The class bell rang.
Wan Xiutong said, “Jiangjiang, want to go to the cafeteria together?”
“No, I’m eating out.”
“Oh, okay… Then what do you want to drink? I’m heading to the convenience store later, I can bring something for you.”
“A bottle of yogurt.”
“Got it!”
Wan Xiutong left with Liu Bowen and Lin Qiao.
…
Principal’s Office.
“…These are Jiang’s past monthly exam papers. Aside from one instance where she lost two points on her essay, the rest are all perfect scores.”
While flipping through the test papers, Ming Yu listened to the principal with a faint smile.
Seeing his interest, Hu Yongwei became more talkative: “In addition to the regular school-organized exams, Jiang also performs remarkably well in academic competitions. For instance, in international events like the IPhO and IOI, she won gold with full marks. The domestic media calls her a ‘genius girl,’ and No. 1 High School’s reputation has skyrocketed. The admissions office predicts we’ll become one of the top picks next year—this is all thanks to Jiang…”
At this point, the smile on the principal’s face could no longer be held back.
“Oh right, due to her talent in physics, she was personally selected by Professor Xie to participate in his research project. She just returned the day before yesterday after the project concluded. Not sure how it went, though.”
Ming Yu paused, then slowly looked up. “Professor Xie? Xie Dingyuan?”
“Yes, you know him too?”
“I do.”
The old principal beamed: “As expected—academia is a small circle. Walk around it and it’s all familiar faces.”
“Could you tell me more about Jiang Fuyue?”
“Of course!” Hu Yongwei was more than happy to oblige.
Ming Yu’s brows and eyes held a gentle smile.
On the side, Zhong Hao was already numb.
Professor Ming had smiled more today than in all the past years combined. This was beyond fantasy—it was borderline supernatural!
Just then, Jiang Fuyue knocked and entered, right as the principal was recounting the “grudges and entanglements” between her and Director Zhao Tiejun, along with how she got the nickname “Sledgehammer Sister.”
Ming Yu let out a low, deep laugh filled with comfort and delight.
“What are you all chatting about so happily?” she asked.
The principal chuckled, “Speak of the devil.”
Jiang Fuyue raised her brow. Talking about her, huh?
“Let’s go eat.”
Ming Yu nodded slightly. “Principal Hu, we’ll be going now. Sorry for disturbing you today.”
“Not at all! You’re too polite…”
After a round of formalities, Hu Yongwei walked the three of them to the door.
…
Fifty meters past the back gate of No. 1 High School: Jiang Ji’s Pancake Shop.
Today it was Han Yunru’s turn to manage the shop. Cao Dazhuang and Cao Qingxiang rotated in to help.
By now, a long line had already formed outside. Aunt Liu bustled in and out.
Seeing Jiang Fuyue bringing two guests—one of them in a wheelchair—she ushered them in through the back to avoid inconvenience.
Inside, all the seats were already full.
Fortunately, between the front dining area and kitchen, a curtained-off small space with a table and a few chairs—normally used by staff to eat—was available. Perfect for the three of them now.
“Mom.” Jiang Fuyue walked up and greeted.
“Yueyue? What brings you here?” Han Yunru, busy as she was, brightened up at the sound of her daughter’s voice.
“Brought two friends over for a meal. Let Uncle Dazhuang whip something up. I’ll take them to the private kitchen later tonight.”
“Sounds like important friends?”
“Mm.” Jiang Fuyue nodded.
“No need to bother your Uncle Dazhuang—I’ll cook myself.”
Jiang Fuyue affectionately linked her arm with her mother’s. “Thanks, Mom!”
“Oh, before you head over tonight, call your dad first. Have him reserve a private room, or there won’t be seats.”
“Already did.”
“Alright then. Go keep your friends company. This won’t take long. Any dietary restrictions?”
Jiang Fuyue thought for a second. “No Sichuan peppercorns, no onions.”
“Got it.”
While mother and daughter chatted, Zhong Hao was busy folding three napkins and vigorously wiping the table.
“This is a restaurant? So small, so cramped, such poor hygiene… The table’s so greasy—I wiped it twice and it’s still slick… Can food from a place like this even be safe to eat? Professor Ming, maybe I should go get you something from the hotel?”
Ming Yu, expressionless: “If you’re not used to it, you can eat at the hotel. Come back in an hour to pick me up.”
