17: Chapter 17 The Insignificant Character in a Pampered Novel 17

In the blink of an eye, more than three years had passed.

After Xu Zhao went to Qing University, she spent over a year finishing the entire Applied Physics curriculum and then chose to study abroad in Country Y.

Meanwhile, the changes in Gu Yunjing were simply jaw-dropping.

Since entering the academy, Gu Yunjing had become a completely different person. He filled his daily schedule to the brim with time in the self-study rooms, the training grounds, and field exercises.

The stars shifted and the sun and moon rotated.

Whether it was the brightly lit study rooms or the training grounds under the scorching sun, all bore witness to Gu Yunjing's transformation.

Gu Yunjing was named an "Outstanding Student" for three consecutive years and participated in various competitions to hone his command and management skills. He had long since become a celebrity at the National Defense Academy, no longer the delinquent school bully whose name alone gave people headaches.

"Reporting!" a clear, bright voice rang out.

Teacher Cheng's smile remained unchanged as he turned his gaze toward the person at the door. He waved kindly and said, "Little Gu is here. Come, come—your father is here."

After more than three years of academy life, Gu Yunjing's refined features had become more defined and sharp. With a clean-cut buzz cut, he looked full of spirit. He was no longer that fair-skinned youth; he was now a tall man of 188cm with wheat-colored skin. Though his arms didn't have bulging, blocky muscles, they looked solid and powerful.

"Why are you here?" Gu Yunjing frowned.

Seeing him like this, Father Gu felt a surge of irritation. Since the boy wouldn't go home to visit, was he not allowed to come see him?

"You haven't been home in six months. Your mother asked me to bring you some things."

"I have a mission."

"I know, I know." Mission, mission. He made it sound like his father, the Commander of the Eastern Theater Command, was some idle person. Could he really be less busy than an academy student?

"Little Gu's performance at school has been exceptional, winning awards in competitions repeatedly. Truly, the younger generation is to be feared," Teacher Cheng praised without reservation.

Father Gu also felt his face glowing with pride, feeling quite elated and proud.

"If there's nothing else, I'll head back first. I have training in a bit."

"Come back!" Father Gu saw him take the items and turn to leave immediately; it was truly infuriating.

The kid's expression was icy, giving him no face at all. Father Gu intentionally decided to make him anxious, slowly taking a sip of tea before saying, "There's one more thing that's quite important."

Gu Yunjing didn't believe him.

Every time his father came and said there was something 'important,' it was nothing more than his grandfather winning an amateur Tai Chi competition for seniors, his grandmother getting into a spat with someone while square dancing, or his mother flying off somewhere for research activities, leaving the house too lonely, and so on. He felt his father just felt neglected and idle, wanting to find him to vent, but he was very busy too!

Gu Yunjing ignored him and started to walk away, having only taken two steps when—

"Zhao Zhao is coming back."

Gu Yunjing's heart skipped a beat, and his feet froze in place. It took a long moment for him to regain his senses. He turned around, his eyes looking urgently at his father. "Dad, say that again. Who is coming back?"

"That girl Xu Zhao is coming back. Her flight arrives at Jingbei Airport next Tuesday at 10:15 AM. She should have sent you a message, but your mother was afraid your phone had been confiscated and you wouldn't see it, so she specifically made me come down, and bring you some things while I was at it."

"Reporting!"

Teacher Cheng was startled by this sudden shout. "Speak."

"I want to request leave next week."

"How many days?"

"A week."

"No. Only three days. Go and return quickly."

Gu Yunjing's face showed a struggle, and he wanted to push for more, but Teacher Cheng glared at him. "You brat, it's already good enough that I'm approving leave. Don't push your luck." This was only because Commander Gu had come in person.

Normally, casual leave was not permitted.

But Teacher Cheng was an old acquaintance of the Gu Family and had heard about this from Father Gu. Little Gu originally wouldn't have made the cut; it was all thanks to that young girl tutoring him. For that, the girl had even given up a guaranteed spot to enter Qing University a year early.

No wonder. No wonder some female students in the school frequently showed interest in Little Gu, yet he acted as if he were blind. It turned out he already had someone in his heart. One had to know that the male ratio at their school was over 90%; female comrades were a rare sight indeed.

But then again, this girl was quite extraordinary—the top scorer of the Gaokao in City A. She finished her major at Qing University in just over a year, resolutely went abroad to study, and was now returning after two years of completing her studies. From what Commander Gu implied, the institutions abroad had offered generous terms to keep her, but she refused. Not only was she returning, but she was also bringing her research team of six people back with her.

Comparing them like this, the 'golden boy' student Little Gu in Teacher Cheng's eyes didn't seem quite so golden anymore. That girl was clearly much more outstanding.

No wonder Little Gu was putting in so much effort to perform well. If he didn't excel and climb the ranks, he really might not be worthy of her.

