As one of the seniors came up to Gu Xiqiao with a bunch of reports, the others finally reacted, and in a single moment, she was successfully surrounded by a bunch of seniors.
Lin Xia walked onto such a scene when he came in with a large stack of research data. He had gone abroad a few days earlier for an exchange program, but when he came back and realized that Zhu Yuan had given a lecture, he felt as if he had lost a million yuan. If he knew that Zhu Yuan would come back to give a lecture, he wouldn’t have gone so far away.
Thankfully, there were recordings of the lecture that he watched again and again, and the patents that he talked about in the video gave him great inspiration. Whenever he had any questions, he would ask Zhu Yuan.
Even though Zhu Yuan had great achievements, he wasn’t as high and mighty as everyone rumored him to be, and gave him the answers that he knew of.
He was quite shocked upon seeing the bunch of research students swarm to Gu Xiqiao like bees.
“Don’t be too surprised, that lazy panda has finally come back to the lab after such a long time, so of course everyone would gather around her like that. Who knows when she would come back next?” After Zhu Yuan said so, he knocked on the table and shouted. “Hey, give her some space and leave once you’ve gotten an answer, I need some time with her too!”
The first sentence was said to Lin Xia, while the next was said to the feeding frenzy of research students that had surrounded Gu Xiqiao.
Lin Xia stood there in slight awe at the scene. He knew that Gu Xiqiao was talented and had researched the way to carry out cell fusion that even he was stumped with, but how did her popularity boost like this in the few days that he was gone?
The research students in the lab were some of the smartest in A University and were all quite well known even outside the university. They were all quite prideful in their daily lives, but now they all didn’t care about their dignity at all just for a chance to ask Gu Xiqiao a question first?
How did the world change so quickly in such a few days?
Lin Xia made a mental note to greet her later on as he set down the papers on the desk, before handing the report in his hand to Zhu Yuan. “Senior Zhu, this is a report that Professor Jiang let me see yesterday, but I don’t understand a lot of it…”
Professor Jiang told him to ask Zhu Yuan as many questions as he could in the time that he was here before he disappeared again.
Zhu Yuan took the report and realized that Lin Xia was quite studious and diligent, marking all the points that confused him and making remarks with a red pen.
Practically the entire report was marked in such a way, however, and after being with Gu Xiqiao for such a long time, Zhu Yuan felt as if he was infected by her laziness too. Rubbing his head, he looked at Lin Xia. “You know where this report is from, right?”
“This came out together with a video that went viral in the medical industry right? My friend from America sent a copy to me too, and I hear that it was translated into many different languages too…” Upon saying this, Lin Xia chuckled. “But I can’t imagine that to be an easy job, honestly.”
Many foreign doctors questioned the viability of this report, but they couldn’t refute the truth of the report either.
In any case, Chinese was a language that had thousands of years of history and was broad and profound, and it was difficult to get the proper meaning through translation.
“Tch, how could they try to peer on our research without even learning Chinese?” Zhu Yuan raised his eyebrows. “If you knew that it was from China, then how could you have not recognized that the person in the video was her?”
Zhu Yuan pointed at Gu Xiqiao, and Lin Xia blinked dumbly before he asked, “You mean Junior Gu?”
It was true that he felt a sense of familiarity when he watched the video, but he didn’t think much of it. Even if he did, he wouldn’t have thought of Gu Xiqiao. She was just a freshman in A University, after all, and a clinical student at that.
No matter how talented she was and how outstanding her grades were, it didn’t cover up the fact that she was just a freshman that hadn’t even come to the lab a handful of times.
It was completely unbelievable to Lin Xia that she could write such a report.
“Junior?” Zhu Yuan finally remembered that Gu Xiqiao was actually very much younger than he was, and he grumbled. “Why else do you think everyone is swarming around her like that? What a bunch of brats! Wait here, I have a few questions that I need her help with too.”
Lin Xia looked over at Gu Xiqiao, who looked as nonchalant as always, and from the angle that he was looking at her, he could only see her side profile that looked like a painting.
No matter how mature she seemed, she was still extremely young.
When he was at this age, he was probably still reveling in the admiration of the other students, but he didn’t have such an achievement.
Upon hearing the same questions, she raised her hand and made a pressing motion in the air.
Even though she was thin and petite, she had a leader’s aura, and in a single moment, everyone looked at her with full attention, not saying a word.
“First of all, how did you guys know that it was me?” This was the part that Gu Xiqiao was the most confused about. In the video, she wore a surgical mask, and the only part of her face that could be seen was her eyes. Besides that, the video was most of her hands and Wang Jincheng.
