Chapter Thirty-Three: Mentor

Mentioning Tang Pingyao, Shen Suining’s face was filled with gratitude.

"Professor Tang is the mentor I have followed since my freshman year," she said. "Every step of my academic growth was nurtured by him. Originally, I had already been recommended for admission to his graduate program, and I had planned to follow in his footsteps for my entire career. It is just... it is a pity that I had to put my studies on hold due to my pregnancy, failing to live up to Professor Tang's expectations."

She still remembered when she told Tang Pingyao that she was pregnant and getting married. Although he respected and blessed her decision, the disappointment in his eyes could not be hidden.

Because of this, Shen Suining was once too ashamed to face him. Having failed his high regard for her, she hadn't even dared to call him to offer greetings during holidays for the first few years.

Coincidentally, it was when she was being forced by Pei Min to go out and find work, hitting walls everywhere and eventually having to work at a milk tea shop, that she ran into Tang Pingyao by chance.

She still remembered the shame and embarrassment she felt when he stood before her to place an order; she wanted to crawl into a hole in the ground, and she didn't even dare to raise her eyes to meet his gaze.

At the time, other than telling her what milk tea he wanted, Tang Pingyao did not say a single extra word to her. It was as if she were merely a stranger he had happened to encounter.

However, Shen Suining had not expected that Tang Pingyao would wait outside the milk tea shop until she finished her shift.

She remembered that after Tang Pingyao left, she had completely accepted her fate. She felt she had failed the four years of university she had completed and failed the talent she possessed for archaeology; she had completely given up on her career.

When she walked out of the milk tea shop in a daze and met the gaze of an old man in the cold wind, the shock of that moment was like parched earth meeting the morning dew, or a ray of sunlight piercing through a long-darkened cave.

Therefore, when Tang Pingyao calmly invited her to return to his team, she did not hesitate for even a second and agreed immediately.

Even though she had been away from her field for four years.
Even though these four years had widened the gap between her and the others.

But Shen Suining was not a person who would admit defeat. She worked twice as hard, ten times as hard, and filled that chasm in a remarkably short time. She finally won the recognition of most people on the team.

Of course, even now, some still believe that there might be some improper relationship between her and Tang Pingyao; otherwise, why would Shen Suining receive such special care when everyone else was also his student?

However, Shen Suining did not care about any of that.

After listening to Shen Suining’s slow account, Jiang Ji gently pinched her cheek. He said, "Our Sui-Sui is outstanding enough."

Shen Suining was more confident in her professional field than in other aspects of her life.

Hearing Jiang Ji praise her like this, Shen Suining showed a rare, playful touch of arrogance. She tilted her chin and said, "That goes without saying, I was top of my class!"

At this moment, Shen Suining’s eyes were filled with light, and the proud upturn of her lips was an absolute affirmation of her own abilities. This was the bright and spirited Shen Suining from before, not the timid, cowardly version beaten down by the Jiang family.

A dark glint flickered in Jiang Ji's eyes. His Sui-Sui was always an excellent girl; he would help her regain her confidence, and not just in her professional life.

However, Jiang Ji still could not help but ponder: even if Tang Pingyao were highly satisfied with a student, his level of concern for Shen Suining was a bit excessive. Whether there were other reasons behind this remained to be investigated.

Jiang Ji did not mention this to Shen Suining. Instead, he changed the subject and asked her to make a list.

Shen Suining immediately began to think about the things her grandmother might need and listed them one by one, including the things she needed for herself.

With Jiang Ji's reminder, Shen Suining had to re-purchase everything she could think of. She could not return to the Dijing Mansion, nor could she return to the old Jiang family estate. Therefore, following Jiang Ji's advice was the safest course of action.

However, this meant a huge expense before they had even left the country.

Shen Suining checked all her bank cards and payment apps, calculating her savings. During her five years in the Jiang family, they hadn't exactly skimped on her; she received 100,000 yuan in living expenses every month, which, given Shen Suining's original background, could be considered a sky-high amount.

But she had to take care of her grandmother and look after Jiang-Jiang. Especially with Jiang-Jiang’s expenses, which, according to Pei Min's requirements, had to match those of children from other prominent families, most of her monthly allowance was spent on him. In the end, there was almost nothing left.

It was only in this past year, when she started working and spent less time at home, that she stopped being responsible for all of Jiang-Jiang’s daily costs, allowing her to save a little money of her own. But all of that added up to only a little over 100,000 yuan—a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of her grandmother’s treatment.

As she calculated her savings, Shen Suining crossed out the non-essential items on her list. The things her grandmother needed could not be skimped on, but hers could.

Soon, Shen Suining copied out a new list and handed it to Jiang Ji.

Jiang Ji glanced at it and immediately saw the trade-offs she had made. He felt a sense of helplessness; how could he not guess the reason for her doing this? She had completely failed to realize that with him around, how could he possibly let her worry about money?

However, Jiang Ji didn't say anything. The current Shen Suining probably wouldn't listen to such things anyway. Regardless, once they were abroad, if he insisted on giving it to her, could she really refuse?

Jiang Ji called his subordinates and had them buy the items on Shen Suining’s list. As for the things she had discarded, there was no need to bring them from the country anyway.

Shen Suining went into the ward to check on her grandmother. She was sleeping soundly, with no sign of waking up. Shen Suining was deeply worried.

Not long after, her phone rang. It was a call from Ye Pianpian. Shen Suining tucked the blanket in for her grandmother and walked out of the ward with her phone.

Answering the call, she heard Ye Pianpian’s worried voice, "Sui-Sui, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Shen Suining replied. "Why do you ask?"

Ye Pianpian said, "That madman Jiang Runlang just brought people to my place looking for you. He turned my place upside down. I was worried he might do something to you."

To be honest, even with Ye Pianpian’s bold and uninhibited personality, she couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated when facing the unhinged Jiang Runlang today.