After that day, Ji Yang never appeared again.
An Ning's life continued as usual, showing no signs of being affected. However, the system that had been secretly observing the situation couldn't help but ask:
"Host, aren't you sad at all? I feel like you did have some feelings for him?"
Why did its host seem somewhat... happy instead?
"Indeed, I quite liked his appearance."
An Ning nodded in acknowledgment.
"But it was merely appreciation..."
It wouldn't affect her future life, nor cause any significant emotional loss.
"That guy isn't resolute at all. He must not have truly cared about you."
"No need to say that." Typing the final line of code, An Ning remained calm. "Precisely because he didn't agree, whether it was due to resisting temptation or other reasons, it shows he might have some genuine feelings or backbone."
It's just that this sincerity couldn't compare to the dignity of someone who had been a prodigy since childhood.
Without experiencing hardships or so-called life-and-death separations, even if they had, how could emotions compare to a man's dignity?
To live without status or recognition, seen as an unworthy dependent who could be discarded at any moment due to the woman's achievements and attitude—what self-respecting person would accept that?
This is reality, not some melodramatic love story.
On the contrary, if he had agreed, it would have proven that his motives were far from pure.
Emotions might not surpass dignity, but benefits could make even a prodigy bow his head...
It was a false premise from the start.
"Argh, this is so complicated! Human thoughts are..."
"But host, you're pushing yourself too hard this lifetime. The people in your current position are indeed difficult to deal with."
"Actually, there's nothing wrong with benefits. Didn't you live well because of them in your previous life?"
The dog system still didn't understand.
"Yes, and as you said, that was the previous life."
While speaking, An Ning's fingers flew across the keyboard with dazzling code:
"Back then, I was at a disadvantage, so I had to seize the core benefits."
"But this time, since I can live well on my own, why would I unnecessarily complicate things?"
Having ulterior motives isn't the main issue—it's that his identity is troublesome. Continuing entanglement would bring no benefits.
Earlier, An Ning had considered finding someone attractive and easy to manipulate for fun, but later found it uninteresting.
Hadn't she seen enough handsome men in her past three worlds? Being with someone incompetent and solely focused on climbing up would feel like a loss to her!
In her aesthetic standards, overly weak men, no matter how good-looking, were unappealing.
"Host, don't be ! Maybe someone will truly love you?"
"Maybe." An Ning didn't take it seriously.
"But my time is precious. Why waste energy on such matters?"
"Besides, system, do you think what I said earlier was false?"
The dog looked bewildered. An Ning stated plainly:
"Anyway, in this life, I will never marry or have children."
First, it's unnecessary, and she didn't want to endure the hardship. Second, a person's focus is hard to split. Even with decades of single-minded dedication, she might not achieve her goals. Adding family ties would make it impossible.
Being too busy with work to care for family would be unfair to the child.
Even as a top scientist, this wouldn't change.
A child's emotional void in childhood wouldn't be filled by her status. Since she couldn't provide enough love, it was better not to have one at all.
As a traditional system, it still couldn't comprehend its host's perspective.
Similarly puzzled was Han Miao. Seeing them talk earlier, she thought Sister A-Ning's attitude had softened, but it ended so quickly.
But for such an accomplished scientist like Sister A-Ning, not wanting to marry...
Well... it made sense.
In fact, almost everyone found it normal. After all, she was a scientist—one with numerous achievements at a young age.
Isn't it normal for such talents to focus on their careers?
In the following years, An Ning devoted herself entirely to research. By her late twenties, she successfully improved the brainwave information transmission helmet. Using reverse transmission, she awakened a patient diagnosed as vegetative.
This breakthrough instantly shocked the medical community and made the name "Xu Anning" widely renowned.
Although it was later proven not universally effective, it didn't diminish Dr. Xu's contribution—one worthy of medical history.
Meanwhile, the AI Xiao Ba, after two generations of upgrades, became even more powerful in functionality and autonomy. The intelligent robots modified from it allowed Fu Corporation to dominate the domestic market for a long time.
An Ning finally met Ji Ze again several years later when he was already thirty-five.
It was almost laughable—despite being in the same city, whether due to her reclusive nature or his deliberate avoidance, they hadn't crossed paths all these years.
To her surprise, he was now accompanied by an unfamiliar woman. As for childhood friend Meng Tian, the system mentioned she had married someone else years ago.
As for the female antagonist, as the sole heiress of the He family, she had taken over the business long ago and now stood firmly on her own.
The two middle-aged adults stood silently at their alma mater's gate until An Ning finally spoke, nodding calmly.
Ji Ze, however, pressed his thin lips together, his deep eyes carrying unreadable emotions. After a moment, he said:
"Professor Xu, may I take up some of your time?"
An Ning nodded slightly.
During the school anniversary, the campus was bustling with people.
On the tree-lined path, couples walked hand in hand, laughing and playing. Ji Ze's gaze faltered momentarily, his usual stern expression softening:
"After you left, I spent a long time thinking—even resenting—why you couldn't trust me a little more. Just a little more would have been enough."
Trust that I wouldn't yield, trust that I would strive to overcome obstacles for your happiness.
"But seeing you now, I realized there are things I could never have given you."
Like equality. Like basic respect.
He couldn't even stand up to his own mother...
Remembering the words exchanged during their argument years ago, Ji Ze closed his eyes briefly before saying hoarsely, "I'm sorry..."
"I apologize. I was too naive back then."