“Director Li.” He turned toward the head seat, his voice cold. “This competition is void. Give the spot to Wei Qing.”
“As for Liu Yi’an…” He looked at her. “Starting today, you don’t need to come to the research institute anymore.”
A collective gasp sounded throughout the conference room.
“Mr. Fu, what are you…” Director Li wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“Was I not clear enough?” Father Fu sneered. “Liu Yi’an’s work ability is insufficient. She is not suitable to remain at the research institute.”
“In my capacity as the head of the Inspection Group of the Space Administration, I recommend that her researcher qualification be terminated immediately.”
Director Li’s face turned deathly pale.
Father Fu did indeed have enough standing within the aerospace system to make this happen.
“Mr. Fu, this isn’t in accordance with the rules…”
“The rules?” Father Fu interrupted him. “The rule is that I have the final say.”
He looked at Liu Yi’an, his eyes cold. “An’an, go home. Prepare properly for the wedding. Next month, you’ll marry Yanchen.”
“From now on, stay home, take care of your husband and children, and stop coming out here to embarrass yourself.”
Liu Yi’an clenched her fists.
It had been exactly like this in her previous life.
With just one word from Father Fu, she had lost everything.
“I disagree.” She spoke each word clearly.
“You have no choice.” Father Fu sneered. “Director Li, process the paperwork.”
Director Li hesitated for a few seconds before finally picking up the documents on the table.
“Researcher Liu, please cooperate…”
“Wait.” Zhou Yuping spoke up.
Everyone turned to look at him.
“Mr. Fu, Researcher Liu is currently in charge of a military project.” Zhou Yuping’s tone remained calm. “Her continued employment requires the military’s approval.”
Father Fu’s expression darkened. “Commander Zhou, are you trying to protect her?”
“I’m simply following the rules.”
“The rules?” Father Fu sneered. “Commander Zhou, the military’s rules have no authority over the Space Administration’s personnel appointments.”
“Liu Yi’an is an employee of the research institute, not a member of the military.”
Zhou Yuping fell silent for a few seconds.
It was true that he had no direct authority to interfere.
“Then I request that Researcher Liu be transferred to a military research institute.”
Father Fu’s eyes turned cold. “It’s too late.”
He looked at Director Li. “Do it now.”
Director Li gritted his teeth and signed the documents.
“Researcher Liu, effective immediately, your researcher qualification has been suspended.”
“Please leave the research institute immediately and return all work credentials.”
Liu Yi’an stared at the document, and a familiar sense of helplessness welled up inside her.
It had been the same in her previous life.
She had fought desperately, yet she had been unable to change anything.
“An’an.” Father Fu walked up to her, once again wearing a kindly smile. “Don’t blame Uncle for being heartless. I’m doing all this for your own good.”
“The research institute isn’t suitable for you. Home is where you belong.”
Liu Yi’an looked up at him.
She had stared at this face for three years in her previous life.
Every time she was bullied, every time she sought help, all she saw was this hypocritical smile.
“Uncle Fu.” She suddenly smiled. “Do you really think I’ll obediently do as you say?”
Father Fu frowned.
“Did you have something to do with my parents’ deaths?”
The conference room instantly fell silent.
Father Fu’s expression changed drastically. “What nonsense are you talking about!”
“You approved the route used to transport the classified data back then.” Liu Yi’an spoke each word clearly. “There was a traitor within the organization, which led to my parents being ambushed and killed.”
“And you were the only person who knew the complete route.”
Cold sweat broke out on Father Fu’s forehead.
“You you’d better not make baseless accusations!”
“Whether it’s a baseless accusation or not, we’ll know once we investigate.” Liu Yi’an looked at Zhou Yuping. “Commander Zhou, can you help me retrieve the records from that year?”
A dark glint flashed through Zhou Yuping’s eyes. “It will take time.”
“That’s fine. I can afford to wait.”
Father Fu’s face turned livid. “Liu Yi’an, have you gone mad?”
