The Night I Left, He Turned Grey

"Sarah Lynch has family connections and a strong background, but her name wasn’t on this project to begin with. She joined halfway through, and she wasn’t the one in charge. The person in charge was Leila Jennings!" Mr. Sinclair glanced at her. "It’s obvious you haven’t looked into today’s situation, nor did you watch Leila Jennings’s exclusive interview."

"Leila Jennings has already received a national honor and a cash prize. She’ll definitely be getting offers from universities. A young scholar like her, with such outstanding achievements, can be promoted to associate professor ahead of schedule. How many twenty-eight-year-old associate professors are there?"

"The state will arrange a job and housing for her. And she’s sitting on a major scientific breakthrough. Her future is limitless."

Mrs. Sinclair scoffed. "So what? It’s not like she’s going to share her achievements or prize money with us. She comes from nothing. How far can she really go?"

"You’ve hit the nail on the head. She comes from nothing," Mr. Sinclair said, his gaze resolute. "People from humble beginnings never forget who gave them a helping hand. If Sean had invested in her, our Sinclair family would be her benefactors."

Mrs. Sinclair understood the logic, but she just couldn’t stand Leila Jennings. Continuing to interact with her would be nothing but uncomfortable and insincere.

Mr. Sinclair saw right through her. "You’re just angry that she’s been hoarding Sean’s money all these years, not sparing a dime, and making all of us live so frugally. That our lives aren’t glamorous or respectable enough."

Mrs. Sinclair didn’t deny it.

"Isn’t it true? Look at our son! He makes tens of millions a year, but what about the food he eats, the clothes he wears, the place he lives? And look at us! Do we look like a wealthy family at all? We can’t even go out with any pomp and circumstance. People have been secretly laughing at us for years, you know that, right?"

Mr. Sinclair couldn’t refute her.

"Leila Jennings had a hard life growing up. She’s used to being poor. It can’t be helped."

"Let her be poor on her own time! What gives her the right to drag our whole family down to suffer with her?" Mrs. Sinclair plopped down on the bed, fuming.

Mr. Sinclair waved his hand dismissively. "Alright, alright, that’s enough. Let’s get some sleep. If we keep arguing, our son will really think we’re getting a divorce."

The mention of this infuriated Mrs. Sinclair. She reached out and poked him. "You’re not actually thinking about divorcing me, are you?"

Mr. Sinclair glared at her. "Nonsense. We’re too old for this kind of drama."

...

「The hospital.」

When Mr. Jacobs opened his eyes in the middle of the night, he saw his son and daughter-in-law pointing and yelling at his daughter and son-in-law.

"Look at the fine mess your daughter has made! Not only has she ruined Dad’s lifelong reputation, but she’s also the reason he’s been unconscious all this time. Dad poured his heart and soul into her, and what does she do? She goes and breaks the rules!"

"The directors from the research institute came by last night. They said it was a visit, but they’re actually just waiting for Dad to wake up so they can haul him in for a talk. When he wakes up, what are we supposed to tell him?"

"You two were busy running all over the country for your research, leaving your daughter for the old man to deal with. He gave her money, he gave her resources, he even kept her by his side to mentor her, and this is what he gets? A complete waste who brings ruin to the family!"

Sarah Lynch’s uncle and aunt had long disapproved of the Lynch family. Now that they finally had an opportunity, they let loose a torrent of abuse.

Mr. and Mrs. Lynch’s faces were flushed red, and they didn’t know how to respond.

Finally, the insults became too harsh, and Mrs. Lynch spoke up to refute her brother and sister-in-law.

"Brother, Sister-in-law, what you’re saying is way out of line. If your own children hadn’t been at the bottom of their class every single time, Dad wouldn’t have staked everything on Sarah. Sarah has spent far more time with you than she has with us. Now that she’s in trouble, not only do you show no concern, you even spew venom at her. Is that how elders are supposed to act?"

"And you’re arguing right in front of Dad. If he wakes up and hears this..." Mrs. Lynch caught sight of her father’s open eyes and her voice trailed off. She rushed over to his side, her tone full of concern. "Dad, how are you feeling?"

"I’m not dead yet." Mr. Jacobs’s cold, sharp gaze swept over each of them. "But if you keep arguing, I can’t guarantee that."

Everyone immediately fell silent and crowded around, expressing their concern.

They only relaxed after the doctor on duty examined him and confirmed there were no major issues. They then sat down quietly.

Mr. Jacobs looked at his daughter and son-in-law. "Where is Sarah now?"

Mr. Lynch replied, "Still at the police station."

