The Favored Heiress
Chapter 569: Temporary Farewell to the Research Institute

Chapter 569: Chapter 569: Temporary Farewell to the Research Institute

Time flew, and in a blink, it was Friday evening.

At this moment, Li Qiao was sitting in the research institute’s conference room, with Academician Jiang and Director Wang Zheng sitting opposite her.

The two were earnestly trying to persuade her, essentially hoping she would stay.

Li Qiao rarely softened her heart, yet she was certainly not made of stone.

She lowered her eyelids, her hands tucked into the pockets of her lab coat in front of her, "Teacher, Director Wang, I will most likely need to take frequent leaves of absence, and the research process cannot afford errors. If because of my personal reasons..."

"Researcher Li, if it’s just a matter of taking leaves, there’s really no need to leave the research institute. Just let me know how long of a leave you need, and if the genetic research project is short-staffed, our institute can always assign other researchers to help at any time. You absolutely don’t have to worry about that," Director Wang Zheng said.

This was said by Director Wang Zheng.

To the research institute, losing Li Qiao would definitely be a huge loss.

Setting aside her identity as the heiress of the South Sea’s wealthiest family, the fact that she could receive special treatment from the chairman of the Medical Alliance was not an ability within reach for most people.

Li Qiao calmly met Wang Zheng’s gaze and, in the end, still shook her head, respectfully declining his proposal, "Thank you for your kindness, Director Wang, but I have made my decision."

Wang Zheng showed a look of difficulty, "Ah, this..."

He turned to the silent Academician Jiang, "Old Jiang, please help persuade her."

Upon hearing this, Academician Jiang pushed up his reading glasses, and a faint smile appeared on his wrinkled face, "Director Wang, you don’t understand this child; once she has made up her mind, not even ten oxen could pull her back. Go on with your work, let me have a chat with her alone."

Wang Zheng hesitated a bit but seeing his resolute look, he had no choice but to leave it be.

After his departure, Academician Jiang looked at Li Qiao with a certain helplessness, "Have you really thought this through?"

"Sorry, Teacher," Li Qiao said apologetically, her head slightly bowed.

Academician Jiang immediately pointed at her, teasing, "Don’t give me that act. If you were truly sorry, you wouldn’t choose to leave now."

Li Qiao raised her eyelids to meet his gaze, her expression calm, indeed showing no sign of guilt, "Teacher sees clearly."

Academician Jiang laughed heartily, "You’ve never been a rash child. In fact, it’s better that you’re leaving now rather than at the end when the research is nearly concluded.

If the research institute hadn’t forcibly taken over the project initially, maybe we would have had a conclusion by now.

Since you’ve thought it through, I won’t insist, but... You can withdraw from the project, yet keep your position at the research institute.

I will discuss with Wang Zheng, and strive to arrange a leave of absence without pay for you. No matter what you’re going to do now, if you want to come back in the future, you’re always welcome."

Li Qiao’s gaze flickered slightly, just as she was about to refuse, Academician Jiang added sternly, "This you must agree to; you were directly recruited into the research institute before you even graduated. Even without Xiao Guan, you would have become one of our researchers. Keep this status."

At this point, if she were still to reject, it would be ungrateful indeed.

Li Qiao nodded her head in thanks and informed Academician Jiang that she had already transferred all the research modules she was responsible for to Lian Zhen.

Moreover, apart from Lian Zhen, she would consider no other.

...

Just before leaving work, Li Qiao called Lian Zhen to take a walk in the garden outside the building.

The horizon was aglow, as swathes of fiery clouds rendered a magnificent golden hue across the city skyline.

Lian Zhen glanced at Li Qiao, "You won’t come next week?"

"Yeah, contact me anytime you need help, don’t be polite," Li Qiao walked on the stone pavement, looking around.

Having worked here for less than two months, she really didn’t have any profound feelings for the place.

Initially, I chose to research Guan Mingyu’s illness simply because it was worth studying.

Perhaps withdrawing partway might seem irresponsible, but Guan Mingyu’s disease has never been something that I could research and solve alone.

Similarly, no one could guarantee there would definitely be a result.

At this moment, Lian Zhen’s eyes brimmed with reluctance. He lowered his head to look at his feet and sighed with a sense of loss, "I didn’t expect you to be so decisive, to leave just like that."

After pausing, he still voiced the question in his heart, "If... we hadn’t come to the research institute, would you still have chosen to leave?"

Li Qiao curved her lips slightly and answered crisply, "No, but there are no ’ifs’ in life."

Upon hearing this, Lian Zhen’s steps faltered, and he turned his head to look at Li Qiao’s serene expression, chuckling softly, "You’re right. I will continue to follow up on this research, and I will let you know about any progress at any time."

Li Qiao’s gaze met his, and she smiled, "No need to bother; I’m only leaving the research institute, not this project. Senior Brother Lian knows about this, and there’s no need to tell our teacher or anyone else.

I’m handing over the project module to you, but that doesn’t mean I’m letting go completely. I will continue to follow up on all the research. Just pay attention to the progress reports in the system; I will make everything clear."

Lian Zhen was very surprised, even finding it unbelievable.

He had thought that Li Qiao’s departure meant she was ready to give up halfway through.

Only at this moment did he realize why she had transferred such an important research module to him.

Because she never intended to let go; she had chosen to work behind the scenes, unseen by others.

Lian Zhen was greatly shaken, and with some urgency, he shook his head, "No, Xiao Li, doing this..."

"Senior Brother Lian, you don’t need to persuade me. Besides you, I won’t share my research results with anyone else." Li Qiao saw his dilemma and then gazed into the distance, adding her final words, "I’m not as altruistic as you think; I’m doing this solely to see things through to the end."

A traditional scientific research institution, with its very complicated set of rules and regulations, cannot allow too many instances of someone like her breaking the norm.

Even if Wang Zheng took the risk of bending the rules for her repeatedly, in the long run, it certainly wasn’t a good thing.

Thus, she would rather stay away from such constraints, which was better than being limited at every turn.

Seeing that Li Qiao was determined, Lian Zhen could only give up on persuading her.

After a short while, she smiled, said goodbye, and turned to walk out of the garden.

And from that day on, Li Qiao took a leave from the research institute.

...

The sun set in the west, and Li Qiao drove back to the Mansion.

Shang Yu had not yet returned, and she sat alone in the living room, legs crossed, contemplating her next steps.

As the sky grew darker and the clock hands completed a circle, the man was still not home.

Li Qiao already had an idea in mind, and she stood up and walked to the window, her gaze calm and distant.

Half an hour later, Shang Yu returned.

Following closely behind him were his four assistants, and to his side, rarely seen, Qiu Huan also came to the Mansion.

Qiu Huan walked into the living room first and immediately smiled upon seeing Li Qiao, "Little sister, I heard you are planning to join me for the assessment?"

Li Qiao nodded indifferently, "That is the plan."

Qiu Huan sat down on the armchair, smacked his tongue, and smiled with ill-intent, "Do you need big brother to help you cram for the assessment content?"