The Female Cannon Fodder With Boundless Merits
Chapter 533 - 537: Who Touched My Body (Part 9)

Chapter 533: Chapter 537: Who Touched My Body (Part 9)

Elder Zheng knew his old friend very well and understood that if it hadn’t been for a significant blow dealt to Zhou Shengsheng by family issues back in the day, his achievements by now could have possibly surpassed his own.

Elder Zheng was one of the few privy to the research topic that Zhou Shengsheng held in his hands back then, which was why he found it particularly regrettable.

Zhou Shengsheng’s student had ultimately failed to live up to the expectations his teacher had set for him.

However, the fact that he could receive a call from Zhou Shengsheng now, could it mean that he had stepped out of his past shadows?

Elder Zheng, with a heart leaping in excitement, eagerly answered the call.

"Really? Are you serious?"

"If that’s the case, I can...."

Mrs. Zheng was watering the flowers in the courtyard, faintly hearing her husband’s startled exclamations from inside the room.

Despite being a man over sixty, he was still as agitated as a young man—surely he had encountered some research topic that greatly interested him.

Mrs. Zheng, who knew her husband very well, took her time tending the garden, then brewed a cup of tea to bring to the old man.

This silly old man would go crazy whenever it came to scientific research.

The situation was actually much more dramatic than Mrs. Zheng imagined.

At this moment, Elder Zheng’s face was unnaturally flushed, his breathing rapid, and his fingers clutching the phone were white from exerting too much strength.

Mrs. Zheng was quite worried that the old man might not be able to catch his next breath and would faint.

Even she couldn’t intervene; the old man was pacing disorderly around the room, oblivious to anyone and anything that could not distract him.

Left with no choice, Mrs. Zheng prepared the Heart-saving Pills, just in case.

Being the family of someone so consumed by scientific research was extremely draining.

From the scattered words of her husband, Mrs. Zheng could infer that the caller was Zhou Shengsheng, which made her feel even more wistful.

Not all families of researchers had the same fortitude to endure, the conviction to bear the burden of family responsibilities.

Often, many researchers’ spouses face their other halves being absorbed by scientific projects for months, sometimes even half a year, without a trace, which is quite common.

If it’s a highly confidential project, not being able to contact them all year round wouldn’t be strange.

Because of these, the other half of a researcher is destined to bear more than a typical couple.

Zhou Shengsheng’s situation was a case in point.

His neglect of his family drove his wife into the arms of a neighbor, seeking emotional fulfillment.

During a rare vacation Zhou Shengsheng took, hoping to surprise his wife, he was met only with shock.

He caught his wife cheating with another man in their own bed.

This incident dealt him a heavy blow.

The couple had gone from school uniforms to wedding gowns together, weathered many hardships, yet they couldn’t make it to the end.

The last straw that led to Zhou Shengsheng’s decision to withdraw from the scientific community was learning the child he had loved for over a decade wasn’t biologically his.

That is to say, his wife had been unfaithful even earlier than he thought.

On top of that, the sudden passing of his parents piled on to the point where he couldn’t recover...

A scientist of great promise had vanished.

Because of Zhou Shengsheng’s issues, her old man had even deliberately taken some time off to stay home with her, which both amused and annoyed Mrs. Zheng.

Finally, when Elder Zheng put down the phone, Mrs. Zheng silently handed over the tea.

Elder Zheng’s hands trembled slightly as he held the tea cup, taking a sip before setting it down, his voice filled with an excited quiver.

"I always knew that no setback could defeat Shengsheng... Indeed... he never gave up."

"This is a feat worthy of the history books... Unbelievable, truly unbelievable..."

"I need to call the leaders right now..."

Elder Zheng ranted madly for a while, then got back to work without delay.

At that moment, Mrs. Zheng sighed softly and walked away, leaving the space for her husband to be alone.

Although she had some discontent, all she could do was understand.

Without researchers like her husband who devoted their life to science, Yanhuang Country wouldn’t be as strong.

Actually, she felt she should thank them.

------------

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Shengsheng looked startled, and when he turned his gaze back to Su Li, it was full of embarrassment.

His mentor and friend, Mr. Zheng, seemed to have misunderstood something.

Although he mentioned that the project idea was not solely his, Mr. Zheng took it as mere modesty, completely overlooking that his sentence included the word "child."

He probably thought Su Li was his new assistant.

This made Zhou Shengsheng feel ashamed when facing Su Li, as if he were stealing the latter’s credit—a zero-tolerance shameful act in the field, and he didn’t want the youngster he enjoyed talking with to misunderstand him.

To a scientific scholar, research achievements are as precious as their own eyes, just like a child they have painstakingly raised.

Had someone contested them for it, they would be ready to fight tooth and nail.

Seeing Zhou Shengsheng’s expression, Su Li knew exactly what he was thinking.

His every thought and feeling showed on his face, no need to guess.

Su Li waved his hand nonchalantly, "No worries, Uncle Zhou, I trust you, you’re not that kind of person."

The feeling of being trusted brought tears to Zhou Shengsheng’s eyes, reigniting his passion for life.

Even if it was just to live up to the trust of a young girl he had known for less than half a day, he had to work hard.

He couldn’t keep wallowing in self-pity.

Thinking back on his self-destructive past five years felt like a lifetime ago.

Sometimes, all enlightenment comes in an instant.

Su Li had no idea that a simple sentence from her could revitalize someone so profoundly.

The Zhou Shengsheng in front of her, right then, exuded a different aura from within, as if he had burst with new life.

Su Li: "...." She sure was amazing.

In truth, Su Li’s mention of trust was just an offhand remark, and she didn’t care whether Zhou Shengsheng would take credit for the theory she had proposed.

Just as she didn’t care if the world would change due to this groundbreaking discovery.

All she did was to fulfill her own purpose; the impact it might have was just an afterthought.

The next day, Zhou Shengsheng’s door was knocked on by two strangers with imposing auras.

A new research team was quickly formed, led by Zhou Shengsheng.

He had intended to introduce Su Li to the forefront, but Su Li declined.