“I’m sorry.”
The moment those three words fell, the air in the hospital room seemed to freeze.
Liu Yi’an looked at Fu Yanchen, the corners of her lips curling into a mocking smile. “I don’t accept it.”
Fu Yanchen’s expression darkened. “Liu Yi’an, don’t push your luck.”
“Push my luck?” Liu Yi’an sneered. “Fu Yanchen, get this straight. You’re the ones who did something wrong. I don’t owe you anything.”
Fu Yanchen’s mother frowned. “An’an, Yanchen has already apologized, you…”
“Auntie.” Liu Yi’an interrupted her calmly. “Do you know what he’s apologizing for?”
Fu Yanchen’s mother was stunned.
Liu Yi’an turned around and picked up a stack of draft papers from the table. “Take a look at these.”
Fu Yanchen’s pupils contracted. “What are you doing?”
“Reconstructing my research data,” Liu Yi’an said calmly. “The data that was burned.”
Fu Yanchen’s mother took the papers. The densely packed formulas and calculations left her completely bewildered, but she could tell that they contained highly technical academic material.
“What does this have to do with an apology?” she asked, confused.
“It has everything to do with it.” Liu Yi’an looked at Fu Yanchen. “Your son helped Wei Qing steal my research results. He also switched the materials I submitted, allowing her to take first place.”
“Nonsense!” Fu Yanchen shouted.
“I’m talking nonsense?” Liu Yi’an sneered. “Then why did you look so panicked the moment you saw these materials?”
Fu Yanchen was rendered speechless.
The moment he had seen those draft papers, he really had panicked. If Liu Yi’an could truly reconstruct the complete research data, Wei Qing would no longer be able to keep her first-place ranking.
“An’an, what exactly are you saying?” Fu Yanchen’s mother’s expression changed. “Explain yourself clearly.”
Liu Yi’an didn’t rush to explain. Instead, she looked at Fu Yanchen. “Do you want to tell her first? Or should I?”
Fu Yanchen gritted his teeth. “Liu Yi’an, do you really have to make such a big deal out of this?”
“I’m making a big deal out of it?” Liu Yi’an laughed in anger. “Fu Yanchen, you stole my research results, set fire to the laboratory, nearly got me killed, and now you’re turning around and accusing me of making trouble?”
“What?!” Fu Yanchen’s mother exclaimed. “Set fire to the laboratory? Yanchen, what is this about?”
Fu Yanchen’s face turned livid. “Mom, don’t listen to her nonsense. The fire report clearly states that it was an accident.”
“An accident?” Liu Yi’an sneered. “That day, Wei Qing came to my dormitory and secretly photographed my research materials while someone deliberately distracted me. When the results of the talent selection were announced, I discovered that the data she submitted was exactly the same as mine.”
“I went to the laboratory to redo my research, and she followed me there. She admitted herself that you helped her switch the materials I had submitted.”
“I recorded our conversation and was preparing to report her when she smashed an alcohol lamp at me, causing the fire.”
Liu Yi’an spoke each word slowly, every word like a knife. “And you saved her first, leaving me behind in the fire to die.”
Fu Yanchen’s mother’s face went deathly pale. “Yanchen, is what she said true?”
Fu Yanchen fell silent.
“Answer me!” His mother’s voice trembled.
“Mom, things aren’t the way she says they are.” Fu Yanchen took a deep breath. “It’s true that my sister-in-law’s research overlaps with hers, but that’s because their research fields are similar to begin with. It’s perfectly normal for them to reach similar conclusions.”
“As for the fire, the situation was critical at the time. My sister-in-law was closer to the exit, so I took her out first and then came back to save An’an. It was the most reasonable choice.”
“The most reasonable choice?” Liu Yi’an mocked him. “Then why didn’t you come back to save me after taking her out? Why was it someone else who saved me?”
Fu Yanchen’s expression froze.
“And if their research fields were really just similar, then why were even the margins of error in the data exactly the same?” Liu Yi’an sneered. “Fu Yanchen, before you make up lies, could you at least use your brain?”
Fu Yanchen’s mother watched her son’s expression, and her heart sank further and further.
She knew her son well. His reaction now clearly showed that he was guilty.
“Yanchen.” Her voice turned cold. “Tell me honestly. Is what An’an said true?”
Fu Yanchen was silent for several seconds before suddenly looking up. “Even if it’s true, so what?”
His mother froze.
“My sister-in-law is my elder brother’s widow. Taking care of her is my elder brother’s dying wish.” Fu Yanchen’s tone was firm. “All An’an did was lose first place once. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Why can’t she be a little more understanding toward my sister-in-law?”
“She’s been raising a child alone all these years. She has to work and conduct research at the same time. How difficult do you think that is? An’an is young and has plenty of time. What’s wrong with letting her have this one opportunity?”
Listening to his self-righteous justification, Liu Yi’an suddenly laughed.
In her previous life, she had been brainwashed by this exact same rhetoric for thirty years.
“Fu Yanchen, since you’re so good at being considerate, why don’t you give up one of your own opportunities?” Liu Yi’an said coldly. “You’re a researcher too. You participated in the selection as well. Why don’t you withdraw and give your spot to Wei Qing?”
“Instead, you’re being generous with someone else’s resources, using my research results to help her?”
Fu Yanchen was speechless.
“You say she has it difficult, but what about me?” Liu Yi’an continued. “I spent more than six months preparing for this selection. I worked until midnight every day, and the injuries on my hands came from that period.”
“And what happened? You stole my research results, and I was nearly burned alive in the laboratory.”
“And now you’re telling me to be understanding toward her?”
Liu Yi’an looked at Fu Yanchen, her eyes icy cold. “Fu Yanchen, do you really have the nerve to say that?”
Only then did Fu Yanchen’s mother finally understand.
She looked at her son, her voice trembling. “Yanchen…”
“How could you do such a thing?”
“Mom, I did this for Big Brother.” Fu Yanchen was still trying to justify himself.
“For Big Brother?” Mrs. Fu sneered. “If your brother found out that you were ‘taking care of’ his wife this way, what do you think he would think?”
“This isn’t taking care of her. You’re hurting her!”
Fu Yanchen’s expression turned grim.
Mrs. Fu turned to Liu Yi’an, her eyes reddening. “Yi’an, I’m sorry. I didn’t raise him properly.”
Liu Yi’an shook her head. “Auntie, this isn’t your fault.”
“Those research materials of yours…” Mrs. Fu glanced at the draft papers on the table. “Are you planning to recreate the research and prove yourself?”
“Yes.” Liu Yi’an nodded. “The institute will conduct a review again in a week. By then, I’ll submit the complete research report.”
Fu Yanchen’s expression changed. “Liu Yi’an, what are you planning to do?”
“What am I planning to do?” Liu Yi’an sneered. “Take back what belongs to me.”
“You’re crazy!” Fu Yanchen snapped angrily. “If you do this, my sister-in-law will be ruined!”
“She brought it upon herself.” Liu Yi’an’s tone remained calm. “If you do something wrong, you have to pay the price.”
“Liu Yi’an!” Fu Yanchen suddenly lunged forward, trying to snatch the draft papers from her.
Quick as a flash, Liu Yi’an shielded the documents behind her.
“Go ahead. Try touching them.” Her voice was cold.
Fu Yanchen was stunned by her gaze, his hand frozen in midair.
“Mom, don’t listen to her nonsense!”