Xie Dingyuan: “You, call Ding Yu over.”
Liu Guan responded with an “oh,” about to leave, when he suddenly froze mid-step: “Didn’t you just say the part he was in charge of was completely correct?”
Then why call him over?
Xie Dingyuan lifted his eyes lightly.
A chill ran down Liu Guan’s scalp: “I’ll go right away…”
So Ding Yu, right in the middle of chatting with Jiang Fuyue, was summoned away.
“My section wasn’t wrong though? Why are they calling me?”
Liu Guan: “That I don’t know. If they call you, just go. Why so much nonsense?”
Ding Yu: “…oh.”
He turned to Jiang Fuyue: “It’s basically all solved, the rest are just similar small issues, not hard to track. You can handle them yourself.”
“Alright, I’ll give it a try.”
Ding Yu left.
Liu Guan slid into his place, starting to chat with Jiang Fuyue: “What were you two just talking about?”
“I had some questions about aerodynamics to ask Ding Yu.”
“Why not ask me? I got a master’s in mechanics while doing my graduate degree, my main field was fluid mechanics, which includes aerodynamics.”
Jiang Fuyue: “…” So… all of you either had minors or double degrees?!
And none of them related to their current biochemical research work!
“Then help me look at this…” Jiang Fuyue pointed to a step on the screen.
Liu Guan saw the issue at a glance: “Though I don’t know much programming, to use these formulas this way you have to first convert the units…”
The two got deeper into their discussion when suddenly Old Bai came over: “Old Liu, the professor is calling you.”
“Huh? But I just went.”
“I know, but he’s calling again. Hurry up. Why are there so many problems with this report this time? Old Jin and I were both called too. Quick!”
“…Oh, oh.”
Soon the four of them were all gathered at the lab bench, leaving only Jiang Fuyue behind.
She didn’t think much of it and continued sorting through her thoughts.
At noon, twelve o’clock, Xie Dingyuan had just about finished reviewing. Old Bai and Old Jin were stumped by his counter-questions.
Even Ding Yu, whose experiment had the highest completion rate, had mistakes picked out in the details.
“Ginger really does get spicier with age.”
“Your dad is still your dad.”
“When will we ever reach the professor’s level? One glance, and he catches even the tiniest mistake.”
“You? Maybe try a few more decades.”
“Heh! Like you’re any different.”
“… …”
Xie Dingyuan washed his hands, stepped down from the bench, and walked to Jiang Fuyue’s side. “Shall we eat?”
The girl’s eyes were glued to the computer screen, fingers flying across the keyboard. At his words, she didn’t even slow down: “Give me five more minutes.”
“Alright.”
Xie Dingyuan pulled out a chair, sat down, and waited quietly beside her.
Old Jin and Ding Yu were busy discussing how to improve their experiment steps. Liu Guan was reviewing his own section. Only Old Bai was spacing out, eyes darting everywhere.
Suddenly, his gaze landed on Jiang Fuyue’s side, and doubt crept into his eyes.
Why had the professor sat down next to Jiang Fuyue?
Was he… waiting for her?
No way…
Why would he wait for her?
The professor had never even waited for him!
“Old Bai—”
“Huh?” He jolted back. “You called me?”
“What are you staring at? I told you to think about improvements, and you’re off daydreaming. Can you be reliable for once?”
“No, listen—I’ve made a huge discovery!”
Meanwhile, Jiang Fuyue finished, logged out, and shut down the computer.
“All done. Let’s go.”
Xie Dingyuan left with her.
Old Bai: “See? See?! The professor really was waiting for her! Otherwise, why did he leave the moment Jiang Fuyue finished? I’m telling you, there’s definitely something going on!”
Liu Guan’s mouth twitched: “What’s going on is you.”
“No, seriously—why don’t you believe me? I swear on my sixth sense!”
Ding Yu drawled: “Sixth sense? Isn’t that something only women have?”
Old Bai: “…” D*mn it!
…
Lunch was at the cafeteria. Jiang Fuyue still had some loose ends and wanted to use the lab intranet to finish everything in one go.
So even while eating, she was planning her schedule.
That inevitably meant she neglected Xie Dingyuan.
“This one’s not bad, eat more.” He placed a chicken wing on her plate.
“Thanks.”
Then nothing more was said.
After finishing, the two left the cafeteria, heading back to the lab.
On the way, Xie Dingyuan’s face drew so much attention that Jiang Fuyue also got plenty of stares by association.
“Who’s that? Walking so close with Professor Xie.”
“Don’t know, maybe a new grad student from the research zone?”
“Professor Xie doesn’t take grad students. Besides, almost everyone in that zone has a PhD.”
“She looks way too young. And her clothes don’t look academic either.”
Not just her clothes—even her looks.
Most academic women were plain and unkempt. This one? Stunning figure, beautiful face, and outstanding presence.
She didn’t look like a bookish research nerd at all.
“Hey, she stopped walking, and Professor Xie is waiting for her.”
“OMG! Isn’t it usually others waiting for him?!”
“This is huge, this is huge.”
