Cici was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
When I was chatting with that lunatic just now, I learned something interesting." Jiro Hirayama, also a lunatic, had a strange gleam in his eyes. "Do you know why only the third son of the Field Family survives?"
Cici rolled her eyes. How would she know something like that?
It's actually pretty interesting. The Field Family has a strange bloodline curse—each generation, only one child turns out normal. The others, even if they're born, have all sorts of problems." Jiro Hirayama's eyes sparkled. "What perfect research material!"
Cici refused bluntly. "Then why don't you ask the second son of the Field Family for blood? You two lunatics can study each other!"
Jiro Hirayama shook his head. "No use. His blood is too pure."
Huh? What does that mean?
Jiro Hirayama saw Cici's confused face and explained, "Do you know why the Field Family is so determined to bring Miles Gu back? It's because his blood isn't pure enough—he's a mix of European and Asian genes."
Speak plainly," Cici sighed. "I won't lie to you, I barely passed biology in high school."
Well, what I mean is, the Field Family has married within close relatives for three generations to keep their bloodline pure. Even if your biology is bad, you should know what happens with inbreeding, right?" Jiro tilted his head at Cici. "Though your Chinese history is also full of close-relative marriages, you should know the consequences."
Cici got it in a flash!
Her mind instantly conjured up images of Darwin, Da Vinci, and Einstein.
Inbreeding really is a double-edged sword.
Either the offspring are freakishly smart, or they're total failures.
Inbreeding amplifies good genes, but it also multiplies the defective ones.
Looks like Earl Field is one of the success stories, while his older brothers are the defective ones.
The eldest is physically defective, the second is mentally unstable.
The third finally turned out normal, but after generations of family drama, he’s sworn off marriage altogether!
No wonder Earl Field is so against marriage…
Just imagine—being smart and healthy yourself, but ending up with a bunch of sickly or disabled kids…
Honestly, that’d be tough for anyone to accept.
The reason Earl Field wants to bring Miles Gu back is precisely because Miles carries Asian genes.
Biologically, the greater the geographic difference between genes, the stronger the offspring.
Miles Gu definitely fits the bill.
Cici understood and nodded along.
Jiro Hirayama shrugged. "There are still plenty of families in the world who marry close relatives to keep their bloodline pure. Take the Rothschild Family, for example—they do the same thing."
Cici frowned. "And then?"
Either way, no one’s getting any ideas about Miles Gu.
Jiro Hirayama said enthusiastically, "I'm curious too. I want to know if Miles Gu's genes have any defects. The Field Family hasn't mixed outside genes for generations. Miles Gu has both British and Asian genes, but clearly the European bloodline is stronger, so he has the Field Family's signature red eyes. If his Asian genes can overcome the Field Family's genetic flaws, that would be an amazing achievement!"
No way," Cici refused flatly. "Earl Field just tried to trick me, claiming Miles Gu’s health is at risk. Ha! Miles Gu is perfectly healthy—how could there be any problem? Does he think I’m an idiot?"
Jiro Hirayama looked at Cici as if she were an idiot.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Cici glared at Jiro Hirayama, annoyed.
Jiro Hirayama kept looking at Cici like she was a fool.
Cici finally couldn’t take it anymore. “Are you saying he was telling the truth?”
“I’ve told you, the Field Family has had a blood curse for generations, and you still manage to delude yourself.” Jiro Hirayama was never one for mercy; he could piss anyone off with just a few words. “They’ve already told you Miles Gu’s genes are unstable, yet you still think others are stupid? Clearly, you’re the real fool here!”
Jiro Hirayama’s words hit Cici like a bucket of cold water.
Hey, how can you be so mean to me? I’m not giving you any more chess records!
“That still doesn’t prove Miles Gu has a problem.” Cici was stubborn as ever.
Jiro Hirayama nodded. “True, you can’t be sure just yet. Besides, the Grant Family has their own research center. Even if Miles Gu’s health is shaky, with the Grant Family’s pharmaceutical expertise, he could easily live another thirty or fifty years.”
Cici’s face went pale at the thought of Miles Gu dying young. For some reason, she suddenly thought of Nora Yun.