Once Gu Yunjing left the office, Father Gu cupped his fists toward Teacher Cheng. "Old Cheng, thank you. Zhao Zhao's character is good, and her excellence goes without saying. I don't know what this brat is thinking, but I'm really afraid that little girl will be snatched away by someone else."

Teacher Cheng expressed his understanding. Although the Gu Family was prominent, a good woman is sought by a hundred families, especially one like her. They really had to hurry.

That night, Gu Yunjing tossed and turned on his hard school bed. Since she had notified them of her return, did it mean he was somewhat important in her heart?

But if he was important, why did she leave for her studies abroad two years ago without saying a word, not even giving him a heads-up?

He thought back to that impulsive hug he had initiated. Afterward, they had tacitly never mentioned it again, but how could it be forgotten?

Gu Yunjing turned on his phone; he had already applied for and received it. There wasn't a single message or call on it. In other words, what his father assumed—that she might have messaged him—hadn't actually happened.

Gu Yunjing felt a bit aggrieved. Had she forgotten him long ago?

Otherwise, why would even his father and mother receive messages, yet he received nothing?

In a daze, Gu Yunjing didn't know what time he fell asleep. The next day, he sported a pair of dark circles under his eyes and radiated a low-pressure aura, making his teammates keep their distance for fear of being caught in his crosshairs.

By Tuesday morning, his mood had reached rock bottom.

Because he discovered that it wasn't just him; Zhou Chi and Cheng Yi were back too. Especially Zhou Chi, who gleefully showed him the message the Little Study God had sent, saying she was returning on Tuesday and asking when he was free for everyone to get together.

Gu Yunjing couldn't hold back and kicked him in the butt.

"Brother Gu, Brother Gu, you can't do this. This is jealousy, pure and simple jealousy!"

Cheng Yi kindly tried to comfort him, saying that it was actually because Zhou Chi was attending university in City A, so it made sense for the Little Study God to message him. After all, since the two of them were at universities out of town and Tuesday wasn't a holiday, the Little Study God probably thought they wouldn't be free, so she didn't message them.

Xu Zhao really had thought that way.

If Mother Gu hadn't called her every month and asked about it, she hadn't even planned to tell Mother Gu.

The three of them bickered their way to the airport. Gu Yunjing's heart suddenly grew tense. He wondered how she was doing now and if she had lived well abroad these past two years.

Airport Exit

An endless stream of people walked out, but for a long time, the familiar girl was nowhere to be seen. The three of them grew a bit anxious.

The crowd had almost thinned out when a group of people emerged together from the exit, each with a massive suitcase. Among them were Asian faces and European faces. They were all surrounding a petite girl in the middle. The girl wore a white shirt and dark jeans, looking simple and fresh. They seemed to be discussing something, occasionally stopping to debate. The girl answered sometimes in English and sometimes in Chinese, switching seamlessly.

"Study God, over here!" Zhou Chi was the first to shout, his arm waving like a pendulum for fear she wouldn't see him.

The girl in the middle looked up, revealing a clear, elegant, and refined face. Her gaze was clear and bright, sincere and firm, making it hard to ignore her.

Seeing them, Xu Zhao instantly smiled. Her eyes curved into crescents, revealing her familiar little canine teeth. She was both cute and sweet, instantly pulling her previously aloof and cool aura down from its pedestal and becoming that familiar, slightly stubborn Little Study God they knew.

After entrusting her companions to the representatives from Qing University who had come to meet them and settling everything, Xu Zhao turned around. With her hands behind her back, she leaned forward slightly and looked at the stunned Gu Yunjing with a bit of mischief, her lips curling up. "What's wrong? Don't recognize me anymore?"

Gu Yunjing only felt his heart pounding violently, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

"I really almost didn't. The Study God has become beautiful; I nearly didn't recognize you. Life in the foreigners' territory has treated you well." Zhou Chi praised her unreservedly. Hadn't she become beautiful? Her glasses were gone, her short hair had grown into shoulder-length hair, her bangs floated softly on her forehead, and her clean, clear almond eyes were watery, innocent, and harmless, making her look very well-behaved.

"No matter how well I'm treated, I have to come back. Chinese person, Chinese soul." Xu Zhao beamed, her eyes squinting into two curved crescent moons.

Zhou Chi gave her a thumbs up. He had heard from his father that the Little Study God hadn't just come back alone; she had brought a research team from abroad with her, establishing a scientific research cooperation project between Qing University and Country Y.

The Study God's future was limitless. The old man was dying to send him over to get close to her.

"Are you leaving again?" Gu Yunjing heard his own flat voice, but his heart was far from calm.

"I'm not leaving." Xu Zhao shook her head and smiled. "The country has nurtured me for so many years; it's time for me to shine and contribute."

Gu Yunjing felt a weight lift off his heart. Finally, he showed his first smile since arriving at the airport. The smile was faint, but one could feel his good mood at that moment.