“Maybe she’s a relative’s kid. Professor Xie’s been single for years—netizens worry themselves to death but nothing’s ever changed. No way there’s someone now. Forget it.”
“Good. Handsome geniuses belong to the nation anyway.”
…
Entering the research zone, the crowd thinned and controls tightened. No more prying eyes.
Without an access card, Jiang Fuyue stopped at the door, waiting for Xie Dingyuan to swipe them in.
After a while, she realized he wasn’t moving.
She turned. “What’s wrong?”
He stood there, lips pressed tight, his dark eyes locked on her, full of a kind of… accusation?
Jiang Fuyue: “?” What did I do?
Xie Dingyuan: “I had sweet and sour ribs today…”
“?” Was there? Why didn’t she get any?
“…No sugar. No ribs.”
Jiang Fuyue: “So all that’s left is vinegar—”
Ah!
She suddenly blinked. “Wait—you’re… jealous?”
He tilted his chin slightly, said nothing, just looked at her, gaze heavy.
A look for her to figure out on her own.
Jiang Fuyue: “Hold on, let me trace back where this jealousy came from…”
Today, the only men she’d interacted with were Old Bai, Old Jin, Ding Yu, and Liu Guan.
“Don’t tell me—”
Xie Dingyuan cut her off hastily, a flush flickering in his eyes: “From now on, if you have questions, ask me. I’m better than all of them!”
With that, beep, he swiped the card, opened the door, and strode quickly ahead.
Jiang Fuyue couldn’t help laughing, immediately catching up and grabbing his hand.
His steps slowed; he interlaced their fingers, though his lips stayed sealed.
For him to openly admit jealousy was already unprecedented—no way could he withstand her dissecting it further.
So he fled.
Luckily, Jiang Fuyue chased after him.
A smile tugged back onto his lips.
Jiang Fuyue: “Alright then, I’ll only ask you from now on.”
“Mm.”
“But what if you’re busy?”
“Message me. I’ll reply the moment I see it!”
“Really? But I heard Professor Xie’s time is so precious—contributing to the nation, benefiting the people. Wouldn’t it be bad if I delayed you?”
Xie Dingyuan thought seriously, then said solemnly: “…Foreign threats can wait, but home must be secured first. You’re home. Not a delay.”
His expression was dead serious.
“Pfft—” Jiang Fuyue burst out laughing.
“?” He panicked.
“I was joking. Did you really take it seriously? Am I that dumb, that I need to ask that many questions?”
The man scratched his head awkwardly, and after a long silence managed: “…You’re very smart.”
Jiang Fuyue: “Hahahaha…”
Back in the lab.
Old Jin: “Little Jiang, what’s so funny? We heard you from way over here.”
“Nothing, just saw a piece of wood soaked in vinegar.”
“Huh? What principle is that? Is there a chemical or physical explanation?”
Sour-wood Xie Dingyuan: “…Have you finished your improvement plan?”
Old Jin dropped his head and shuffled off.
Old Bai wanted to curl himself into a ball. Don’t see me, don’t see me…
…
By evening, Jiang Fuyue wrapped up, and Xie Dingyuan with the four others had mostly finished their revisions too.
Ding Yu: “Professor, let’s go eat together?”
Xie Dingyuan closed the revised report, glanced at them.
Everyone expected him to refuse—after all, Professor Xie rarely joined their meals.
Instead—
“Alright.”
He agreed?!
The four exchanged looks, then simultaneously glanced out the window.
The sun still set in the west, right?
Old Jin: “Little Jiang, come too?”
Jiang Fuyue nodded.
So six people changed clothes and left the lab together.
The others all had cars. Ding Yu had wanted to offer Jiang Fuyue a ride—yet she climbed straight into the professor’s passenger seat.
Ding Yu blinked, momentarily dazed.
Old Jin called: “Come on, drive. What are you staring at?”
“But… Jiang Fuyue, she…”
“What about her?”
“She got into Professor Xie’s car.”
Old Jin glanced over: “So what? Little Jiang’s closer to the professor anyway. He’s the one who brought her into the project. Probably some family friend’s kid.”
Ding Yu: “…Really?”
But it all looked too natural—the way she got in, the way he opened the door for her, too practiced, too seamless.
Too… intimate.
Especially for Professor Xie, famed for being severe, detached, obsessive, with even a touch of germophobia.
He had never seen anyone else in that passenger seat.
Old Jin: “Stop overthinking. Hurry up, they’re already gone.”
“…Oh!”
Ding Yu shook his head, forcing away the absurd thought. He must be imagining things.
…
Dinner was at a local-style restaurant, serving homely dishes to suit everyone’s taste.
Liu Guan: “Same as always, pass the menu, everyone pick one or two dishes.”
Jiang Fuyue picked hers, then it was Xie Dingyuan’s turn.
The menu was passed to him, but he didn’t take it. “You order.”
So she did—added one more dish she liked, and that was it.
Then handed the menu on to Old Bai.
He swept his gaze between the two of them, trying to detect something—but found nothing concrete. Still, something felt off, he just couldn’t name it.
Made him uneasy, so uneasy he only ordered one dish instead of his usual two.
