remarkable. Even ordinary biology students don't know as much as you do," Professor Chi praised.

Wu Wei replied modestly, "That's only to be expected."

Professor Chi: "..."

"All right, Professor Chi. I've asked all my academic questions. Could I ask you about something personal now?"

Wu Wei's smile faded, and Professor Chi's expression grew serious.

The pleasant atmosphere from their conversation vanished in an instant.

But they were both intelligent people. There was no need to keep pretending.

"Ask whatever you like, Wu Wei. I promise I'll answer everything and tell you all I know."

Wu Wei chuckled to himself.

That statement alone made it clear Professor Chi had already decided not to tell the truth.

But it didn't matter.

Wu Wei didn't need a definitive answer. Sometimes, all he needed to know was what someone was trying to hide.

"Professor Chi, what do you think of Qin Yunhai?"

"Yunhai? He's a very talented young man. Why do you ask?"

"You haven't heard? Chi Yu and Yunhai broke up. Chi Yu cheated, and the evidence is conclusive."

After saying this, Wu Wei watched Professor Chi closely.

Professor Chi shot to his feet, his face full of shock and anger. "When did this happen? What a disgrace to our family. I can't believe I raised a daughter like that. I'm ashamed."

Looking at Professor Chi's righteous expression, Wu Wei suddenly smiled mockingly.

"Professor Chi, you're a terrible actor."

"Wu Wei, what exactly are you getting at?" Professor Chi asked, his voice tinged with anger.

"I couldn't find any information about Chi Yu's mother," Wu Wei said quietly.

Professor Chi's expression changed drastically.

"There aren't many secrets in this world as far as I'm concerned. But I searched everywhere and couldn't find a single thing about Madam Chi. Professor Chi, don't you think that's strange?"

"Not at all. The world is vast, and all sorts of strange things happen. You're still young. It's only natural you don't know everything."

"That's what you'd say to an ordinary young man, not me. When something like this happens to me, it's not normal at all."

Wu Wei's tone was so casual that even Professor Chi was taken aback by his confidence.

"Professor Chi, would you mind if I went into your bedroom?"

"Are you sure?" Professor Chi narrowed his eyes.

Wu Wei immediately felt immense pressure.

But he didn't panic in the slightest. He even smiled.

"Looks like there really is something in the bedroom you don't want anyone to find. Since you don't want me looking, I'll leave it at that. I'll just have the Six Fan Gate send someone over later."

"You contacted the Six Fan Gate, too?" Professor Chi's heart tightened.

"Professor Chi, if you know anything about me, you should know I'm quite familiar with a constable from the Six Fan Gate."

Professor Chi's expression turned uncertain.

"Wu Wei, we have no reason to be enemies. There's no need for this."

"That's what I thought, too. So tell me, Professor Chi, what do you really think about what happened between Chi Yu and Yunhai? I want the truth. Don't lie to me."

Professor Chi was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Chi Yu is like a flower, and Qin Yunhai is her gardener. When the gardener isn't around, other gardeners help water the flower. The gardener has no reason to resent the other gardeners or the flower. He should even thank them."

Wu Wei smiled.

So Chi Yu really had been raised by Professor Chi.