Every Friday morning was the scheduled group meeting for Tang Shuliang’s laboratory. Barring any special circumstances, it usually consisted of routine experimental reports and literature reviews by the students. Since it was an internal meeting, the atmosphere was relatively casual. Xia Yinuo and Wang Meng walked into the conference room chatting and laughing, only to find someone already sitting in Xia Yinuo’s usual seat—it was Gu Yizhi.
Gu Yizhi had short hair and was dressed in a professional suit and rimless glasses, looking down as she flipped through a set of documents. Wang Meng was about to speak up and say that the seat belonged to Senior Xia, but Xia Yinuo stopped her just in time. Hearing the noise, Gu Yizhi looked up, saw Xia Yinuo, and offered her a smile. Xia Yinuo simply took a seat in the back row. The others cast curious, searching glances at this uninvited guest.
Soon after, Tang Shuliang arrived, and the meeting began. The students took turns reporting their experimental results, concluding with Liu Yan’s literature report. It was the young girl’s first time presenting, and she was quite nervous. Fortunately, she had prepared thoroughly and passed without a hitch. From her seat, Xia Yinuo secretly gave Liu Yan a thumbs-up.
When the two-hour meeting ended and it was time for the "Boss" to give his concluding remarks, Tang Shuliang finally introduced the guest to everyone. "This is your senior who has already graduated, Gu Yizhi. She was my student many years ago. After finishing her Master’s, she went to Harvard for her PhD and is also the founder of AM Company. I’ve invited her today to give a presentation to everyone."
Ke Dinghao and Wang Meng simultaneously turned to look at Xia Yinuo. The three lab mates then turned back to Gu Yizhi in unison, waiting for what came next.
Gu Yizhi stood up and walked to the podium, bowing slightly in greeting. "I hope I won't take up too much of your time. Hello, everyone, my name is Gu Yizhi. After completing my doctorate, I worked at WK. Last year, I led a team back to China to establish AM Company, which primarily focuses on the field of regenerative medical materials. Currently, besides selling imported equipment and consumables, our R&D department is also working on self-developed patented products. We are committed to becoming the best in domestic tendon and cartilage tissue engineering and regenerative therapy. We will be conducting a lecture tour across major universities to promote our products, but more importantly, we hope to recruit talented and capable graduates to join our team. C University is my alma mater, and Professor Tang is my mentor, so before starting the official tour, it is an honor to stand here and introduce our team to you in advance. Now, I will begin the specific introduction of our company."
Gu Yizhi was undoubtedly a good speaker. Her twenty-minute presentation earned the silent admiration of everyone present. For someone to give up a high-paying job abroad to return home and start a business—setting aside personal grand ambitions—the sheer courage to take such a risk was remarkable. Furthermore, it was in the medical field.
Many in the industry said that the twenty-first century was the era of biomedicine. The fourth scientific and technological revolution was a shift from the revolution of the external material world to the internal world of consciousness; its core was the integration of information, biology, aerospace, materials, and nanotechnology. However, the industrialization of emerging medical technologies and instruments ultimately depended on national conditions and policies. No one could guarantee success, and those who dared to test the waters had to be exceptionally confident and brave.
After the meeting, Tang Shuliang invited Gu Yizhi and the students to have a simple lunch at the university’s guest restaurant. Most were happy to comply; nothing beats a free meal.
Because she had plans with her "Little Plan" that evening, Xia Yinuo just wanted to finish her experiments and leave quickly. She whispered in Tang Shuliang’s ear, "Professor Tang, I won't go to lunch. I still have experiments to do."
To her surprise, Tang Shuliang, who usually never required students to attend social meals, grabbed her. "No, you have to come today." Xia Yinuo was forced to go.
The group walked toward the restaurant. Along the way, it was mostly Tang and Gu reminiscing about the old days—what the campus used to look like, what had changed, and how things were back then.
Xia Yinuo walked behind them, her head down as she thought about the previous night.
Last night, Professor Liang had taken five seconds to agree to Xia Yinuo’s inexplicably blurted-out request. Then, she spent ten minutes going back to her own home to grab a change of clothes, and another thirty minutes washing up before appearing in Xia Yinuo’s bedroom.
