"Your personal ability is not outstanding, and your social starting point is the same as mine. Leave him, and you will be a nobody that no one cares about!"
"You don't fit descriptions like erudite, handsome, and refined. Do you expect me to praise you against my conscience?"
Alright, Ke Teng admitted that in the few days he had been away from his father, he had indeed realized his shortcomings.
He truly understood how difficult it was for an individual to struggle in society without the resources provided by his parents.
So, when Jian Fei pointed out his deficiencies so sharply, he didn't become as angry or embarrassed as before. Instead, he accepted it calmly.
"That's right, I'm not a distinguished young master. Without my father, I might not even fare as well as you. But there's no 'what if'."
"I, Ke Teng, was born Ke Teng. I am simply more capable than you, and I can handle your affairs. So, do you want to tell me or not?"
Jian Fei was exhausted, with a heart full of grievances that she couldn't express. Everyone has a desire to confide, let alone Ke Teng who absolutely needed to know.
She sat down on the floor and slowly told her story.
Jian Fei's doctoral supervisor was a middle-aged man over 55 years old. His son was a year older than her and currently working abroad.
This man had published several professional papers in domestic and industry-related journals and held an authoritative position in the hospital.
When she first started working with him, Jian Fei felt very fortunate. She treated him not only as a mentor but also as an elder, believing she would learn a great deal.
However, she soon realized how naive she was. Not all academics were gentlemen.
This fellow, though old, had a young heart and was particularly interested in these young girls who had not yet entered society.
Especially Jian Fei. Once, during a gathering, people jokingly offered to introduce her to a boyfriend. Upon learning that she had never had a boyfriend, his eyes lit up.
From then on, he intentionally or unintentionally created opportunities to be alone with her, hinting at things.
Jian Fei pretended not to understand, cautiously navigating the situation, hoping to graduate as soon as possible.
The turning point occurred some time ago.
Ke Jingyu felt unwell and went to their hospital for treatment. He happened to meet Jian Fei and learned that she had been working to support herself, receiving scholarships annually. He then planned for her to work part-time at his home for a few days.
The old man, projecting his own mindset, assumed Mr. Ke had intentions towards Jian Fei, thinking Mr. Ke was like him. From that day on, he began to target Jian Fei.
A few days ago, Jian Fei was on a night shift and accidentally bumped into another female doctoral student coming out of his private office, her hair disheveled.
The next day, the old man summoned her to his office and found fault with numerous aspects of her thesis.
Yesterday, over a minor issue, that female student blamed Jian Fei. Jian Fei refused to take the blame and publicly explained the situation as it was.
Afterward, the female student cried to the old man. The old man then claimed Jian Fei had a major academic error and canceled her internship placement.
"Don't even mention him holding my thesis hostage now. Even if he didn't, I wouldn't want to go back and see him again, so..."
"These past two years are as good as wasted. I don't want the graduation certificate anymore, nor do I plan to waste any more time here. I'm going back to my hometown."
"With a master's degree, I can still find a decent job. I really can't afford to waste any more time."
So that was all.
Ke Teng couldn't help but call her spineless.
"You didn't do anything wrong, so why are you enduring this?"
Jian Fei said, "Because Ke Jingyu is not my father."
"Doctors and nurses in hospitals seem like insignificant ants to you all, yet I don't even qualify to be such an ant. My insignificance is beyond your imagination."
"I don't have the ability to fight against others, nor do I have the time and energy to argue with them."
"So you're just leaving like this? They'll spread rumors, and how will you face your classmates in the future?"
"I have no mood to think about the future. I need to take care of the present first. For me, staying alive is more important than your reputation."
"You act so tough in front of me, thinking you're so capable. Turns out, you're only this capable, like a turtle in a shell."
Ke Teng made up his mind and ordered her forcefully.
"You are not allowed to leave. At least not until this matter is resolved."
"Since you know me, Ke Teng, you might as well be associated with me. You can be bullied, but my friends can't. I'll handle this for you!"
"If I don't expose this old man's true colors, then my surname is his!"
However, Jian Fei's eyes showed rare confusion.
"This entire matter was conducted privately. He didn't cause me any substantial harm, and I have no written or recorded evidence. How can I expose him?"
"Don't worry about it. Just wait and see."
Perhaps feeling he had troubled Jian Fei for the past two days, he asked her to wash up and get ready, and then invited her out for a meal.
Jian Fei didn't want to go.
He then opened her suitcase, took out her clothes, and insisted on helping her change.
With no other choice, Jian Fei changed into a different outfit and went out with him.
She hadn't eaten properly in days, and Ke Teng was starving.
He found a very nice and high-class restaurant.
Driving there, plus the meal in between, the two of them ended up spending a good half of the day.
He had substantial family wealth and wouldn't worry about food or clothing even if he played his whole life. But Jian Fei was different.
She only had 300 yuan in her pocket, and after buying her return train ticket, she would have only a few dozen yuan left.
Every minute she wasn't working was agony for her.
Seeing her unhappy even while eating delicious food, Ke Teng told her.
"Don't worry. I'm only delaying you for one day. Once that old fellow is dealt with, you can do whatever you want. I won't stop you."
They lingered until dark. Ke Teng finally received a message and pulled her into the inpatient department.
"Let's go, the show is about to begin."
Arriving at the neurosurgery inpatient floor, before they even approached the director's office, they saw a large crowd gathered outside.
Nurses, patients, and their families were all craning their necks to look inside.
Inside, there was the sound of things being smashed and mixed screams of men and women.
Ke Teng pretended not to know what was happening and went over to ask them what had occurred.
The onlookers, eager to enjoy the spectacle, cheerfully explained to him.
"This old doctor looks kind and benevolent, like a good person. I didn't expect him to do such things."
"He was caught red-handed by his wife in his office with a young woman. They're fighting inside right now."
Jian Fei immediately understood Ke Teng's plan.
As everyone was talking, an older, well-dressed, and impeccably neat middle-aged man exuding an aura of elite competence approached, escorted by several security guards.
Although the man's hair was graying, it was meticulously combed. He wore a pair of stern, gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, giving him an intimidating appearance.
Sensing his approach, Jian Fei instinctively turned to look.
Upon seeing the man's face clearly, she was so startled that she immediately stood straight and respectfully called out.
"Director Wang..."