Chapter 486| Chapter 487| Chapter 488
Chapter 486: Before School Opens
Yi Yi didn’t understand what was going on. She only knew that her clothes had always been hung together with her mother’s. Seeing them hung in a completely different room made her instantly unhappy.
“This is Yi Yi’s room,” Gu Tingxiao said gently. “From now on, Yi Yi’s things should be kept in her own space.”
He hadn’t actually brought up the idea of her sleeping alone yet. After all, the child was only two and a half years old, and Gu Tingxiao wasn’t nearly cruel enough to force them into separate bedrooms just yet. However, he knew he needed to start instilling this awareness in her. By the time he was officially transferred back to the Capital permanently, Yi Yi would have to sleep in her own room.
“Yi Yi’s room?”
“Yes, this is your very own room. From now on, your toys and clothes belong in here.”
The moment Yi Yi heard that she had a room all to herself, she instantly forgot her grievance. She began wandering happily around the space, dragging Maodou along with her.
“Maodou, look! Yi Yi has her own room now!”
“Woof!”
Maodou nudged her head with his own, and the little girl and the dog rubbed against each other affectionately. Maodou had grown to be about the same height as Yi Yi; if he stood up on his hind legs, he would probably tower over her.
“Maodou, bring your bed in here!”
Yi Yi wanted the dog to sleep in her room, too. Hearing this, Maodou happily padded over and nudged Gu Tingxiao’s feet.
Gu Tingxiao naturally wasn’t going to refuse his daughter’s request. In fact, this played right into his hands; it would only make it easier to coax his daughter into sleeping here by herself later on.
Maodou’s bed was moved into Yi Yi’s room without a hitch. The little girl immediately bent over, sticking her bottom up in the air as she earnestly smoothed out the mat inside the dog’s bed.
“Wife, let’s take Yi Yi for a walk around the neighborhood,” Gu Tingxiao suggested, watching them. “We can let her learn the layout of the area.”
Sheng Wanyan nodded. Since they were living on the outskirts of the campus area, it was a good idea to explore. It was also important to build good relationships with the neighbors so that if anything ever happened, people would look out for them.
Sheng Wanyan grabbed a bag of candies and followed Gu Tingxiao out the door. Many of the neighbors looked over with curiosity when they saw the new family moving in.
The local children, in particular, were fascinated by Yi Yi. Sheng Wanyan handed the bag of treats over to her daughter, and the moment the neighborhood kids saw the bright wrappers, they swarmed around the little girl. Yi Yi quickly integrated herself into the group, making friends with ease.
“My name is Shadan,” one boy announced. “What’s yours?”
“My name is Yi Yi,” she chirped, handing a candy to everyone one by one.
Hearing the commotion outside, Hu Zi came bursting out of the nearby gate. “Hey! That’s my little sister!”
Hu Zi had already been living in his courtyard for a week and had become quite familiar with the local kids.
“Hu Zi, is she really your sister?”
“Yes! She’s mine!” Hu Zi firmly pulled Yi Yi behind his back, shielding her to prevent anyone from taking her away.
Don’t think he didn’t know how Shadan felt about sisters; Shadan’s own sister was dark-skinned and loud, and Shadan complained every day that she was a total nuisance. Hu Zi had been desperately waiting for his fair, chubby little sister to arrive just so he could show her off to everyone. He was highly protective of her, terrified that the other kids might try to steal his plump, beautiful little sister away.
When the children realized she was Hu Zi’s cousin, they grew even more excited. Shadan’s eyes shone brightly.
“Brother Hu Zi! Your sister is my sister, too!” Shadan stepped forward, placing a hand on Hu Zi’s shoulder like a loyal comrade.
Hu Zi didn’t buy it for a second. He huffed and slapped the hand away. “No way! She belongs to my house! Not yours!”
Refusing to share, Hu Zi fiercely dragged Yi Yi back toward his courtyard, with Shadan and a pack of other kids trailing eagerly behind them.
“Your daughter is certainly popular,” Sheng Wanyan teased with a sigh.
Gu Tingxiao’s face had already turned incredibly dark, especially watching a crowd of little rascals surrounding his precious girl. Those little brats were entirely too focused on his daughter.
