"If your personal abilities aren't outstanding, your social starting point is the same as mine. Without him, you're just a nobody that no one would care about!"
"You're hardly the learned, dashing, and refined noble公子 (gōngzǐ - young master), so why would you expect me to praise you against my conscience?"
Alright, Ke Teng admitted, he had indeed realized his shortcomings in the few days he'd been away from his father.
He had truly experienced how difficult it was for an individual to struggle in society without the resources provided by their parents.
Therefore, when Jian Fei pointed it out so sharply, he didn't become as irate or embarrassed as before. Instead, he accepted it calmly.
"That's right, I'm not some graceful noble公子. Without my father, I might not fare as well as you, but there are no 'what ifs'."
"I, Ke Teng, was born Ke Teng. I am more capable than you, and I can manage your affairs. Are you going to tell me or not?"
Jian Fei was exhausted, her heart filled with unspoken grievances. Everyone has a desire to confide, and Ke Teng was someone she absolutely had to tell.
She sat down on the floor and slowly recounted her story.
Jian Fei's doctoral supervisor was a middle-aged man over 55. 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.
Initially, Jian Fei felt very fortunate to be under his tutelage, viewing him as both a mentor and an elder, believing she would learn a great deal.
However, she soon realized her naivety. Not everyone in academia was a gentleman.
This fellow, though old, was not old at heart and was particularly interested in these young girls who hadn't yet entered society.
Especially Jian Fei. Once, during a gathering, they jokingly offered to introduce her to a boyfriend. Upon learning that she had never dated, his eyes lit up.
From then on, he deliberately and subtly created opportunities to be alone with her, hinting at certain things.
Jian Fei pretended not to understand, carefully 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 part-time and receiving scholarships every year. He then planned to have her work part-time at his home for a few days.
The old man, judging others by his own standards, assumed Mr. Ke had intentions towards Jian Fei. From that day forward, he began to target her.
A few days ago, Jian Fei was on night duty and accidentally bumped into another female doctoral student emerging from his inner 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 shifted the blame onto Jian Fei. Jian Fei refused to take the fall and explained the entire situation publicly.
Afterward, the female student cried and went to the old man. The old man then claimed Jian Fei had made a major academic error and revoked her internship placement.
"Don't just say he's using the thesis to block me now. Even if he weren't, I don't want to go back and see him again, so..."
"These past two years are wasted. I don't want the graduation certificate anymore, and I don't plan to linger here. I'm going back to my hometown."
"With a master's degree, I can still find a decent job. I can't afford to waste any more time."
So, it was just for this reason.
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 isn't my father."
"Doctors and nurses in hospitals probably seem like insignificant ants to you, but I don't even have the qualifications to be that 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."
"Then you'll just leave 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. Living is more important to me 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 ninja turtle."
Ke Teng made up his mind and ordered her forcefully.
"You're not allowed to leave. At least not until this matter is resolved."
"Since you know me, Ke Teng, you might as well have some connection to me. You can be bullied, but my friends cannot. I'll handle this for you!"
"If I don't expose this old guy's true colors, then I'll take his surname!"
However, Jian Fei's eyes were filled with rare confusion.
"This entire matter happened privately. He didn't do anything substantial to me, and I don't have any 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 these past two days, he asked her to wash up and get ready, and invited her out for a meal.
Jian Fei didn't want to go.
He opened her suitcase, shook 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 for days, and Ke Teng was craving food.
He found a very nice, high-end restaurant.
Driving there, eating, and the travel time back, they ended up spending half the day.
He had a substantial family fortune and wouldn't worry about food or clothing even if he played around his whole life, but Jian Fei was different.
She only had 300 yuan in her pocket, leaving her with only a few dozen yuan after buying her train ticket back.
Every minute she wasn't working was agonizing for her.
Seeing her looking unhappy even while eating delicious food, Ke Teng told her.
"Don't worry, I'm only taking up one day of your time. Once that old guy is dealt with, you can do whatever you want, and I won't stop you."
They wandered until dark. Ke Teng finally received a message and pulled her into the inpatient department.
"Let's go, the show is about to begin."
Upon arriving at the neurosurgery inpatient floor, even before approaching the director's office, they saw a large crowd gathered outside the door.
Nurses, patients, and their families, all sorts of people, were craning their necks to look inside.
Inside, there were sounds of things being smashed and mixed screams of men and women.
Ke Teng pretended not to know what was happening and went to ask them what had occurred.
The patients, relishing the spectacle, happily explained to him.
"This old doctor looks kind and benevolent, like a good person, but who knew he did such things."
"He was caught in his office with a young woman by his wife, and they're fighting inside right now."
Jian Fei immediately understood how Ke Teng had planned this...
As everyone was talking, an older man, impeccably dressed, exuding an aura of elite professionalism, approached, escorted by several security guards.
Although the man's hair was gray, it was neatly combed. He wore a pair of imposing gold-rimmed glasses on his nose, making him look intimidating at first glance.
Sensing his approach, Jian Fei instinctively turned to look.
Upon seeing the man's face clearly, she was so startled that she immediately stood up straight and respectfully called out.
"Dean Wang..."