Chapter 88: The Consultation

The next day.

At dawn, Zhong Yuxiu sat on the edge of her bed, yawning repeatedly. Gou Dan heard the noise and came over. “Madam, you’re up. What would you like to wear today?”

“I don’t have much to choose from. Just bring me a cotton jacket.”

“Soon, you’ll have new clothes to wear,” Gou Dan teased.

Zhong Yuxiu nodded solemnly. “Once we get them back from abroad, I’ll have plenty. As for coats, I’ll be set. But I still need other things. If I have time in the next few days, I’ll visit the department store and buy a few outfits to mix and match.”

“You should have updated your wardrobe ages ago.”

“I just thought it wasn’t the right time!” Back when she’d first returned to the capital, she hadn’t wanted to draw attention to herself and had simply tried to blend in.

Gou Dan pulled a thick padded jacket from the wardrobe and placed it beside her. “Madam, I’ll go make breakfast.”

“I don’t want porridge today. I’m craving something heavier—make me a bowl of zhajiang noodles.”

“No problem, madam. I’ll head down now.”

Zhong Yuxiu watched Gou Dan open the door and leave. Once the door was closed again, she changed and went downstairs. After washing up, she came out to find Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo returning from their morning exercise, Hao Nan holding two oil-paper parcels.

“Good morning, comrades.”

“Good morning, Comrade Zhong.”

“Good morning, Comrade Zhong. You’re up early,” Hao Nan said.

Zhong Yuxiu smiled faintly. “Not as early as you two.”

Hao Nan smiled and offered her the oil-paper package. “What’s this?” Zhong Yuxiu glanced down but didn’t take it.

“We ran into Comrade Yan while jogging. He asked us to give this to you.”

She finally accepted it and, opening it, found three soft, white steamed buns, each the size of a fist. Judging by the aroma, some were vegetable, some sweet—the sweet one was a flavor only found at the state-run restaurant near Huada.

“Where is he?”

Tian Shangguo rubbed his nose. “I’ll go check on breakfast,” he said, and walked away.

Hao Nan seemed eager to leave as well but hesitated under Zhong Yuxiu’s questioning gaze, unsure how to respond.

“Never mind, I know what he’s up to. Go wash your face,” Zhong Yuxiu said, pressing her lips together as she walked away, clutching the package, and sat down in the dining room.

He’d left in such a hurry he hadn’t even had time to say a word—he must be very busy. Yet he’d still remembered to buy her a few buns. Yuxiu felt both warmed and sorry for his busyness.

With a soft sigh, she picked up a bun and ate slowly, savoring the sweetness that seeped into her heart, as if she were soaking in warm honey.

So this is what it feels like to fall for someone.

To worry for him, to fret, to feel sweet, to feel lost—like experiencing all the seasons of the year.

Does he feel the same?

“Comrade Zhong.” Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo came over with breakfast. Seeing her lost in thought, they grew concerned. “Are you all right?”

Zhong Yuxiu shook her head. “Can we eat now?”

“Yes, Gou Dan made noodles,” Hao Nan said, setting a bowl in front of her. “It’s a hearty portion.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re too kind.”

The two of them took seats across from Yuxiu and ate quickly. By the time she was halfway through her meal, they were already finished.

With the noodle broth and three buns, she was nearly full after eating most of the noodles. Not wanting to waste anything, she finished the rest.

“Please sit a while; we’ll take the dishes to the kitchen,” said Hao Nan.

“I’ll go upstairs for a bit.”

She fetched her thesis from upstairs and, coming back down, met Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo as they left the kitchen. The three of them set out together for the university.

As they reached the south gate of Huada, Zhong Yuxiu paused. Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo frowned; ahead stood Wan Yuning, who, upon seeing them, hurried over.

“Comrade Zhong, you go in first. We’ll hold him back,” said Hao Nan.

“All right.”

Zhong Yuxiu walked straight ahead, and as she came face to face with Wan Yuning, Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo leapt forward and blocked his way. Yuxiu skirted around them and hurried on.

“Yuxiu, little sister…”

“Little sister, Father wants to see you.”

Hao Nan clapped a hand over his mouth. “Enough out of you.”

“Take him aside—don’t block the school gate,” Tian Shangguo said. Hao Nan nodded and dragged him into a dim alley beside Huada before letting go.

Wan Yuning, full of resentment, immediately protested, “What are you doing? Why drag me here? I came to see Yuxiu, not you two! Why do you keep stopping me?”

“Comrade Wan Yuning,” Hao Nan said, pushing him against the wall with one hand on his shoulder.

Wan Yuning, panting, fell silent.

“Have you calmed down?” Hao Nan asked coldly.

“What right do you have?” Once again, he’d watched Zhong Yuxiu walk away.

Hao Nan sneered. “What right? You tell me.”

Wan Yuning thought of the information he and his father had received and fell silent. These two were assigned to protect Zhong Yuxiu; they had every right to investigate anyone who approached her, if she so desired.

The truth was, it was all at Zhong Yuxiu’s discretion—or rather, she simply didn’t want to see him and hadn’t objected to their actions.

“Comrade Zhong is doing perfectly well now; she doesn’t need your so-called compensation,” Tian Shangguo said coldly, his whole demeanor radiating a chilling aura. “Anyone would be disheartened by what you did. Let’s go, Comrade Hao.”

Tian Shangguo walked away. Hao Nan cast a last glance at the man pinned to the wall. “Take care of yourself.”

The two left the alley, one after the other. Wan Yuning squatted where he was, rubbing his face and sighing. If only he’d known things would turn out like this—he regretted their past actions.

Back then, Zhong Yuxiu had seemed too obedient, never showing any ability, almost useless. But she was a girl, after all—so what if she was useless?

Who could have guessed how things would change with time?

Now, Zhong Yuxiu’s talents were outstanding—even high-ranking officials took notice. Why else would they assign two bodyguards who had clearly seen real combat?

……

“Good morning, Professor Ding!” Entering the office, Zhong Yuxiu greeted him with a bright smile. To her, Wan Yuning was just a stranger now, unworthy of any emotion.

“Good morning.” Professor Ding looked up with a smile. “You’re here early! Is your thesis finished?”

“Yes, would you please take a look?” Zhong Yuxiu walked forward and handed him her thesis with both hands.

Professor Ding read it carefully. “Not bad—your thesis is quite mature. It’s clear from your earlier papers as well. I’ll submit this to the principal for safekeeping.”

“Thank you for your trouble.” Zhong Yuxiu smiled. “Professor Ding, may I ask, are the exam papers ready?”

“They’re ready. Are you that eager to take the exam?”

Zhong Yuxiu nodded earnestly. “Yes. Recently I’ve been researching a new medicine, but I’m not very skilled in medical sciences, so progress is slow. I plan to finish the exams first and then transfer to the medical college. Do you think the professors there would accept me, or will I have to take the university entrance exam again?”

Huada didn’t have a medical department; the best medical university in the capital was Capital Medical University.

The news hit like a bombshell. Professor Ding raised his eyebrows. “You want to study medicine?”

“Yes, I’d like to learn.”

“One person’s energy is limited. You have exceptional talent in physics—why not pursue that further?” Someone capable of independently completing experiments and producing one groundbreaking study after another now wanted to switch to medicine.