“I—didn’t mean it like that! I just don’t want you to get an upset stomach. It’d be hard to explain to Elder Hong…”
“My health doesn’t need to be explained to anyone. If you’re going to eat, be quiet. If not, leave now.”
Zhong Hao nodded like a pecking chicken. “I’ll eat!”
He immediately shut up and kept wiping every inch of the table and bench like it owed him money.
Ming Yu: “That’s enough.”
“…Okay.”
When Jiang Fuyue came back, Zhong Hao was already quietly seated, back to being invisible.
Ming Yu glanced around the room. “This place…”
“My family’s shop.”
Hearing “my family,” Ming Yu was momentarily dazed. But he soon smiled in relief.
She had a new life, a new identity. From beginning to end, she was a new person.
That was good.
“Looks like business is doing well.”
“Not bad. There’s a line every day.”
Through the curtain, Ming Yu looked out at the hall. A slender woman bustled back and forth.
“That woman is?”
“My mom.”
Ming Yu was startled. “She… looks very young.”
What he wanted to say was: Younger than me.
Jiang Fuyue didn’t think much of it and casually replied, “Early forties.”
That only made it worse.
Ming Yu already minded the age gap between him and Jiang Fuyue. Now, with this reminder, it was like rubbing salt in a wound.
Zhong Hao was baffled—what had gotten into Professor Ming?
Ever since seeing Jiang Fuyue’s file at the research institute, the professor had been acting totally different. He not only agreed to mentor a student, but even personally traveled to Linhuai. Now he was showering this young girl with special treatment—and smiling, no less!
You have to understand, Professor Ming was infamous at the institute as the “living h*ll king.” New researchers would get PTSD from one glance at his icy face and avoid him like the plague.
But now…
Zhong Hao glanced at the professor’s gentle features. If it weren’t for the huge age difference, he might suspect this was love at first sight.
“Food’s ready—!” Aunt Liu came in with piping hot dishes and quickly set the table.
Lastly, she placed a bowl of rice in front of each person.
“Yueyue, is that enough? I can make more if needed.”
Four meat dishes, two vegetables, and a soup. Plenty for three people.
“It’s enough. Thanks, Aunt Liu.”
“I’ll go help out front. Call me if you need anything.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Fuyue handed chopsticks to Ming Yu. “Try it?”
“Mm.”
Zhong Hao eyed the homestyle dishes—nothing fancy, but also nothing obviously wrong.
Just… ordinary.
But the moment he picked up a piece of tofu and put it in his mouth, he froze.
Then immediately reached for another bite.
My god!
So tender! So silky! And bursting with flavor!
One bite exploded with rich, layered texture. Sweet and sour with a hint of sea salt—absolutely refreshing.
“This—what’s this dish called? I’ve never had tofu like this!”
Ming Yu also looked curious.
Jiang Fuyue: “Sea Salt Silken Tofu with Egg.”
Zhong Hao: “It’s too good!”
The meal took less than thirty minutes.
During it, Jiang Fuyue and Ming Yu ate and chatted politely.
Zhong Hao…
Fully transformed into a rice-devouring machine.
He refilled his bowl three times, each heaping full.
Two meat dishes and most of the tofu—he single-handedly wiped them out.
Afterward, he finally realized what he’d done and flushed with embarrassment.
“S-sorry, it was just too good… I couldn’t help myself.”
After the meal, Aunt Liu brought out dessert.
As the weather cooled and winter approached, the summer sugar drinks were no longer suitable, so Han Yunru launched a dessert line.
Like the private kitchen’s dishes, they were made in limited quantities.
Baked at the private kitchen’s bakery, then driven to the shop—this added to costs, so they stopped giving them out free and started selling instead.
Unexpectedly, they were a huge hit.
Now desserts had become a specialty of Jiang Ji’s Pancake Shop.
And Han Yunru was the mastermind behind them.
Zhong Hao: “This is amazing too! I usually hate sweets, but this—ha, I can’t stop eating!”
Ming Yu also nodded repeatedly in agreement.
That afternoon, Jiang Fuyue still had class, and Ming Yu had business at the municipal physics research center. So they agreed to meet at the school gate after school.
Ming Yu watched her leave, not returning to himself for a long while.
After a while—
“Zhong Hao, find me a hair salon.”
“You want a haircut? I’ll call now.”
“Not a haircut.”
“Huh?”
Ming Yu: “I want to dye my hair.”
