Chapter 294. The divorce agreement was placed on Liang Yizhi's desk.
The light turned green, and Xu Zhaoheng's Porsche disappeared into the traffic again.
Yue Zheng glanced at his boss's expression and cautiously asked, "Should we call Madam?"
Liang Yizhi leaned back slowly, closed his eyes, and hid all his surging emotions under his drooping eyelashes.
"No need."
“Well…” Yue Zheng hesitated for a moment, “You have to go to the base this afternoon, what if you can’t make it back tonight…”
"The schedule remains unchanged." Liang Yizhi's voice was unreadable.
Xu Zhaoheng took Ji Ying to a secluded garden-style clubhouse restaurant.
The waiter led them through a winding bamboo corridor into a private room.
"The braised shark fin and clear broth bird's nest here are quite good; they are imperial dishes recreated according to ancient methods," Xu Zhaoheng introduced.
Ji Ying smiled very faintly, "I'm a country bumpkin, I've never been here before, you can make the arrangements."
Xu Zhaoheng exchanged a few words with the waiter, who then left, and he sat down opposite Ji Ying.
After hesitating for a few seconds, he said, "I thought you wouldn't want to see me."
Ji Ying took a sip of the jasmine tea prepared by the shopkeeper. "The wish you made in high school has finally come true. Now, are you finally giving up?"
Xu Zhaoheng was taken aback by her words, but after understanding what she meant, he smiled and nodded.
"Ji Ying, everyone has the right to pursue and appreciate beautiful things."
“I am not something beautiful.” Ji Ying put down her teacup, her eyes cold. “I am a cursed star, unworthy of anyone’s affection.”
Just as Xu Zhaoheng was about to speak, the waiter came to serve the dishes, interrupting him.
After the dishes were arranged, Ji Ying picked up her chopsticks, took a bite, and continued, "I know that Huansheng Biotechnology has been the culmination of your hard work over the years, and you have high expectations for your future. As your old classmate, I also hope you succeed. But even the most sophisticated instruments are susceptible to internal corrosion and will eventually be destroyed."
Xu Zhaoheng immediately understood the deeper meaning in her words and instantly became alert.
"What rumors did you hear?"
Ji Ying leisurely savored the dishes, her eyes expressionless.
"I know what I'm talking about isn't important. I'm just reminding you out of friendship. I don't have a penchant for breaking up couples. It's your decision to make."
Xu Zhaoheng paused for two seconds, then finally said in a deep voice, "Okay, I understand."
Ji Ying smiled faintly, "The food here is delicious. Thank you for showing me this place. Let me treat you."
She waved to the waiter to pay the bill, her demeanor composed and showing no signs of anything amiss.
The two walked side by side toward the restaurant entrance, where Jiang Ran was already waiting.
The afternoon sun was a bit too bright, and Ji Ying squinted slightly.
“Ji Ying…”
Xu Zhaoheng stopped beside her, looking at her with pity.
"You're not some cursed lone star, you're just unlucky and haven't met the person who truly knows how to cherish you and is worthy of you yet. I'm not worthy of you yet, but you can wait for me."
Ji Ying turned to look at him, and the cold pool in her eyes, which had not yet been stirred, had already stopped.
"I have no future, you don't need to be persistent anymore."
After she finished speaking, she got into the car and drove away.
Xu Zhaoheng loosened his tie, his brows furrowed.
Ji Ying did not return to Dingbu Street, but instead had Jiang Ran bring her a change of clothes and went directly to the hotel.
Just as Jiang Ran was about to report to her, Xiao Chang called.
"I just received a call from President Xu. He said that he will still be in charge of Xiao Xia's medical project."
The implication was that Shen Ruofu would no longer be allowed to interfere.
Ji Ying didn't explain further, but instead asked, "What do you think if I plan to introduce foreign capital to jointly develop 'Qixia' technology?"
Xiao Chang remained silent for a long time on the other end of the phone before saying, "From a purely commercial and technical perspective, there is no problem. However, 'Qixia' is a strategic technology that can change the energy landscape, and military industrial groups from various countries are eyeing it covetously. If you do this, you will inevitably face overwhelming criticism and pressure, and even... be branded as a traitor."
Ji Ying chuckled lightly at his words, a laugh filled with icy sarcasm.
