Xue Jiao blushed and continued, “What if I can never decide?”

Lin Zhihua’s voice was firm: “Then keep considering it forever, and I’ll wait forever.”

Xue Jiao buried her face in his back, but the sweet smile on her lips never faded.

Is this what love is like, where even saying nonsensical things feels so joyful?

Just being with him made her heart feel sweet.

Xue Jiao gripped the fox toy tighter and thought to herself that this guy was quite jealous.

Back then, his words about The Little Prince, saying that the Little Prince should love the fox and not the rose—actually, at that time… he must have already liked her.

Xue Jiao blushed and reached out to pinch Lin Zhihua’s cheek: “You are a fox! A cunning fox.”

Lin Zhihua licked his lips and chuckled softly, “Then you’re the person who has tamed the fox, and I’m the tamed fox who only listens to you.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

One blushed with a face full of smiles riding on his back, while the other looked ahead with upturned lips.

The evening light wasn’t strong. He carried her all the way to the parking area, then gently put her down, “Let’s go home.”

Xue Jiao was stunned for a moment, then glared at him.

They had two separate houses, yet he referred to it as going home.

Lin Zhihua chuckled, completely unbothered by her glare. “Jiaojiao, are you going to work overtime when you get back tonight?”

Xue Jiao was busy, and she was someone who never did anything halfheartedly. After going out on a date with him, she would definitely work overtime when she got back…

“Yes,” Xue Jiao didn’t deny it, but added, “Don’t worry, it won’t take long. There’s not much left to do.”

Lin Zhihua nodded and drove steadily, taking her back.

He was just thinking that in the future, he could schedule fewer time-consuming activities like watching movies for their dates.

—

Xue Jiao maintained a balance between her relationship and work, with each day being fulfilling and happy.

In early August, all the course grades were released. Although there wasn’t an official ranking, the class monitor had a record of the total scores, which anyone could ask about privately.

That day, Xue Jiao was working on her project when her phone kept vibrating with messages.

By the time she finished dinner, she found that her classmates were tagging her in the class group chat with compliments.

“Congratulations, Gu Xue Jiao!”

“So amazing, genius!”

“Wow, how can you get perfect scores in several major courses!”

“I admire you!”

…

Mai Jiajia also learned about Xue Jiao’s grades and immediately sent her a private message—

[My genius! Wah, why is it that we both studied for finals, but you’re so incredible?]

Even Ding Qi sent a message congratulating her, but also shared another piece of news—

[Jiaojiao, I did pretty well this time, so at the end of sophomore year, I’ll probably continue my studies abroad. Let’s hang out more during this sophomore year. My friends… are only you all now.]

Xue Jiao’s smile slowly faded, and her eyes dimmed slightly.

Speaking of which, she felt somewhat guilty toward Mai Jiajia. In their original four-person dormitory, one… had left, another would go abroad after sophomore year, and she was always in the lab. It was Mai Jiajia who had no companions left and had to make new friends.

Xue Jiao sighed slightly and replied: Okay.

Is life just like this? Everyone goes their separate ways, and no matter how good the relationship, they can’t walk together forever.

The people she knew in high school gradually drifted away, and now her college friends were doing the same. It seemed like she could only watch helplessly as everyone grew more distant.

Beside her, Lin Zhihua reached out to stroke her head: “What’s wrong? Why the sudden low mood?”

Xue Jiao shook her head: “I just feel a bit reluctant to part with friends.”

Lin Zhihua smiled gently and flicked her nose: “All good things must come to an end. Sooner or later, people will part ways for various reasons. People have limited energy, and once they get busy, they forget everything else and realize they’ve lost touch with those they used to know. As you constantly meet new friends, you also constantly grow distant from old ones. But there will always be some old friends who stay connected for many years. Distance is uncontrollable; as long as you don’t distance yourself from them in your heart when you meet again, you’ll still be as close as before.”

Xue Jiao looked up at him: “Did you have good friends before?”

