The exam was over, and everyone was in a good mood.
“How about we go out for a stroll?”
They had been in Zurich for several days already, but it was either hotel, exam hall, or restaurant. On the first day, there had been an organized tour, but since it was to the university and library, it felt overly solemn, lacking a sense of freedom.
“I heard Zurich is really beautiful.”
“There’s a lot of good food here.”
“The hospitals here are ranked number one in the world.”
“…what are you talking about? We’re going to have fun, not to a hospital!”
Wei Kongjue immediately shut his mouth and made a zipping motion.
Everyone agreed at once, and in the end decided that Jiang Fuyue should go ask Yuan Bentao.
“Why me?”
Ling Xuan: “Ahem!”
Chen Cheng: “Because only you dare.”
Tan Jiaxu nodded seriously: “Yes, only you dare.”
Guo Zidong thought a bit: “Professor Yuan will definitely give you face.”
Wei Kongjue: “Professor Yuan’s a little afraid of you, really. As long as you ask, he’ll definitely agree.”
“…”
And so, Jiang Fuyue went.
Yuan Bentao happily agreed: “Don’t go too far, and come back before dark.”
Everyone: When Sister Yue takes action, it counts for double.
They first went to Lake Zurich—clear rippling waters, flocks of swans.
Chen Cheng shoved his phone into Tan Jiaxu’s hands: “Help me take a few pictures. I’ll show my family when I get back; they’ve never been abroad.”
Then he ran to the lakeside, opened his arms to the camera, and smiled wide.
Tan Jiaxu: “Okay. Now change your pose.”
Chen Cheng made a peace sign.
Tan Jiaxu: “Another one.”
Chen Cheng struck pose after pose. Under the blue sky, two boys—one posing, one taking photos—youthful energy spilling everywhere.
Even Wei Kongjue was tempted. After Chen Cheng finished, he asked if Tan Jiaxu could take some for him too.
He had just glanced—Tan Jiaxu actually shot really well.
Tan Jiaxu nodded: “Sure. Anyone else want photos? Line up, one by one.”
Guo Zidong instantly raised his hand: “Me me me! I want a photo with the ugly duckling—plus size edition!”
“Wei Kongjue, stand over there.”
“Here?”
“A bit to the left… move forward… turn around, look back…”
Tan Jiaxu: “Yes, perfect.”
Anyone who didn’t know better would think it was a fashion magazine shoot with a professional photographer.
“Ling Xuan, aren’t you taking pictures?”
“You guys go ahead.” He waved his hand. “I’ll take shots of the scenery.”
“Fine. What about Sister Yue?”
“She’s over there—”
By the shimmering lakeside, Jiang Fuyue wore a long trench coat, hands in her pockets, facing the sunlight, gazing into the distance.
The wind lifted her long black hair, giving her an air of dashing coolness.
Ling Xuan raised his phone and quietly pressed the shutter.
Click—
The moment froze.
Tan Jiaxu stared in that direction, eyes full of admiration and praise: “Sister Yue is so beautiful…”
Chen Cheng was also dumbstruck: “Like the lead walking right out of a drama.”
Wei Kongjue and Guo Zidong hadn’t known Jiang Fuyue long, and weren’t that familiar with her.
What they’d seen and heard was all about her terrifying intellect and shocking talent, so they unconsciously ignored whether she was pretty or not.
Now, suddenly seeing her like this—this wasn’t just a beauty.
She was more stunning than a celestial goddess.
At their age, youthful impulses ran strong. The two boys were instantly defenseless, hearts pounding wildly.
After all, who doesn’t like beautiful things? Who wouldn’t feel stirred? Who wouldn’t want to steal a few extra glances?
They were no exception!
At that moment, Jiang Fuyue continued strolling slowly along the lakeside, unaware of everyone’s reaction. In her ears were goose calls, soft breeze brushed her face, sunlight spilled over her whole body—every pore breathing in comfort.
She leaned on the railing, casually looking toward the opposite bank.
Suddenly, her gaze stilled—
In the sunlight, a man stood in a gray coat, tall and straight.
Because his back was turned, she could only make out a bit of his profile, but not his full face.
But that back figure…
Jiang Fuyue frowned. She felt she had seen it somewhere before, strangely familiar.
When she tried to take a closer look, the man had already stepped away.
Across the lake.
“President Lou, the car is fixed. We can leave now.”
“Mm.” Lou Mingshen strode out of the park and got into the car.
“Let’s go.”
The driver started the engine, and the luxury Bentley glided forward steadily.
Inside the car—
The assistant reported: “Resource integration… financial coordination… HR is also open to sharing… Expected to wrap up tomorrow. Sir, when should we return to the capital?”
Lou Mingshen looked at the streets retreating outside the window, his face expressionless, voice cool as water: “The day after tomorrow.”
