73: Chapter 73 Returning to the Old Ground

A black government car pulled up silently not far from the side entrance of Z University's Biology Building.

Chen Youhua pushed open the door and got out, not disturbing anyone.

He had declined Academician Zheng's kind offer to have a car drive him into the campus; at this moment, he just wanted to walk in like an ordinary visitor.

Mountain Eagle and two other security personnel maintained a tacit distance, trailing behind him like three moving backdrops, neither too far nor too close.

Watching Chen Youhua turn into the familiar tree-lined path with ease, even subconsciously adjusting his pace to avoid a loose brick on the ground, the corner of Mountain Eagle's cold, hard mouth twitched imperceptibly.

This young master... despite his incredibly sensitive status, right now he looked like a cat sneaking back into its own territory with a strange sense of guilt.

In the early summer campus, sunlight filtered through the dense plane tree leaves, casting dappled spots of light.

The air was filled with the scent of green grass, soil, and a faint, lingering hint of disinfectant.

Chen Youhua slowed his pace, his gaze sweeping over the familiar outlines of the buildings as a strange sense of temporal displacement welled up in his heart.

How long had it been since he left? Two years? Yet it felt like half a lifetime.

If he hadn't graduated back then... a thought suddenly popped into his head, and his footsteps paused.

Then he should be a junior about to become a senior, which meant... his former roommates were all still there?

“Heh...”

He shook his head gently and gave a self-deprecating smile.

Things remain while people change? In his case, it had become: the things had changed while the people remained.

The lab hadn't changed, the building hadn't changed, but the person... he was no longer that ordinary student who could spend all day soaking in the lab.

A faint impulse crossed his mind: should he go see those few roommates he once shared a roof with?

But the thought was quickly extinguished.

Forget it; the time he spent in the dormitory back then was negligible, and their relationship wasn't particularly close.

Why bother disturbing someone else's peaceful college life?

His destination was clear: Professor Zhang Zhenhua's laboratory.

He didn't rush to the lab, but instead turned into the largest comprehensive supermarket on campus.

Pushing a huge shopping cart, Chen Youhua moved with clear purpose and agility.

A limited-edition game controller for Wang Zhe? Get the top-tier one! An imported skincare gift set for Senior Student Li Wei? Get the full set!

For the other familiar senior brothers and sisters... coffee machines, Bluetooth headphones, high-end pens... He barely looked at the price tags, choosing the best quality items he thought they might like or need based on his memory.

Anyway... he didn't lack the money now.

The shopping cart was soon piled up like a small mountain, drawing frequent glances from the surrounding students.

Behind him, Mountain Eagle's eyelids twitched at the sight; this posture... it wasn't like returning to his alma mater, it was more like he was here for a wholesale run!

Finally, he carefully took out a dark-colored gift box with extremely exquisite packaging, printed with the logo of a certain special research institute in Kyoto.

This was for Teacher Zhang, containing several gifts given to him by others while he was in Kyoto, which couldn't be bought on the market at all.

Value? He didn't care much about it; he only hoped his teacher would like it.

When Chen Youhua appeared at the familiar lab entrance carrying and hugging bags, with the security personnel behind him also helping to carry various parcels like a moving mountain of gifts, it was the busiest time of the day inside.

The hum of Centrifuges, the light clicks of Pipettes, and the low-voiced discussions were interwoven.

He knocked gently on the door and then pushed open the familiar glass door.

In an instant, time seemed to freeze.

A new Graduate student closest to the door was looking down recording data; sensing the light dim, they subconsciously looked up, saw the grand spectacle at the door, and was completely stunned, the pen in their hand dropping onto the notebook with a clack.

Next, Senior Student Li Wei, who was operating a Microscope, looked over at the sound; her gaze landed on Chen Youhua's face, first in confusion, then her pupils dilated sharply, and her hand shook, nearly pushing the precious Slide off the stage.

Further inside, Professor Zhang, who was arguing with Wang Zhe about some experimental parameters, also stopped talking, adjusted his glasses, and upon seeing clearly who had arrived, his eyes behind the lenses instantly widened.

And Wang Zhe, this tall and sturdy man from Northeast China, had the most direct and blunt reaction.

First, he stared with eyes wide as if he'd seen a ghost, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg; the next second, a thunderous exclamation echoed throughout the lab.

“Ho... ly... crap...!!!”

Then, like an out-of-control tank, filled with immense surprise and disbelief, he suddenly vaulted over the lab bench, rushed to the door in a few strides, opened his arms, and gave Chen Youhua a fierce, solid bear hug!

The massive impact nearly made the gift boxes in Chen Youhua's arms slip, and it caused the two trained security personnel behind him to instantly tense their muscles, their fingers almost pressing their communicators as their gazes locked onto Wang Zhe like lightning.

“Youhua!!! It's really you!!! You brat!!! You actually remembered to come back?!!!”

Wang Zhe was so excited he was incoherent, slapping Chen Youhua's back hard, his voice even cracking a bit.

“We thought you'd been drafted by the state to build spaceships and disappeared from the face of the Earth!”

Chen Youhua was being squeezed so hard he could barely breathe, but a truly relaxed, heartfelt smile appeared on his face for the first time since stepping into Z University.

He didn't struggle, just gently patted Wang Zhe's broad back.

“Brother Zhe... take it easy, you're going to squeeze me to pieces.”

At this moment, Li Wei also walked over quickly; she wasn't as outward as Wang Zhe, but the surprise and excitement flashing in her eyes were no less intense.

She looked Chen Youhua up and down as if to confirm this wasn't an illusion.

“Youhua... it really is you! This is wonderful! We thought... we thought we'd never see you again.”

Her voice was gentle and full of emotion, carrying the unique concern of a senior sister.

“Sister Wei, long time no see.”

Chen Youhua's voice softened significantly, carrying a sincere warmth.

Other old Researchers and senior brothers and sisters in the lab who were familiar with Chen Youhua also gathered around, all talking at once.

“Oh my god! Chen Youhua!”

“You brat! Disappearing for so long without a word!”

“You look good! It's just that you look... well, a lot more mature?”

“It's good to have you back! It's good to have you back!”

The small lab entrance was instantly flooded with passion and surprise; Chen Youhua was surrounded in the middle, a helpless yet warm smile on his face as he responded to everyone's greetings one by one.

Those expensive gifts were temporarily set aside; right now, the joy of reunion was the most important thing.

Only the few new Graduate students stood on the periphery of the crowd, looking at each other in confusion.

One of the bolder ones couldn't help but tug on the sleeve of an old Researcher nearby and asked in a low voice.

“Senior Brother... who... who is this? Why... why is everyone reacting so strongly?”

The senior brother looked back at the new junior, his eyes filled with a complex mix of “you're too young” understanding and reverence, and whispered mysteriously.

“Who? That's the legend of our lab! Professor Zhang's pride and joy! A monster that Z University's biology department might not produce again in a hundred... no, a thousand years! Chen Youhua! Understand? Him standing here is the living legend himself!”