Priceless: A widow with a baby asks the prince to marry again

Time passed quietly, and Liu Rusi's changes were like a stream in early spring, calm on the surface but full of amazing vitality inside.

She seemed to be slowly merging into the ordinary. On the playground in the early morning, her running figure was no longer isolated, and she would occasionally nod slightly as she passed by classmates who had also risen early.

In the cafeteria, in the classroom corridors, the faces that had been frozen for thousands of years were gradually showing signs of melting - a very faint, polite smile was no longer a rare sight.

This "normalization" has some subtle consequences.

On the once bustling anonymous campus network forum, the update frequency of the special edition about her, "【Deep Dive】The Evolution of the Iceberg Goddess Liu Rusi", has visibly decreased.

When the initial enthusiasm faded, when the "melting iceberg" was no longer an exclusive secret, and when her daily life became less "abnormal" and dramatic, the interest of onlookers naturally shifted.

The forum was pushed into a corner by other, more explosive campus gossip and gradually became quiet. It seemed that Liu Rusi had finally stepped out from the overly focused, prying spotlight and gained a certain degree of respite.

However, this "ordinariness" is not flawless.

She still retains a piece of territory that is absolutely inviolable.

Whenever a boy who is unaware of her true nature is attracted by her increasingly dazzling brilliance and calm temperament after her transformation, and tries to get close to her and express his affection, the "Ice Goddess" who once intimidated the entire medical school will instantly return.

The way of rejection is still direct, efficient and without leaving any room for negotiation.

His eyes instantly cooled, and his tone was as concise as a scalpel cutting through the air, leaving no room for detours or ambiguity, precisely severing any entanglements that might arise.

This lightning-fast "switching" ability has become her only remaining "legendary" trait that is occasionally mentioned on the forum, but it is only recorded as an invalid "pick-up warning" and is soon overwhelmed by new posts.

Everything seems to be moving in a healthier and more "normal" direction. Liu Rusi is moving forward firmly on her own path, without distraction.

until--

In the second semester of my sophomore year, a piece of news sent ripples through the medical school's upper echelons: Professor Qin Zhenyue, an internationally renowned authority on cardiac surgery, had launched a pioneering research project on cardiac regeneration and repair. The project was significant and resource-rich, but more importantly, Professor Qin was publicly recruiting five graduate students with exceptional potential to serve as project assistants.

This news, like a stone accurately thrown into a deep pool, stirred up huge waves in Liu Rusi's seemingly calm heart.

Becoming a world-class cardiac surgeon—that was the destination she was determined to reach, even at the cost of her life. And Professor Qin Zhenyue was one of the beacons standing atop that peak.

Becoming his project assistant means being able to touch the pulse of the forefront of the discipline in advance, which means immeasurable learning resources and the most shining badge on your future resume.

Knowing that her hope was slim to none—she was just a sophomore who had not yet completed basic medical courses, and there was a gap of several years between her and graduate studies—Liu Rusi acted without hesitation.

Like a precision instrument pushed to its limit, she mustered all her strength. She pored over all of Professor Qin's published papers, deeply understanding his research ideas. She spent all her spare time in the deepest reaches of the library, reviewing vast amounts of literature. Combining her existing knowledge and understanding of cardiac surgery, she wrote a review paper that far surpassed the level of a second-year undergraduate and even met the requirements for graduate school.

In the carefully chosen cover letter, there is no exaggerated self-promotion, only a deep understanding of research, a burning desire for the goal, and a determination to fight to the end.

She solemnly sent the paper and cover letter to Professor Qin's teaching assistant's email address as if it were a sacrifice.

The result is no doubt.

Her courage and talent are amazing, but the academic ladder has its own strict order.

Professor Qin personally replied to her with a mild but firm email, affirming the solidity of her thesis and her potential, but also clearly pointed out that the project needed graduate students with a deeper professional foundation and independent research capabilities.

Disappointment? Of course. But Liu Rusi had already foreseen this inevitable outcome.

However, things didn't end there.

A few days later, at a lecture given by Professor Qin Zhenyue to all undergraduate and graduate students, as the lecture drew to a close, Professor Qin did not immediately dismiss the class. Instead, he looked around the room, his gaze finally landing on Liu Rusi, who sat in the corner of the front row, her back straight.

