“You said what?! He agreed?!” Elder Hong shot up from his seat, disbelief written all over his face. “Is that true?!”
Zhong Hao had sprinted all the way over and was gasping for air. “Tr-true…”
“That’s great! He finally came around! I’ll head over right now!”
“Wait—”
Elder Hong: “?”
“Professor Ming said, he needs to know more about the girl before he can make a final decision.”
When Elder Hong returned to the lab again with the most updated and complete files, Ming Yu sat in his wheelchair. To his left was the stargazing window, to his right the lab bench, and he was positioned right in the middle aisle. His expression, behind the reflection of his glasses, had lost its usual gentle calm—replaced by a sharp and focused gaze.
Elder Hong instantly noticed the change in him.
It was as if…
A still pond had finally rippled.
Signs of life—at last.
“Ming Yu, I brought the files you asked for.”
“Thank you.”
He lowered his head and started flipping through the pages, one after another. His eyes, slightly hooded, gave away nothing—but beneath the quiet surface, a storm was brewing.
The documents covered every detail of Jiang Fuyue’s life up to this point.
Everything indicated that she was not Lou Mingyue, but someone entirely unrelated.
Then suddenly, his eyes froze.
“…This girl competed in an informatics competition?”
Elder Hong nodded. “She’s very gifted. Well-rounded in every subject. Before IPhO, she won a gold medal in IOI.”
“Is that so?”
“Not just that. Her monthly exam scores show she’s excellent across all subjects.” Elder Hong was eager to keep Ming Yu interested and couldn’t stop praising Jiang Fuyue.
“She’s the most well-rounded and talented of this year’s batch!”
“So… she’s a jack-of-all-trades?” Ming Yu’s eyes flickered. The usual gray-blue shade seemed to light up.
Elder Hong nodded eagerly. “That’s one way to put it!”
…..
“Mingyue, you’re picking this up so fast!”
“Can’t help it. I’m gifted, have a good memory—everything just clicks first try.”
“Geez, could you be a little more modest?”
“Did I say anything wrong?”
“No, but having a super talented fiancée makes me feel so much pressure. What if people say I’m just freeloading off you?”
“You already have weak teeth anyway.”
….
Ming Yu pulled himself out of the memory and looked at Elder Hong. “Could I see her IOI exam paper?”
“It was a computer-based test, so I’m not sure if they kept archives… I’ll check.”
“No need for the machine-based test. What about her handwritten exams—like regular school tests?”
“Yes, her school included one of her monthly exam papers with the application.”
Ming Yu flipped quickly, now unable to hide the urgency in his eyes.
Elder Hong was startled and looked at Zhong Hao: What’s going on with him?
Zhong Hao: No idea. Ever since he saw that first exam paper, he’s been different.
Zhong Hao could tell that beneath Professor Ming’s calm exterior, a wild undercurrent was surging—just waiting to break the surface.
And the trigger might be that girl!
Suddenly, Ming Yu’s hands froze. His gaze locked in.
He had found it.
The familiar handwriting filled his vision—every stroke was a ghost from the past.
“Hahahahaha…” Under the startled eyes of Elder Hong and Zhong Hao, he burst into laughter.
He trembled as he laughed, tears spilling from his eyes.
It really is you!
At last, I’ve found you again—Mingyue!
….
Jiang Fuyue suddenly sat up in bed, eyes dazed in the dark, drenched in sweat.
She glanced at the clock—3 a.m.
In her dream, someone had been calling her.
But not as “Jiang Fuyue”… they had called her Lou Mingyue.
She rubbed her temples, threw off the covers, and stepped into the bathroom in her slippers.
Fifteen minutes later, freshly showered and in clean pajamas, she got back into bed.
This time, she slept straight through till morning.
Jiang Fuyue left the house ten minutes early. When she looked up, Xie Dingyuan’s car was already waiting outside the villa.
She walked over, opened the door, and sat in the front passenger seat. “Here, breakfast.”
Today it was sandwiches and hot milk.
Mindful of Xie Dingyuan’s appetite, she brought two sandwiches. “Is that enough?”
If not, she could go grab more—thanks to her Little Brother, their house was always well-stocked.
“It’s enough.”
Seeing he only took the sandwiches, Jiang Fuyue handed over the milk. “And this—straw’s already in.”
Xie Dingyuan pressed his lips together but still accepted it.
The sandwiches were room temperature, unlike yesterday’s piping hot buns, which needed to be held in both hands—so today, no chance to be fed at close range.
A little disappointing…
With her hands free, Jiang Fuyue quickly buckled her seatbelt.
Just then, Xie Dingyuan suddenly spoke: “I think the buns tasted better.”
“Really?” Jiang Fuyue looked up.
“Mm.” He nodded solemnly.
“All right. I’ll bring you buns tomorrow.”
Xie Dingyuan smiled, unable to hold it back.
Jiang Fuyue: “?” They’re just buns. Is that worth smiling like this?