“I haven’t.” Liu Yi’an’s tone was calm. “I just want to know the truth.”
“The truth is that your parents sacrificed themselves for the country!” Father Fu roared. “After everything they did, how can you possibly suspect me like this?”
“The person who should be ashamed is you.” Liu Yi’an looked at him. “You used their sacrifice to climb higher, treated me as a tool, and even tried to ruin my life.”
“Uncle Fu, you’re the one who has betrayed them the most.”
Father Fu was left speechless.
“Take her away.” He turned toward the security guards at the door. “Send her back to the Fu residence. Keep an eye on her. She is not allowed to leave.”
Two security guards walked over.
“Researcher Liu, please cooperate.”
Liu Yi’an didn’t move.
“Commander Zhou.” She looked at Zhou Yuping.
Zhou Yuping clenched his fists.
He wanted to intervene, but he couldn’t not now.
Father Fu’s position was too sensitive. Confronting him by force would only make things worse.
“Trust me,” he said quietly.
Liu Yi’an nodded.
She followed the security guards out of the conference room.
In the hallway, the research institute employees were whispering among themselves.
“Researcher Liu was fired?”
“I heard it was the Fu family’s decision…”
“She offended someone she shouldn’t have.”
Hearing their comments, Liu Yi’an curled her lips into a cold smile.
In her previous life, she had been driven out of the research institute in exactly the same way.
Everyone had watched her become a laughingstock.
But this life was different.
Before leaving, she had already handed all the evidence to Zhou Yuping.
Every single thing Father Fu had done over the years was enough to destroy his reputation completely.
It would simply take time.
A black sedan was parked outside the research institute.
Father Fu sat in the back seat, his expression emotionless.
“Get in.”
Liu Yi’an got into the car.
The car started and drove toward the Fu family’s old residence.
Father Fu didn’t say a word throughout the entire journey.
It wasn’t until they were almost home that he finally spoke. “An’an, do you hate me?”
Liu Yi’an looked out the window. “Yes.”
“Then hate me.” Father Fu sighed. “Once you marry Yanchen and have children, you’ll understand why I did all this for you.”
Liu Yi’an didn’t answer.
The car stopped at the entrance to the Fu residence.
The butler was already waiting there.
“Master, Second Young Master is still at the research institute…”
“Have him come back.” Father Fu got out of the car. “Also, lock An’an’s room. Without my permission, she is not allowed to leave.”
The butler froze for a moment. “Yes, sir.”
Liu Yi’an was taken into that familiar room.
In her previous life, she had lived here for three years.
Every single day had felt like being in prison.
The door was locked from the outside.
She walked to the window and looked out at the courtyard.
Her phone vibrated.
Zhou Yuping sent her a message: “The files are already being retrieved. It’ll take no more than three days.”
Liu Yi’an replied, “Thank you.”
“Also…” Zhou Yuping sent another message. “I’ll reinvestigate the case involving your parents from back then.”
Liu Yi’an tightened her grip on her phone.
In her previous life, she had died without ever learning the truth.
In this life, she would uncover it no matter what.
The sound of a car came from outside the window.
Fu Yanchen was back.
He rushed into the courtyard and headed straight upstairs.
“An’an!”
He pounded on the door. “Open the door!”
Liu Yi’an didn’t move.
“An’an, I know you’re in there!” Fu Yanchen’s voice was filled with urgency. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you!”
Protect her?
Liu Yi’an let out a cold laugh.
He had said the same thing in her previous life.
And then he had stood by and watched her suffer.
“Fu Yanchen.” She spoke through the door. “There’s no way I’m marrying you in this lifetime.”
“Give up on that idea.”
There was silence outside the door for a few seconds.
“Why?” Fu Yanchen’s voice trembled. “An’an, what’s wrong with me?”
“Everything.”
“You…”
“The person I love isn’t you.” Liu Yi’an cut him off. “And it never will be.”