1236 Side Story 15: Zhi Jin
The end of August, Xijing University.
The end of summer in the Capital was always particularly hot. The blazing sun shone through the lush branches and leaves, scattering bright spots on the boulevard.
The notes of the chirping of the cicadas were long as if it was dragging out these days of boredom.
The air conditioner in the princ.i.p.al’s office was blowing cold wind, covering the girl’s delicate and fair skin with a layer of coldness.
!!
Beside her, Gu Ci and the princ.i.p.al of Xijing University, Zhang Baitang, were having their final discussion about the Gu family’s donation of a library in commemoration of Xijing University’s anniversary.
The Gu family was the most eminent family in Hong Kong City, and Xijing University was one of the top universities in the country.
The donation this time would be beneficial for both parties.
They had a pleasant conversation.
Zhang Baitang stood up and stretched out his hand. He smiled and said, “Mr. Gu is devoted to education, and is both generous and benevolent. Once again, on behalf of all the teachers and students of Xijing University, I would like to thank Mr. Gu.
“Princ.i.p.al Zhang is too polite. I’ve merely tried to do my part, it’s not worth mentioning.”
Gu Ci shook hands with him politely.
However, he was, after all, a powerful figure in Hong Kong City who had been a part of the very rich and ostentatious society for many years. Even just by standing there, the person in charge of the Gu family still had a strong aura around him, subconsciously commanding respect from the people around him.
Zhang Baitang laughed.
“Mr. Gu, you may move to the meeting room next door for more details about the donation ceremony and the subsequent arrangements.”
Gu Ci was about to nod when he suddenly thought of something. He turned to look at the girl sitting not far away.
She sat upright, looking elegant and generous, but…
She was lost in thought.
She had never been interested in such things, and she always felt sleepy listening to them.
It was already a great honor for her to have been able to persist until now.
Gu Ci laughed.
“Yin Yin.”
Gu Tingyin suddenly came back to her senses and focused her gaze. Her dark, round, and almond-shaped eyes looked over.
“Daddy?”
Gu Ci said, “I have something to discuss with your Uncle Zhang later. You may rest here for a while.”
He was giving her the chance to take a break.
“Thank you, Daddy!”
Gu Tingyin’s eyes lit up as she nodded obediently. Then, she thought of something.
“By the way, this is my first time at Xijing University. Can I go for a walk?”
Gu Ci looked at the hot weather outside and did not agree immediately.
Zhang Baitang laughed.
“If Miss Gu is interested, why don’t I get someone to show you around?”
Gu Tingyin’s eyes curved up as she smiled.
“Thank you, Uncle Zhang, but there’s no need! I can go on my own!”
Zhang Baitang was stunned.
She winked at Gu Ci as she spoke.
“Dad, may I go do some sketching?”
Gu Ci knew that she was just having fun, but he could not reject her request, so he nodded.
“Sure, but pay attention to the time.”
He then looked at Zhang Baitang with a smile.
“The first draft of the library’s design came from Yin Yin’s hands. It was for this reason that she has read a lot of information about the buildings at Xijing University. Although it’s her first time here, she’s quite familiar with this place.”
His words did not hide his love for her.
Zhang Baitang was surprised.
“I see.”
He had seen the design drafts before. They were outstanding and original.
“I was still wondering which designer had come up with that draft, but I didn’t expect it to be Miss Gu. I’ve only heard that you’re good at traditional Chinese painting, but I didn’t expect you to be so talented in architectural design as well.”
Gu Ci laughed.
“Princ.i.p.al Zhang, you’re too kind.”
Although he said that, it was obvious that Gu Ci enjoyed the compliment the most.
Zhang Baitang had long heard that the Gu family doted on the only pearl in the palm of their family, but seeing her today, he finally understood.
Since the semester had not started at Xijing University yet, there were not many people on campus, so Gu Ci complied with his daughter’s wishes.
“Go ahead.”
Gu Tingyin carried her drawing board.
“Thank you, Daddy!”
…
The climate in the Capital was different from that in Hong Kong. Although both were hot in summer, Hong Kong City was close to the sea and was relatively humid and pleasant.
However, the end of summer in the Capital was extremely hot, without even a trace of wind.
However, the novelty of being new to the school overcame everything else. Gu Tingyin walked around the quiet campus alone, sizing up the ancient buildings that she had only seen in books and photos before. It was quite interesting.
She came to a T-junction and looked at the road sign.
“On Wenxi road, you should go left, you should go left, you should go left.”
She mumbled softly and was about to turn left.
However, at that moment, she inadvertently looked to her right. A thin and tall figure of a young man suddenly entered her sight.
She was suddenly stunned.
It was a teenager who looked no more than 17 or 18 years old. He was elegant, clean, and cold.
He had a calm expression on his face, and there was a pure youthful aura between his brows. However, for some reason, it revealed a cold and distant aura that kept people at a distance.
The shadows on the tree-lined road fell upon him, bright and dark.
It seemed as if time and s.p.a.ce had stopped, and he was the only ink that was moving.
She had seen countless art exhibitions and painted countless paintings, but none of them could compare to this moment… this moment when she had seen this young man.
As if he had noticed something, he looked up slightly.
His eyes were as dark as ink, calm and distant.
It was at this moment that Gu Tingyin suddenly felt that even the hot sun seemed to have been covered with a layer of coldness wherever his eyes reached.
Her heart started to beat rapidly.
Then, she felt the wind brush past her ears and lift her hair.
…
Shen Zhijin had just returned from Bai City today.
The Fino Laboratory was preparing to set up a branch in the Capital. As the only Chinese person, he was the most suitable person to be in charge, so he had followed his supervisor back to China.
