That day, some classmates shared news reports, as well as photos of alumni and students lighting candles and laying wreaths at the spot where Huang Ling’er had fallen.
“It seems like it was right downstairs…”
Jiang Tian finally understood why he had felt such an overwhelming, uncontrollable sorrow and sadness in his heart when he was downstairs earlier.
At that moment, Jiang Tian noticed the layers of scars on the main artery of her right wrist and realized that back then, her suicide attempts hadn’t been just a one-time thing.
“I wonder how much pain and suffering she endured back then… For a young, inexperienced girl, facing the darkness of human nature for the first time must have been a devastating blow…”
Jiang Tian sighed mournfully, feeling a twinge of regret and deep guilt.
But he knew a bit more about her suicide than most people did.
It wasn’t simply because he had let her down.
It was because she had been assaulted.
After Huang Ling’er’s death, Jiang Tian had contacted Ding Jiabei and learned that in March 2008, a young scion from Jinling had assaulted her. Her depression had worsened, and she’d even developed symptoms of schizophrenia.
She had held on for three painful years, but in the end, she couldn’t bear it any longer. She took that leap, ending her miserable, tragic life.
“I remember that vile scum… his name was Nie Feng, wasn’t it?”
A flicker of cold killing intent crossed Jiang Tian’s eyes as he thought about it.
Hearing the commotion, Huang Zhihui quickly walked out. Glaring at Huang Ling’er, he scolded, “What do you think you’re doing? Dean Luo and Professor Zhang are esteemed guests, and you dare splash them with your foot water?”
Huang Zhihui was short, with a pointed face and a scrawny build. His demeanor was rather shabby, and his clothes were worn, the cuffs and collars frayed.
If Jiang Tian hadn’t been reborn, he would never have imagined that this monkey-like man would one day win the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
Huang Zhihui then turned to Luo Wen, bowing and scraping as he apologized: “Dean Luo, I’m so sorry. Ling’er must not have done it on purpose. Please let it slide this once.”
“You monkey, what kind of daughter have you raised! Chairman Zhang and I were talking downstairs for a while—there’s no way she didn’t hear us! She did it on purpose!”
The water Huang Ling’er had splashed had been hot earlier, but since the Spring Festival had just passed and the temperature was low, it had quickly turned cold. Luo Wen’s face was pale, and he was shivering.
Seeing her father come out, Huang Ling’er picked up the washbasin and hurried into her room, slamming the door with a bang.
In that instant, Jiang Tian’s heart gave a violent lurch.
“Come on, come on, Dean, let’s get you changed!” Huang Zhihui quickly pulled Luo Wen into a room to change clothes.
Huang Zhihui’s wife then boiled some ginger tea for him. Only after drinking it did Luo Wen regain some color.
When Jiang Tian saw Huang Ling’er’s mother, he realized that Ling’er had inherited her beauty from her.
Though Huang’s mother was nearly forty and dressed simply, she still had delicate features, a dignified air, and good skin. However, there seemed to be an indelible worry etched between her brows.
Jiang Tian glanced around the room. On the table were leftovers from breakfast—just two bowls of plain congee and a small dish of pickled vegetables. The furniture was old, and the place could only be described as bare and destitute.
It seemed the Huang family was indeed in a tight spot.
After everyone took their seats, Zhang Wanqing explained the purpose of their visit.
A look of gratitude appeared on Huang Zhihui’s face as he said, “Thank you for your trust, and thank you for supporting the development of Chinese medicine. I will work hard to live up to your expectations, Chairman Zhang.”
Luo Wen, after sipping his ginger tea and recovering, put on the airs of a dean. Crossing his legs and smirking arrogantly, he said:
“You monkey, this opportunity doesn’t come easy. You’d better deliver results within three years, or I won’t be able to answer to Chairman Zhang. If you don’t come up with something, it won’t just be a matter of losing your job at the lab—you might not even keep your teaching position.”
“Yes, yes, Dean Luo, don’t worry. I’ll work hard.”
Suppressing the disgust in his heart, Huang Zhihui put on a sycophantic smile.
Inside the room, Huang Ling’er’s heart was racing, unable to calm down. A mix of emotions churned within her.
She hadn’t expected to run into the man who had hurt her the most, yet also given her the most happiness.
Hearing her father grovel like that filled her with bitterness and self-blame.
Why was I so weak?
Why did I try to kill myself and fall into depression just because he abandoned me?
I should have been stronger. If it weren’t for treating my depression, my father could have continued his research and kept his integrity and dignity as a scholar.
Previously, Huang Zhihui had produced three papers that reached top-tier international academic standards.
But to pay for his daughter’s treatment and to fund his research, he had secretly sold those papers to Luo Wen.
It could be said that without Huang Zhihui’s papers, Luo Wen would never have become dean, let alone earned a professorship.
Acting on impulse, she hugged a teddy bear cushion, tiptoed to the door, and peeked through the crack to look at Jiang Tian.
Seeing his calm, nonchalant expression as he sipped tea, a deep resentment surfaced on her face, along with a hint of anger and disgust.
Chairman Zhang had said even their most junior researchers made 200,000, yet he was only offering her father 150,000. He was so mean and cunning.
