At two in the afternoon, the flight landed on time at the Imperial Capital Airport.
The old master, Han Shen, and Han Ke had all come.
Jiang Fuyue called out to each of them one by one: “Grandpa, Eldest Uncle, Second Uncle.”
Han Shen pointed in a certain direction. “The third is behind that pillar. His new movie exploded in popularity. The paparazzi are after him like crazy, so he can only hide far away.”
Jiang Fuyue looked over.
In the sweltering summer heat, Han Heng was still in long sleeves, with hat, mask, and sunglasses all in place. At that moment he was pitifully clinging to the pillar—peeking in their direction while also guarding against the paparazzi.
Too hard!
It wasn’t until they finally got in the car that Han Heng snuck up like a thief.
Pulling off his mask, he let out a long sigh of relief. “God! I was suffocating!”
Jiang Fuyue said, “Little Uncle, it’s not convenient for you to go out. You really didn’t need to come.”
Who knew—Han Heng’s expression immediately showed disapproval. “How could that be? Since Eldest and Second came, I can’t be absent! Hungry? Here, have this—”
He fished out a bag of chips from who-knows-where, ripped it open, and handed it to Jiang Fuyue.
“Thanks, Little Uncle.”
“Heh heh… take your time, I’ve got more flavors after you finish.”
Han Ke reached in, grabbed one, and popped it in his mouth. “Mm, not bad.”
It had been a long time since he last ate chips.
“Second Brother, what the h*ll? Who said you could eat? These are for Yueyue!”
Han Ke snorted. “Yueyue is generous. She won’t refuse me.”
Just then Han Shen also pinched one, crunching crisply. “…original flavor is still the best.”
Han Heng: “?!” D*mn it!
Jiang Fuyue offered the bag back to him, smiling. “Little Uncle, you should eat too.”
“I won’t! I’m saving them all for you!” Unlike those two starving ghosts—how dare they snatch Yueyue’s snacks!
“Really not eating?” She lowered her voice and whispered, “If you don’t, Eldest and Second will just eat your share too.”
Han Heng immediately grabbed two chips and stuffed them in his mouth. “Eat!”
No way he’d let those b*stards profit!
At this moment, the old master lightly coughed. “Let me try some too…”
“?”
And so, the three generations—grandfather and grandsons and granddaughter—five in total, happily ate all the way from the airport back to the villa.
Besides chips, there were cookies, chicken feet, beef jerky, and more.
Han Ke asked, “Third, where’d you get all this stuff?”
Han Heng: “Just eat. Why ask so much?”
Han Ke: “…”
Back at the villa, two barks sounded. Little Mang, the dog, charged out to greet them.
“Woof woof—”
It circled Jiang Fuyue’s feet, tail wagging wildly, then even flopped over like porcelain, exposing its soft belly for rubs.
Jiang Fuyue didn’t disappoint, squatting down and giving it a good rub.
“Woo~”
Little Mang narrowed its eyes in bliss, letting out a satisfied whine.
Han Ting also came out. Seeing Jiang Fuyue, he softly called, “Sis.”
Compared to the bristling arrogance from their first meeting, now he was tame as a shy kitten.
After they went inside, he even poured her a glass of happy coke.
The old master ordered the servants to prepare dinner.
Han Shen carried Jiang Fuyue’s luggage upstairs.
Han Ke took a call and went to the balcony.
Han Heng turned on the TV and handed her the remote. “Watch whatever channel you like.”
As Jiang Fuyue flipped through channels, she came across a rerun of a drama Han Heng had starred in over ten years ago.
Now hailed as a classic, it often appeared in fan edits online.
Back then, Han Heng was the very picture of a delicate pretty boy, worthy of the phrase “gentleman as jade.”
The once-iconic lines that had swept the nation—hearing them again now, there was an undeniable cringe of secondhand embarrassment.
Jiang Fuyue kept her composure and watched seriously. But Han Heng himself was so embarrassed his toes were curling into the floor—almost digging out a fishpond.
