"Cheng Ran, come on, didn't you want to see Professor Xue? What are you looking at?"
Across from Juwang Lake, on the Qing Shi Bridge, Guo Xueyun walked almost right next to Cheng Ran. When she saw him looking towards the pavilion in the middle of the lake, she couldn't help but glance at him.
He only frowned and remained silent. That figure just now... it looked like Wanqing...
That's impossible. She couldn't possibly be in Beijing at this time. Hong Xing said she went back to Xiyang Village to spend the New Year with her parents.
He denied his speculation, did not answer Guo Xueyun's question, and continued walking with her.
"It's nothing, let's go."
She glanced at him again, but it was too far away, and since she was nearsighted, she couldn't see anything clearly. So she simply changed direction and blocked his view.
“You’ve been in such a rush the last few times you’ve come to Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Today, after I’ve introduced you to Professor Xue, I’ll show you around, okay?”
She was incredibly attentive. She hadn't expected Cheng Ran to contact her after her last trip back to Beijing, but to her surprise, he returned to Beijing just a few months later.
She learned from Cheng Ran's parents that he wanted to meet Professor Xue, and volunteered to act as a go-between.
We'll see.
Cheng Ran showed no interest and had no intention of strolling around with her. If he hadn't been worried that it would be too presumptuous of him to approach Professor Xue so soon after not seeing him, which is why he had Guo Xueyun act as the middleman, he would never have walked with her.
The two arrived at Professor Xue's private office, but no one was inside. Guo Xueyun stopped a passing teacher and asked him without any politeness.
Where did Professor Xue go?
The other person sized her up a few times, looking rather displeased and disdainful.
"You look familiar. I think I've seen you at school before. You're not a student, are you?"
At this time, most of the students have gone home for the Chinese New Year, and those who can be seen moving around the school are mostly teachers who are working.
"I'm also a teacher. I need to speak with Professor Xue. Where is he?"
"Tch." The other person snorted: "If you want to see Professor Xue, then wait. He's out on business. You call yourself a teacher, yet you have no basic respect."
"I……"
"Let's go."
Cheng Ran frowned deeply. Since Professor Xue was not available at the moment, he could only come back at another time.
Guo Xueyun was indignant and wanted to argue with the teacher, but when she turned around, she found that Cheng Ran had already walked some distance away, so she hurriedly caught up with him.
"Hmph, look at that shameless, clingy attitude, a nepotism beneficiary..."
The teacher spat. It wasn't that she didn't know Guo Xueyun; it was that she knew her too well. She had worked hard for years to get a promotion at the school, only to find that someone with connections was on the list...
She caught up with Cheng Ran, panting, and tried to pull his hand to slow him down, but he didn't stop at all.
"Cheng... Cheng Ran, wait for me."
There was still snow on the road, and she almost slipped several times, but he only glanced at her and did nothing else.
She gritted her teeth in resentment. He was not like this at all to Jiang Wanqing. Why was he like this?
"I have other things to do, you don't need to come with me."
He coldly uttered a sentence and walked even faster. She didn't want to keep up with him, but he would be returning to the military region soon after the New Year, and she wouldn't even be able to see him then. The next time they met, he and Jiang Wanqing would probably already have a child!
Thinking of this, she felt a chill of fear and vowed never to let such a thing happen!
She jogged to catch up, talking to herself and ignoring what he said.
"I know Professor Xue usually likes to sit in Juwangting to relax and rejuvenate. How about we go and take a look?"
Her eyes darted around a few times. If she could spend more time with him, she would find a way to get closer to him. Whether she actually saw Professor Xue or not was unimportant...
Cheng Ran's brows remained furrowed as he glanced at his watch. One of the reasons he returned to Beijing was to inquire about something with Professor Xue, and it would be best if he could meet him today. It wouldn't hurt to try his luck.
Seeing that he did not refuse, Guo Xueyun pressed her advantage.
"It's on the same road we came from, it's a quick walk, it won't take you too much time."
He didn't reply, but instead walked back the way he came. She was overjoyed and hurriedly chased after him!
Meanwhile, Jiang Wanqing had already arrived at Juwang Pavilion and met Professor Xue...
The two chatted happily. Professor Xue was an elderly gentleman nearing sixty, and it seemed that the dozen or so conversations in the letter had made the old man and the young man quite familiar with each other.
"Wanqing, looking at this huge Huada University, what are your thoughts? If you were to study here in the future, would you be willing?"
The old professor spoke frankly, without beating around the bush at all, which showed his approval of her.
"To be honest, Professor Xue, Huada University has always been my dream school. And because you are here, I yearn for it even more. You asked me if I was willing, but actually I wanted to ask you if I had the honor."
Jiang Wanqing wore a smile that was neither humble nor arrogant, and her tone was neither deliberately flattering nor pretentious. She expressed her ambition while also giving Professor Xue face. In terms of interpersonal relationships, one can be less, but one cannot be without them, especially on the first formal meeting, one should not leave a casual impression.
"Hahahaha..." Professor Xue laughed heartily: "Good, good, good. I've learned about your abilities from our correspondence over the past six months. Since you think so highly of this old man, you're welcome to apply to my school after the exam results are released. I will personally mentor you then."
Upon receiving this reply, Jiang Wanqing couldn't hide her joy, yet she remained calm and composed, letting out a long sigh of relief.
"Thank you, Professor Xue!"
"Haha... It's awfully cold outside. Come on, I'll take you to see our lab."
Since her rebirth, Jiang Wanqing had never touched any experimental equipment and was itching to get started, so she immediately agreed.
She made a move to get up first and go forward to help Professor Xue, but then she heard a familiar yet disgusting voice.
"Professor Xue! It's so good to have you here!"
Jiang Wanqing and Professor Xue looked up and saw a man and a woman walking towards them, Guo Xueyun and... Cheng Ran.
Her eyes flickered, and her gaze met Cheng Ran's surprise and delight at seeing her. He strode forward, suppressing his excitement, and first greeted the elder.
"How has Professor Xue been lately?"
"It's you, Cheng Ran! Hahaha... Good, good, good, today is a good day. The last time I saw you was before you joined the army, when you were having dinner with your parents. So many years have passed in the blink of an eye, and you've become even more robust!"
"It's been a few years since I last saw you, Professor Xue, you're still as energetic as ever."
He looked at Jiang Wanqing immediately after he finished speaking, and even stood next to her intentionally or unintentionally. However, she quietly took two small steps back and distanced herself from him.
Guo Xueyun glared at her, then squeezed in, her expression changing incredibly quickly.
"Professor Xue, Cheng Ran said he needs to see you, so I brought him here specifically to meet you."
"Oh? You are..." Professor Xue's smile faded.
"You've forgotten, we met at the school's teacher commendation ceremony a few years ago."
"Oh, it's you. You're the only young one among us dozen or so old guys. I heard you've only been working for less than two years. You're truly a force to be reckoned with, haha."
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