"Before I conclude, I'd like to mention a small matter." Professor Qin's voice was steady and powerful, clearly carried throughout the lecture hall. "Recently, I received a paper and cover letter from a sophomore. It's about cardiac regeneration and repair." He paused, his gaze piercing. "To be honest, I was very surprised and even a little moved."

The entire classroom fell silent, a pin drop audible. All eyes, filled with surprise and inquiry, were fixed on Liu Rusi. She felt the blood rush to her cheeks, and her fingertips felt slightly cold.

"The depth and breadth of her thesis, demonstrating her ability to organize literature, logical thinking, and keen grasp of cutting-edge trends, are far beyond her current level of study. The pure enthusiasm and unwavering conviction revealed in her cover letter made me see the most precious original aspiration of a medical practitioner." Professor Qin's voice was filled with undisguised admiration. "Although, due to the objective gap between the project requirements and her academic level, I cannot make an exception and admit this student as an assistant..."

Liu Rusi's heart sank for a moment, but she still tried to maintain her calm appearance.

"But," Professor Qin changed the subject, his tone suddenly rising and full of power, "I want to say this to Liu Rusi here, in front of all the students—" He looked at her with a burning gaze, "I've seen your hard work, your talent, and your ambition! The path you're taking is absolutely right! Keep going! I have no doubt that in time, you will become a top doctor at the pinnacle of cardiac surgery! I look forward to fighting alongside you on a crucial operating table where life depends on it one day in the future!"

boom--!

Like thunder exploding deep in the soul.

Liu Rusi suddenly raised her head, and her eyes, which were always as cold as the snowy fields, were now completely submerged by the surging and uncontrollable heat.

The long-built dam collapsed before this affirmation from the beacon of authority. Hot tears instantly burst forth, and without warning, they streamed down her pale cheeks. She didn't even have time to raise her hand to wipe them away.

She had never lost her composure in front of so many people.

The immense joy, the excitement of being recognized, the heaviness of expectations, and all the hardships and grievances along the way... countless complex emotions surged in my chest, ultimately transforming into a choked sob with a thick nasal sound:

"Thank you... Professor!"

She stood up and bowed deeply towards the podium, her shoulders trembling slightly as tears fell onto the cold floor.

At that moment, the entire classroom was silent, with only her suppressed, subtle sobs echoing. Everyone was shocked by this sudden, powerful and extremely moving scene.

She is no longer a cold "goddess", but a real, flesh-and-blood soul who has given everything for her dream and is finally warmed by the light of authority.

Ling Yu learned all this when the anonymous forum special edition, which had been silent for a long time, suddenly became popular again.

The quiet forum was instantly ignited by a post titled "Earth-shaking! The iceberg has completely melted! Professor Qin's hall-of-fame recognition! Goddess sheds tears in class!"

The poster was clearly present at the scene, describing the entire process in incoherent, emotional words, especially Liu Rusi's heart-wrenching tears and bow. A high-rise building instantly appeared below:

"Holy crap! Is this true? Liu Rusi is crying???"

"Professor Qin herself said she's looking forward to fighting alongside her!!! That's incredible!"

"I was there! I cried! It was so shocking! She's usually so strong, but she could cry like this..."

"This is a true dream chaser! Compare myself to him, what the hell am I doing?!"

"When a goddess cries, it's incredibly powerful! But this time, they're tears of emotion. So beautiful!"

"Professor Qin has certified her as a future leader! Who dares to say she's incompetent?"

Ling Yu sat in the cold laboratory, the light from the screen reflecting his somewhat gloomy face.

He scrolled through the posts one by one. In those blurry photos, Liu Rushi's tearful profile and her thin back as she bowed deeply were like a strong light that suddenly pierced into his long-dark vision, bringing him a shock that was almost dizzying.

An extremely complex and indescribable emotion instantly gripped him.

For the surging, pure tears he had never seen on her face before. She was no longer a cold sculpture, but a living soul, burning with passion for her ideals. This formed a subversive contrast with the absolutely self-controlled, almost ruthless Liu Rusi he knew.