Desperate to shift her attention, he glanced at Han Ting and forced a topic. “Ah Ting, what are you rummaging for?”
Han Ting turned. “Little Uncle, have you seen my snacks? The chips, cookies, jerky… I swear I left them in this cabinet, but they’re gone.”
Han Heng: “……” didn’t dare say a word.
In the end, Han Ting never did find his “mysteriously vanished” snacks.
“Strange…” They had been prepared especially for Jiang Fuyue.
“Little Mang, was it you who stole them?”
“Woof—” You’re the thief! Your whole family’s the thief!
Had to admit—the dog had spoken the truth.
…
That night, Jiang Fuyue showered, dried her hair, and sat by the floor-to-ceiling window in her room, going through experimental data.
These were all things she had organized during her time with Xie Dingyuan.
The night breeze stirred her hair.
Her focused profile was warmed by lamplight, unaware of her own beauty, her mind filled only with the data in hand.
Suddenly, her phone rang—
“Hello?”
“What are you doing?” The man’s voice was low, pleasant, with a subtle sensuality.
“Looking at experimental notes.”
“Tired today?”
“Still fine. You? What are you doing?”
“Thinking of you.”
“…”
“Don’t believe me?”
“No… just a little cheesy.”
Xie Dingyuan: “…”
Neither of them were the type to be clingy or drag out conversations. After a few lines, they wished each other good night.
At eleven, Jiang Fuyue lay down.
She slept soundly through the night.
…
The next day, she went to Q University.
Though it was summer break, campus wasn’t deserted—students still bustled about.
She located the building housing Xu Kaiqing’s lab, signed in, and went upstairs.
“Are you Junior Sister Jiang?”
A tall girl greeted her with a warm smile. “I’m Professor Yan’s PhD student. Yesterday, Old Xu told me you’d be coming and asked me to receive you.”
Jiang Fuyue raised a brow. “Professor Yan? Yan Zhenfeng?”
“Yeah, he’s my advisor. You know him?”
Of course Jiang Fuyue knew.
Last year at IPhO, he had led the team.
Yan Zhenfeng was Xu Kaiqing’s student. It made sense that Xu arranged his PhD student to greet her.
The girl introduced herself as Fan Linlin. She had followed Yan Zhenfeng through her master’s degree and now had just started her doctorate.
She volunteered to stay on campus through the summer, mostly spending her time in the lab. Naturally, she was picked to “volunteer.”
“Professor Xu had to attend a seminar last-minute, so I’ll show you around the lab instead.”
Jiang Fuyue nodded. “Thanks.”
“No problem. Want me to give you a tour?”
“Sure.”
After walking through, Jiang Fuyue noticed the lab had changed considerably since her last visit. Equipment was upgraded, zones had been restructured.
One new section stood out—the interdisciplinary math-and-physics area.
That was what she came for.
Fan Linlin explained, “Professor Xu already arranged it. Until September 1, Zone A3 is yours. Some juniors cleaned it yesterday. Here’s the key.”
The lab was an integrated open lab, zones divided by reinforced glass with anti-peeping features. Once activated, no one outside could see inside.
But regulations stated the anti-peeping could not be used outside actual experiments… cough, mainly to prevent any indescribable activities.
Fan Linlin outlined the rules posted on the wall by the entrance. “…That’s about it. If you forget, just check again.”
“Got it.”
“Are you using A3 today?”
“Yes.” Jiang Fuyue asked, “Is there a problem?”
“No! Not at all!” Fan Linlin waved her hands quickly, muttering, “I thought you’d want to look around campus first.”
“No need. I’ve been here before.”
Jiang Fuyue slotted the key, scanned fingerprints, then iris. She did it all smoothly, calm and practiced.
Fan Linlin noticed and was secretly surprised.
Finally, unable to hold back, she asked, “Junior Sister Jiang, have you been here before? You look like you know everything already.”
“Yes. A year ago.”
“But things have changed since then.”