No way, that’s my precious son—nothing can happen to him!
Cici remembered that night on the outskirts of Paris, when Miles Gu had shielded her with everything he had. Her heart nearly broke.
To watch her beloved son die before her eyes—she could never bear that a second time.
After struggling for a long time, Cici finally asked Jiro Hirayama, “If I give you blood and genes, can you find a solution?”
Jiro Hirayama answered seriously, “Yes, I can do it. But it’ll take a while.”
“How long?” Cici looked at him hopefully.
“Twenty or thirty years…” Jiro Hirayama replied, totally unconcerned.
Cici: …
Ever since meeting Jiro Hirayama, she’d always felt like punching someone. What now?
Looks like there’s no escaping this trip to England.
So frustrating!
Charles Yin, do you have a better idea?
Why aren’t you here with me at such a critical moment?
Clutching her wounded heart, Cici walked away. Jiro Hirayama kept his headphones on, head down, playing on his tablet.
Jiro Hirayama was truly giving it his all to solve this chess puzzle.
The opening ceremony lasted a full three hours—almost as long as the Spring Festival Gala.
After the ceremony ended, people still gathered in small groups, happily chatting away.
The representatives from each university boasted about themselves, trying every trick to lift themselves up and put others down.
Cici saw Rona Muir smiling sweetly beside Professor Edward Mu, translating for him. Cici walked straight toward Rona.
Standing beside Rona Muir, Cici heard her translating for a German guest.
Seeing Cici approach, Rona Muir said, “You translate for me. My dad’s technical terms are too much for me!”
Before Cici could refuse, Rona Muir had already put her on the spot.
Seeing Rona Muir struggling, Cici took over and translated Professor Muir’s words.
With Cici’s help, Professor Muir’s conversation with the guest went much more smoothly.
Once the translation was done, Cici turned to Rona Muir: “Rona, something’s happened. Miles Gu might really have to go to England.”
Cici immediately told Rona Muir everything Jiro Hirayama had just said.
Rona Muir didn’t seem surprised. She nodded, “The Field Family has practiced close-relative marriage for over a hundred years. It’s not unusual. For such a large family, they don’t have many children, and that’s why. I heard Duke Field’s wife is his aunt’s daughter. With such intense inbreeding, it’s no wonder they have genetic problems. Darwin’s family married close relatives too, but not so repeatedly.”
Cici couldn’t help but complain, “Why are they so stubborn? Why insist on marrying close relatives?”
Rona Muir glanced at Cici, arms folded across her chest. “Don’t criticize them too harshly. We only abolished that tradition a few decades ago. In the Republic era and before, close-relative marriage was mainstream. Look at royalty—they cared most about blood purity, and that meant marrying relatives. Otherwise, why did so many children die young?”
Hmm, she made a good point. Cici was left speechless.
There really were a lot of close-relative marriages throughout China’s dynasties.
It was only after the founding of New China that this problematic tradition was finally stopped.
Even now, several families in Europe still practice close-relative marriage to preserve their bloodline.
The Rothschild family is one of them!
So, the Rothschild family really did produce quite a few geniuses!
But wait, none of this helps Miles Gu!
“Cici, have you asked Miles Gu what he wants?” Rona Muir asked seriously. “We all understand your desire to protect him. But have you thought about whether Miles Gu wants to protect you too?”
“Huh? What do you mean?” Cici looked at Rona Muir, puzzled.
“Back in Paris, everyone saw how much Miles Gu cared for you. You worry about him, but he worries about you too!” Rona Muir said dreamily.
That moment after the shootout in the Paris suburbs, when Miles Gu ran to Cici, was burned into Rona Muir’s memory.
“You should ask Miles Gu what he wants before making any decisions,” Rona Muir sighed. “He’s so mature—it breaks your heart.”
Cici was stunned.
She’d gotten used to making decisions for Miles Gu.
In her mind, Miles Gu was just a child.
She always made decisions she thought were best for him.
But now, was her approach wrong?
Maybe Miles Gu had other choices?
If Miles Gu chose to go to England… maybe she should respect his decision.