Professor Sun desperately wanted to unravel this mystery, but Qiu Hongyao wouldn't even glance at him, her face etched with cold indifference.

"..."

Feeling a surge of guilt, Professor Sun guessed that he had probably been too harsh earlier, and that the other party had lost all hope in him.

In his helplessness, he could only look to Xu Fan for help with pleading eyes.

Since Xu Fan knew about his past with Qiu Hongyao, he must also know the real reason why Qiu Hongyao left all those years ago.

"Xu, Xu Fan, please, tell me, will you?"

Professor Sun looked at Xu Fan with eyes full of expectation, begging.

At this moment, he had come to a stark realization, that the one who had been in the wrong all these years had always been himself, not Qiu Hongyao.

He wanted to make amends, and even harbored some greed, wishing to reconcile with Qiu Hongyao, just as Xu Fan had said. Qiu Hongyao was a good woman, and meeting her was the luckiest thing in his life.

But the problem was that now Qiu Hongyao didn't want to have anything to do with him…

He wanted to reconcile, and even more, he wanted to know the reason from that year, which he had been unaware of. Now, all he could do was earnestly beseech this young man in front of him.

"Tell you? If I tell you, can you take back the mistakes you've made?"

Xu Fan gave Professor Sun a cold glance. If he were to reveal the truth, the man in front of him would likely feel even more guilt-stricken.

However, it might be for the best, as it could mend the relationship between the two.

"Yes! Of course, I can! I, I swear! I will change!"

Seeing Professor Sun's sincere attitude, Xu Fan glanced at Qiu Hongyao and then said, "The reason she left you was simply because she didn't want to be a burden to you."

"What?"

Professor Sun was startled upon hearing this; he didn't understand what Xu Fan meant.

Xu Fan laughed lightly and explained, "She has always suffered from a peculiar illness. Someone with her condition needs to rest and avoid overexertion, but she kept working hard to take care of you, and gradually, her illness worsened."

"Later, when she went to the hospital for a check-up, bad news came. She needed to be admitted for treatment and spend a lot of money on medical care to slow down her condition. But how could the two of you afford such a significant expense for treatment at that time?"

"Therefore, Qiu Hongyao gave up on medical treatment. Without treatment, her health naturally deteriorated day by day. Not wanting to burden you, Qiu Hongyao chose to be the bad person and leave you, so as not to weigh you down with her problems and hinder your research work."

Xu Fan revealed the truth, and Professor Sun could no longer hold back, his tears flowing down like a breached dam.

Looking back carefully now, Qiu Hongyao indeed seemed unusual at that time and would often avoid him.

But he had not been focused on her, consumed instead by his research, and even…

Thinking back on his suspicions of Qiu Hongyao having an affair, Professor Sun couldn't help but slap himself fiercely.

He felt that he truly wasn't a man!

"Mr. Xu Fan, then she…"

Thinking of Qiu Hongyao's disappearance over the years and her sudden appearance today, a bad feeling stirred in Professor Sun's heart.

Xu Fan nodded and said, "You're not wrong. The reason Qiu Hongyao came to see you is that she doesn't have much time left. When someone is on the verge of death, it's natural to want to see their dearest person one last time."

"She wanted to wish you and Xiaolu a happy birthday before she passed away, but you didn't give her the chance…"

"I…"

Professor Sun felt his heart tearing apart with excruciating pain.

Now that his research had succeeded, he should have been the happiest, but he couldn't find joy anymore. All that filled his heart was endless regret.

If only he could have another chance, he would not treat her as harshly as he had before!

If he could go back to that time, he would willingly give up his research to take good care of Qiu Hongyao, to take good care of this foolish woman.

"Hongyao, I'm sorry, I... I..."

Turning his gaze to Qiu Hongyao beside him, a surge of endless regret overwhelmed his heart, and Professor Sun suddenly knelt before Qiu Hongyao.

He wanted to apologize, to convey the longing he had hidden deep in his heart for years due to pride, but though a thousand words rose to his throat, in the end, they only turned into tears.

In the hall, this professor, revered by millions, was now crying like a child.

"..."

Qiu Hongyao was just a woman, a tender-hearted woman, and the sight of the man kneeling before her inevitably brought back memories of those past days...

A growing bitterness assailed her nose, and she covered her mouth, her eyes shifting toward Xu Fan.

She didn't know whether she should forgive this man, and in her helpless bewilderment, she could only seek Xu Fan's advice.

"A prodigal who returns is more precious than gold, and since he knows his wrong, you should forgive him,"

Xu Fan said, watching Qiu Hongyao with a slight smile.

With Xu Fan's suggestion, Qiu Hongyao could no longer hold back and threw herself directly at Professor Sun.

She knew her days were numbered, and in the limited time she had left, she hoped to complete it with her loved one.

"Husband, can I... can I talk to our daughter?"

After embracing each other tenderly for a while, Qiu Hongyao looked up at Professor Sun with a pleading expression.

Her daughter was a piece of her own flesh, and all these years, she was alone with her thoughts both day and night.

Now that she finally had the opportunity to reunite, she very much wanted to speak a few words with her daughter.

"That... Of course, there's no problem,"

Professor Sun replied awkwardly as he held Qiu Hongyao.

It wasn't that he didn't want them to talk, but when Qiu Hongyao left, Sun Xiaolu was too young to remember anything.

He was just worried that Sun Xiaolu's unfamiliarity with her would hurt her.

"Sister, is that auntie Sun Xiaolu's mom?"

"Yes, that beautiful auntie is Sun Xiaolu's mom. Remember, she loves you very much, and even though she hasn't been with you these past years, she has always been thinking about you. Understand?"

Just then, Sun Xiaolu's sweet voice could be heard nearby, and Xu Fan's gaze instinctively followed the sound.

He looked at the woman holding Sun Xiaolu and couldn't help but smile.

So that's how it was...

Qiu Hongyao had appeared wearing a uniform of the waitstaff.

With her physical condition, how could she possibly be fit enough to work as a waitress? Not to mention stealing a waitress's uniform to sneak into the hotel.

This clearly meant someone had helped her get into the hotel.

He had never thought before about who had brought Qiu Hongyao to the hotel.

Now that she stood before him, Xu Fan finally realized.

Upon careful consideration, it seemed impossible for her to have come to Huaxia for no reason; if it were for Professor Sun, it would make sense.

Looking at Feng Huang not far away, who was holding Sun Xiaolu with a radiant smile, Xu Fan couldn't help but frown.

If she did come for Professor Sun, then why hasn't she made a move until now?

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