Only a warm yellow bedside lamp was lit in the room. The lamp had an interesting design—it was a glowing globe. And "Student Xia" had already fallen asleep in bed.
Liang Jueyun knelt by the bed. Xia Yinuo was sleeping peacefully. Had she cried herself to exhaustion? Liang Jueyun tucked the covers around her, placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, turned off the light, and went to sleep.
In the early morning, Xia Yinuo woke up to find Liang Jueyun’s sleeping face right before her eyes. Realizing she had actually fallen asleep like that last night, Xia Yinuo felt a small pang of annoyance at herself. Sunlight leaked through the gaps in the curtains. Liang Jueyun’s hand rested casually on Xia Yinuo’s waist. She seemed to be having a beautiful dream, a smile playing on her lips—sweet, charming, and utterly captivating. Xia Yinuo smiled foolishly, her heart filled with an inexplicable happiness, unable to look away.
"Have you seen enough?" Liang Jueyun suddenly asked lazily, without even opening her eyes.
*Eek, caught red-handed!* Xia Yinuo simply hugged Liang Jueyun through the quilt, refusing to get out of bed.
What are the marks of youth? Is it the green palpitations of the heart, the shy stirrings of emotion, the persistent longing, the suppressed impulses? Or is it holding the one you love, wishing you could both turn gray overnight and never be parted?
Xia Yinuo held Liang Jueyun, and Liang Jueyun buried her head in the crook of Xia Yinuo’s neck. Their fingers intertwined. Xia Yinuo’s thoughts were as clear as her eyes as she said to Liang Jueyun, "Good morning, Shijie."
Thinking of this, Xia Yinuo couldn't help but curl her lips into a smile.
"Little Junior, what are you thinking about? You're so lost in thought."
Xia Yinuo looked up to meet Gu Yizhi’s playful smile.
Once they were seated in the private dining room, the dishes were served quickly. Tang Shuliang introduced the teachers and students of the lab in turn, mentioning that there were five graduates this year, naturally including Xia Yinuo. Upon hearing this, Gu Yizhi expressed her welcome for the juniors to join AM Company after graduation. Xia Yinuo suddenly realized why Tang Shuliang had insisted she come to lunch, feeling touched by her mentor’s thoughtful intentions.
During the meal, Xia Yinuo repeatedly felt Gu Yizhi’s gaze on her, yet neither of them mentioned their previous meeting. When it was time to say goodbye after lunch, Gu Yizhi pressed a business card into Xia Yinuo’s hand, saying she was welcome to contact her anytime. Xia Yinuo accepted it politely and thanked her.
Ke Dinghao stroked his chin and said, "Looks like she wants to headhunt you for her company; she only gave a card to you. This Senior Gu is quite the *yujie* type, isn't she?"
Xia Yinuo shrugged, not paying it much mind.
That evening, Xia Yinuo appeared in Liang Jueyun’s classroom two minutes before the bell rang. Standing on the podium, Liang Jueyun’s eyes lit up. She said nothing and began the lecture.
The classes for international students were a bit more relaxed than usual. Liang Jueyun’s teaching was serious yet humorous. Xia Yinuo sat in the back row, her chin resting in her hands, unsure if she was listening to the lecture or just watching the person.
After class, several students crowded around Liang Jueyun to ask questions, and she answered them patiently. Xia Yinuo waited in her seat until everyone else had left the room.
As Liang Jueyun packed her things, Xia Yinuo took the laptop bag from her hand, and they walked out of the classroom side by side.
It was the first day of November, around nine in the evening. The air was cool and crisp. Walking through the quiet corridors, one could feel the weight, depth, and wisdom of C University. This was the heritage that every person at C University cherished, the essence and reason for their hard work. And, of course, there was love.
Liang Jueyun spoke up, "How did you know which classroom I was in?"
"Don't forget, I used to be the TA for this course. I know everything posted on the course website," Xia Yinuo said, her tone proud and smug.