“In Pang Daiyao’s territory, where he holds absolute power, you expect me to smile and dedicate my life’s work to him, becoming the foundation of his throne? I can’t do that.”
“I understand,” Xiao Chang said without further hesitation. “I will first contact a few powerful foreign military industry giants, and then give you a mature solution.”
Ji Ying hung up the phone, pinched the bridge of her nose hard with her fingertips, unable to hide the weariness that came from the bottom of her heart.
Jiang Ran watched from the side and vaguely felt that she was a little different.
"What do you want to say to me?" Ji Ying asked.
Jiang Ran snapped out of her reverie and replied, "There's been progress on the matter you asked me to investigate. Madam Shen is very principled in her academic work and there are no obvious problems."
Ji Ying's gaze darkened.
"However, four years ago, when Shen Ruofu obtained her qualification as a life science researcher, the key paper she submitted as part of her application had some data that was inconsistent with her own, and it should have been rejected during the initial review stage. However, the chairman of the review committee at the time was Madam Shen's senior fellow student, and out of consideration for Madam Shen, he approved it."
Ji Ying laughed at the problem she had discovered.
"If that's the case, then Madam Shen, as the mother, is also to blame."
Although Madam Shen did not violate any rules in this matter, she tacitly approved of the favors others had done for her, which, strictly speaking, could be considered a gray transaction that trampled on academic fairness.
A few hours later, an anonymous whistleblower email containing key evidence of Shen Ruofu's falsified qualifications was simultaneously sent to the email addresses of several authoritative media editors and core members of the review committee.
Soon, undercurrents began to stir.
By evening, a significant upheaval had occurred in academic circles.
Ji Ying instructed Jiang Ran to be ready to buy trending searches at any time, determined to make Madam Shen "famous far and wide," and then went to rest.
Before going to bed, she received a text message from Liang Yizhi, containing only a few words: "Something came up tonight, I won't be home."
Ji Ying glanced at him but did not reply.
However, when she woke up the next day, she found that the internet was calm and the expected media storm had not occurred.
Jiang Ran reported in a low voice, "It was Mr. Liang who suppressed all the negative news about Madam Shen."
Ji Ying's already cool eyes became even colder, and a chilling smile even appeared on her lips.
Where is he now?
"Mr. Liang was busy at the base all night and just returned to his office this morning."
"Okay, I'll go talk to him."
...
Two hours later,
Yue Zheng led her into Liang Yizhi's office.
Yue Zheng glanced at their expressions, lowered his head, and quickly made his escape.
Ji Ying placed the divorce agreement in her hand on Liang Yizhi's large desk.
"The marital property is yours and mine is mine. If there are no objections, then sign it. After signing, go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to complete the formalities."
“Yingying…” Liang Yizhi suppressed his temper, which was about to explode, “Can’t we be a little calm?”
Ji Ying's eyes were indifferent. "You are my husband. I have never asked you to be my help, I only asked that you at least not get in my way. But you can't even do that. We are on different paths, so we cannot work together."
"So your so-called 'way' is to sell technology abroad at all costs, making yourself a target of public criticism? And Madam Shen," Liang Yizhi's voice deepened, "Madam Shen was unaware that Shen Ruofu's qualifications were falsified, and you're so happy to ruin her reputation?"
Ji Ying replied indifferently, "What I do is none of your business."
Liang Yizhi suppressed his irritation and said, "Can't you forgive a mother for favoring the wrong person when she doesn't understand the situation? Yingying, no parent in the world is perfect."
"Parents?" Ji Ying thought she had heard a joke. "Parents who can abandon their own flesh and blood, do they deserve to be called parents? Do they deserve to be called human beings?"
"Liang Yizhi, sign it. I have nothing more to say to you."
Ji Ying calmed down and handed him the pen.
Liang Yizhi grabbed her wrist, about to speak, when his phone rang.
He answered the call with his free hand.
The person on the other end of the phone reported, "Sir, Teacher Shen's condition has worsened again. The doctor said... she could be critically ill at any moment."
Liang Yizhi's face suddenly darkened as he listened to the phone call.
However, the next second, his eyes suddenly changed, and he pulled Ji Ying out, while instructing into the phone, "Make arrangements, I'm taking someone to see him now."
Liang Yizhi's anger flared even more after he heard what the person on the phone said.
"How to keep it a secret is your business. Do you need me to teach you?"
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