possibility

Back in their familiar city, the halo of national championship glory shone like invisible wings, making Shi Xu and Yun Xi feel the attention from all directions as they walked across campus. Interviews, award ceremonies, experience sharing sessions… a series of events followed, propelling them into the center of unprecedented attention. Yun Xi seemed to enjoy this feeling of triumph, handling everything with ease, her smile even brighter than usual. Shi Xu, on the other hand, maintained her aloof calm, but beneath that calm, something seemed to have quietly changed—a more restrained confidence built upon her strength and achievements.

However, the expected thunderous wrath or further suppression from Shi Chongyuan did not arrive immediately. The iceberg seemed to fall silent, but this silence only made people more uneasy.

A week later, on an ordinary evening, Shi Xu received a call from Shi Chongyuan's assistant. Without any pleasantries, the assistant informed him directly that Shi Chongyuan wanted to see him at his home, alone.

What is meant to come will always come.

When Shi Xu stepped into that villa again, his state of mind was different from ever before. He was no longer a prisoner burdened with pressure and rebellious emotions, but rather carried a heavy sense of recognition from the outside world, and a more steadfast inner strength.

Shi Chongyuan was still waiting for him in the study. This time, he didn't sit behind the large desk, but stood in front of the French windows, his back to the door, gazing at the deep twilight outside. Only a dim wall lamp was on in the study, its light outlining his cold, hard features.

"Sit." He heard footsteps, but didn't turn around; his voice was devoid of emotion.

Shi Xu sat down on the sofa and waited silently.

Shi Chongyuan turned around, holding a tablet computer. The screen displayed a detailed technical report of Shi Xu's national competition project, including some judges' unofficial comments. He walked to the sofa opposite Shi Xu, casually placed the tablet on the coffee table, and fixed his gaze on Shi Xu like a searchlight.

"His performance in the national competition," Shi Chongyuan began, his tone as calm as if he were evaluating a business plan, "exceeded my initial expectations."

This was almost the highest level of "recognition" he could offer. There was no praise, only a correction to his "expectations."

Shi Xu didn't speak, but simply looked back at him calmly.

"Especially the way data is handled during the final review process," Shi Chongyuan continued, his eyes sharp. "Although risky, it's effective. Knowing how to use the rules to protect core interests is an essential quality."

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone still cold, but carrying a strange, almost objective analysis: "You and that girl, Yunxi, did indeed form a... unique synergy. She compensated for the overly rigid and inflexible parts of your personality. In terms of results, this combination produced a positive effect at a certain stage."

This assessment is completely devoid of emotion, like analyzing the constituent elements of a success story. He acknowledges the value of Cloud Gap, but defines it as a "functional" existence, a "tool" that facilitates the achievement of goals.

“However,” Shi Chongyuan’s voice suddenly became more forceful, carrying an unquestionable authority, “don’t mistake the success of a stage’s tactics for the correctness of the strategy. The national competition is ultimately just a starting point, a springboard. The real world is far more complex and cruel than this.”

He leaned forward slightly, the sense of pressure suddenly increasing: "I've already contacted Professor Robert at MIT for you. He's an internationally recognized authority in the field of perceptual computing. Your project has the potential for further development and industrialization. Next semester, you can go there as an exchange student and join his lab. This will open doors for you to the world's top academic and resource circles."

It was yet another arrangement that seemed like a golden path, but was actually riddled with shackles. Top-tier resources and prospects were used to co-opt his independence, bringing him back onto the "correct" and controllable track. Moreover, this time, he made no mention of Yun Ying. The intention couldn't be clearer—to strip away the "disruptive factors" and return him to the "optimal" and isolated development path.

Looking into his father's unfathomable, controlling eyes, Shi Xu felt a clear understanding. He slowly shook his head, his voice soft but resolute:

"Thank you for your arrangement, but I don't need it."

Shi Chongyuan's eyes instantly turned icy: "Say that again?"

“I said, I don’t need it.” The sequence of events was repeated clearly, with no hesitation in his gaze. “I will walk my own path. Yunxi and I will explore the future of this project together. Whether it’s academic deepening or possible industrialization, we hope to rely on our own strength or find truly like-minded partners, rather than… a pre-planned path.”

"Relying on your own strength?" Shi Chongyuan scoffed, stood up, and looked down at him as if he were looking at an ignorant child. "Do you think opportunities at MIT are as common as cabbages? Do you think that without the resources and connections of the Shi family, your so-called 'own strength' can support you for very long? Naïve!"

“Perhaps it’s naive,” Shi Xu also stood up, looking at his father at eye level. He was now almost the same height as Shi Chongyuan. “But this is our choice. We are willing to bear all the consequences of our naivety.”

The father and son faced off once more, the air in the study seeming to freeze. But unlike before, Shi Xu's eyes no longer held only the flames of rebellion, but also a calm and resolute composure based on strength. He was no longer the boy who could only passively endure pressure, but an opponent with his own territory and leverage.

Shi Chongyuan stared intently at him, seemingly assessing the true weight of his words and weighing some kind of decision. After a long while, the surging anger in his eyes slowly subsided, transforming into a deeper, more terrifying coldness.

“Good, very good.” Shi Chongyuan nodded, a faint, yet utterly cold, smile curving his lips. “Since you have chosen this path, from now on, you will no longer enjoy any overt or covert resource support from the Yun family. All your supplementary cards and trust funds will be frozen immediately. You want to rely on yourself? Then I will make you completely…rely on yourself.”

He walked to his desk and pressed the internal communication button: "Assistant Zhang, do as I just said."

Then, he looked back at Shi Xu, his gaze as if he were looking at an unfamiliar obstacle that needed to be cleared: "Let me see how long you and your 'partner' can walk on this path you chose. I hope you won't regret your decision today."

This is an ultimatum, a complete severance. He wants to use the weight of reality to shatter the "naiveté" of time.

Shi Xu took a deep breath, feeling no fear in his chest, but rather a strange sense of relief, as if he had broken free of shackles. He nodded slightly: "I won't regret it."

After saying that, he turned around and left the study without hesitation, leaving behind the villa that held too many cold memories for him.

As he walked back to his apartment in the night, a cool breeze carried a sense of freedom. He took out his phone and dialed Yunxi's number.

"Shixu? How is it? He didn't give you any trouble, did he?" Yunxi's concerned voice came immediately.

"It's nothing." Shixu's voice sounded particularly clear in the night wind. "I might... become penniless."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Yunxi's excited voice, almost bursting through the receiver: "Great! We can finally shake off those guys completely! What's a penniless bum? We'll make money together! Perfect timing, I've been looking at our project's business plan, and a few investors seem quite interested. We'll go meet with them tomorrow!"

Hearing her energetic and fearless voice, Yunya couldn't help but laugh. Her smile spread out in the night, genuine and warm.

He hung up the phone and looked up at the city's dazzling lights. The road ahead was unknown, perhaps fraught with difficulties, but he knew he wasn't fighting alone. They had won honor, and they had won the right to choose their own path. And now, they would prove to everyone through their actions that their choice was not naive, but rather another journey that belonged to them.