“Tsk…” Old Jin muttered, like he’d just seen a rare phenomenon.
Soon the food came.
With the professor present, no one dared drink. Everyone ate obediently, and their chat stayed serious: latest biochemical research results, which countries were testing biochemical weapons, the Schenkworth virus strain in F Continent…
To outsiders, it sounded like an academic conference.
A passing waiter overheard and looked at them differently.
Jiang Fuyue ate while listening—indeed, no wonder they were top experts. Even casual talk over a meal could be enlightening.
Afterward, Ding Yu tried to pay, only to hear from the cashier it was already covered: “That gentleman settled the bill.”
Who else but Professor Xie?
They left the restaurant, heading toward the parking lot across the street.
Jiang Fuyue wore low-heeled sandals. Stepping off a stair, her heel caught, throwing her off balance—nearly sending her falling forward.
Thankfully, Xie Dingyuan’s arm snaked around her waist, steadying her.
“Careful.”
She exhaled. “That was close.”
The others, hearing the commotion, turned back—
And froze.
There was Professor Xie, holding Jiang Fuyue by the waist, the space between them far too close for “just friends.”
Then they heard her say her shoe got stuck.
Ah. That explained it.
Old Jin: “Good thing he was nearby.”
Liu Guan: “A tumble on these stairs would’ve been bad.”
Only Old Bai and Ding Yu stayed silent—the former’s eyes shining like radar, the latter frowning in thought.
Jiang Fuyue leaned on his shoulder, trying to free the shoe, but the heel wouldn’t budge.
“Ah…”
It scraped her toe raw.
Old Jin: “Need help?” He stepped forward.
But before he could, Xie Dingyuan was already crouched down, patting her ankle: “Take it off.”
She slipped her foot out—slender, fair, delicate like art.
Passersby even glanced over.
Xie Dingyuan frowned, tugged hard, pulled the shoe free—though the heel stayed stuck.
Jiang Fuyue: “…”
Xie Dingyuan: “?”
Now the shoe was unwearable.
She was about to remove the other, to snap its heel for symmetry—
But in the next moment, he swept her up into a princess carry, striding past the dumbfounded four straight toward the parking lot.
Jiang Fuyue: “Eh, my shoes—”
“Forget them. I’ll buy you new ones.”
Well. Fair enough. She hadn’t planned to keep them anyway.
Now that she didn’t need to walk, the shoes were unnecessary.
She obediently wrapped her arms around his neck, resting her head against his chest.
Steady. Secure.
She didn’t notice—behind them, the four were dumbstruck.
Old Jin: “He, he, they—what does this… what does this mean?!”
Liu Guan: “How would I know? Also, straighten your tongue when you speak.”
Old Jin: “No, but why would the professor carry Xiao Jiang?”
Liu Guan: “Didn’t her shoes break? She can’t walk.”
“But that way of carrying…” Way too intimate!
“Look, Little Jiang’s got her arms around him! D*mn—”
“They’re… dating, right?”
At those words, it was like a lightning bolt struck them all.
Old Bai sprang up, hands on hips: “Ha! I told you something was up, but you didn’t believe me. You mocked my sixth sense. Look who’s right now! Hmph!”
Ding Yu murmured, realization dawning: “So that’s how it is…”
Old Jin still struggled: “But how… how could they be together? Maybe we’re misunderstanding, maybe there’s some explanation—”
Old Bai: “Obvious enough! Misunderstanding my ass!”
“But… Professor Xie? Impossible. He’s never had a woman around him…”
“Now you see it, don’t you? A legit girlfriend! Honestly though,” Old Bai rubbed his chin, snickering, “didn’t that princess carry look super manly? Little Yueyue’s so lucky!”
Liu Guan: “I suddenly feel like they’re a perfect match—in looks, in brains. Netizens can start celebrating with fireworks.”
Ding Yu: “When this news breaks, the internet’s going down.”
Old Jin stared blankly, murmuring to the wind: “Even Professor Xie has a girlfriend… What about me?”
Old Bai: “Greedy miser. Destined to be single.”
Still, his eyes followed the pair’s retreating figures, full of envy.
Ah… when would sweet romance come for him?
…
Xie Dingyuan carried Jiang Fuyue to the car, setting her in the passenger seat.
Engine on, steering wheel turned—
“This isn’t the way to Yutianhua Residence,” she reminded.
“Not going back yet.”
“?”
Fifteen minutes later, they stopped at a shopping center.
He got out, came around, and scooped her up again, carrying her inside.
Crowds parted, heads turned.
Two gorgeous people together—attention magnet.
Finally, she realized: he was taking her to buy shoes.
Snatching a free mask, she slipped it onto him. With half his face hidden, his eyes looked even deeper.
Meeting his puzzled gaze, she coughed lightly: “Your face is too recognizable. Better to keep low-profile.”
A man like him, in public, carrying a girl—it could harm his image.
He didn’t care, striding boldly with her in his arms. But she couldn’t let it slide.
Her boyfriend was a peerless national treasure, pride of the people.
He shouldn’t have to face anyone’s doubt.