“I’m going to go get her,” he muttered crossly, stepping forward to scoop Yi Yi out of the crowd before those little scoundrels could corrupt her.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Sheng Wanyan laughed, catching his arm to hold him back. She wasn’t about to let him ruin the children’s playtime. “She’s barely two and a half. Aren’t you worrying a bit too early?”
Though Gu Tingxiao scowled, he didn’t try to pull away from his wife’s grip. He could only stand in the distance, glaring heavily as those neighborhood boys tried to please his daughter, tempting her to call them “big brother.” Sheng Wanyan found it thoroughly amusing. This formidable military man was remarkably petty when it came to his daughter; he was actually throwing a silent tantrum over a bunch of toddlers.
Eventually, Gu Tingxiao and Sheng Wanyan took Yi Yi back from the group to finish their walk around the area. Yi Yi’s cheeks were flushed bright pink from playing, completely oblivious to her father’s inner turmoil.
The moment they returned home, Gu Tingxiao scooped his daughter into his arms. He spent the next ten minutes intensely questioning her about who was better—her daddy or those boys outside. It wasn’t until Yi Yi earnestly declared that her father was the absolute best that the tension finally left his shoulders.
“Daddy is the best!” she cheered. “One hundred points for Daddy!”
Thoroughly vindicated, Gu Tingxiao smiled and gently re-plaited her messy, stray braids before finally granting her freedom.
“Mommy~ Yi Yi wants her milk,” the little girl called out.
Sheng Wanyan went over to mix the milk powder, letting the little girl sit on a small stool to drink it herself while she stepped into the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Later that evening, around eight o’clock, Father and Mother Gu arrived at the house. Mother Gu had been fretting that the young couple might be missing essential household items, so she had brought along a massive haul of supplies.
“Mom, Dad, what are you doing here?” Sheng Wanyan asked, utterly shocked to see them at this hour.
“Tingxiao, quick, help move these things inside,” Mother Gu called out. She had packed a vehicle full of provisions, terrified the family of three would starve out here.
“Mom, have you two eaten yet?” Sheng Wanyan asked.
“Your father and I already ate at a state-run restaurant in the city,” Mother Gu replied, waving her off. “We brought several sacks of grain. Put them straight into the cellar.”
Since the family had only just moved in, they hadn’t established a large pantry yet. Sheng Wanyan had actually planned to quietly bring provisions out from her dimensional space over the next few days.
“Why did you buy so much?” Sheng Wanyan asked, staring in bewilderment at the heavy snakeskin bags Gu Tingxiao was hauling inside. At this rate, they wouldn’t need to buy food for months.
“It’s not much at all. We have plenty at home, so don’t you worry about it,” Mother Gu insisted warmly. “This cured meat was prepared specially by Grandma, and this wild game was sent over by one of your grandfather’s old subordinates. Make sure you eat well; don’t go skipping meals to save money. Especially you, Yan’er—university studies carry a tremendous amount of pressure. Tingxiao, you must take excellent care of the household during these next few months to ease her burden.”
Mother Gu turned her attention to her son, lecturing him thoroughly. Since Gu Tingxiao was scheduled to return to his post in Bing City in two months, she wanted to ensure he did everything he could to support his wife while he was still here.
“I know, Mom,” Gu Tingxiao replied quietly, hoisting the heavy bags into the cellar.
Sheng Wanyan poured two glasses of warm water for her parents-in-law. It took nearly three hours to drive out here from the city center, and it must have been a grueling trip after a full day of work.
“Mom, Dad, why don’t you stay the night?” Sheng Wanyan offered, checking the time. “By the time you drive back into the city, it will be midnight.”
“No, it’s fine. We’ll head back so it’s easier to get to work tomorrow morning,” Mother Gu declined. Though she would have loved to stay, commuting back to the city in the morning would mean waking up at dawn, which would only cause more fatigue. It was better to head back tonight since Father Gu was at the wheel.
Chapter 487: Admission Report
Yi Yi had fallen asleep by the time everything was sorted out. Since Mr. and Mrs. Gu had to work the next morning, they could only steal a quick, affectionate glance at her before leaving in a hurry.
Now that they were all living in the Capital, they didn’t have to constantly worry about the little family from afar like before. They could see each other whenever they wanted.
Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao escorted them to the gate. The family guards were already waiting in the car, so the couple could rest assured.
“Remember to bring Yi Yi back to the main house this weekend,” Mother Gu instructed one last time before stepping into the vehicle.
Sheng Wanyan nodded quickly. Since the elders were being so thoughtful, she certainly wouldn’t let them down. “Don’t worry, Mom. We’ll bring her back for the weekend.”
Mother Gu nodded happily, checked her watch, and saw that it was already nine in the evening. She and Father Gu then began their drive back to the military compound.
Sheng Wanyan sighed softly as she watched the tail lights fade into the dark, a wave of deep emotion washing over her.
“Let’s head inside, wife,” Gu Tingxiao said. Worried she might catch a chill in the night air, he unbuttoned his heavy military overcoat and draped it over her shoulders, then took her hand and walked back into the courtyard.
The next morning, Sheng Wanyan rose early to pack the supplies she would need for school. In truth, Gu Tingxiao was even more prepared than she was. Yi Yi followed her parents around like a curious little shadow, wanting to touch every single notebook and pencil.
“Tomorrow is just for registration, not actual classes,” Sheng Wanyan said, laughing helplessly when she saw that Gu Tingxiao had even sharpened her pencils and set out a pristine notebook.
“Wife, do you plan on taking a nap on campus at noon?” he asked. “We kept the dormitory assignment, after all.”
Sheng Wanyan nodded. While Gu Tingxiao was still stationed in the Capital for these two months, she could easily come back to the courtyard to rest at noon. However, once he returned to Bing City, it would be just her and Yi Yi, and running back and forth would be entirely too chaotic. “For now I’ll come home, but once you return to Bing City, I’ll just take a nap in the dormitory. It will be easier to pick up Yi Yi and head home together right after my afternoon classes conclude.”
The couple finalized everything they needed for the registration day. To ensure she was completely refreshed, Gu Tingxiao left her undisturbed that evening so she could get a full night’s rest.
The next morning arrived bright and clear. It was officially the day Sheng Wanyan started university, and Pan Yue was scheduled to register for her classes as well.
Grandpa and Grandma Sheng had never set foot inside a university before, so they decided to accompany Pan Yue to broaden their horizons. They were absolutely thrilled by the prospect of visiting both Tsinghua University and Peking University in a single day. To the two elderly grandparents, these were the absolute pinnacle institutions of learning, and they had been looking forward to exploring the campuses with immense anticipation.
“Yan’er, your father and I will take your grandparents to visit Tsinghua University first. We’ll come over to find you right after!” Mother Sheng called out. She was determined to see every inch of both campuses, so she made an agreement to meet Sheng Wanyan at the main gates of Peking University later.
“Alright, Mom. I’ll meet you all at the entrance of Peking University,” Sheng Wanyan replied.
Sheng Wanyan, Gu Tingxiao, and little Yi Yi soon arrived on the bustling campus of Peking University. Gu Tingxiao’s tall, powerful frame made it incredibly easy to navigate through the dense crowds, and he smoothly guided Sheng Wanyan toward the registration area.
“Wife, the foreign language department is over this way,” he said. Holding Yi Yi securely in one arm, he led the way through the corridors until they spotted the signs for the foreign language majors.
“Hello, excuse me. Where should I go to register for the Russian major?” Sheng Wanyan asked politely, addressing the students and staff managing the tables.
Although this was the very first semester since the reinstatement of the examinations, meaning there were no actual upperclassmen to guide them, many professors had brought along their own advanced assistants to help handle the logistics. While these assistants were technically entering the same academic year as Sheng Wanyan and the others, they functioned as half-seniors on campus.
“Hello there! The Russian department is right here,” a male student replied, lifting his head. The moment his eyes landed on Sheng Wanyan standing before him, he froze completely, his mind going entirely blank.
My goodness! This incoming student looks like an angel! She is absolutely breathtaking! He couldn’t believe their department had been blessed with such a stunning classmate; they were incredibly lucky. By the time the rest of the single male students arrived, they would probably lose their minds at the sight of her.
