The Quiet Triumph After Ruin

In my previous life, when the lab caught fire, I was pinned under a bookshelf, unable to move.

But Veronica grabbed her beloved Ethan's hand and fled with the data drive, never looking back.

After my rebirth, I quit the research group and cut all ties with her.

Seven years later at a university alumni gathering, she clung to Ethan's arm and mocked me for being a washed-up book restoration worker.

When their academic fraud was exposed on the spot, the Quinn family pulled their funding and loan sharks came knocking. They turned on each other in the mud.

I stood on the awards podium while Sabrina held our son's hand and applauded warmly.

Veronica clutched an old magazine on the street corner, murmuring, "Adrian..."

And I leaned down to kiss Sabrina's lips, whispering softly, "Darling, let's go home."

Adrian's POV

In my previous life, when the fire broke out, my wife's first instinct was to grab her true love Ethan and run out of the lab.

She completely ignored me, trapped under a fallen bookshelf and unable to move.

After my rebirth, rescued just in time, I pulled out my IV and walked out the door.

From that moment on, we went our separate ways.

Seven years later, I encountered my ex-wife at a top-tier academic conference. She and Ethan mistook me for a maintenance worker and tried to throw me out.

Little did they know, the conference they'd worked so hard to sneak into was only held to please me.

I never expected to see Veronica again in this lifetime.

At the university's alumni reunion, Veronica stood arm-in-arm with Ethan in the center of the crowd, no longer showing the exhaustion from staying up late revising papers years ago.

People around her constantly praised and flattered her.

"Professor Reed is exceptional in academia, and Professor Hayes has an overseas background. You two are truly our university's dream couple."

Brilliant lights shone on stage, with a banner reading "Annual Alumni Reunion."

Ethan stood in his tailored suit, confidently gripping the microphone.

"Our joint key laboratory will officially open at the end of this year. We welcome all colleagues in the field to visit and exchange ideas."

Veronica took the microphone, her voice carrying through the speakers across the venue.

"Research requires patience. We want to deliver the most rigorous results to the academic community."

She looked at Ethan, her eyes full of admiration.

The audience erupted in applause.

As the two returned to the lounge, people began whispering.

"They've been working together for seven years, and they've been researching that project for seven years too. How come they only just became professors?"

"I heard there used to be a really talented data analyst. After they left, progress slowed down considerably."

I stood in the shadows watching this scene unfold.

Without my core algorithms, it took them a full seven years to barely scrape together enough achievements to qualify for professorships.

If my son hadn't snuck out while I was working, I would never have set foot in this place again in this lifetime.

I moved through the crowd, trying to find that familiar small figure.

The venue was carpeted in red, with champagne displayed on the refreshment tables.

Everyone around wore elegant attire. My outfit looked completely out of place.

A university administrator holding a wine glass frowned and avoided me, brushing off his sleeve in disgust.

I ignored him, scanning the area beneath the refreshment tables.

Suddenly, commotion erupted ahead.

The figure I was looking for flashed past and darted into the main exhibition hall.

I instinctively quickened my pace and accidentally bumped into a volunteer distributing brochures.

"Crash!"

Glossy brochures scattered across the floor.

The volunteer spun around, saw my appearance, and immediately raised their voice.

"Which maintenance department are you from? Can't you see guests without credentials aren't allowed in the core area?!"

The previously noisy conversations instantly quieted, and countless eyes turned toward me.

I bent down to pick up a brochure and brushed off the dust.

"Sorry, I'm looking for someone."

"Looking for someone? There are only experts and professors here. Who are you looking for? The cleaning supervisor?"

Adrian's POV

The lounge door opened a crack.

Ethan walked out while adjusting his tie. His voice wasn't loud, but in this quiet corner, I could hear him clearly.

"Sabrina is coming today, Veronica. You must find a chance to connect with her. If the Quinn family is willing to attach their name to our lab, our funding will be secure."

Veronica was touching up her lipstick with a compact mirror, her expression showing barely concealed anxiety.

"I know, but I've heard Sabrina has extremely high standards. My new paper's data isn't ready yet. If she asks..."

"The data is the students' job."

Ethan interrupted impatiently.

"You just need to look good on stage."