Lin Zhihua was stunned for a moment, then shook his head: “No.”

When he was young, he was mature beyond his years and couldn’t get along with peers his age. After growing up, he focused solely on work and didn’t have what one would call true friends.

Someone like him found it difficult to open his heart.

In this lifetime, he would only give his heart to Xue Jiao alone.

Xue Jiao held his hand, looking at him with concern.

Lin Zhihua smiled at her, tightening his grip on her hand, and said softly: “Don’t be too afraid of partings; partings follow their paths. As long as everyone moves forward surrounded by flowers and applause, each following their road and doing well, that’s enough.”

Xue Jiao smiled in relief: “Okay.”

Lin Zhihua suddenly raised an eyebrow, his eyes full of mirth: “But there is one person who can accompany you until old age, never leaving you.”

Xue Jiao was stunned at first, then understood, her face slightly reddening as she glared at him.

Lin Zhihua lowered his head and placed a kiss on her forehead.

—

In the second semester of freshman year, even though Xue Jiao, unlike other students, didn’t spend her days in the library just to review textbooks, she still proved with her grades what it means to be “your boss is still your boss.”

After the new semester began, Mai Jiajia used Xue Jiao’s grades to slap the face of the roommate who had once mocked Xue Jiao, making the other’s face turn from green to white, and only then was she satisfied enough to go find Xue Jiao.

“Jiaojiao, you don’t know how annoying she is. I used to wonder how she got into our school. Turns out she’s a special talent student, but one who only grew limbs, not a brain.” Mai Jiajia complained, sucking on her favorite strawberry-flavored lollipop.

Xue Jiao was also eating a lollipop that Mai Jiajia had given her. She shook her head: “Don’t waste your time on her anymore. Have you thought about which professor you want to study under? You should try doing projects too. Our knowledge isn’t just learned from books—we need to know how to apply it. No matter what career you want to pursue in the future, mastering professional knowledge is never wrong.”

Mai Jiajia hugged Xue Jiao: “Alright, alright, I know the genius is concerned about me. I’ve already decided to study under Professor Lu. Professor Lu is young and open-minded, and it’s not as difficult to join Professor Tan’s group. Besides, I think Professor Lu has an interesting personality!”

“That’s good.” Xue Jiao felt relieved.

“By the way, remember those who said you were just riding on your top scholar reputation without studying properly, only knowing how to please senior students like Zeng Bin and Ge what’s his name? Now they’re saying you’re trying to cozy up to Zhang Han and Yang Zhan from the Physics Department for their fame, that you’re throwing yourself at them and not valuing our Mathematics Department!” Mai Jiajia shared the recent rumors she had heard.

She continued with a cold laugh: “It’s ridiculous. Your reputation is already enough; why would you need to ride on anyone else’s fame? There are plenty of joint projects with other departments. These two are just jealous of you! I’m telling you in advance, so you won’t be caught off guard if you hear it later.”

Xue Jiao frowned deeply. How could these two be so petty? Most importantly, apart from rejecting them, she hadn’t done anything to offend them, had she?

“But don’t worry, not many people are spreading these rumors. Everyone’s busy and doesn’t have time for this nonsense. It’s just because I’m well-informed that I know everything,” Mai Jiajia patted her chest.

Xue Jiao frowned and couldn’t help saying: “I should ask them what this is all about when I get the chance! But thank you, Jiajia, thank you for telling me about this.”

“No need for thanks. We’re such good friends; what’s there to thank for?” Mai Jiajia said, hugging Xue Jiao.

Ding Qi was busy going to tutoring classes and taking exams. Now Mai Jiajia was the only good friend Xue Jiao had left.

After the new semester began, Xue Jiao again started squeezing time out of each day. The project was progressing quickly, and Chu Sheng had thrown his entire heart into it, so naturally, she as a team member couldn’t lag.

However sophomore courses were much more numerous than freshman ones, and the schedule was very tight.

Recently, the four graduate students that Professor Jin had stuffed into their team to do odd jobs had been a great help.