“Not everything.”
“…” Alright then.
This junior looked a little mysterious.
Still, Fan Linlin thought she looked awfully familiar, though she couldn’t place where she’d seen her before.
…
Inside, Jiang Fuyue systematically checked equipment, logged parameters, verified operation, filled in sheets for later handover, then signed off.
Only then did she activate anti-peeping, put on a clean lab coat, and set up her laptop at the bench.
…
By the time Yan Zhenfeng came by, she had already been working inside for seven hours straight.
From sunrise to sunset, the door had never opened.
Fan Linlin had peeked several times, but the glass showed nothing.
“What are you staring at? You’ve been out of it all day.” Her partner followed her gaze—only to see nothing.
Fan Linlin sighed. “You weren’t here this morning, so you don’t know.”
“Know what?”
“A little fairy came to A3. Gorgeous—took my breath away at first sight.”
“Beautiful? For real? Enough to shock you?”
Fan Linlin was notorious for her high standards. Even the prettiest girls around only got a “so-so, barely passable” from her.
“Hit all my aesthetics—slim waist, long legs, fair skin, exquisite features. And taller than me by two or three centimeters.”
“Taller than you?! That’s over 170 cm.”
“Mm-hm~”
“No way. Now I’ve got to see her.”
Fan Linlin tugged her back. “What’s there to see? Anti-peeping is on!”
“How long has she been in there?”
“Six or seven hours.”
“What? She doesn’t eat?”
“Never came out. Maybe… fairies live on air? No wonder her figure’s perfect…”
“You’re just making me more curious.”
“Curious about what?”
A cold voice cut in from behind.
They turned and were stunned.
“Professor? Why are you here?”
“Weren’t you supposed to be in a meeting?”
Seeing their alarm, Yan Zhenfeng softened his tone, even smiling. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to rush your progress.”
Both sighed in relief.
Good… not urging.
But then… why was he here?
Suddenly, he asked, “Where’s Jiang Fuyue?”
Fan Linlin blinked. “…Who?”
“Jiang Fuyue. Didn’t I tell you yesterday? She’d use A3 today, and you’d receive her?”
“Oh! She’s… still in the lab, hasn’t come out.”
Before she finished stammering, Yan Zhenfeng was already striding toward A3.
The two exchanged looks.
He’s here for the little fairy?!
“Wait—did he just say… Jiang Fuyue?!”
Realization hit Fan Linlin. “God! No wonder she looked so familiar. It’s her! She’s even prettier in person than online!”
“But… how does she know Professor Yan? Enough for him to skip a meeting and come find her himself?”
“…No idea.”
…
A knock at the door finally pulled Jiang Fuyue out of her report.
The wall clock showed four.
She exhaled softly.
Another knock came—patient.
She turned off anti-peeping. Instantly the glass went transparent, revealing Yan Zhenfeng waiting outside.
With a tap of a button, the door opened.
“Professor Yan, why are you here?”
He stepped in, smiling. “I heard from my teacher you’d be here today. Thought I’d see if you needed help.” He glanced over the spotless bench and neatly stacked reports, spread his hands and shrugged. “Seems you don’t.”
Jiang Fuyue smiled slightly. “Thank you.”
“But there is one thing you need.”
“Hm?”
“Come on. Time to eat. My treat.”
Only now did hunger strike her.
“Perfect timing. Give me two minutes to clean up.”
He then watched, dumbfounded, as she efficiently shut everything down, logged data, powered off, packed up. Within minutes, the lab looked untouched.
Such practiced precision—who knew how many times she had done it before.
“Let’s go.” She hung up her coat and grabbed her bag.
…
From a distance, Fan Linlin and her partner saw Professor Yan and Jiang Fuyue leave, chatting and laughing.
Only after they disappeared did they breathe again.
“Well? Gorgeous, right?”
“God—those legs! And that face! Weren’t beauty and brains supposed to be mutually exclusive? I’m so jealous…”
“She seems close with Professor Yan. A direct PhD student maybe?”