Gu Tingxiao’s face darkened in an instant. Sensing the student’s lingering gaze, he stepped forward and rapped his knuckles sharply against the wooden table. The sudden, crisp sound made the male student shudder in fright.
“Is this where the Russian major reports?” Gu Tingxiao demanded, his voice dropping to a freezing register.
Terrified by the sheer aura of cold hostility emanating from the tall military man, the student nodded frantically. “Yes! Yes, sir, right here. May… may I please see your admission letter?”
Sheng Wanyan offered a polite smile, defusing the tension as she retrieved the document from her bag and handed it over. The student opened the ledger, scanned the name, and gasped out loud.
“You’re Sheng Wanyan?!”
His sudden exclamation echoed across the room, leaving him momentarily speechless. Hearing the name, several professors who had been conversing nearby immediately dropped what they were doing and rushed over to the table.
“Sheng Wanyan is finally here? Where is she?”
A gentleman with a notably bald head pushed through the crowd—it was the Dean of the Foreign Languages Department. He eagerly snatched the admission letter from the student’s hands, his eyes wide. “Are you the top scholar from Bing City, Sheng Wanyan?”
Sheng Wanyan smiled gracefully. “If you are referring to the Sheng Wanyan from Bing City, then yes, that should be me.”
The Dean’s stern face instantly crinkled into a massive, joyful smile. “It really is you! Your entrance examination scores were phenomenal. The moment we received word that you had selected the Russian Department, our entire faculty has been anxiously waiting for your arrival!”
When Comrade Sheng Wanyan’s stellar results were originally published, countless elite universities across the nation had desperately vied for her enrollment. Yet, without a hint of hesitation, she had chosen Peking University—and specifically, their Foreign Languages Department. To put it into perspective, Comrade Sheng Wanyan had ranked third in the entire nation on the college entrance examinations.
The individual students who took first and second place had both chosen Tsinghua University to study physics, which had left the administration at Peking University deeply envious. However, Tsinghua’s physics department was historically superior, so there was nothing they could do to contest that choice.
Yet, the third-highest scholar in the country had bypassed Tsinghua entirely, opting to pursue foreign languages at Peking University instead. How could the faculty not be ecstatic? They had assumed they stood no chance of landing a top-three national scholar.
“Thank you, professors. I am deeply honored by your anticipation,” Sheng Wanyan said.
“Good, excellent! Allow me to personally handle Comrade Sheng Wanyan’s admission procedures,” the Dean announced, happily pulling up a chair and unceremoniously nudging aside the male student who had originally been processing her paperwork.
The student looked thoroughly aggrieved; he had been dying to be the one to officially register the third-highest scholar in the nation. It would have been an incredible milestone to brag about to his peers.
“You’ve chosen Russian as your primary focus,” the Dean noted, looking over her file. “Are there any specific elective courses you would like to declare?”
“Yes, sir. I would like to declare French,” Sheng Wanyan answered smoothly.
Uncle Hu, who had been sitting quietly at a neighboring table to observe the registrations, couldn’t contain himself any longer. He had deliberately avoided greeting her publicly earlier, worried that showing their personal acquaintance might create a bad impression or imply she was using a backdoor connection. But the moment he heard her officially declare his French course as her elective, he couldn’t sit still for another second.
Dropping his ledgers, he hurried over to the table, his face practically beaming with a massive, crinkling smile. “Magnificent! It’s settled then—you shall be my official closed-door disciple!”
“Nonsense! I haven’t even given my input yet!” an authoritative voice boomed.
The Russian language professor standing nearby immediately marched over to contest the claim. “Her primary major is Russian! She must master her Russian under my tutelage before she flits off to learn your French!”
Sheng Wanyan turned her head to look at the speaker. He was a distinguished elderly gentleman, appearing to be in his early seventies. This was her future primary professor: Zhao Yanliang.
In this parallel world, many of the nation’s historical figures and academic titans varied from her past life. While she didn’t recognize him immediately, Gu Tingxiao knew exactly who he was. Professor Zhao was a monumental pillar within the nation’s diplomatic and linguistic history; he had previously served as a minister within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and had actually been Grandma Gu’s direct superior decades ago. Although he had officially retired due to his advanced age, his restless, dedicated spirit had driven him back into academia, and he had chosen to teach at Peking University to guide the next generation of national talents.