Veronica looked at herself in the mirror, pressed her freshly colored lips together, and nodded vigorously.

"Right. As long as the persona holds, the resources will come."

The two confidently turned the corner and happened upon the commotion on my end.

Brochures were scattered across the floor.

Ethan frowned and looked over with disgust, as if my shabby appearance ruined the venue's sophisticated atmosphere.

Veronica stopped in her tracks.

"Adrian? How did you sneak in here?"

I bent down to pick up the last brochure and brushed dust off the cover.

"Delivering materials."

A nearby guest holding champagne asked curiously.

"Professor Reed, who is this?"

Veronica's eyes flickered, her voice cold.

"Um, a former... lab technician I supervised."

The guest nodded in understanding.

Ethan casually added.

"Couldn't get into the doctoral program, right? Some people really aren't cut out for research. Switching to support staff early is also a way forward."

Veronica didn't contradict him. She didn't even glance at me again, turning instead to the aggressive volunteer.

"Forget it, don't make a fuss. Let him go."

Lab technician.

I looked at her averted profile.

In my previous life, during countless late nights, she'd lean on my shoulder and say, "Adrian, you're the most important person in our group. I couldn't graduate without you."

Now, under the spotlight, that most important person had become a shameful support staff member.

When faced with self-interest, memories can be rewritten.

I smiled. The last ripple of emotion toward an old acquaintance completely settled in my heart.

The surrounding crowd began whispering.

"That guy's pretty good-looking, but unfortunately he's just manual labor. Professor Reed actually supervised someone like that?"

"Birds of a feather flock together. Look at Professor Hayes. This guy clearly just coasted along. No wonder he doesn't belong."

Ethan listened to the recognition of his elite status from those around him and raised his chin even higher.

The volunteer remained relentless, pointing at the ink stains and paper scraps on my clothes.

"You need to leave now. You're filthy. Don't dirty the carpet."

Veronica sighed and stopped the volunteer.

"Forget it. Do me a favor."

Ethan stood on the steps, looking down at me from above, and laughed.

"Adrian, you at least have an undergraduate degree. How have you fallen to this state?"

Veronica pulled a credential with a gray lanyard from her bag and held it out to me like charity.

"Why force your way in? Even if you listen to these high-level lectures, they won't help you. You wouldn't understand them anyway."

She pushed the credential forward.

"Take it. I worked hard to get this guest pass. Go sit in the back."

I looked down at the credential. It read "Temporary Visitor."

Meanwhile, Veronica and Ethan wore bright red VIP guest badges around their necks.

One credential divided two worlds.

She could never imagine that I personally approved the distribution list for these red VIP badges the day before yesterday.

Adrian's POV

Veronica pulled out her phone and opened her QR code business card.

"Scan my card. I'll send you the digital conference handbook."

Her finger swiped across the screen twice before freezing.

"You deleted me?"

I didn't understand why she was surprised.

"Back in the ambulance, you said we shouldn't contact each other anymore to avoid affecting Ethan's future."

I put away my phone, my tone flat.

"I don't need the guest pass either."

Veronica put her phone away and laughed dryly.

"Deleting me is probably for the best. Saves you from seeing our achievements on Ins and feeling bitter."

Ethan put his arm around her shoulder.

"Exactly. The circle we're in now discusses cutting-edge research. A manual laborer like him wouldn't understand even if he followed us. He'd just feel awkward."

I glanced at them.

"True. My circle is quieter. No room for things that are too noisy."

Veronica's expression changed. She understood my meaning.

She slammed the gray guest pass on the table.

"Adrian, if it weren't for the fact that you used to run data for me, you'd never get into a national-level conference like this in your lifetime. Don't be ungrateful."

Ethan patted her back and pointed at me.

"Don't bother with people like him. He'll be a temp worker with no official status his whole life. His worldview is as narrow as the bottom of a well."

Temp worker.

Those words made me stop.

I thought back to my previous life.

Ethan was a typical academic tailor.

He rose through the ranks by stitching together concepts and networking, completely clueless about data analysis.

During graduate school, Veronica asked me to help build a model so Ethan could pass his evaluation.

I pulled three all-nighters in the lab, using my core algorithms to complete the project for her.

