On the front lines, his own father had, long ago, already begun leading a team to research in this field. The “Fulong” high-capacity switch theory they developed was nearing maturity, but at this critical moment, the company couldn’t hold on any longer, and the state-owned assets were to be sold off or reorganized.

When the company restructured, they gave the technical staff a choice: either have all their years of service bought out and be laid off, or form a new company and survive on their own profits and losses. Flynn Carter originally intended to choose the latter. He had confidence in his own vision and technology, and he was unwilling to let all his past efforts and achievements be swept away by the turmoil of the times.

But what exactly influenced his decision back then… The answer was Ryan Carter.

He had failed his high school entrance exams and couldn’t get into a good school. The top two schools were out of the question—the score gap was too big, and even with money, he couldn’t get in. To get him into the city’s No. 4 High School, the family urgently needed a large sum of money. But where could they get that money? They would have to borrow from relatives, which, for a father who had served in the military, never asked anyone for help in his life, and was proud to his core, was absolutely unacceptable. So Flynn Carter, gritting his teeth, refused the request from his subordinates to lead them in starting a new venture, and instead chose to have his years of service bought out, taking what would later seem a laughable sum of thirty thousand yuan…

But Ryan Carter knew what his father had missed out on. The 1990s now were much the same as in his previous life: at this time, the penetration rate of landline phones was extremely low. The national information industry’s development plan aimed for a 6% telephone penetration rate by 2000, but in reality, with the advent of new technologies, the Republic’s telephone penetration rate soared, far surpassing the industry’s predictions. As time went on, landlines entered every household, then disappeared from every household, replaced by the small screens people carried with them. The progress of technology was nothing short of magical.

What his father missed was not just a golden opportunity—a market where a few million in investment could rival billions in foreign R&D—but also gave up his dream, gave up “Fulong,” and broke his own wings for the sake of Ryan Carter.

Thinking of this, looking at the square-jawed man before him, Ryan Carter felt a surge of indescribable warmth in his heart. He said, “Dad, just choose what you want, walk your own path. I will get into high school!”

As a reborn person, his words carried a weighty power. He could even feel the strong confidence radiating from within.

Flynn Carter nodded, pointed a finger at Ryan Carter, then turned to his wife and said in a deep voice, “Let’s just go with the buyout! Leave some money to pay his tuition!”

Ryan Carter was speechless. Wasn’t the aura of a reborn person supposed to be able to handle anything? Why such a hopeless attitude? Hey, did you even hear what I said? As a reborn person, do I not deserve any dignity?

……

……

Chapter 6: A Fulfilling Life

Ryan Carter knew that, despite his father’s broad appearance and cheerful personality, once he made up his mind, he would never change it easily. He was the kind of person who not only listened to what you said, but also watched what you did. Based on the big data of raising Ryan Carter from childhood, no matter how eloquent Ryan Carter was, it would never change his father’s decision.

The only thing that could change his father’s mind and get him back on track was for Ryan Carter to actually achieve something—real, tangible results. Even if he managed to earn enough money to pay the high tuition for high school, it might not change his father’s decision, and could even cause a trust crisis or other trouble.

So getting into No. 1 High School was the real priority. On the other hand, it’s never too late to learn. In his previous life, he died from overwork, tied down by too many affairs, and later barely had time to read and enrich himself, let alone pursue further studies.

So now, when it came to studying, Ryan Carter was filled with both nostalgia and longing, even a sense of awe and reverence for knowledge. Living a second life, it was important not to leave regrets, but as time passes, what makes you not regret your youth? The answer is to do meaningful things, or to improve yourself.

He just wanted to be a sponge, tirelessly absorbing the knowledge he had once neglected. Even a tiny bit was like sipping a drop of dew in a parched desert.

Starting with the first goal, after dinner, Ryan Carter stayed in his room and took out study materials from all subjects from his three years of middle school to review.