Liang Jueyun looked down and smiled softly.
Back at the Liang residence, when the morning’s interlude came up, Liang Jueyun remarked that it was impressive that Professor Tang had trained such an outstanding student.
Xia Yinuo took Liang Jueyun’s hands and asked seriously, "What do you hope I do in the future?"
Liang Jueyun replied, "I hope you do what you love. You said before that you didn't want to be a doctor, so don't be one. Remember, it’s not about what I want you to do, but what you want to do."
A faint, ethereal aura seemed to surround Xia Yinuo’s slender frame. "I’ve always had a confusion. When I was a child, adults would ask what I wanted to be when I grew up. A child can answer innocently and irresponsibly—a scientist, a writer, an astronaut—but I didn't know how to answer. Even after growing up, people kept asking what I wanted to do, if I was going to be a doctor, and I could only answer, 'Maybe.' This question is like asking you what kind of person you think you should be with in the future; because you don't know, you can't answer. Even if I wanted to fudge an answer for a primary school essay to please a teacher, I couldn't answer it for myself. Life has many encounters and choices. Some people make their choices early; I just encountered mine a bit late, woke up a bit late. My waiting time was a bit longer than most. It’s just like meeting you—the blank space of my first twenty-odd years finally found its answer. And I believe that at some point, I will finally choose my profession."
Seeing Xia Yinuo like this made Liang Jueyun’s heart ache slightly.
Stroking Xia Yinuo’s head, Liang Jueyun said softly, "So you should thank your parents for providing you with such comfortable living conditions. Many people struggle for a living and have to plan their futures early; for them, the future cannot afford any mistakes. Fortunately, throughout your long journey of growing up, you didn't become a little troublemaker just because you were well-off. To live without calculating gains and losses, to maintain a pure heart, with eyes as clear as a child’s—that is my Xia Yinuo."
Xia Yinuo laughed loudly. "Ha, a little troublemaker! Are you trying to say I didn't turn into a playboy or a useless, ignorant scion?"
Liang Jueyun blinked. "Mhm, that’s more or less what I meant."
"No way, am I that bad in your mind?" Xia Yinuo protested.
"I didn't say anything; you said it all yourself." Professor Liang’s habit of being "black-bellied" without realizing it hadn't just started yesterday.
Xia Yinuo put on a worried expression. "Fine. But what if I really am someone who is used to escaping, someone who doesn't know how to face the future? What then?"
Liang Jueyun gave Xia Yinuo’s lips a quick peck. "You aren't that kind of person, my little troublemaker. Don't overthink it. Take it slow."
To put it cruelly, everyone builds an invisible wall during the process of growing up. This wall separates one's vision from the scenery and judges one's thoughts and the warmth of the world. It remains until certain people appear, giving you the courage to break through that wall to see the more wonderful world outside. And Xia Yinuo knew that after all these years of dormancy, now might truly be the time to make a choice—not just for herself, but for the person standing before her.
Xia Yinuo: "Shijie, do you know what one wall says to the other?"
Liang Jueyun: "Hmm?"
Xia Yinuo: "I'll meet you at the corner."
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
混世小魔王 | Little Troublemaker / Little Demon King | Literally "World-confusing little demon king," refers to a mischievous or spoiled child.
顾一稚 | Gu Yizhi | A new character, an alumna of C University and founder of AM Company.
AM公司 | AM Company | Gu Yizhi's startup focusing on regenerative medicine.
再生医学 | Regenerative Medicine | The field of Gu Yizhi's research and company.
肌腱、软骨组织工程 | Tendon and cartilage tissue engineering | Specific areas of biomedical research mentioned.
御姐 | Yujie | A term for a mature, sophisticated, and authoritative woman (from Japanese 'onee-sama').
腹黑 | Black-bellied | A term for someone who is outwardly kind but inwardly mischievous or manipulative.
小计划 | Little Plan | Xia Yinuo's nickname for Liang Jueyun.
Enjoying the story? Rate this novel:
Cicada's Summer GL | Chapter 40 | The Little Troublemaker | Novela.app | Novela.app