On the final publication, Ethan was first author, Veronica was second author. My name wasn't on the list.

Veronica told me we were a team.

Ethan was good at securing projects, I was good at technical work. With resources secured, I wouldn't be shortchanged.

This "collaboration" lasted seven years.

I remained a shadow behind the scenes. Veronica used the excuse of limited official positions to never formalize my status.

Until the lab caught fire.

At the only escape route, Veronica pushed past me, pinned under the bookshelf.

She pulled up Ethan, who'd merely scraped his skin, while clutching the data drive containing my latest calculations in her other hand.

The glass door locked from the outside.

I watched her protect Ethan as they left. She never looked back once.

The smell of burning plastic seemed to fill my nostrils again.

I instinctively touched the wedding ring on my ring finger.

The cool metal brought me back. That suffocating feeling disappeared.

In this life, I owed no one.

The first thing I did after rebirth was apply to leave the research group.

Watching them panic over missing data, I switched careers to a rare book restoration center and cut all contact.

I turned to leave, but Ethan blocked my path.

"Don't rush off. Without the university platform, you can only do manual labor."

He pulled out a business card from his jacket and stuffed it into my shirt pocket.

"My new lab happens to need people. Washing beakers and test tubes. It's contract work, but at least you'd be working at a university."

The people around laughed. Someone chimed in, telling me to hurry up and thank the kindhearted Professor Hayes.

I pulled out the business card and tossed it into a nearby trash bin.

"Thanks, but I already have a job. Restoration specialist."

Ethan burst into exaggerated laughter.

"Restoration specialist? You mean book repair, right? Ha ha ha ha! Who still does that these days? You mean taping things together at a street stall?"

His laughter drew more attention.

Veronica looked at me, her eyes complex.

"Do you work at a print shop binding photocopies for people? What future is there in that kind of mechanical labor?"

She sighed, as if feeling sorry for me.

"For old times' sake, I can put in a word at the library to get you a librarian position. The salary isn't high, but it's stable."

I shook my head.

"My skills are enough to support my family. Thanks for the concern."

Veronica's expression turned cold.

"Adrian, you're willfully degrading yourself. You can't teach mud to climb a wall. Don't expect me to bail you out in the future."

She turned around, linking arms with Ethan, and stopped looking at me.

I couldn't be bothered explaining to them.

I'm currently the chief restoration specialist at the National Museum. I handle antique rare books. Even Veronica's university president needs to make an appointment to see me.

If I told them this, they'd only think I was lying.

Adrian's POV

Having escaped the peripheral entanglement, I quickly walked toward the core exhibition area.

The security level here was noticeably higher. Red barrier tape stretched tight, and inside were displayed several centerpiece treasures for this conference.

I avoided a university administrator holding champagne, my gaze moving past the sea of heads.

At the edge of the barrier, a small figure flashed past.

My heart tightened. I bent down, preparing to duck under the barrier.

"Stop!"

A hand pressed heavily on my shoulder.

The security manager Jeff blocked my path, looking me up and down.

"Which construction crew are you from? Your clothes are so dirty and you dare barge into the core area? Can you afford to pay if you damage the exhibits?"

"I'm looking for my child. I'll leave as soon as I find him."

Ethan and Veronica followed over as well.

Ethan put his hands in his pockets and sauntered over to Jeff.

"I know this guy. He used to be someone who couldn't even get official status. Now I think he repairs junk. You'd better watch him closely. Don't let him steal anything."

Jeff's back immediately straightened. He put on an ingratiating smile for Ethan, then turned to me with his features scrunched together.

"You hear that? Professor Hayes has spoken! This is a high-class venue, not a place for poor people like you to cause trouble! Get out!"

I brushed off the hand on my shoulder and emphasized again.

"I told you, I'm just a father looking for his child. And my clothes are protective wear. They're not dirty, are they?"

Ethan scoffed and exaggeratedly waved his hand in front of his nose.

"Protective wear? More like reeking of poverty. Who would run around in shabby work clothes like that in an academic sanctuary like this?"

Veronica stood to the side, frowning.

"Adrian, are you really resorting to making scenes just to get in? I kindly offered you a pass, but you refused, just to protect your pathetic pride?"

