Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“Yeah, you get on with it.” Huo Shaoheng paused, “I’ll hang up now.” He didn’t hesitate to end the call.
Gu Nianzhi spoke into the phone anxiously only to find that he had already hung up. She felt speechless and sighed. So the matter of romance was not Huo Shao’s forte… Gu Nianzhi put the phone back into her bag with a smile before putting it to head downstairs.
…
Huo Shaoheng set the phone on the small coffee table nearby and closed his eyes to meditate on the wicker chair. It wasn’t yet the15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar, so the nights were very chilly in the Imperial Capital. However Huo Shaoheng didn’t feel cold at all. He meditated on the wicker, the icy air calming his mind and allowing him to think without outside disturbance. Many thoughts swirled in his mind, it seemed endless and unrelated, yet he detected an invisible thread connecting all the apparently unrelated people and events together. As to what this connection will lead to, he had no idea. He was running out of time and he was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to handle everything about Gu Nianzhi if there were no more clues. He may have no choice but to pass her over to someone else. Fingers subconsciously tapping on the wicker chair, the sounds reverbated rhythmically into the night sky.
…
Gu Nianzhi rushed through the roads in B University while carrying her backpack. She remembered the location of He Zhichu’s professors’ building and dashed to there in less than 10 minutes. She told the security guard her name and he had her sign in, “Professor He is waiting for you to start the meeting.”
Gu Nianzhi was stunned and asked, “He’s just waiting for me?”
“Yeah, he called just now to ask if you arrived yet.”
Gu Nianzhi hurried into the elevator and secretly thought didn’t the meeting get delayed because of a doctoral student in the first place? Why was everyone there before it was even 8:30pm? What a set up.. Gu Nianzhi grumbled internally as the elevator made its way up to the 28th floor. He Zhichu’s suite was left of the elevator. Gu Nianzhi exited the elevator to see He Zhichu speaking on the phone in the hallway. He stood besides the elevator doors in a casual outfit of a light blue cashmere hooded sweater with white shirt collars peeking out. He also wore dark brown pants so finely pressed it appeared like it had been freshly tailored. With one hand in his pocket, he held the phone with the other hand and appeared very aloof. His thin lips pressed tightly together to give off an eerie aura.
Gu Nianzhi smiled nervously and greeted him in a tiny voice, “…Professor He.” He saw Gu Nianzhi as soon as she came out of the elevator. Ending the call, he turned to glance at her with his calm, shimmering sultry eyes. There was no antagonism from their last encounter alone, so Gu Nianzhi relaxed a little and continued, “Professor He, I’m not late right?” She looked at the watch on her wrist, “It’s only a little past 8:30pm.”
He Zhichu glanced at her watch and was stunned for awhile minute before replying, “…Your watch looks quite exquisite,”
Gu Nianzhi stroked her wrist and pulled her dress sleeve down to cover the watch, “It’s ok, it was a gift from someone. I only accepted it because it looks very elegant.”
A sharp look flashed across his eyes, but resumed their normal indifference by time Gu Nianzhi looked up again. He turned back to his room, “Come in, we were just waiting for you.”
Gu Nianzhi jogged behind him and didn’t fall too far behind. She smiled brightly and didn’t think about anything else. He Zhichu turned away and opened the door to go inside. As soon as it opened, they could hear the voices from the suite.
“Professor He is here? I rushed over here from the other class meeting, so I thought I’d be the last one!” The first voice was female and somewhat familiar to Gu Nianzhi.
“Where the Little Sister? Isn’t she supposed to come today?” The second voice was a bold male one. It sounded a little rough, but baritone and pleasant.
“Stop with the Little Sister this, Little Sister that! Do you think that you’re Ling Huchong?!” She recognized Brother Huang’s voice right away and muffled her laughter.
He Zhichu happened to turn his solemn face around but couldn’t help smiling when he saw Gu Nianzhi. However he quickly realized it wasn’t right and walked quickly into the room to sit on the main single seater sofa with his legs crossed. A round soda was in the middle of the living room, with He Zhichu’s sofa in the chief position and two corner sofas on its sides. A rectangular coffee table was in the middle. On the sofas on either side of the coffee table were two people who should be He Zhichu’s doctoral students. For the two men on the left, one was the Brother Huang she knew. On the right was a man and a woman, with the woman being the tutor Gu Nianzhi met in the afternoon, Gui Suyao! Gu Nianzhi didn’t even greet Brother Huang because she kept staring at Gui Suyao with shock.