Immediately, everyone betrayed Zhu Yuan. “Senior Zhu told us!”
F*ck! With a tug at her lip, she looked over at Zhu Yuan with a grudgeful gaze, before looking back at the research students. “I know everyone has a lot of questions, so I’ll compile some files… Is everyone in a group chat?”
“Aaahhh! I’ll make one right now on Wechat!” A girl immediately took our her phone and struggled to get close to Gu Xiqiao to get her account ID, before adding everyone into the group.
The girl’s reaction was so quick that once everyone else belatedly realized that she had her hands on Gu Xiqiao’s contact!
Everyone: How sly!!
After getting everything settled with, Gu Xiqiao walked over to Zhu Yuan, who stood up and let her have the seat. “Here!”
Gu Xiqiao made a document on the computer and started typing quickly, the keyboard clacking like rain as she typed. Even Zhu Yuan felt tired looking at her type, so he only looked away and waited for her to finish patiently.
Lin Xia stood at a side and waited until Gu Xiqiao finished typing the document before asking tentatively, “Junior Gu, did you really do that operation?”
“No, of course not.” Gu Xiqiao looked up at him. “I only applied some needles and found the antibacterial virus, the dean was the one that cut away all the rotten meat and stuff.”
Lin Xia felt relieved upon hearing the first part of the answer, but as she talked, he almost choked on his own spit.
Gu Xiqiao printed out the document that she typed out, and looked over it a few times before handing it to Zhu Yuan. “There, remember to send one in the group. I’ll be returning to my dorm room.”
He was convinced that she would definitely disappear for a while again after leaving, so Zhu Yuan said, “Wait, the cell fusion release conference is coming soon! I’ll send you the details through email, you have to make an appearance at the news conference!”
“Make an appearance? Me?” Gu Xiqiao heard this and glared at Zhu Yuan. “If you dare drag me there, we won’t be friends anymore!”
Zhu Yuan: “…”
F*ck! Such a chance to become renowned was just a dream for others, but she didn’t even have the slightest interest in it!
“Didn’t we already discuss this, Senior Zhu? You make an appearance at the press conference since you worked hard on this project too, and you can write both our names on the patent, how perfect!” Gu Xiqiao patted his shoulder. “Work hard, I have high hopes of you.”
Zhu Yuan stared at her leaving figure before rubbing his face expressionlessly, before looking at Lin Xia that was dumbfounded at the side. “Stop looking, she’s someone that disappears whenever she likes. She’s going to be gone for a week, minimum.”
***
Gu Xiqiao returned to the dorm, where two of the beds were already empty.
Bai Xinran was diagnosed with dementia, and her belongings were already taken away by the Bai family.
Meanwhile, Sun Jiajia’s family came to go drop her out of school a few days ago, saying that she had to go back to the countryside and get married.
Upon mentioning this, Xu Jing couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “You should have seen her face when Sun Jiajia came with her mom! What a laugh!”
“She was originally a joke, anyway.” Gu Xiqiao commented.
Xu Jing: I have lost in the art of the poison tongue ><
“Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask you about this, but I feel like I forgot something from that time I ate with the both of you…” Xu Jing mentioned, her expression serious.
Gu Xiqiao looked through her luggage before taking out her laptop and switching it on, clicking on the icon of a game. “Did you forget how much you ate? You probably ate two bowls of rice!”
Xu Jing: “Nonsense!”
Gu Xiqiao glanced at her. “Maybe I forgot something too?”
Xu Jing rolled her eyes. “Fine, enough about that. Did you come back today just to play games in the dorm?” She hadn’t been to class for many days, right?
“My holiday, my rules.” Gu Xiqiao stretched lazily. “But I have to go to the studio later.”
“The studio?” Xu Jing asked interestedly.
“The audition site for ‘River’s Lake’.” Gu Xiqiao looked at the time. If she didn’t get there soon, Director Cheng would probably want to commit murder.
Xu Jing didn’t have classes today, and the news of the film had been a hot topic on the internet, and now that Gu Xiqiao was going there, she asked curiously, “Could you bring family with you?”
“I can bring my pets.” Gu Xiqiao rubbed her chin and replied.
Xu Jing: “…”
***
At the audition site for ‘River’s Lake’.
“Miss, are you here for the audition? Please make your way there.” The attendant at the entrance was enthralled by the sudden appearance of a beauty that was rare even in the entertainment industry.
“Thank you.”
Such a beauty that didn’t have any signs of plastic surgery, and not even any makeup! This wasn’t scientific! How could she have not heard of such a person before?