Chapter 488: Meeting the Roommates
Uncle Hu had mentored quite a few students in his time, many of whom were now exceptional talents shining across various fields in state-owned institutions. Although he was a highly respected French professor at Peking University, and an esteemed figure that everyone in the foreign language community looked up to, no one usually dared to act rashly in front of him.
But Old Zhao wasn’t just anyone, and he had no intention of letting Sheng Wanyan slip away.
“Old Zhao, I had my eye on this student first,” Uncle Hu argued.
“What a load of crap! Did you stamp your name on her? Has she even agreed to it?” Old Zhao fired back, scolding him directly. He was firmly against Uncle Hu tricking Sheng Wanyan into becoming his final disciple.
He had been keeping a close eye on this exceptional student for a long time, eagerly waiting for her to enroll so he could personally observe her. How could he just stand by and let someone else snatch her away?
“School hasn’t even started yet! Core major courses are the absolute priority,” Old Zhao huffed indignantly. “Electives are just a side dish!”
Turning his sharp gaze to the department dean, Old Zhao barked, “Hurry up and process her enrollment! Don’t let him distract you!”
Under the intense glare of the formidable professor, the dean quickly finalized Sheng Wanyan’s admission procedures, not daring to utter a single word of protest. You simply couldn’t mess with this old man. You really couldn’t.
Caught in the middle of this academic tug-of-war, Sheng Wanyan, the actual student in question, had no chance to speak as Professor Zhao decisively arranged her academic priorities.
When there was finally a lull, she spoke up. “Um… Director, I would like to apply to be a day student.”
“A day student?” The dean looked up in surprise. It was his first time seeing a student request to live off-campus. After all, the university provided dormitories, and virtually everyone lived in them.
“Yes, Director. I’m married, my husband is in the military, and I have a young child to take care of.”
The dean glanced at the tall, imposing Gu Tingxiao standing beside her and fell silent for a moment. It wasn’t entirely against the rules to commute, but dormitory beds were strictly assigned.
“I can approve your day student application,” the dean finally said. “However, a bed will still be assigned to you. You can use the dormitory to rest during the noon break.”
“That’s perfect. Thank you, Director.”
The dean finished processing her paperwork and handed over her monthly subsidy vouchers. In this era, not only were university students able to study for free, but they also received a government stipend of ten yuan every month to support their living expenses.
“Alright, here is your campus directory, which includes the locations of all the academic buildings. Take a good look,” the dean instructed meticulously. “Your dormitory is about a thousand meters straight ahead, and the Foreign Languages Department is on the second floor. Don’t be late for your first class tomorrow.”
Sheng Wanyan nodded her thanks and left the registration desk with Gu Tingxiao.
“Wife, let me help you make your bed first,” Gu Tingxiao offered. They had brought along a set of bedding and a pillow precisely because they worried she would be too tired to commute all the way home at noon. Resting in the dorm would be much easier.
“Alright, let’s head to the dormitory first, and then we’ll go meet up with Grandpa and Grandma,” she agreed.
Sheng Wanyan and Gu Tingxiao easily located her assigned room: Room 305 on the third floor. The room held eight beds in total, and bunks were claimed on a first-come, first-served basis. Because she had arrived relatively late, almost all the beds had been taken. Only one top bunk on the far inside wall remained.
This suited Sheng Wanyan perfectly; she preferred the upper bunk anyway, as she disliked people casually sitting on her bed during the day.
When the family of three stepped into the room, it was bustling with activity. Several students were unpacking, some assisted by their parents.
“Hello,” Sheng Wanyan greeted them.
Everyone turned to look. Since this dormitory was assigned to the Russian Department, these girls would be her classmates for the foreseeable future.
“Hello!” they chorused back. The girls were instantly stunned by her striking beauty. They hadn’t expected such a gorgeous girl to be assigned to their room.
“Hi there! My name is Wei Lili.” The girl unpacking the lower bunk near the door hurried over to greet her. She looked about eighteen years old and was wearing clothes made of high-quality fabric. Her parents were busy making her bed for her, making it quite obvious she was a pampered daughter.
“Hello, my name is Liang Fanghua,” said the girl taking the opposite lower bunk. She had short hair and a very bright, cheerful demeanor.