I ignored her words and looked directly into Jeff's eyes.

"I'm just here to find my child. You don't need to keep harassing me."

Jeff was momentarily intimidated by my tone and hesitated.

But he glanced at the special guest badge on Ethan's chest, then at my old toolbox.

"Stop talking nonsense. Get lost!"

I didn't want to waste more words.

Taking advantage of the security's hesitation, I sidestepped his obstruction and rushed toward the interior of the exhibition area.

"Stop him!"

Ethan's furious shout came from behind.

Veronica pulled out her phone, her fingers rapidly tapping the screen, her eyes cold.

Since I didn't know what was good for me, she'd have security throw me out to avoid embarrassment when Professor Quinn arrived.

Adrian's POV

The crowd suddenly stirred with discussion coming from all directions.

"Is Professor Quinn here?"

Ethan adjusted his tie, raising his voice several notches.

"Professor Quinn is known as a genius. She came specially to support our conference."

Veronica's face immediately showed anticipation. She quickly adjusted her expression and looked toward the entrance.

People around were discussing Sabrina's distinguished background and academic standing.

"If we could get Professor Quinn's support in medical funding, our project would be set."

"I heard Professor Quinn's child is here too. Apparently the kid's a prodigy."

Just then, the conference center's director Mr. Cooper came running over, drenched in sweat, shouting at Jeff.

"What's going on? What a mess! Professor Quinn is almost here!"

Jeff pointed in my direction, quickly deflecting responsibility.

"Some lunatic brought a kid and broke in. We're trying to catch them!"

Mr. Cooper's face went pale. He wiped his sweat while issuing orders.

"Handle it quickly! Don't let Professor Quinn see this unseemly mess! Also, has anyone seen Professor Quinn's child?"

Hearing that the Quinn family's child was missing, everyone enthusiastically looked around, hoping to curry favor.

Veronica and Ethan also joined the search, temporarily too busy to deal with me.

I ignored the chaos behind me and walked straight to the core exhibition area.

In front of an antique painting display in the corner, I spotted my son.

He held a small portable magnifying glass, standing on tiptoes, reaching out to touch the painting hanging on the wall.

That was the antique Ethan had been bragging about all evening.

"Pull your hand back."

I quickly stepped forward and grabbed my son's wrist.

My son pouted and put the magnifying glass back in his pocket.

"Dad, it's just a piece of junk paper. What's so special about it?"

I followed his gaze and glanced at the painting.

One look and I frowned.

The paper was too white, the heat treatment incomplete, with obvious machine-made grid patterns on the edges.

The seal's ink color sat on the paper's surface, clearly a product of computer scanning, inkjet printing, and artificial aging.

This was the so-called national-level conference's centerpiece treasure.

Absurd.

"Stop!"

A sharp rebuke interrupted my thoughts.

Ethan strode over, blocking the exhibit, righteously pointing at me.

"Your lack of manners is one thing, but bringing a child to destroy cultural relics? This is an antique! You couldn't afford to replace it in several lifetimes!"

Veronica followed behind him, looking at me with furrowed brows, her eyes full of disappointment.

"Adrian, to get my attention, you'd actually have a child vandalize such a valuable exhibit?"

Jeff led several guards over, seeking credit with the arriving Mr. Cooper.

"Sir, this is the one! Trespassed into the core area and attempted to destroy cultural relics!"

Mr. Cooper didn't even see my face clearly. He only heard "destroy cultural relics," and being in a rush to welcome Sabrina, simply waved his hand.

"Restrain him first! Get the child away from the danger zone!"

With Mr. Cooper's order, Ethan became even more unbridled.

He bent down, putting on a kind face for my son, trying to pull the child over.

"Stay away from this rude man. I'll take you to find your parents. Don't let him be a bad influence."

My son stepped back in disgust, avoiding Ethan's outstretched hand.

He turned and hugged my leg, and under everyone's gaze, spoke crisply.

"Dad, this painting is fake."

The scene fell into deathly silence.

Ethan's smile froze on his face.

Veronica looked at the child in disbelief, seeming to think he'd gone crazy like me, willing to say anything for attention.