He Zhichu shifted his body on the large single seater sofa and crossed his other leg as he asked Gu Nianzhi, “What are you daydreaming about? Come sit down.” But where would she sit? Gu Nianzhi stood awkwardly at the door, unable to enter or leave. She waved her hand with embarrassment, “Hello.”
Brother Huang rose and made introductions to the other three people, “This is the Little Sister I mentioned, Gu Nianzhi. She just turned 18 last November and is a smart as a whip. She’s a real genius girl and most importantly she’s pretty too, how rare!”
“Yes, yes! She can make a living with her looks but uses her brain instead! –Little Sister, I don’t think I deserve to live this world since seeing an angelic little sister like you!” The man sitting besides Brother Huang exclaimed boldy, and she knew he was the rough and pleasant voice she heard when she came in.
Before Gu Nianzhi could even respond, Brother Huang already punched the man, “You should wipe off the drool now, not every man with the surname Duan has the ability to become Duan Zhengchun.”
“I don’t want to be Duan Zhengchun. I can be Duan Yu, right?” He stood up from the sofa and extended a hand to Gu Nianzhi, “Hello, Little Sister. I’m Duan Chun, but not that charming yet not lecherous Duan Zhengchun. My first name means mellow and I’m a humble and reliable person. I have strong professional abilities, am doctoral student in the B University Faculty of Law, practicing lawyer at the JD Law Firm and in works to being promoted to senior. I’m 28 this year. –-Little Sister, do you have a boyfriend?”
Duan Chun rattled off like a machine gun that didn’t wait for a response before going on and on. Gu Nianzhi couldn’t help laughing with all the previous embarrassment and formalities swept away. She shook his hand, “Hello, Brother Duan. Please take care of me in the future.”
“Of course, of course! I’ll certainly take care of you. But Little Sister, I have to say you are very good at avoiding the topic! I clearly was asking if you had a boyfriend, so you have to tell me!” Brother Duan pressed on, “Did I scare you?”
“Go away!” Brother Huang kicked Brother Duan away and brought Gu Nianzhi to the seat facing He Zhichu, “Sit here and ignore that silly man called Duan. He’s used to talking nonsense.”
Gu Nianzhi cocked her head with a smile, “That’s ok, I know that Brother Duan was just joking. I won’t take it seriously.”
They joked around and the man next to Gui Suyao also introduced himself with the surname “Wei.” Gu Nianzhi called him Brother Wei then nodded to Gui Suyao whom she had been surveying, “I didn’t think that Miss Gui would also be Professor He’s student.”
“Oh?!” Brother Huang was surprised, “What’s going on? Little Gui is Nianzhi’s teacher?”
“I’m not really an official teacher.” Gui Suyao explained with a smile, “I’m the tutor for Class 1 of the law post-grad students, and Nianzhi happens to be one of the students.”
“Is that so?” Brother Huang nodded quickly, “That’s good then, otherwise how would you refer to each other? Hahahaha…”
“Yeah, that means Nianzhi is both our Professor He’s disciple, as well as his disciple’s disciple! Hahaha…” Brother Duan chuckled heartily.
Gu Nianzhi thought this person was quite interesting–he didn’t have the typical restraint and self-discipline of lawyers, but was wild and arrogant. Of course, perhaps this was only an illusion to hide his true nature. As the others studied Gu Nianzhi, she did the same to them.
When they finished chatting, He Zhichu said to Gu Nianzhi, “You’re all classmates from now on. Don’t be too polite and go ask them if you don’t understand something when I’m not here.”
Gu Nianzhi nodded, “Yes, Professor He.”
He Zhichu then said to his doctoral students, “As for the four of you, two are graduating this year and the topic for the graduation thesis was selected last year. Be sure to hand in the first draft before submitting in February.” He was referring to Brother Huang and Brother Duan.
They stopped giggling and nodded seriously, “Professor He, we’re already writing them right now. We will have the first draft ready before the end of February for sure.”
He Zhichu then turned to Brother Wei, “You’re in your second year so you’ll need to start selecting the topic for your graduation thesis. Don’t put it off until next year.”
“I understand.” The man nodded.
He Zhichu finally looked at Gui Suyao, “You’re in your first year, so I’ll have Little Huang and Little Duan give you a few cases for you to make a plan first.”
Gui Suyao asked enthusiastically, “Professor He, are there any good reference books for me to read?”
“I gave Little Huang a book list, they all select the ones from there.” He Zhichu pursed his lips and propped his forehead on his hand. His dashing figure and beautiful appearance was indescribably alluring under the light. Gui Suyao averted her gaze and didn’t dare to look at He Zhichu again.