“Hi, I’m Gu Shumin,” said the girl claiming the lower bunk directly beneath Sheng Wanyan’s. She was quite pretty and, true to her name, carried a gentle, scholarly air about her.
“My name is Li Juhua,” introduced the girl taking the upper bunk above Wei Lili. She wore clothes with a couple of visible patches. She had a dark, thin complexion and looked to be a bit older than Sheng Wanyan.
“I’m Liu Na,” said the girl in the upper bunk directly across from Sheng Wanyan. She looked to be around Sheng Wanyan’s age.
“My name is Zheng Lingling,” added the girl in the lower bunk across from Sheng Wanyan’s section. She appeared to be in her early twenties.
“And I’m Lin Meili,” said the slightly chubby girl taking the upper bunk above Liang Fanghua. She had the kind of sweet, round face that elders instantly adored.
After everyone had introduced themselves, Sheng Wanyan smiled warmly. “It’s wonderful to meet you all. My name is Sheng Wanyan.”
“Welcome! That top bunk over there is yours,” Liang Fanghua pointed out cheerfully.
Sheng Wanyan nodded with a smile and walked over, pulling a cleaning cloth from her bag.
“I’ll do it,” Gu Tingxiao murmured, smoothly taking the cloth from her hand. He climbed up to wipe down the bed frame, staying obediently by her side.
Meanwhile, little Yi Yi clung to Sheng Wanyan’s leg. Seeing the well-behaved, adorable toddler, Wei Lili couldn’t resist stepping closer. “Is this your little sister?”
“No, this is my daughter,” Sheng Wanyan replied gently.
Wei Lili’s eyes went wide with shock. Sheng Wanyan looked like she was eighteen or nineteen at most! How was she already a mother?
“You’re married? How old are you?” Wei Lili blurted out in disbelief.
“I’m twenty-five this year. And this is my husband,” Sheng Wanyan said, gesturing toward Gu Tingxiao, who was currently arranging her mattress.
Wei Lili’s jaw practically dropped. “You’re twenty-five?! I seriously thought you were my age!” She stared at Sheng Wanyan’s flawless skin, realizing it looked even more youthful and delicate than her own at eighteen. Sheng Wanyan simply didn’t look like someone who had gone through childbirth. If no one told you, you would naturally assume she was a young, unmarried girl.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Sheng Wanyan laughed.
The two easily struck up a conversation. Even though Sheng Wanyan was seven years older, they found plenty of common ground to chat about.
“Say hello, call her Sister,” Sheng Wanyan prompted her daughter.
“Hello, Sister~” Yi Yi chirped obediently.
Hearing the sweet greeting, Wei Lili broke into a huge smile. She dug into her pocket, pulled out a White Rabbit milk candy, and offered it to the toddler. “Here, Sister has a candy for you.”
Yi Yi looked up at Sheng Wanyan for permission. When her mother smiled and nodded, Yi Yi took the candy with her tiny hands.
“Thank you, Sister~”
“Oh, what a good girl!” Wei Lili cooed, unable to resist gently pinching Yi Yi’s soft, chubby cheek.
Yi Yi blinked her large, watery eyes and added, “Sister is pretty~”
“Hahahahaha! Your mouth is so sweet!” Wei Lili laughed delightedly, radiating the bright, vibrant energy of a young girl.
“From now on, we’ll all be classmates and roommates,” Sheng Wanyan said warmly to the room. “Let’s all take good care of each other.” She decided not to mention her day-student status just yet; everyone would naturally figure it out in due time.
Once Gu Tingxiao had finished setting up the bed, the family of three said their goodbyes and headed toward the main gate of Peking University to wait for Sheng’s parents.
A short while later, Father and Mother Sheng hurried over, and the reunited group took a leisurely stroll around the Peking University campus.
“Did you get everything sorted and packed away?” Mother Sheng asked. As a natural worrier, the moment she arrived, she began interrogating her daughter about the admission procedures.
“Everything is perfectly set up, Mom. Don’t worry,” Sheng Wanyan reassured her.
“The atmosphere at this school is truly magnificent,” Father Sheng sighed, looking around in awe. “You can practically smell the academia in the air.”
