Wu Zhengyu took a deep breath, steadied himself, and then slowly began to speak:
"Grandfather, today at the Advanced Breeder Assessment Center, I saw someone. When that person took out their admission ticket, I was really surprised."
His voice carried a hint of confusion and curiosity.
Wu Wenfeng asked with interest, "Oh? Who could make you so surprised?"
Wu Zhengyu continued, "It was someone who looked very young, named Wen Qi. He seemed under 19. I never expected someone so young to come for the advanced breeder assessment. When I saw him, I could hardly believe my eyes. Grandfather, I just want to ask—is his skill real or fake?"
Wu Zhengyu frowned slightly, his eyes full of bewilderment.
After a pause, he went on, "Also, Grandfather, did you specifically arrange for me to work as the registrar because of this Wen Qi? And I saw on his admission ticket that the recommender was you. What’s going on? I really can’t figure it out."
Wu Zhengyu looked eagerly at his grandfather, his gaze filled with anticipation and curiosity, hoping to get an answer from him.
At that moment, Wu Zhengyu’s mind was full of questions. He couldn’t understand why his grandfather would recommend such a young person for the advanced assessment, nor did he know the relationship between his grandfather and this Wen Qi.
Grandfather looked at Wu Zhengyu with a deep gaze and said slowly, "Zhengyu, I’ve never met Wen Qi myself, nor do I know his true abilities. However, sending you to be the registrar today was indeed my arrangement. You’re usually too proud and complacent. I wanted you to see what a true genius looks like, to humble your pride, and to make you understand that there are many talented people in this world. You must always stay humble and keep striving. Don’t be so arrogant anymore, or you’ll never achieve great things in the future."
After saying this, Grandfather let out a soft sigh, his eyes filled with both expectation and concern for Wu Zhengyu.
Wu Zhengyu looked puzzled and asked, "Grandfather, since you don’t know Wen Qi or his abilities, why did you recommend him? That’s not like the grandfather I know."
He furrowed his brow, staring intently at his grandfather, waiting for a reasonable explanation.
The old man smiled and said, "Silly child, even though I don’t know Wen Qi’s specifics, the person who recommended him to me would never deceive me. Since they strongly endorsed Wen Qi, he can’t be bad. I also wanted to do that person a favor, so I simply gave the recommendation. It’s that straightforward."
After speaking, the old man still wore that kind and confident smile.
Wu Zhengyu pressed on, "Grandfather, who is that person?"
His eyes were full of curiosity and urgency.
The old man didn’t hide it and said directly, "Dr. Chu Feng from Chunhua City."
Wu Zhengyu’s heart jolted at the name. His eyes widened, and his face showed great surprise.
Dr. Chu Feng’s reputation was well-known to him—a figure of immense authority and prestige in the relevant research field.
Wu Zhengyu suddenly understood and said, "So it’s Dr. Chu Feng. Since he recommended him, it makes sense that you agreed. That means Wen Qi really might be a genius. If he got Dr. Chu Feng’s recommendation, he must have a good relationship with him. Grandfather, it seems I should try to get on good terms with him later."
As he spoke, Wu Zhengyu was already pondering how to build a good relationship with Wen Qi.
Grandfather nodded slightly and said, "Zhengyu, there’s no need to go out of your way to befriend him right now. Think about it—you barely know each other. Trying to become close after just a few meetings is unrealistic. For now, just establish a slight rapport, let him remember you, and get familiar. Later, I’ll take you directly to Dr. Chu Feng’s place, where we should see Wen Qi. With Dr. Chu Feng as a middleman, communication will be much smoother. After all, no matter how proud Wen Qi is, he’ll show some respect for Dr. Chu Feng’s sake. But we still need to see the results of this assessment. If he passes, that’s remarkable—he’ll become the youngest advanced breeder in the Alliance, a truly impressive achievement. In that case, it’s worth our effort to build a good relationship. But if he fails, we shouldn’t be too eager, to avoid future awkwardness. You need to understand that in this field, skill and achievement are what matter. A person with potential and ability naturally attracts attention and goodwill. But if someone is all talk and no substance, they’re not worth our time and energy. So let’s be patient and wait for the assessment results. We’ll see if Wen Qi has real talent before deciding how to interact with him. Even though I trust Dr. Chu Feng’s recommendation, surprises can happen. If he doesn’t do well and you rush in recklessly, it’ll be awkward for everyone. Understand?"
Grandfather spoke earnestly, his eyes conveying both hope and caution, wanting Wu Zhengyu to act steadily and not rush for results.
The old man was usually seen as dignified and upright in others’ eyes. However, when it came to the family’s development, he revealed the cold side of a patriarch from a major clan. In his heart, family interests always came first.
After hearing his grandfather’s words, Wu Zhengyu’s heart trembled. Though it wasn’t the first time he’d seen his grandfather so stern and detached, it still frightened him each time. Yet he also knew that for the family, interests always took precedence.
Wu Zhengyu understood that because he was the most outstanding of the third generation and, barring accidents, the future heir, his grandfather would share so much with him. He knew his grandfather had high hopes for him, wanting him to always prioritize family interests and shoulder the family’s responsibilities in the future. This pressure left no room for slack and drove him to grow and mature.
At that moment, Wu Zhengyu silently resolved to live up to his grandfather’s expectations and do his utmost for the family’s prosperity and development. Even if it meant making tough decisions, he had to face them bravely.
Wu Zhengyu nodded solemnly and said, "Grandfather, I understand."
His eyes were firm, revealing a sense of determination.
Hearing Wu Zhengyu’s response, Grandfather’s tense expression finally softened, and he gave Wu Zhengyu a relieved smile. That smile was as warm as a spring breeze, full of trust and expectation, as if to say, "Child, Grandfather believes you understand and that you’ll do well."
Wu Zhengyu’s previously tense mood also relaxed.