As autumn's chill swept across the sycamore-lined avenue, Yu Jiuyuan sat by the floor-to-ceiling window of the student union office, her fingertips tracing the gold-embossed titles of the postgraduate entrance examination syllabus.
Sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting dappled patterns that fell on her long eyelashes, giving her a serene look that differed from her usual commanding presence.
"President, these are the autumn academic forum proposals submitted by various departments. They need your final signature for confirmation."
The junior student from the secretariat tiptoed in, placed the folder on the corner of the desk, and her gaze unconsciously swept over the "Advanced Course in Quantum Mechanics" next to Yu Jiuyuan.
Those were the core textbooks for the graduate school, which seemed somewhat out of place with the student union's complicated administrative work.
Yu Jiuyuan raised her eyes, the coldness in them instantly turning into a gentle smile. When she took the pen from her fingertips, the pen tip fell on the paper with a force as even as a precision instrument: "Thank you for your hard work. Notify the heads of each department that there will be a coordination meeting at three o'clock tomorrow afternoon."
After the junior student left, the office returned to silence.
Yu Jiuyuan closed the outline, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the school emblem embossed on the cover, a faint smile curving her lips.
The pathway to a combined bachelor's, master's, and doctoral program at Saint Sakura Academy was practically nonexistent for her.
With her GPA and competition experience, a spot in the postgraduate program was already a sure thing.
But a side quest that suddenly popped up in the system last night made her change her mind.
Side Quest: The Journey to Postgraduate Entrance Exams
[Task Description: To apply for the Quantum Physics graduate program at Saint Sakura University as a national unified examination candidate, you must achieve first place in the preliminary examination and a perfect score in the re-examination.]
[Task Rewards: Unlock the "All-Round Academic Genius" hidden tag, permanently increase the maximum affection level of the target character by 10, and upgrade system shop access]
[Failure Penalty: None (The host's current progress has reached 100%, the side quest is merely an additional benefit)]
The task, which had no penalty, precisely piqued Yu Jiuyuan's interest.
She has always enjoyed the feeling of being in control. The straightforward thing of being recommended for postgraduate studies is too boring. On the contrary, the fierce competition of the postgraduate entrance examination allows her to experience the thrill of crushing her opponents.
Moreover, the research resources in the field of quantum physics can just meet the experimental needs of Yuanxu.
This was an unexpected surprise.
The phone vibrated in my palm, and a message from Rong Shenghan popped up on the screen, along with a photo I'd just taken: "I bought your favorite caramel macchiato at the coffee shop downstairs, with double the milk foam."
As Yu Jiuyuan got up, she casually stuffed the postgraduate entrance examination syllabus into her Chanel bag.
The black leather backpack complemented her white shirt perfectly, maintaining both the freshness of a student and the unique elegance of a wealthy heiress.
As I was going downstairs, I ran into Lin Yanran walking towards me. He was wearing a well-tailored black suit and had obviously just returned from his family business outside the school.
Upon seeing Yu Jiuyuan, his previously arrogant expression softened, and he quickly stepped forward: "Where are you going?"
"Go get the coffee Rong Shenghan sent." Yu Jiuyuan said calmly, as if she were talking about something very ordinary.
Lin Yanran frowned, her tone carrying a barely perceptible dissatisfaction: "What's so good about that kind of cloyingly sweet stuff? I had the chef at home make you some handmade cookies, and the driver will bring them over later."
Yu Jiuyuan smiled and did not refuse: "Okay, remember to get matcha flavor."
She knew Lin Yanran's temperament well; stroking her in the right direction was always the easiest way.
Sure enough, upon hearing her response, Lin Yanran's expression softened instantly. She raised her hand to help her tidy up the stray hairs on her forehead, but she subtly turned away to avoid it.
"I'm leaving now, I have things to do at the student council."
She left those words behind, turned and walked towards the coffee shop with a composed gait, without the slightest hint of lingering.
Lin Yanran watched her retreating figure, her fingertips hovering in mid-air, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.
He was willing to be with her, like a moth drawn to a flame, knowing full well that it would burn him, yet still unable to resist its fatal attraction.
In the coffee shop, Rong Shenghan sat by the window, his light gray sweater making him appear even more gentle and refined.
Seeing Yu Jiuyuan come in, a gentle smile appeared in his eyes, and he pushed the coffee on the table in front of her: "It's freshly made and still warm."
Yu Jiuyuan sat down, took a sip of coffee, and the sweet taste melted on her tongue, making her eyes and brows smile.
Why did you suddenly come here?
"I heard someone is going to take the postgraduate entrance exam, so I came here specifically to cheer on this future postgraduate genius."
Rong Shenghan tapped his fingertips on the table, his tone tinged with amusement, "Quantum physics? That's no simple subject. Do you need me to help you find a mentor? I know a few academicians."
“No need.” Yu Jiuyuan refused decisively. “I want to take the exam myself; that’s when I’ll feel a sense of accomplishment.”
She prefers to achieve her goals through her own abilities; the help of others only makes the "game" less fun.
Rong Shenghan was not surprised by her answer; he knew Yu Jiuyuan's personality all too well.
"Do you need me to help you study? I was the top student in the entire department in quantum mechanics back then."
Yu Jiuyuan looked up at the sincerity in his eyes, and a meaningful smile appeared on her lips: "Okay, but I'm very strict when it comes to studying, and I won't go easy on you just because you're my fiancé."
"I couldn't have gotten it."
Rong Shenghan's smile deepened. He enjoyed the feeling of walking side by side with Yu Jiuyuan. Even simple reviewing was a luxury for him.
As the two were chatting, Yu Jiuyuan's phone rang again; this time it was Xie Zhecheng.
After the call connected, Xie Zhecheng's cool yet magnetic voice came from the other end: "I've already prepared the postgraduate entrance exam syllabus for you, along with past exam papers and their solutions. They're at the security room downstairs in your dormitory."
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
