Chapter Three: Interception Along the Way

On Friday, I walked into Master Huang's office with a nervous heart.

"Professor, this is my paper. I've revised the discussion section. Could you please take a look?"

"I've read the email, it's pretty good, it's approved!" Professor Huang said with a smile.

"Really? Thank you, Professor!" I was so excited that I bowed deeply.

"Lin Dang, your grades have always been excellent, and you've passed the CET-6 (College English Test Band 6), right? Have you ever planned to apply for a master's program at this university?" Huang Shitai's sudden question startled me. I was preparing to take the postgraduate entrance exam, but I hadn't even considered applying for a master's program through recommendation.

"I've taken a look, and you seem to fit the requirements for our department. Why don't you give it a try?"

"Yes, thank you, Professor!"

Although it's still uncertain, it's still a stroke of good luck. I made a phone call and arranged to meet Huang Yanyan.

"Come on, let's go out for a nice meal. Your thesis passed!"

"No, let's do it another day. I have my second interview today. Let's celebrate together after I pass the second interview!"

"Okay, I wish you success!"

The thesis has been approved, and I'm actually feeling a bit aimless. I've been so busy lately that I haven't even had a proper meal. Oh well, I'll go out and find a place to eat something good!

"Boss, a bowl of duck blood vermicelli, no duck blood!" I looked inside and it was packed. It was lunchtime, no wonder there were so many people.

"There's a seat at the very back, go sit there!" The vermicelli only needs to be cooked for a short while. The owner saw me standing there, worried that I might burn myself holding the bowl, so he pointed to the very back. Sure enough, there was a seat there. Sharing tables is a common occurrence, so I went over, put down the bowl, added chili oil, and started rambling on.

What a coincidence!

I looked up and saw Chu Zhen smiling at me.

"What a coincidence!" I replied, then lowered my head and continued eating. It's true what they say, good fortune never comes in pairs. I'm so lucky today; it turns out it was all because I ran into this guy.

"Boss, check please!" I only liked the soup at this restaurant, and I hardly ate any rice noodles. Plus, the guy across from me completely ruined my appetite, so I quickly ate a few bites and went to pay the bill.

"It's 10 yuan, the QR code is over there."

I scanned the QR code. This boss is hilarious; he could have just created a payment code. Why make me add him as a friend first? Come to think of it, this way I can promote directly on WeChat later. I looked at it, "CZ," added him as a friend, and he accepted quickly. I then clicked to pay.

"Payment done, please take a look!" I showed the payment page to the boss.

"This isn't my WeChat account, you must have scanned the wrong one. Just pay directly!" the shop owner said.

"Not yours? But I clearly scanned this just now!" To prove I wasn't lying, I scanned it again. Wait, the interface that popped up was for payment. Then who was that? Oh well, I'll just pay first!

I went outside, found a bench, and opened WeChat. Who is this CZ? I checked his Moments, but there was nothing there. He hadn't accepted any money, though; he must be a bored person. Just as I was about to delete him, a message came in.

"I am Chu Zhen."

What's going on? When did I scan his QR code? Did he put his QR code in front of me when I scanned it, like in the video? Sigh, it's my own fault for being careless.

"what!"

"Last time I had a little extra money. I rode a shared bike and only paid one yuan for the fare."

"Why don't you eat something else?"

"Did you pass the thesis?"

"Who exactly are you?" How does he know everything? Was it all a premeditated scheme from the beginning at the hospital?

"I am Chu Zhen, the Chu Zhen who was knocked down by you. Although I feel embarrassed, I also feel very lucky."

"Boring!" I said, turning off my phone. My good mood was completely ruined by his outburst.

"I'll buy you a milk tea and take you for a walk around campus!" Chu Zhen appeared in front of me again, and he really felt like a persistent ghost.

"I'm on a diet, I won't drink it!" I refused.

"A stroll around campus after a drink is the perfect way to burn off the calories!"

"I'm tired, I don't want to shop!"

"Give me some face; no one has ever refused me twice in a row before."

"Then I'll open for business for you. No milk tea, no campus tours, goodbye!" With that, I got up and left.

"Do you still want to run?" Chu Zhen strode after him.

"Why run away? I've already given all the compensation I was entitled to. I've lived an honest and upright life, there's nothing for me to run away from."

Even though I knew my legs weren't as long as his, I still quickened my pace. But after running for a while, it seemed I couldn't keep up, so I slowed down. Strange, why am I hiding?