Chu Sheng had been cutting back on his own rest time. They had tried to persuade him several times, but he wouldn’t listen, so they could only occasionally remind him.

—

One day, Xue Jiao went to see Professor Tan in his office and noticed some unfamiliar students sitting in room 305.

Xue Jiao looked at them curiously but then averted her gaze.

“Professor Tan?”

“Gu Xue Jiao is here. Quick, sit down, sit down.” Professor Tan smiled and went to the water dispenser to get a cup of water for Xue Jiao.

“Thank you,” Xue Jiao smiled as she took it, then asked, “Professor Tan, did you need me for something?”

“Do I need a reason to see you?” Professor Tan looked at her with a half-smile.

Xue Jiao: “…Of course not.”

“Hahaha.” Professor Tan laughed and sat down across the desk from her. “I just wanted to check on how you’re doing. How have you been lately?”

“Pretty good, just… busy,” Xue Jiao obediently replied.

Professor Tan put down his cup: “Busy is right. At your age, you should be busy. It would be odd if you weren’t.”

He paused, then continued: “How’s your project going? It’s been half a year already. You can’t stay in the Physics Department forever, can you? With you and Zheng Jiakun both over there, you’ve taken all the people I need.”

The last sentence was said quite sourly, showing his dissatisfaction.

Xue Jiao covered her mouth and laughed, then looked at Professor Tan: “Professor Tan, there are so many people outside in room 305. Isn’t that enough?”

“It’s because it’s not enough that I’ve called in so many people. If you two were here, would I be so short-staffed!” Professor Tan pouted, continuing to speak sourly.

“Our project shouldn’t take too much longer. The subsequent progress is a bit too difficult. We can simulate it now, and it’s time to publish the paper. After that, it’s up to the Physics and Mechanics departments; there’s not much that my senior and I can contribute,” Xue Jiao explained. “Professor, don’t worry, we won’t escape.”

Professor Tan was finally somewhat satisfied and pointed to a list on the desk: “One by one, they’ve all left. I have to recruit another graduate student this year.”

Xue Jiao followed his gaze and happened to see two familiar names on the list: Ge Donglin and Zeng Bin.

What a coincidence…

“What are you looking at?” Professor Tan followed her lingering gaze.

Xue Jiao shook her head: “Two people I know.”

“Oh, you busy bee still have time to get to know seniors? Come on, tell me so I can consider it.” Professor Tan picked up the list, held it closer, and squinted.

Xue Jiao remained silent for a moment, but then raised her head and told the truth.

“It’s Senior Zeng Bin and Senior Ge Donglin. They previously wanted me to join their project on the application of Fermat’s theorem, which I declined. Later, they applied to join our current project, and we declined that too.”

Xue Jiao didn’t embellish or exaggerate; she simply stated the facts. Since Professor Tan asked for her opinion, she had no reason to cover for two people she didn’t like.

Professor Tan frowned deeply and evaluated sternly: “Taking shortcuts, with impure intentions.”

After his evaluation, he picked up a pen and crossed out the two names.

Of course, Xue Jiao hadn’t expected that Professor Tan would not only cross out the names but also inquire about the character of these two individuals.

After the professors exchanged information, surprisingly, not a single professor was willing to mentor them.

Not just the established senior professors, but even the younger faculty members were unwilling to take them on.

This was something Xue Jiao hadn’t anticipated.

She was busy with her projects and studies every day and had no time to pay attention to these matters.

One day, after finishing lunch, she was about to go to the lab to help out when someone stopped her.

“Gu Xue Jiao—”

Xue Jiao turned around to see an angry Zeng Bin and Ge Donglin rushing over.

“Was it you!”

Xue Jiao’s face turned cold.

“Gu Xue Jiao, I didn’t expect you to be so excessive. It’s one thing not to let us join your so-called project, but you’ve gone so far as to ruin our reputation and block our path to graduate school! How can there be someone like you? You’re so shameless!”