That bastard—he took advantage of me back then, and now he’s bullying my father!
Just like when he deceived me with all those sweet words.
I shouldn’t have splashed that foot water; I should have poured a pot of hot oil, or… sulfuric acid.
Just then, Jiang Tian spoke up calmly: “Dean Luo, I think you’ve got it wrong. We haven’t agreed to make you the lab director.”
“What?”
Luo Wen’s expression stiffened. He turned to Zhang Wanqing with a frown. “I am the dean of this college and the professor with the highest academic credentials. If I don’t serve as the lab director, who will?”
With a disdainful smirk, he added, “What, are you suggesting that monkey take the role?”
“Dean Luo, you’re joking. I’m not qualified for that,” Huang Zhihui said quickly, forcing a smile.
“I don’t recognize your academic credentials. As long as I’m here, you won’t become the lab director.”
Jiang Tian lowered his gaze, blowing on the tea leaves floating in his cup.
“How dare you! Who do you think you are? You were a poor student back then, always skipping class, causing trouble, failing exams left and right. Now you’re just an ordinary researcher. What gives you the right, what qualifications do you have, to question my academic standing?”
Luo Wen exploded with rage, veins bulging on his forehead. He slammed the table, pointing at Jiang Tian’s nose as he ranted furiously.
He was naturally cautious around Zhang Wanqing, their financial backer.
But Jiang Tian was just an ordinary researcher under her, and a former student at that. Why would Luo Wen show him any respect or feel the slightest bit intimidated?
“From what I know, your academic papers are either plagiarized or… ghostwritten by Professor Huang here.”
Jiang Tian took a sip of tea, his expression calm and relaxed.
Luo Wen was quite an eccentric character—greedy and unscrupulous to the point of being blatant and unashamed.
Back in the day, if Jiang Tian and his friends failed an exam, Luo Wen would hint that they should give him gifts, then leak the makeup exam questions to them. If you didn’t, even if you passed the makeup exam, he’d still fail you.
He would also take kickbacks from students on matters like selecting student leaders, graduate admissions, and scholarship distributions.
The worst part was that Luo Wen had a habit of harassing female students, getting handsy. Rumors spread across the college, but he never held back, acting with utter disregard.
For these reasons, Jiang Tian and his peers harbored a lot of resentment toward Luo Wen.
Even years after graduation, at class reunions, they’d curse him and wish for his downfall, like getting hit by a car.
Jiang Tian remembered that in 2011, a female student had publicly accused him of sexual harassment online, drawing media attention and prompting the university’s disciplinary committee to investigate.
Only then did Luo Wen’s academic fraud, corruption, and harassment of female students and professors come to light. He was dismissed from public office and arrested by prosecutors.
Of course, the students cheered and spread the news eagerly.
But back then, Jiang Tian had been trapped in his own troubles, too preoccupied to care about Luo Wen.
Now, however, when it came to appointing the lab director, and seeing how Luo Wen kept disrespecting Professor Huang Zhihui, Jiang Tian didn’t hesitate to speak up.
Luo Wen’s face darkened, a fierce killing intent flashing in his eyes. He first turned to glare viciously at Huang Zhihui.
Huang Zhihui shrank back, his face a mixture of fear and pleading as he shook his head, indicating he hadn’t said anything.
Relieved, Luo Wen’s alarm turned to rage. Pointing at Jiang Tian’s nose, he complained to Zhang Wanqing, “Chairman Zhang, are you really going to let your staff slander me like this? He has repeatedly disrespected me. It makes me question your company’s sincerity in this collaboration. If he doesn’t apologize, I’m calling this whole partnership off.”
Though Zhang Wanqing didn’t know how her son had obtained this information, he was now her pillar of support. She trusted him implicitly and followed his lead.
Unmoved by Luo Wen’s threat, Zhang Wanqing sipped her tea slowly and said with a faint, dismissive smile:
“Dean Luo, to be honest, we’re here for Professor Huang Zhihui, not your college or you personally. If you insist on taking this stance, then I suppose this collaboration is off.”
“What?” Luo Wen was stunned, unable to believe his ears.
This partnership with the Wang Pharmaceutical Group would bring in 100 million in research funding—unprecedented for Jinling Pharmaceutical University.
For him, it was also the most impressive achievement since becoming dean.
If the Wang Pharmaceutical Group truly pulled out, it would be a devastating blow to him.
With that thought, his tone softened. Forcing a smile, he said, “Chairman Zhang, forgive me for being too impulsive. But surely you’re not going to dismiss my academic credentials based solely on Jiang Tian’s words?”
With a dismissive sneer, he added, “You have no idea—back when this kid was at Jinling University, he was a complete slacker. I don’t know what his parents were thinking, raising such a useless fool. And now he’s managed to sneak into the Wang Pharmaceutical Group’s lab!”
A cold fury flashed across Zhang Wanqing’s composed, fair face. The aura of a formidable businesswoman was now on full display.
With a wry smile, she said, “Heh, Dean Luo, to be honest, Jiang Tian is my son. I’ve done a poor job raising him. I apologize for the embarrassment.”