“Yes, I’ll book the tickets right away.”
…
After leaving Lake Zurich, Jiang Fuyue and the group went to St. Peter’s Church.
The solemn toll of bells mixed with choir voices, adding to the reverence.
Here, they asked a passerby to take a group photo.
In the photo, Jiang Fuyue stood in the middle, Ling Xuan at her left, Chen Cheng and Tan Jiaxu crowded on her right, with Wei Kongjue and Guo Zidong on the ends.
“Why are we so far from Sister Yue? No way, the three of us need one on our own.”
And so, Wei Kongjue and Guo Zidong got their wish to stand at Jiang Fuyue’s sides.
Click—
The last stop was Bahnhofstrasse.
This place was called “the richest street in the world.” At 1.4 km long, running roughly parallel to the Limmat River, it was lined with boutiques and banks.
To ensure air quality, cars were banned; only trams ran through.
The air was sweetly fragrant, the street spotless, as if even the sky here was bluer than elsewhere.
Chen Cheng pointed at the bare branches along the road, curious: “What tree is that?”
Tan Jiaxu shook his head.
Wei Kongjue and Guo Zidong didn’t know either.
“Linden tree,” Jiang Fuyue and Ling Xuan said at the same time.
Their eyes met; the boy’s lips pressed tight, and he was the first to look away.
The others walked ahead. Jiang Fuyue deliberately slowed, called to him: “Ling Xuan.”
“…what is it?”
“The Tunijilia quarantine zone incident—you shouldn’t have done that.”
The boy lowered his eyes, silent for a long time before murmuring: “…Sorry. I didn’t think that much at the time.”
I just wanted to go in and be with you.
Jiang Fuyue: “When it’s about life and death, staying alive matters more than anything. Don’t let a moment of impulse cloud your reason.”
The boy’s Adam’s apple bobbed, lashes trembling lightly: “…Mm.”
Actually, he wanted to say—it wasn’t impulse.
But in the end, he couldn’t say it aloud.
Jiang Fuyue quickened her pace, catching up with the others.
Ling Xuan followed unhurriedly, eyes locked on the girl’s back, unable to look away for a long time.
He thought—what he couldn’t say now, one day, he would tell her.
Tan Jiaxu: “Sister Yue, what’s that house across the street, with red flowers in the window?”
“RS National Bank.”
“You’ve been here before?”
Jiang Fuyue shook her head. She wasn’t lying—it was indeed her first time here in this life.
“Then how do you know everything?”
“Books.”
“…Okay, fair enough.”
After walking enough, they went into a restaurant to have dinner.
Wei Kongjue opened the menu, and the next second exclaimed: “So much food!”
From French haute cuisine to Mediterranean snacks, from Japanese to Chinese—this place had it all!
In the end, they ordered steak, grilled sausages, and out of curiosity, a cheese fondue.
But the boss listened with difficulty, asked them to repeat several times.
“Huh? He doesn’t seem to understand English very well?”
Ling Xuan’s accent was authentic British. By right, there should be no issue.
The boss seemed to notice their confusion. He explained in a language they didn’t understand, gesturing as he spoke.
Chen Cheng and Tan Jiaxu shrank back, not daring to open their mouths.
What they’d learned back home was “mute English”—able to do written tests but not speak. They could catch Ling Xuan’s English earlier, but now with the boss’s language, their brains were exploding.
Wei Kongjue and Guo Zidong weren’t doing much better.
They could read, write, and listen—but only if the other side spoke English! Who knew what language this boss was using?
“Ling Xuan, did you get it? What’s he saying?”
This time, Ling Xuan also shook his head.
Only Jiang Fuyue listened carefully, then smiled and responded in the same language.
The boss broke into delighted gestures, babbled happily, then headed to the kitchen.
Jiang Fuyue turned her head—several eager faces waiting.
Uh…
Chen Cheng: “Sister Yue, you understood the boss?”
“A little.”
Tan Jiaxu: “What language was that?”
“Romansh.”
“What did he say?”
“He explained that usually his daughter takes customers’ orders, but she went to church service today and hasn’t come back. In the shop it’s only him and his wife, and they only speak Romansh. To apologize, he’ll give us a jug of craft beer on the house.”
“Sister Yue, you’re… way too amazing!”
“How do you know everything? You even understand Romansh?”
“Did you learn it as a kid? Is it hard?”
Jiang Fuyue: “Just started recently. Not hard, you just read books.”
Everyone: “…” I suspect you’re showing off Versailles style.
At that moment, a Bentley stopped at the restaurant entrance. The assistant glanced at the man resting with eyes closed, then softly asked: “President Lou, ahead is Bahnhofstrasse. We’ll need to turn here. There’s a restaurant beside us, sign says they serve Chinese food. Would you… like to try it?”
Lou Mingshen opened his eyes and turned toward the window.
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