My son pointed at the painting and delivered another blow.

"The paper's too new. The seal is inkjet."

Ethan snapped back to his senses and shouted furiously.

"Nonsense! This child has clearly been corrupted by you, spouting lies!"

He turned to Mr. Cooper and security, his voice shrill.

"What are you all standing around for? Arrest this father and son with no manners! Call the police! This is slander, it's causing trouble!"

To calm the situation, Mr. Cooper gave the security a knowing look.

Adrian's POV

Mr. Cooper gave a firm order. Four security guards gripping rubber batons surrounded us in a fan formation.

Ethan stood on the outer circle, pointing at me and shouting.

"Don't let him hurt the child! This man's mentally unstable. Grab the kid!"

I ignored him, shielding my son with one arm and turning to face the approaching human wall.

"I'd like to see who dares."

My hand, steady from years of holding carving knives, didn't waver. My voice wasn't loud, but those security guards instinctively stopped.

My son looked up at me from within my arms, not particularly scared-if anything, a bit excited.

I brushed the dust off his clothes.

"Still going to run off?"

Seeing the guards weren't moving, Ethan flew into a rage and tried to charge over.

"You-"

My gaze swept over him.

"I'm his father. When is it your turn to teach me how to raise my child?"

Ethan's accusation caught in his throat halfway through.

His gaze darted between my blue work clothes stained with paper scraps and my son's logo-free athletic wear.

My son's clothes were bought by Sabrina, custom made without tags.

But to Ethan's eyes, they looked like street market goods.

He gave a cold laugh, seemingly finding a new point of attack.

"Father? No wonder he has no manners. The kid just said the painting was fake. You taught him that, didn't you? Making up lies to avoid compensation."

My son bristled and tugged at my sleeve.

"Dad, it really is fake. Mom's upstairs preparing to speak. I got bored and came down. And the paper used for this painting is obviously new."

He pouted, complaining quietly.

"You're usually stricter about those old books than you are about me. How would I dare touch something real?"

I sighed and picked him up.

Seeing me ignore him, Ethan was completely enraged.

He pulled out his phone and waved it at Jeff.

"If you won't act, then I'm calling the police. Destroying a national treasure is enough to get you seven or eight years."

Veronica walked over at this point.

She grabbed Ethan's arm and looked at me with an expression of disappointed frustration.

"Adrian, at a time like this you're still being stubborn? Just have the child apologize and pay some compensation. If this really gets to the police station and you get a criminal record, your life is ruined."

I looked at these two people and found it somewhat amusing.

"Call the police? Fine."

I pointed at the painting.

"Perfect timing for the police to come see what brand of printer was used to make your so-called antique."

Ethan's expression changed, his voice jumping several octaves.

"I see you won't shed tears until you see your coffin!"

Just then, Mr. Cooper came rushing over.

He had no interest in listening to our argument. While wiping sweat, he pointed at me.

"I don't care who he is. Throw him out! Don't block the entrance! Professor Quinn is about to come in! If she sees this scene, none of you will have jobs!"

With the leader's directive, the security guards no longer hesitated.

A baton whistled through the air, aimed straight at my shoulder.

I didn't retreat. I advanced.

My left hand protected my child's head while my right hand rose, precisely blocking the descending baton the instant it fell.

Clean and efficient.

The guard stumbled back a step, losing his balance.

Gasps rose from the surrounding crowd.

My son suddenly shouted toward the back of the crowd.

"Mom!"

Mr. Cooper was about to lose his temper when he heard this shout. He instinctively followed the child's line of sight, and his entire body froze.

A few meters away, Sabrina was striding over with a group of university leaders following behind.

Her face was frighteningly cold.

Mr. Cooper looked back at me, then at my son's face that bore some resemblance to Sabrina's. Cold sweat immediately broke out.

His legs buckled. He bent nearly double, his voice shaking.

"You... you're Professor Quinn's husband?"

I lowered my blocking hand and straightened my son's collar.

"Yes. Here to pick up my child."

Mr. Cooper's jowls twitched twice as he forced on a smile more painful-looking than crying.

"Oh my, what a misunderstanding! Mr. Parker, you're our special consultant. Please, come this way to be seated."