Her partner shook his head. “Doesn’t look like it. You and I are his proper PhD students—would we dare act so casual with him?”
“Besides, she’s confirmed as Jiang Fuyue—the genius girl who scored full marks and chose Ming University. How could she suddenly be a Q University PhD?”
Fan Linlin mused. “…Then why pick Ming University over Q or B?”
“How should I know? Heh, ask her yourself.”
“…Forget it, I’m too intimidated.”
“Coward.”
“You go ask then!”
“…Okay, I admit I don’t have the guts either.”
…
Yan Zhenfeng brought Jiang Fuyue to a nearby restaurant.
He ordered meat dishes straightaway; she added some vegetables.
While they waited, Qin Libin and Sun Qun showed up.
Yan Zhenfeng snorted. “You two run pretty fast…”
Qin grinned. “Of course. You hardly ever treat, so we had to give face—ran here the moment we heard.”
Sun nodded. “Exactly!”
Yan Zhenfeng: “…” I never invited you!
“Long time no see, Professor Qin, Professor Sun.” Jiang Fuyue greeted them politely.
Qin was still refined as ever, in his trademark white shirt.
Sun… still wore a wig. Clearly, that hair tonic he bought abroad hadn’t worked.
Qin sighed softly. “It really has been a while.”
“Though we didn’t see you, the whole field is full of your legend,” Sun added, smiling.
“Legend?”
“IMO full marks and gold medal, full marks in the college entrance exam, then choosing Ming University—each event a sensation. Admissions officers both adore and resent you. Just hearing your name sets them off.”
Jiang Fuyue rubbed her nose. “That exaggerated?”
“I’m downplaying it!” Sun said.
When news first broke, even the principal was shaken. For Q University, her choice of Ming over them was the biggest blow in fifty years.
Am I not worthy?
With our prestige and resources—yet she went to some ‘chicken’ university?!
Yan sighed deeply. “After IPhO, I immediately requested to guarantee you admission. With Old Xu’s support, you’d even get unprecedented cross-college freedom of choice. And you refused.”
Her reply back then?
‘A life without the college entrance exam isn’t complete. If I go, I’ll get in myself.’
He believed her.
Then she really did get in—with the first ever perfect gaokao score. But she flew right past Q!
Qin said, “You didn’t see his face when the news hit trending. Like he’d been struck by lightning. He froze in his office for half an hour—his PhDs nearly called an ambulance.”
Yan: “You’re one to talk! You were just as bad. What was that phrase? Oh right—stunned dog! You looked dumber than me!”
Sun kept quiet.
No one knew—except his wife—that he had ripped his wig off in shock, glue tearing his scalp. He stayed home for days, too ashamed to go out.
Too tragic.
Jiang Fuyue coughed lightly. “Ming, Q, and B are all in the same district—ten minutes’ walk. Doesn’t matter.”
The three in unison: “Completely—not—the—same!”
“…”
Luckily, the food arrived then, saving her.
“This roast duck is pretty good. The braised beef too…”
The three: Changing the subject, huh?
But they let it drop.
By now, it wasn’t about interrogating her. Her choice was her own. They just felt regret.
Regret that Q had lost such a genius.
After dinner, Yan paid.
They parted ways at the school gate. Jiang Fuyue crossed the street and got into a Rolls Royce—Han Qishan himself had come to pick her up.
Even Han Ting didn’t get that treatment.
“Yueyue, are you tired today? Staying in the lab must’ve been hard.”
“Not tired. I’m fine.”
Back home, Han Shen, Han Ke, and Han Heng were all there. Han Ting and Little Mang played in the yard. The Han family was rarely this complete.
All because of Jiang Fuyue.
…
The next morning, Jiang Fuyue rose early and returned to Q University.
But as soon as she entered the lab, she noticed Fan Linlin’s expression was off, and she looked at her with a look of hesitation.
When Jiang Fuyue reached her experimental area, she finally realized…. that her space had been taken away.
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