Today, he was here to deliver some doc.u.ments to Xijing University.
However, before he could reach the Physics Department, he was stopped.
“Cla.s.smate!”
The young lady’s red dress fluttered, and her wavy long hair had been lifted into an arc, as if it were drawing the shape of the wind.
She stood in front of him, her dark, round, almond-shaped eyes s.h.i.+ning like a galaxy as she looked over at him.
“Student, did you come to report in advance?”
The sunlight fell on her smiling face, her skin was fair and clear, and the dimples at the corner of her lips were faintly visible.
It seemed to be brighter than the sun, making people’s hearts burn.
Shen Zhijin’s eyes flickered slightly. He quietly withdrew his gaze and lowered his eyes to look at the luggage in his hands.
Inside were the precious doc.u.ments and experiment records from the Fino Laboratory.
His lips moved slightly, and just as he was about to speak, the young girl opposite him said warmly, “Where are you going? I’m very familiar with this place, I can take you there!”
Shen Zhijin, who had already been at Xijing University for three years, was silent for a moment.
However, this moment of silence had a different meaning to Gu Tingyin.
Was he… embarra.s.sed?
She quickly said, “Student, you don’t have to be afraid of troubling me! Xijing University campus is very big, and you’ll get lost if you’re not careful. I have some free time now! Are you going to the dormitory?”
Shen Zhijin paused and finally said, “Physics Department.”
The young man’s voice was as cool as jade.
Gu Tingyin’s ears went soft for a moment before she quickly came back to her senses.
Physics Department?
“So you’re a freshman from the Physics Department!”
She exclaimed.
She did not know anything about Science and Engineering, so when she heard that he was from the Physics Department, she immediately admired him.
“That’s amazing!”
Shen Zhijin was at a loss for words.
He had heard similar compliments countless times since he was a child, but this was the first time that he felt so awkward and embarra.s.sed.
Gu Tingyin quickly tried to recall the map of Xijing University and the buildings of the Physics Department in her mind.
Her red lips curved up, and her eyes were like crescent moons.
“Then, come with me!”
…
“Student, why did you come to report so early? The registration office hasn’t been set up yet! But it’s good to be early. We can take advantage of the lack of people and stroll around in advance!”
“Since you study Physics, you must be very smart! Was the Physics Department’s scoreline the highest in Xijing University? Your scores must be exceptionally high!”
Everything about Xijing University is good, but the campus was extremely big. It was a 20-minute walk from here to the Physics Department.
“But the scenery here is very good! In addition to the Physics Department, there are a few other places you can go to!”
Gu Tingyin was walking side by side with him.
She realized that he did not talk much, but this was good too. Whenever he spoke, her heart would beat uncontrollably.
It seemed better to walk together quietly like this.
He did not really answer her questions much, only occasionally replying with a single syllable. However, Gu Tingyin did not really care.
How could she still have the mood to think about those things?
When they reached an intersection, Shen Zhijin lifted his long legs and was about to walk to the right.
Then, he saw Gu Tingyin turn to the left.
Shen Zhijin stopped in his tracks.
Gu Tingyin turned around with a surprised expression.
“Cla.s.smate, why aren’t you walking? We’ll reach the Physics Department soon if we follow this road!”
Shen Zhijin was stunned.
His gaze fell on her face.
She waved at him.
“Come quickly!”
A moment later, he followed her.
…
Gu Tingyin realized that Xijing University was really big.
She had not thought too much of it when she had looked at the map, but she found that walking like this was really terrible.
Moreover, there were so many roads and alleys that were connected to each other!
As she walked, she looked to both sides and could not help but mutter in her heart.
Something did not seem right.
They had been walking for more than half an hour, why had they not reached the Physics Department yet?
Afraid that Shen Zhijin would be anxious, she did not forget to comfort him.
“Um, cla.s.smate, don’t be anxious. We’re almost there… Almost there!”
Shen Zhijin paused for a moment. He looked at the thin layer of sweat on the tip of her nose and her face that was red from the sun. Finally, he replied in a low voice, “Okay.”
Gu Tingyin was even more embarra.s.sed.
He was still dragging his suitcase along!
She really wanted to take out the map, but when she met his calm black eyes, she really could not bring herself to do it.
How embarra.s.sing!
The two of them walked for a while.
She glanced at him and asked in a soft voice, “Hey, aren’t you tired?”
Her feet were so sore!
Shen Zhijin looked at her.
“A little.”
She quickly said, “Then, then let’s take a rest first?”
“Alright.”
Gu Tingyin heaved a sigh of relief.
She pointed to the bench beside her.
“T-then, Student, please sit!”
Shen Zhijin did not move. His gaze fell behind her.
Gu Tingyin was about to persuade him again when she suddenly heard a voice behind her.
“Senior Brother?”
Gu Tingyin turned around in confusion and saw a boy in his early twenties greeting them.
He looked pleasantly surprised and polite.
No, he was not greeting… them.
This “Senior Brother” that he was calling to…
The boy’s gaze swept across Gu Tingyin’s face, and a look of surprise flashed across his face. He then quickly looked at Shen Zhijin and teased, “Senior Zhijin, Professor Su has been waiting anxiously. He said that you were supposed to arrive at 3:30 pm, but it’s already 4 pm. This is the first time you’re late. Did you get delayed by something?”
“I couldn’t possibly study a Ph.D. overseas for a year and come back without knowing the way to my alma mater, could I?”
Gu Tingyin’s mind went blank!
Shen Zhijin’s gaze fell upon the young girl in front of him.
Her entire body stiffened, and the tips of her ears turned red.
He said, “Yeah, there was something.”
After a pause, he calmly said, “I’m showing this new junior around the school.”