Chapter 17: Apologize to Her? Is She Even Worthy?

Jiang Ze was slightly taken aback.

He hadn’t expected Fu Yanci to bring up Ruan Liuzheng on his own, and there was a faint look of surprise in his eyes.

Then again, it was true—Ruan Liuzheng hadn’t contacted him in quite a while.

So much time had passed, and she hadn’t even made a single phone call.

No matter how angry she had been in the past, she had never acted like this before.

Combined with her firm attitude from a few days ago, Jiang Ze couldn’t shake the feeling that… something was truly different this time.

Maybe Ruan Liuzheng is serious now.

“Jiang Ze! Has she contacted you?”

Fu Yanci, still waiting after a long silence, frowned and impatiently repeated the question with a growing edge to his tone.

Jiang Ze snapped back to attention and quickly shook his head.
“No, Mr. Fu. I think this time you might have really hurt her. Maybe… you should give her a call and apologize?”

Fu Yanci let out a cold, dismissive laugh, as if he’d just heard a ridiculous joke.

His expression was full of contempt.
“Apologize to her? Is she even worthy of that? Just wait—she’ll come crawling back to me like a dog tonight, begging for forgiveness!”

His voice was firm, and a cold gleam flashed in his dark eyes.

Jiang Ze lowered his head and said nothing—but deep down, he thought Mr. Fu was in for a disappointment.

Because Ruan Liuzheng… really wasn’t the same woman anymore.

---

At Sofan, Ruan Liuzheng had officially returned to work a few days earlier.

That morning, she had barely settled at her desk and hadn’t even turned on her computer when she received a call from Rosenthal.

Rosenthal: “Liuzheng, come up here for a bit. I have something to tell you.”

Since returning to Sofan, aside from regular meetings, this was the first time Rosenthal had specifically requested to speak with her one-on-one.

Which meant it was probably something important.

Ruan Liuzheng put down the phone, gave a couple of instructions to her assistant, and took the elevator to Rosenthal’s office.

As soon as she opened the door, she saw Rosenthal sitting on the sofa—he looked like he’d been waiting for a while.

Rosenthal smiled and gestured to the single-seat couch across from him.
“Liuzheng, you’re here. Have a seat.”

Ruan Liuzheng nodded, sat down, and asked with some curiosity,
“Rosenthal, what’s going on? You sounded a bit urgent on the phone.”

Rosenthal’s expression changed subtly. He lowered his eyes slightly.
“Professor Wen is ill. She just had surgery a few days ago. Liuzheng, would you like to go visit her?”

Professor Wen Yuexian, from Q University’s Art Department, was a titan in the art world—and had also been Ruan Liuzheng’s mentor.

She had helped Ruan Liuzheng countless times throughout her career.

So, although Rosenthal phrased it as a question, his tone was one of certainty.

Because he knew Ruan Liuzheng would definitely go.

“When did it happen?” Ruan Liuzheng asked calmly.

But her hands, resting on her knees, were clenched tightly.

In her memory, the kind yet stern elderly woman—who always kept herself meticulously groomed and full of life—was now… sick?

Hadn’t she always been the most health-conscious? The one who valued her life the most?

Getting sick would make her feel less beautiful… she must be very sad now.

Ruan Liuzheng lowered her gaze, her heart twisting painfully.

She felt an overwhelming sense of unease.

Rosenthal’s tone softened.
“I only just found out myself. But don’t worry—Professor Wen has already been discharged and is recovering at home. It doesn’t seem to be serious.”

“Liuzheng, why don’t you go represent the company and pay her a visit? Over the years, she’s helped the company quite a lot too.”

Ruan Liuzheng nodded and gave him a grateful smile.

She knew Rosenthal was giving her a way out.

Back then, in order to marry Fu Yanci, she had a falling out with Professor Wen. Their relationship became so strained that they essentially severed ties as teacher and student.

She was stubborn and proud, not the kind of person who would bow her head and admit fault.

But that was the old her.

Now, she knew she had been wrong. Even if Rosenthal hadn’t offered her a chance to save face, she would have gone to see Professor Wen anyway.

She had let the old woman down—let down all her hopes and years of guidance. She needed to apologize face-to-face.

And seek forgiveness in person.

---

At 9:00 AM, Ruan Liuzheng appeared at Q University’s faculty housing, carrying a fruit basket.

Professor Wen had always held high standards for the quality of life. Her front and back yards were filled with flowers and plants.

In the entire faculty compound, her home was the most distinctive.

Looking at the two crabapple trees at the gate, which hadn’t changed much over the years, Ruan Liuzheng couldn’t help but smile softly.

She stepped forward and rang the doorbell, quietly waiting for the housekeeper to answer.

After a while, a slightly plump, middle-aged woman in her fifties came out.

It was Aunt Lin—the Wen family’s longtime housekeeper, who had looked after the professor since her youth.

Back in college, when Ruan Liuzheng was Professor Wen’s favorite student, she had visited countless times for home-cooked meals.

And just like the professor, Aunt Lin had always treated her with sincere affection—like a daughter.

Both of them had been incredibly kind to her—elders she deeply respected.

Unfortunately, for the sake of marrying Fu Yanci, she had completely broken their hearts.

She hadn’t come to visit even once in the past five years.

Lowering her gaze, Ruan Liuzheng felt a wave of guilt pass through her. Her heart grew increasingly uneasy.

But to her surprise, Aunt Lin didn’t show any anger upon seeing her. Instead, her face lit up with joy.

She hurried her steps—what should’ve taken a few minutes she covered in mere seconds.

Opening the door with a smile, she said,
“Liuzheng, it’s been so long! Come in, come in!”

Hearing that familiar and affectionate tone, Ruan Liuzheng’s nerves slowly eased, her tightly drawn brows relaxing.

Her lips lifted slightly, and the warmth at the corners of her eyes softened her otherwise cool expression.

She spoke gently,
“Aunt Lin, long time no see. Have you been well lately?”

Aunt Lin nodded with a smile and reached for the fruit basket.
“I’m doing great! But Professor Wen was diagnosed with breast cancer not long ago. Don’t worry though—the surgery went well.”

“She’s resting at home now. These past years, even if she didn’t say it out loud, she always thought about you.”

Ruan Liuzheng lowered her eyes, feeling a pang of sorrow.

She replied in a soft voice,
“Mm. I understand, Aunt Lin.”

Aunt Lin gave her a small smile, then carried the fruit basket into the house.

She wanted to bring the good news to Professor Wen right away.

Watching her cheerful back disappear inside, Ruan Liuzheng stood still for a moment. Then she took a deep breath and stepped forward.

---

“Professor, guess who’s here?”

Aunt Lin had already entered the living room, grinning as she turned to Professor Wen on the sofa.

Professor Wen Yuexian set down her book and looked up at the man seated across from her. She pretended to scold Aunt Lin,
“Why are you making such a fuss? Can’t you see we have a guest?”

Aunt Lin froze for a second, realizing she had acted inappropriately. She gave the man on the sofa an apologetic nod, then happily carried the fruit basket into the kitchen.

She had to go prepare a delicious meal—for her little Liuzheng.