Cheng Zhou had always been serious in overseeing auditions, and this time around he had even gotten Su Wu and another one of his old friends to help him out. Gu Xiqiao was the only sponsor this time around, so he had more freedom on choosing actors without getting swayed by any other sponsors.
The person that was auditioning now was Peng Zixian, for the role of the secondary female protagonist.
Cheng Zhou only looked at her acting for a moment before his eyebrows furrowed noticeably. It was true that there were a lot of people that didn’t know how to act in the industry, but it was rare for such a person to show up at his audition!
Peng Zixian finished her audition and stepped back, looking at Cheng Zhou politely.
Cheng Zhou had wanted to wave her away, but his old friend suddenly scooted close and whispered. “Old Cheng, this girl is from the Peng family.”
The Peng family? Cheng Zhou’s eyebrows furrowed even more. “Are you sure?”
“It’s just rumored, but apparently she wants to make a name for herself in the industry, so I think you should take notice of this.”
Cheng Zhou nodded, before looking back at Peng Zixian. “Go back and wait for further notification.”
As soon as Peng Zixian stepped out, her manager came up to her. “Zixian, how was it?”
“I don’t know…” Peng Zixian shook her head and recalled Cheng Zhou’s cold expression. “I think Director Cheng didn’t like my acting, and there are some actresses that are more popular than I am auditioning for the role.”
“Do I have to tell Young Master to give this crew a call?” The manager asked.
“I already told you that I wanted to make a name for myself with my own ability, so don’t.” Peng Zixian’s tone was cold. “Director Cheng hates people that go through the back door.”
“He hates that?” The manager scoffed. “Who doesn’t know that the actress for the main female character this time around has been decided beforehand? Who knows how much money they gave the crew?”
“Stop talking!” Peng Zixian led the manager away upon seeing someone in the distance.
Upon seeing that it was Gu Xiqiao, she blinked before smiling at her politely.
In response, Gu Xiqiao nodded at her.
“Wasn’t that the amateur that pushed you down from the role of Princess Qixia last time?” Peng Zixian’s manager spoke again. ‘Empire Under Siege’ had been very popular even though it hadn’t premiered yet, and it brought up the popularity of two newbies in the industry too.
“Yes, that’s her…” Peng Zixian nodded.
“The internally decided main actress must be her!” The manager exclaimed through gritted teeth. “Who knows what dirty relationship she has with Director Cheng?”
“No, I saw her enter a luxury car last time, and it didn’t seem like something that Director Cheng could afford…”
“Then there’s even more of a problem!” The manager’s heart of gossip started burning. She knew of all of the young ladies in rich families in the Imperial Capital, but she had never heard of such a person!
Peng Zixian only glanced at her, not saying a word.
***
At the same time.
Jiang Shuxuan received a call from Baili Qu.
“Shuxuan, this pill you gave me… It really worked!” Baili Qu’s voice was trembling through the phone.
This was the first time he felt a sign of healing his internal injuries after eight years.
“That’s good, I’ll have another bottle of the pills sent to you tomorrow.” Since the pill could increase one’s ancient martial arts stage, Jiang Shuxuan already guessed that it would be of use to Baili Qu. “Grandfather Baili, Doctor Rong is going to come back in a few days. Ask him whether there is any way to cure you completely with the help of these pills.”
Baili Qu’s internal injuries were extremely deeply rooted to the point where Rong Feishuang felt guilty that he could help neither the grandfather nor the grandson, so he just went abroad.
“If he knows about this, he’ll definitely come back immediately!” Baili Qu knew of Rong Feishuang’s tendency to value medicine over everything else. “Shuxuan, I know that the pills are precious, and I don’t have anything good on hand, but I have an ancient array book. None of us could understand it after so many years, and that girl that tails behind you has great talent, so how about I give this to you as a gift?”
That book was left behind by the ancestors of the Baili family, and even Baili Bin that was renowned as the most talented one in their family could only understand one-tenth of the book.
Gu Xiqiao was truly gifted, and Baili Qu came to this decision after mulling over it for a long time. Jiang Shuxuan’s gift was too precious, after all, so there weren’t many things that the Baili family could gift him back in return.
He hadn’t expected Baili Qu to gift him such a thing.
Jiang Shuxuan was quite surprised, and after he hung up, he received the yellowed book from a descendant of the Baili family.
That night when he returned home, he gave the book to Gu Xiqiao solemnly.
Upon seeing his expression, Gu Xiqiao looked over the entire book seriously, before blinking and flipping through it again, her eyelid twitching slightly. “Brother Jiang, where did you get this counterfeit? I have the real thing right here, do you want it?”