"Ji Yanzhi." Ji Ting faintly sensed the oppressive mood surrounding him. "What's wrong?"
Ji Yanzhi swiped a fingertip across his phone, quickly turning off the screen. "Nothing. A few minor work issues. They're dealt with."
It would be best if Lu Yanchu, along with his irritating name, vanished entirely from Ji Ting's awareness, instead of lingering like a pesky fly that refused to go away.
The three of them went to an upscale Cantonese restaurant. After they sat down and ordered, Ji Ting naturally began catching up with Xu Ren.
After earning his doctorate, Xu Ren had stayed on at Shili's R&D Department, devoting himself to his work. He had even been promoted last October.
When the conversation reached a lull, Ji Ting looked at him and asked gently, "Xu Ren, why did you stop contacting me?"
Xu Ren's hands, resting on his knees, suddenly clenched. "Because... because I..."
Seeing his reaction, Ji Ting said, "It's all right. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
Xu Ren took a deep breath and mustered the courage to look up at Ji Ting. "When you were developing the Lithography Machine, the optical system was one of the most crucial, most difficult parts. But... but when you led the team tackling it, you didn't ask me to join... That was when I realized my abilities were still far, far below your requirements."
As soon as the words left his mouth, he waved his hands frantically, as though afraid Ji Ting might misunderstand. "Please don't misunderstand, Teacher Ji! I don't blame you in the slightest. I really don't!"
A gentle smile lifted the corners of Ji Ting's mouth. "Yes, I know."
Only then did Xu Ren's tense shoulders relax a little, but the stubborn resolve and solitary courage he had