Originally, Zhuo Jiangyue planned to invite Gao Yan to watch a movie.
However, she had classes in the afternoon, and if she went to the movie, she would definitely be late, so she had to politely decline.
But unexpectedly, Gao Yan took the initiative to invite Zhuo Jiangyue to watch a movie together this Saturday.
After a slight hesitation, Zhuo Jiangyue agreed.
When they parted, Gao Yan asked for her WeChat and also gave her his phone number.
At two in the afternoon.
Gao Yan appeared punctually in the lecture hall and went straight to sit beside Cheng Hao.
The teacher for the class arrived shortly after.
Two hours later.
The class ended, and Gao Yan needed to go to the snack street to check the renovation progress of the milk tea shop, while Cheng Hao had to check the progress at the hotpot restaurant.
The milk tea shop wasn't very large, so the construction was progressing quickly.
By now, the ceiling was finished, and the walls were being plastered.
However, Gao Yan found someone who shouldn't be there in the shop.
"Chen Youwei, come out for a moment!"
Gao Yan called her out and asked, "What are you doing here?"
Chen Youwei, as usual, lowered her head and said softly, "Boss, I can't just take the salary for nothing. I knew the shop was being renovated, so I came to help, hoping it would open sooner."
"You really are something else!"
Gao Yan said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "The shop's renovation is fully contracted to a company. By working here, you're just doing free labor for them with your salary. Go home and rest, come back when we open."
"Got it, boss!" Chen Youwei nodded.
"Wait a moment!"
Suddenly, Gao Yan called out to Chen Youwei again, then quickly bought a drink from the store across the street and handed it to her. "Even though you didn't help me, your intentions were good. This drink is a reward for you."
"Boss, there's no need!"
Chen Youwei waved her hand to refuse.
"Take it, or I'll get angry!"
After a moment of silence, Chen Youwei reached out to take the drink and whispered a thank you.
"Alright, head back!"
Gao Yan waved her off.
Watching Chen Youwei leave, Gao Yan couldn't help but smile. It's rare to find such a straightforward girl like Chen Youwei these days.
He originally planned to go to the market to buy some meat and vegetables to cook for himself.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he left the University Town, he received a call from his landlady, Lin Xiumin, inviting him to dinner at her place.
Gao Yan intended to decline, but Lin Xiumin was quite insistent, so he had to agree.
However, it was his first time going to the landlady's home.
He couldn't go empty-handed.
Conveniently, there was a fruit shop outside the community, so he bought some fruit to bring along.
Back at his rental apartment.
Gao Yan washed his face, then returned to his room, turned on the air conditioner, and lay on the bed playing with his phone.
Opening WeChat, he found that an hour ago, Zhuo Jiangyue had sent him a message asking if he would go back home during the summer break.
To be honest, Gao Yan didn't feel a sense of belonging to his current home.
The differential treatment from his adoptive parents made him feel like an outsider.
So, after going back once during the first half of his freshman year, he didn't return during the second half or the first half of his sophomore year, using work as an excuse.
He didn't want to go back this time either, as it would mean facing Gao Lang's provocations and his adoptive mother's scolding.
He's not a masochist, so why go back to suffer?
Heaven Bestows Me Talent: Sorry, I was in class earlier, my phone was on silent, and I missed your message. I probably won't go back this summer. How about you, are you going back?
Yangdong Institute of Technology.
Girls' dormitory.
Zhuo Jiangyue was reviewing her coursework, but her eyes kept glancing at the phone beside her.
Suddenly, the phone vibrated.
A new WeChat message had arrived.
She quickly picked up the phone, seeing that the guy finally replied to her message, a faint smile appeared on her face. She unlocked the phone and opened WeChat, but after reading the message, she felt a bit disappointed.
However, considering Gao Yan's family situation, she somewhat understood why he didn't want to go back.
During high school, although they never broke through that layer of ambiguity, they did confide in each other about many things.
After a moment of contemplation, Zhuo Jiangyue typed a reply: Our mentor has a research project and needs to select a few people to be assistants. If I'm chosen, I won't go back. If not, I probably will.
Actually, just yesterday, her mentor had asked if she was willing to be her assistant.
Due to her excellent performance, she was highly valued and favored by Qin Yiren, the youngest associate professor at Yangdong University of Science.
Generally, in such situations, the mentor would choose a graduate student as an assistant, or at least a senior undergraduate.
Having her, a sophomore, act as an assistant was definitely an exceptional promotion.
Being an assistant on a research project would be recorded in her file, giving her a significant advantage if she chose to stay at the university in the future.
Zhuo Jiangyue: Not really, nothing's decided yet.
Heaven Bestows Me Talent: I believe in you, you'll definitely be chosen. When that happens, I'll treat you to a big meal.
Zhuo Jiangyue: I don't want a big meal, I want hotpot.
Heaven Bestows Me Talent: Sure, I know a hotpot restaurant with amazing flavors, but it only opens this Sunday. Let's go together then.
Zhuo Jiangyue: Great, great!
Chatting with Zhuo Jiangyue, Gao Yan felt very relaxed, and before he knew it, it was already six in the evening. Lin Xiumin called again, so he ended the chat with Zhuo Jiangyue.
Turning off the air conditioner, he left the bedroom, grabbed the fruit, and headed to Room 503 next door.
The door was ajar, and Gao Yan pushed it open, calling out, "Sister Lin, it's Little Gao from next door, may I come in?"
Wearing casual clothes and an apron, Lin Xiumin walked out from the kitchen with a smile, "No need to be so formal, come in. There are new slippers on the shoe rack."
"Okay, Sister Lin!"
After changing into slippers, Gao Yan saw Lin Moer bouncing out of the room, "Gao Yan, you're here, and you brought a gift. What did you bring, let me see."
"Moer, don't be so rude. Go pour a glass of water for Little Gao!" Then she turned to Gao Yan, "Little Gao, have a seat. The last dish is almost ready, and then we can eat!"
Before long.
Lin Xiumin invited Gao Yan to the table.
Tonight, Lin Xiumin prepared four dishes and a soup.
Gao Yan originally thought that someone like Lin Xiumin, a wealthy woman, would have average cooking skills, but after tasting her dishes, he found them surprisingly delicious.
"Sister Lin, I didn't expect your cooking to be so good!"
"Really? Then eat more!"
Lin Xiumin said with a smile.
"Then I won't hold back!"
Gao Yan responded and began to eat heartily.
In the end, more than half of the four dishes and soup ended up in Gao Yan's stomach.
Lin Xiumin didn't mind at all, in fact, she seemed quite pleased.
Especially seeing Gao Yan eating with such gusto, even her own appetite improved.
When Gao Yan put down his chopsticks, he noticed the mother and daughter were both watching him. He didn't feel embarrassed, instead, he smiled and said, "Sister Lin, your cooking is so good, I couldn't help it, sorry if I embarrassed you."
"It's alright, seeing you enjoy it, our appetite improved too!"
"Yeah, Gao Yan, I ate a third more than usual today!" Lin Moer nodded in agreement.