When the teachers and students at A University found out that Fang Bingwen had divorced and taken his ex-wife back, what else was unclear?

Although this was a personal matter, his image and status could be said to have plummeted. Students resisted his teaching, and colleagues were unwilling to associate with him. Already distant from his colleagues, he became a loner at the school.

"Bingwen, don’t blame the school’s decision. Your issue did have some impact. The higher-ups mean that you will have to apply every time you access the lab in the future. But don’t worry, once your experiment yields results and the paper is published, the school will reassign responsibilities to you," the leader who once held him in high regard patted him on the shoulder earnestly.

"Director, my experiment is already at its final stage, and I cannot abandon it at this point." Fang Bingwen said with an ugly expression.

"How could I not know? But in matters of experimentation, every researcher says they are just one step away, just one last inspiration short. But how easy is that? Besides, the school isn’t only having you conduct research."

Upon hearing this, Fang Bingwen saw Fu Lei walk out of the lab, holding his old set of keys.

Fu Lei gave him a meaningful smile, which made his face darken even more. How could he not know Fu Lei had such intentions? Does he think he can successfully complete the experiment?

Since Fu Lei was watching Fang Bingwen, he naturally noticed his gaze and felt displeased. What does that mean? Does Fang Bingwen think only he can complete the experiment?

Ha! So what if you are smart? The keys are now in my hands! If I can’t complete it, do you think you can?

Seeing Fu Lei’s gloating and even malicious intent, Fang Bingwen understood. Perhaps those recent rumors had his input too!

It’s possible that the stories online about Ye Qiu lecturing him at home or how Xiao Xu was submissive to him might have come from him. He even started doubting the incident of Xiao Xu speaking ill of Ye Qiu because Xiao Xu first encountered and spoke to Fu Lei.

He realized Fu Lei absolutely didn’t want his research to succeed, and the keys were in the other person’s hand. What should he do in the future?

Fang Bingwen did not tell Song Qing about the setbacks he encountered at school because it was useless to say, and he didn’t want Song Qing to worry about him.

"Why is there a piano in the house?" He noticed that the living room suddenly looked much smaller.

Song Qing looked unnatural: "It was sent by Ye Qiu. She said she bought it a long time ago, considered it the last gift for Xiao Xu. She left after delivering it, and I didn’t even get a chance to refuse."

"She mentioned it to me. Even if we send it back, she probably wouldn’t take it, so just leave it here." Fang Bingwen hadn’t expected the gift Ye Qiu mentioned was this. Since Xiao Xu started learning piano, he acquired a lot of knowledge and understood how expensive and rare a customized piano of this brand was.

From this piano, he could see how much Ye Qiu really cared about Xiao Xu, but the past was in the past, and regret was of no use.

"But with this piano here, the living room is cramped, and there’s no place for the sofa," Song Qing said uneasily.

Fang Bingwen was indifferent: "Then let’s change to a smaller sofa."

"I don’t want her piano." Fang Xu said defiantly, "I hate her."

"Xiao Xu." Fang Bingwen said sternly, "Your Aunt Ye hasn’t done anything wrong to you. This is her kindness towards you. You should be thankful. Besides, given our family’s financial situation, I can’t afford a good piano for you right now."

"I still don’t want her things." Fang Xu said rebelliously.

Fang Bingwen was already in a bad mood today and got angry seeing how resistant he still was towards Ye Qiu: "If you won’t use it, just cover it up. You were the one who insisted on learning piano. Now we have a piano at home, and you won’t use it. What do you actually want?"

"Bingwen, Xiao Xu is just a child." Song Qing defended.

Fang Bingwen realized he might have spoken too harshly, helplessly and dejectedly said: "If you don’t want to use it, then don’t. There’s no need to send it back. Let’s eat first."

Song Qing looked even more awkward: "I haven’t cooked, Bingwen. You know, I’ve never been able to cook."

Fang Bingwen was stunned for a moment, realizing he had forgotten. He knew Song Qing couldn’t cook, but he had become used to coming home to Ye Qiu’s prepared meals, so he momentarily forgot.

"Even Ye Qiu, an Eldest Lady, was willing to learn to cook for you. Bingwen, am I a disappointment to you because I can’t cook?" Song Qing asked tentatively. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"No." Bingwen smiled at her dotingly. "I told you when I asked you to marry me that I would never let you suffer. I failed you in the past, so how could I go back on my word now? You accompany Xiao Xu with his homework first, and I’ll call you when the meal is ready."

Upon entering the kitchen, Bingwen realized it was not the same familiar kitchen. There were many jars and bottles he didn’t recognize. He couldn’t even remember the last time he entered the kitchen.

He fumbled as he washed and sliced vegetables. More than a year of not cooking had made him quite rusty, and he even sliced potatoes into strips instead of shreds.

Fang Xu frowned the entire time, and when he finally tasted the potato strips he optimistically hoped for, he immediately spat it out with an "eww."

"Xiao Xu, what are you doing?" Song Qing was surprised and cautiously glanced at Fang Bingwen’s expression.

"It doesn’t taste good. I don’t want these potato strips, I want what I used to eat." He complained, having consumed takeout and cantine food for several days and thinking he could finally eat something tasty at home, but it turned out to be like this.

"Is it really that bad?" Song Qing cautiously tried a bite. "It’s not particularly terrible. Xiao Xu, don’t be picky."

"I don’t care, I just want what I used to eat." Fang Xu angrily said.

"There’s none." Fang Bingwen said with a composed look, "The potato strips you used to eat were made by your Aunt Ye. Didn’t you not like her? Didn’t you say her cooking wasn’t tasty either? Now these are made by me personally, do you have any other complaints? Why are you so fussy?"

"I just want what I used to eat." Fang Xu fumed angrily, "It’s been so long since I had a proper meal."

"If that’s what you wanted, why didn’t you say thank you to Aunt Ye when you ate her meals before?"

"I hate her."

"Spoiled you, haven’t we? Eat if you want, don’t if you don’t." Fang Bingwen said angrily, "I must have really spoiled you too much, letting you turn into such a person."

"You’re scolding me!" Fang Xu burst into tears and then ran into Song Qing’s arms, "Mom, I hate Dad. Dad doesn’t like me anymore."

At this moment, Song Qing felt both awkward and angry. What was this? Now both father and son were missing Ye Qiu’s cooking while feeling guilty towards her, but what about herself? Did they ever consider her feelings?