Jiang Yu turned around, looking coldly at Lin Ting.
It was early March, with a cool breeze gently blowing.
In the wind, Lin Ting brushed aside her hair.
Her sorrowful face mustered courage.
“Five years ago, when Professor Jin passed away, he took with him the core formula of Lin Jiang Pharmaceutical’s research and development secrets.”
“That formula is now in my hands.”
“Jiang Yu, as long as you promise me to raise Youzi as her guardian until she turns eighteen, and promise to set aside a sum of money in a trust fund for her to withdraw when she becomes an adult, I will give you this formula.”
She had no other way out.
Mr. and Mrs. Zhou suddenly refused to adopt Youzi.
Youzi had hearing problems, and it was difficult to find a suitable adoptive family in a short time.
The only hope once again fell on Jiang Yu.
The two stood a few steps apart.
Jiang Yu walked back step by step.
When he was close enough to Lin Ting, his expression was dark and unclear. “What makes you think I would believe you? If you had this formula, Zhou Pharmaceutical’s anticancer drug would have already been on the market.”
Lin Jiang Pharmaceutical Group had been developing a batch of drugs capable of treating specific cancers.
From the previous generation to theirs, they had been working on it for nearly twenty years.
Five years ago, it seemed they were about to achieve results.
But the core formula was stolen.
However, after the theft, their rival Zhou Pharmaceutical made no progress either.
Jiang Yu suspected that Professor Jin had protected the formula before his death.
Otherwise, Zhou Pharmaceutical would have succeeded long ago.
“…” The lie exposed, Lin Ting fell silent. She indeed did not have the formula, but she had clues about it. Yet Jiang Yu did not believe her.
After a moment of contemplation, she took out Youzi’s painting. “Jiang Yu, look at this painting. It was a birthday gift Youzi gave me when I turned twenty-nine.”
The unframed painting was taken by Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu was a painting genius, whether in sketching, oil painting, or ink wash painting, he had his unique style.
He was especially skilled at painting various figures.
So was Youzi.
While Jiang Yu looked at the painting, Lin Ting brought up the past she least wanted to mention.
“Jiang Yu, do you remember when I was eighteen, you also gave me a painting of me?”
“At that time, when you gave me the painting, you said you would protect me for a lifetime, no matter what difficulties I faced, you would always be by my side to help me. Now I am truly in trouble…”
“Enough!”
A roar interrupted Lin Ting.
The familiar portrait sketch stirred many memories in Jiang Yu.
It also made his expression turn fierce and resentful.
Once, he had painted Lin Ting stroke by stroke, many times.
Every stroke, every line, represented the boundless affection he once had for Lin Ting.
Suppressing the pain and hatred in his heart, Jiang Yu sneered coldly:
“Lin Ting, do you have any sense of shame?”
“What right do you have to bring up the past? You are not worthy!”
How could Lin Ting be willing to mention the past?
It was her most ridiculous and tragic youth.
But for her daughter, she was not afraid of Jiang Yu’s every mockery, every sarcastic remark.
“Jiang Yu, it’s fine if you don’t want to consider the past.”
“But take another look at this painting by Youzi. Doesn’t it closely resemble your painting style?”
“Youzi could draw simple sketches in prison when she was two years old. I only let her formally learn painting when she was three.”
“After just one year and two months of learning, she can paint so vividly.”
“I truly am in a difficult situation and cannot raise Youzi anymore…”
Perhaps if Jiang Yu spent some time with Youzi, he would discover that she, like him, loves eating pomelos, dislikes scallions and cilantro, is also allergic to peanuts, and possesses an exceptionally high talent for drawing.
By then, he would surely believe that Youzi is his biological daughter.
That portrait, Jiang Yu had only glanced at it once.
It truly resembled his own painting style.
For character portraits, he paid great attention to detail, especially the strands of hair, making them look incredibly lifelike.
This painting was practically identical to his own work.
But how could a four-year-old child possibly have such advanced painting skills?
Jiang Yu snatched the portrait away.
In a few swift motions, he tore it to shreds.
“No… don’t…” Lin Ting couldn’t stop him in time.
The torn pieces of the portrait fell to the ground one by one, like her shattered heart and spirit.
Her heart aching dully, she crouched down and picked up the pieces one by one.
Jiang Yu paid no attention to her distress, speaking coldly, “A four-year-old child painting like this? Lin Ting, who do you think you’re fooling?”
Lin Ting refused to miss a single fragment of the torn portrait on the ground.
By the time she had carefully gathered them all in her hands, two or three minutes had passed.
She truly didn’t know how to make Jiang Yu believe her.
Thinking of her daughter, who still hadn’t been settled, she mustered her last ounce of strength to argue and persuade him.
Then, she quickly took out her medical diagnosis report from her bag.
“Jiang Yu, I really do have cancer.”
“The couple who were willing to adopt Youzi a few days ago suddenly changed their minds because of her ear condition.”
“I’ve truly reached a dead end and can only entrust Youzi to you.”
“I didn’t come here for the confidential research of Lin Jiang Pharmaceutical Group.”
“These past few days, I’ve been coughing up blood frequently. I’m afraid I don’t have much time left…”
But Jiang Yu slapped the cancer diagnosis report to the ground.
“Lin Ting, heaven sees everything. You lie about having cancer to achieve your goals, and now you even exploit a child. Do you think your retribution hasn’t been severe enough?”
“Lin Ting, I will not believe a single word you say.”
Seeing Jiang Yu about to leave, Lin Ting’s knees gave way, and she collapsed to the ground. Her throat felt blocked by icicles, her silent pleas turning into trembling shapes on her lips.
Lin Ting’s appearance made Jiang Yu uncomfortable.
But recalling many past events, he truly couldn’t bring himself to soften.
“Lin Ting, do you really enjoy degrading yourself this much? Degrading your daughter like this?”
Youzi’s adorable figure flashed through Jiang Yu’s mind.
Such a lovely child, yet Lin Ting repeatedly tried to abandon her.
Looking at Lin Ting, who was degrading herself, he offered well-intentioned advice:
“Lin Ting, I know you used to be the Lin family’s young lady, living a comfortable life.”
“After being released from prison, your life must be worlds apart from before.”
“If you’re willing to be a good mother, set a positive example for Youzi, and turn over a new leaf, I can give you a sum of money, enough for you and your daughter to live on.”
For a former lover who had deeply hurt and betrayed him, he had already gone above and beyond by offering this much.
With that, he got into his car.
He drove off, leaving Lin Ting kneeling in the cold wind, slumped weakly by the roadside.
Only when the wind picked up did she realize that the portrait Youzi had given her had been torn to pieces by Jiang Yu, scattered across the ground, and now blown away by the wind in all directions.
She hurriedly picked up the pieces one by one.
Some fragments had blown into the middle of the road, and she rushed over without hesitation to retrieve them.
A rapidly approaching car slammed on its brakes, and the driver leaned out, shouting, “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”