TMLSG -Chapter 116 Love Without Reservation

Because of her mission, Tang Zhen had asked Ren Yanjing more than once, bluntly, whether she or Robert was more important to him.

The first two times, Ren Yanjing had answered indirectly, avoiding a straight reply.

But this time, his answer was clear and direct.

111: 【Awooo! Awooo!】

Tang Zhen bit her lip and softly called, “Ren Yanjing.”

“Hm?”

“Every word you say, I will believe.” She couldn’t tell which words were true and which were false. She wasn’t scheming that way—but if it came from him, she would take it seriously.

Ren Yanjing brushed his hand against her face and soothed her, “Don’t worry, it’s all the truth.”

He truly wouldn’t gamble with his future, but Tang Zhen’s future was also important. This interview would determine whether they could attend the same school in the coming years.

So he temporarily entrusted the team to Zhang Mian.

He trusted Zhang Mian completely.

Shen Quanli was too unpredictable, while Zhang Mian was steady and reliable, able to handle important matters calmly. Besides, this was only the first round of the preliminaries—Robert didn’t even need to give his full effort, just secure a spot in the next round.

While Tang Zhen faced her interview with the professors, the first round of the International Robotics Competition preliminaries started at University C.

Not seeing Ren Yanjing at the venue, many participants who followed him couldn’t help discussing it privately.

It was unprecedented for him to miss a competition. In previous matches, as team captain, he always led his team, but today he was conspicuously absent.

Shen Qi, arms crossed and leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, teased, “Could it be he knows future will lose this time, so he just didn’t come?”

Other participants joined in, saying, “No way, Ren Yanjing isn’t that kind of person.”

“I don’t think he’s the type who can’t handle losing.”

Shen Qi shrugged, “But the problem is, he just didn’t come. Don’t tell me he had something more important. Isn’t this high-level international competition the most important thing for him right now?”

As soon as he finished, Shen Quanli leaned forward with a mischievous grin and said in a teasing tone, “The captain went to accompany his wife abroad for an interview. It’s just the first prelims, so he skipped it. Can you understand? Oh, forgot—you don’t have a girlfriend, so maybe you can’t.”

Shen Qi: “Hey, you!”

Hearing this, the other competitors got excited, “Ah, that’s why he didn’t come! He went abroad to accompany his girlfriend?”

“Then he’s abroad now? Which country?”

“Tsk tsk, is his girlfriend’s interview really that important?”

Shen Quanli said earnestly, “Of course it’s important. Otherwise, the captain wouldn’t have made the effort to go with her.”

Shen Quanli knew more than the others. From what the captain said, this type of interview was a first-time experience for his wife. The captain had been worried she might be nervous, so he planned to accompany her from the start.

From the moment he realized the schedules clashed, the captain probably decided to skip the first preliminaries.

But, it’s just the first round—no big deal. Their teammates were competent.

One participant said, “But skipping the prelims just to accompany his girlfriend really exceeded my expectations.”

Before Shen Quanli explained the reason, none of them had guessed this.

Ren Yanjing really was that kind of person?

No way!

If this isn’t “love-brain,” then what is?

Tang Zhen was dizzy from the professors’ barrage of questions, but fortunately, she had crammed before the interview, and 111 occasionally gave her a little help. So the interview ended successfully.

As soon as it finished, Tang Zhen rushed to find Ren Yanjing waiting outside the classroom.

She asked him how the first-round preliminaries had gone.

She was still worried about Robert.

Although Zhang Mian and the others were reliable, Ren Yanjing, as captain, was the core of future. This was his first time missing a high-level competition, and she didn’t know if the others were accustomed to it.

Tang Zhen could have gotten the answer from 111, but she didn’t want to.

She only wanted to ask Ren Yanjing.

Ren Yanjing pulled her into his arms and rubbed his face against her warm little cheek, “No rush, it’s still ongoing. Let’s eat something first, baby.”

After eating, Tang Zhen asked again, “Ren Yanjing, what place did Robert get this time?”

Ren Yanjing looked at her carefully, “Baby, what place do you want Robert to get?”

Without a second thought, Tang Zhen answered immediately, “Of course, first place.”

Ren Yanjing sighed softly, “But, baby, I can’t always win.”

Even in competitive games, no one can maintain a 100% win rate. Winning and losing are normal.

It’s the same in real life.

Neither he nor Robert could ever be perfect all the time.

Tang Zhen apologized instantly, feeling a little frustrated. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to put pressure on you. I just…” She wanted to always see him shining.

Ren Yanjing reached out and pulled her into his arms.

It was a solid, reassuring embrace. He rested his chin on the top of her head, his voice low, “I know.”

“Even if one day… I really lose…”

Tang Zhen lifted her sparkling eyes, speaking sincerely, “It’s okay. You will always be the strongest in my heart!”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Ren Yanjing’s lips met hers. He seemed a little flustered and accidentally bit her lip. Tang Zhen looked at him accusingly, pitifully, and he immediately apologized, “Baby, I’ll be gentle.”

111: 【Can’t watch, can’t watch!】

Half an hour later, the first-round preliminary rankings were announced.

First place: fate’s Confession Letter.

Second place: star’s Sugar.

Third place: future’s Robert.

The group chat was filled with self-reproach.

Shen Quanli: “Robert made a noticeable mistake during this performance. He really shouldn’t have.”

Zhang Mian: “Next time we can do better.”

Du Qiyou: “We still need to continue improving the algorithm.”

Shen Quanli: “The captain missed his first match, so we didn’t perform as well. We let the captain down.”

As team captain, Ren Yanjing immediately comforted his team, “It’s okay. You did very well. I’m satisfied with third place. Next time, we’ll take first back.”

Zhang Mian: “Good! This was only the first round. It’s a good chance to find our weaknesses and learn from our opponents’ strengths.”

Shen Quanli: “Tsk tsk, Confession Letter really impressed me this time.”

On the eighth day of the year, Confession Letter had seemed stiff performing Latin dance at the city stadium, looking clumsy and awkward. Today, it was as if a soul had been injected into it—its abilities had improved by leaps and bounds. Whatever new algorithm Li Ran implemented, it worked wonders.

Shen Quanli: “Confession Letter is a formidable opponent.”

He had to admit that.

Ren Yanjing said calmly, “That’s a good thing. It’d be boring if we were unbeatable.”

A strong opponent isn’t frightening; having no clear goal is. Ren Yanjing believed Confession Letter’s emergence would motivate his team and push them to improve.

Shen Quanli: “!!!”

Zhang Mian: “Captain, as expected of you!”

Du Qiyou: “Even the unbeatable ones show up. Captain, 6.”

Though losing affected the team, especially to Confession Letter and Sugar, Ren Yanjing’s words reignited their fighting spirit!

The first round was only the domestic preliminaries—they would face international teams later.

Real skill would be proven in the finals!

After learning Robert placed third in the preliminaries, Tang Zhen’s mood was complicated.

She couldn’t help thinking: if Ren Yanjing hadn’t skipped the match, if he had participated in the first-round preliminaries, would Robert’s results have been better?

Ren Yanjing was the backbone of the future team, but right now, he was with her abroad.

Tang Zhen tugged at his collar and whispered, “Ren Yanjing… is it worth it?”

Leaving a team of teammates behind, temporarily putting Robert aside, all just to accompany her—was it really worth it?

Ren Yanjing’s index finger traced over her delicate features as he answered, “It is.”

Because—

What he wanted to give her was love without hesitation, love fierce and overwhelming, love with no reservations, no retreat, and no turning back.