Xu Fan glared coldly at Professor Sun, the murderous intent in his eyes nearly bursting forth. Despite having objections, Professor Sun still wisely shut his mouth.

Xu Fan sighed, recalling the information Han Dongxu had discovered for him a few days earlier, and felt even more pity for Qiu Hongyao.

"Do you really think Qiu Hongyao is a woman who covets vanity? Let me tell you, Professor Sun, you couldn't be more wrong!"

"Just think about it, with your conditions back then, poor and bad-tempered, not to mention not nearly as handsome as me—if Qiu Hongyao could fancy you, it proves that she's not a woman who loves vanity. Do you really think she couldn't find someone better than you at that time? Ha, having such a good woman love you, you should count yourself lucky for eight lifetimes."

"..."

Professor Sun's heart jolted. Scolded by Xu Fan, he suddenly realized there might be some truth to the words.

He looked over at Qiu Hongyao and, for some reason, felt a twinge of pain in his heart when he saw her eyes at that moment.

Seeing him like this, Xu Fan couldn't help but smile and continued, "It's true, I admit you are indeed very impressive in scientific research, but in life, you are a complete fool. Think, Professor Sun, after the two of you fell in love, who was it that brought you tea and meals, including supper, while you were too busy with your research to eat or sleep?"

"..." Guilt flashed across Professor Sun's face as if Xu Fan's reproach made him remember the times gone by.

"Think again, Professor Sun, when you were ill, who took meticulous care of you? After looking after you, knowing your heart was in your research, who stayed up late to organize your data and translate foreign literature?"

"I..." What Xu Fan said was undoubtedly true. Professor Sun opened his mouth only to find he couldn't utter a word to refute Xu Fan, his heart filled with growing remorse.

Was it this woman who owed him, or was it he who owed her? Professor Sun was already having trouble telling the difference.

Xu Fan snorted coldly and continued, "Listen well, Professor Sun, the one who did all this for you is the very woman you were just striking!"

"To put it plainly, she's also a fool. She devoted everything to you, but what about you? What have you done for her? Think carefully, have you really done anything for your wife? Even a single word of concern? I'm afraid your scientific research means more to you than a beloved wife, doesn't it?"

Xu Fan said, "Do you really think she never longed for shopping and traveling like other women? Do you really believe she's made of iron and never gets sick? Do you really think she should naturally offer all this to you? Do you truly believe that when she decided to leave you, it was in pursuit of the wealth and status she had long since abandoned?"

"Professor Sun, if you really think that way, then you truly are the scum of the earth!"

Fury bursting in his chest, Xu Fan couldn't help but slap Professor Sun's face again with a cold laugh, "I've said all I wanted, Professor Sun, I want you to listen good; I do care about this contract, but I have a conscience that tells me there are things more important than money."

"Working with scum like you, no matter how much money I make, I wouldn't want it."

Having released the words he couldn't hold back any longer, Xu Fan took a deep breath and smiled, "Alright, I've said what I needed to say, you can sign the damn contract with whoever you please, I'm done serving you."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Fan didn't look at Professor Sun again, as if another glance would sully his own eyes, and walked straight towards Qiu Hongyao.

Xu Fan smiled and said, "Come with me first, I can cure your illness."

"I..."

Qiu Hongyao looked at Xu Fan and couldn't hold back her tears, which soon started to fall. She sniffled, knowing she was being ungraceful, but the tears, like a breached dam, couldn't be stopped.

To others, Xu Fan might seem like a mad fool, but to Qiu Hongyao, he truly was her savior.

She would probably never forget the words Xu Fan said for as long as she lived.

At the end of his life, although he was unable to reclaim the affection and love he had lost, the chance to meet a life mentor like Xu Fan was more than enough.

"Your name is Xu Fan, right? Thank you for speaking up for me."

Qiu Hongyao wiped away her tears, very grateful, and after glancing back at Professor Sun, who was still frozen in place, she resolutely followed Xu Fan and walked off into the distance.

At this moment, the questions that sprouted in Professor Sun's mind were more complex than the hardest problems he had studied in his lifetime.

Watching the graceful figure fading in the distance, the questions in his mind made his head feel like it was about to explode!

She had been so kind to him, could it be that he owed her something?

Had she been beaten because he was a scumbag?

After all these years, why did she come looking for him?

Why had she abandoned him and their daughter in the first place?

Numerous such questions whirled around in Professor Sun's head. He could solve the world's most difficult research problems, but he couldn't decipher these...

But he was acutely aware that all these years, the person who was wrong had always been him, not that woman.

Perhaps, just as Xu Fan had said, the debt he owed her... he would never be able to repay it in this lifetime.

Just as Xu Fan was about to lead Qiu Hongyao out of the hall, Professor Sun gritted his teeth and dashed after Xu Fan.

"Wait! Wait!"

Professor Sun rushed in front of Xu Fan, his gaze shifting to Qiu Hongyao at his side.

He noticed that the enthusiasm that was once in this woman's eyes had entirely dissipated, replaced now only with indifference.

Professor Sun couldn't help but feel terrified, with an overwhelming sense of guilt welling up inside him.

He looked at Xu Fan and said, "Xu Fan, how... how did you come to know about these things?"

Xu Fan couldn't help but find it funny, casting a disdainful glance at Professor Sun and said mockingly, "Professor Sun, you've come all this way in such a hurry, just to ask such a trivial question?"

After speaking, Xu Fan took Qiu Hongyao's hand, preparing to bypass Professor Sun and continue walking out.

"Wait... wait a moment! I... I'm sorry, I'm not very good at expressing myself!"

Professor Sun spread his arms, directly blocking Xu Fan, and said, "You, Xu, Xu Fan, can you let me have a few words with her?"

Xu Fan shrugged his shoulders, reasonably satisfied with Professor Sun's reaction, and said, "If she's willing to answer you, I certainly won't stop her."

"Hong, Hongyao, I'm sorry. Can you tell me, why did you leave back then?"

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