The biggest feeling in his heart was joy for her! He clearly saw the meaning behind her tears - it was the ecstasy of finally touching an oasis after trekking through a long desert, and the glory of receiving the highest recognition for his best efforts!

Yet, there was also… a sharp, stinging pain of being excluded. Her tears flowed for her ideals, for the approval of authority. In that dazzling center stage, there was not even the slightest place for him, Ling Yu.

This sober feeling of alienation reminded him more clearly and coldly than ever before of the invisible gap between him and her.

However, amidst this stinging pain, a faint but not to be ignored ray of light suddenly appeared!

she cried.

She actually... cried.

She, who had come into his world with a cold and world-weary air, was now in tears in front of everyone because her ideals had been recognized!

This fact itself, like a key, suddenly inserted into the rusty lock in Ling Yu's heart. Until now, in his eyes, Liu Rusi had been a perfect, impenetrable fortress, her coldness an absolute barrier that repelled all approach. All attempts at flattery, vigilance, and cautious intimacy were ruthlessly repelled by that layer of ice.

But now, cracks are appearing in the fortress.

The ice...melted.

Tears are the most direct outlet for emotions. They prove that Liu Rusi is not an invulnerable machine. She has fiery emotions that burn with dreams and collapse with recognition.

This means that she might... allow others to approach her!

This realization raced through Ling Yu's body like an electric current, bringing with it a shudder of excitement. The long-suppressed urge to truly stand before her, like magma held down by a boulder, finally found a way to vent, violently churning and surging!

He abruptly closed the forum page. The glaring screen went dark, and the laboratory fell into a deeper darkness. The humming of the computer chassis no longer sounded like an ominous sign, but rather like a racing heartbeat.

He stood up with a swish, no longer pacing impatiently, but with a kind of ignited, purposeful excitement.

Liu Rusi's tearful, fragile yet powerful appearance replayed repeatedly in his mind. It was no longer a burning iron, but a tempting signal - a signal that she might be approached!

He began to frantically formulate a plan in his mind, a plan that was more thorough, more cautious, and more... hopeful than the original one! He no longer recklessly wanted to directly break through the fortress, but instead tried to find a "perfect" opportunity that would not trigger her defense mechanism.

An opportunity for her to see him and... not be so repulsed by him.

"Opportunity... I need an impeccable opportunity..." Ling Yu muttered to himself, his eyes scanning the cold instruments sharply, as if those metals and pipes could provide him with inspiration.

"Academics? That's what she cares about most... Perhaps a cutting-edge seminar? A chance discussion on the intersection of biomedical sciences? Or..."

He felt a long-lost excitement and focus, almost like the excitement before a battle. Liu Rusi's tears not only washed away the dust from Professor Qin's podium, but also seemed to open an extremely narrow, yet real, crack in his long-enclosed world.

He needed to see her, he had to see her! He couldn't hide in the shadows and peek at her anymore, but had to walk uprightly to where the light could illuminate!

However, fate seemed to mock his careful calculations. Just as his plan was taking shape, explosive news exploded like thunder on the recently silent campus online forum!

The special edition, which had just briefly been abuzz with Liu Rusi's tears in class, was instantly pushed to the top of the trending list by an even more shocking headline: [Shocking News! Goddess Liu Calls the Police! Ke Jinfeng Taken Away! A Day Trip to the Police Station! Screaming and Crying at the Scene, Full of Suspicions?!]

The post is full of confusing information, conflicting opinions, and a lot of tension:

"What the hell! Didn't that guy Ke Jinfeng flee a long time ago? Why is he showing up again looking for Goddess Liu?!"

"He definitely has bad intentions! Could it be that he turned evil because he couldn't get the love he wanted?!"

"There's some shocking news! It's said that in the secluded stairwell on the west side of the lab building, Goddess Liu was heard screaming heartbreakingly, yelling 'Don't touch me'! It was terrifying!"

"Additional information! I was downstairs! I heard the screams and rushed over to see Goddess Liu sitting on the ground, holding her head and crying so hard her whole body was shaking! That bastard Ke Jinfeng seemed to want to reach out and hug her, but was pulled away by the boys who came up behind!"

"The police are here! Both of them have been taken to the police station! What on earth did Ke Jinfeng do?!"