Mr. Jacobs frowned. "How did this happen?"

Mr. Lynch explained, "The police have video evidence. We haven’t seen it, so we don’t know the specifics. During interrogation, Sarah is using delay tactics by refusing to answer. She said she wants to get a lawyer."

Mr. Jacobs’s face was grim. "Get a lawyer."

Mrs. Lynch said, "We have. Sarah gave us the number for a lawyer. His surname is Grant. He’s already on his way from City B and will arrive in the morning."

Mr. Jacobs asked, "Julian Grant?"

Mrs. Lynch, slightly surprised, nodded. "I looked him up. He’s a senior partner at a renowned law firm in City B."

"He’s also the eldest son of the Grant family in City B." Mr. Jacobs was instantly relieved. "He and Sarah are friends."

Mr. and Mrs. Lynch had no idea their daughter knew such an influential person.

"Dad, can Counselor Grant help Sarah?" Mrs. Lynch asked worriedly.

Mr. Jacobs didn’t answer directly. Instead, he said, "The Grant family’s network is very complex." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

...

While Sean Sinclair and Sarah Lynch were in deep trouble, Leila Jennings was sound asleep in her bed.

It was the most peaceful sleep she’d had in a month.

Sean Sinclair was blocked.

The entire Sinclair family was blocked.

From now on, she would have absolutely no connection to the Sinclair family.

She and Sean Sinclair were done for good.

Sarah Lynch was in jail, so Professor Cheney wouldn’t have to give up his position for her.

Sarah Lynch was removed from the project team, so she couldn’t take a slice of the pie that everyone had worked so hard for.

Everything was going smoothly.

Leila Jennings was even smiling in her dreams.

「The next morning.」

A ray of sunlight crept onto Leila Jennings’s bed. She slowly woke up, stretched languidly, brushed her teeth, washed her face, and made herself a delicious breakfast.

After eating, she decided to do nothing at all. She would just wear her loose pajamas, move the sofa to the window, and bask in the sun all day while carefully reading the letters and looking at the drawings sent from the orphanage.

Leila Jennings moved the cardboard box next to the sofa and flopped down onto it. Her back pressed against her phone, and only then did she remember she had turned on Do Not Disturb last night to get a good night’s sleep.

The moment she turned off Do Not Disturb, her phone went crazy, vibrating nonstop. BUZZ. BUZZ. BUZZ. Message after message popped up, nearly making her hand go numb.

A flood of messages.

Thankfully, she had pinned her conversation with the dean, so she could call her back right away.

The dean had seen the news report about her and had even watched it with the children from the orphanage.

As Leila Jennings chatted with the dean, she opened the children’s simple drawings, their crookedly written letters, and the crafts they had made, like a wind chime made from pinecones.

"By the way, Dean, at the end of the year, please don’t accept any more donations from Stellaxis Technologies. I’m planning to take over funding for the orphanage myself."

"What?" Dean Thatcher was stunned for a moment. "How much prize money did you even get? You should keep it for yourself."

"It’s not just the prize money. There will be patent royalties in the future."

Dean Thatcher asked seriously, "Have you thought this through?"

"Very clearly," Leila Jennings replied with a nod. They chatted for a little while longer before hanging up.

She went back to her messages.

The group chat named "That Cole Guy is Spewing Again (4)" had the most messages. After her interview was posted in the group, it was flooded with an endless stream of exclamation points.

She sent a message: [Hmm?]

Gwen: [Jennings, Dr. Jennings! You you you you you you you...]

Caine: [A legend was among us this whole time. I can die with no regrets.]

Leila Jennings: [You don’t have to be like that. Just call me by my name. Aren’t you guys busy?]

Zachary: [President Cole is happy. He’s handing out bonuses.]

Caine: [A lot of money.]

Gwen: [Mhm mhm mhm!]

Zachary: [Dr. Jennings, the Cole Group is holding a celebratory banquet and would like to invite your team. Would that be possible?]

Leila Jennings: [I’ll need to ask for their opinion.]

Zachary: [Thank you for the trouble, Dr. Jennings. If they agree, I’ll personally deliver the invitations right away.]

Caine: [Requesting to join the invitation delivery squad.]

Gwen: [Me too!]

Leila Jennings asked everyone, and no one had any objections. It would be a good chance to relax.

[Just deliver them to No. 9 Norsen. I’ll take them to the team.]

In the Cole Group’s office, Gwen and Caine looked at Zachary with pleading eyes. They hadn’t been able to go yesterday, so surely they could go today, right?

Zachary replied, "As for that address, No. 9 Norsen... it’s not a place for any of us to go."