Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Dou Aiyan nervously eyed Gu Nianzhi, unsure what reaction she’d get. She really had made a reckless choice in her desperation. She almost passed out half an hour ago when she saw the shortlist. Never did she expect that her three esteemed reference letters would fail to get her on the preliminary shortlist! She begged her dad to call He Zhichu to plead her case, but to no avail. The professor said that there were only 10 positions on the list and they were all fully occupied–he had no way of giving Dou Aiyan a chance unless someone forfeited. All 10 students on the list had their own strong background and support, and Gu Nianzhi wasn’t the weakest one within the group. But someone in her dad’s office happened to overhear their call and asked for the names of the students shortlisted. When that person heard “Gu Nianzhi” was within the group, they laughed and gave Dou Aiyan the idea to go find Gu Nianzhi and make a deal so that she would forfeit and allow Dou Aiyan to get on the shortlist. The idea didn’t sit right with Prime Minister Dou and Dou Aiyan because although Gu Nianzhi was a so called orphan girl, she still was raised by Major General Huo. Everyone knew that the Huo Shaoheng was very protective and with him backing Gu Nianzhi, who would dare to mess with her?”

Dou Aiyan had even chosen another first year male student to coerce into giving up his position. But the person advising them said that Huo Shaoheng may not necessarily help Gu Nianzhi this time, so Dou Aiyan should try asking Gu Nianzhi first since the exam was next week. If Huo Shaoheng decided to help Gu Nianzhi, then Dou Aiyan would still have time to ask someone else. Dou Aiyan had no regard for Gu Nianzhi, but she couldn’t ignore Huo Shaoheng’s importance. Even though her sister Dou Qingyan’s legal troubles had embarrassed their family, so she must swallow her pride and let Gu Nianzhi off the hook. This time she had received advice from someone else so she wanted to test for Gu Nianzhi’s limits.

Of course, Gu Nianzhi was not giving up her position. She looked like Dou Aiyan like she was an idiot and stated seriously, “Classmate Dou, which do you think is better–interning at the Department of Justice or interning at the US Congress?”

Dou Aiyan balked, “Intern at the US Congress? I don’t know what you’re talking about… I was talking about interning at our Huaxia Empire’s Department of Justice, aren’t you a law student? But you didn’t even do your undergrad here so no one treats you like a B University law undergraduate student. When you graduate it’ll help you to find a better job if you get intern experience at the Department of Justice.”

Gu Nianzhi didn’t want to argue anymore, this girl was in over her head and all too happy to talk to herself. “Classmate Dou, I already interned at the US Congress for six months so I think I already have enough interning experience. I don’t need anymore for my resume.” Gu Nianzhi waved her off, “I also want to become Professor He’s teaching assistant, so I’m sorry that I can’t give this position to you.” Gu Nianzhi rushed out the building when she finished speaking because Huo Shaoheng was still waiting for her in the car.

Dou Aiyan didn’t expect Gu Nianzi to reject her generous offer, so she got anxious and chased after her to shout, “Sister Gu, please help me! I really want to write the preliminary exam and become Professor He’s teaching assistant, please give this chance to me!” She began bowing at Gu Nianzhi desperately.

Gu Nianzhi had no choice but to step aside with a sigh, “Classmate Dou, anything else would be different, but I can’t help you with this.” She paused then continued, “With Professor He’s conduct, he would never allow us to personally make trades with the shortlist positions.”

“Professor He personally told my Daddy that! He said all the positions are filled and as long as someone gives up then he can allow me to take their position!” Dou Aiyan grabbed Gu Nianzhi’s shirtsleeve to beg quietly, “Sister Gu, have you ever wanted something so much that you couldn’t even sleep because of it?”

Gu Nianzhi turned around, yanking her sleeve from Dou Aiyan’s hands and shaking her head, “You should ask someone else. I don’t come across my chances either, so this time I will try my very best.”

Dou Aiyan didn’t think Gu Nianzhi would refuse to help even though she was stooping beneath herself! “Gu Nianzhi, don’t push it!” Dou Aiyan’s eyes narrowed fiercely, “I’ve been begging you all day and you’re still refusing! How can you be so mean!”

Gu Nianzhi, “…” How come someone with skewed logic be so full of themselves? Gu Nianzhi thought she can really take a lesson in being shameless from Classmate Dou Aiyan. “Classmate Dou, how am I being mean just because I’m not giving you something of mine that you want? I don’t understand this logic, how did you get admitted to the B University Faculty of Law with your kind of grades?” Gu Nianzhi raised her brows to easily counter Dou Aiyan. Her sharp tongue was almost a natural talent, she could rile people up whenever she wanted.

Dou Aiyan’s heart pounded from her words but quickly calmed down, “I was admitted through proper exam procedures, so what? You have a problem with it?”

“How would I dare have a problem with it?” Gu Nianzhi bowed in a curtsy, “Princess, may this civilian retreat now?”

Dou Aiyan froze then quickly shot back, “Gu Nianzhi, are you really not going to consider this? I really don’t think you need to compete to become Professor He’s teaching assistant. This position won’t help you at all. If you’re a smart person you should know how to make the decision.”

Gu Nianzhi spread her palms, “Then why is Classmate Dou wanting this position if it isn’t helpful at all?”

“I’m different from you.” Dou Aiyan blinked before blurting, “I don’t need the things you need. And for the things I need, you’re not at the level that you can even use them.”

Gu Nianzhi shut her eyes and walked away without another word. Dou Aiyan shouted desperately behind her, “Then it’s settled! You’ll give up the position and allow me to take it. I’ll go ask my Daddy to help you get an intern position at the Department of Justice!”

She still wanted to make this work for herself… Gu Nianzhi was finally angry. She turned around and told her seriously, “Classmate Dou, do you know that you’re already breaking the law?”

“Don’t try to scare me! How am I breaking the law? I’m only asking to make a transaction wthi you!” Do Aiyan quickly replied to prevent Gu Nianzhi from continuing, “One is willing to sell and the other is willing to buy, that’s perfectly legal.”

“Perfectly legal? You are committing robbery.” Gu Nianzhi walked around Dou Aiyan to head to Huo Shaoheng’s car and stated coldly, “To take something that doesn’t belong to you is robbery. You can check the laws if you don’t believe me.” Her serious demeanor gave Dou Aiyan a fright.

In a short moment, Huo Shaoheng had already got out of his car. Wearing a General’s spring uniform of a navy light wool military-style jacket revealing his white shirt collar and navy thin wool trousers with razors sharp seams, he crossed his long legs and leaned against the car door. Looking down to pull out a cigarette and lighting it for a puff, he looked up at Gu Nianzhi walk over with a frown, “Why did it take you so long to come down?”

Gu Nianzhi looked back, “Someone was blocking the way and trying to rob me.”

“I didn’t!” Dou Aiyan made a split decision when she saw Huo Shaoheng come out of the car. She ran over to them and stressed a point as the person from dad’s office suggested, “Gu Nianzhi! Don’t make false accusations! I was only asking you to give the position to me, how is that robbery?”

“Miss Dou, there’s the action of forcing someone to sell and forcing someone to buy, which is actual robbery. How did you get admitted to university, do you even know the law?”

Dou Aiyan’s eyes shimmered as she avoided Gu Nianzhi’s question, “Sister Gu, I’ll have an even more generous offer if you are willing to hand me the preliminary shortlist position.”

Huo Shaoheng flicked the ash and asked nonchalantly, “…What preliminary shortlist position?”

Before Gu Nianzhi could even speak, Dou Aiyan interjected, “The preliminary shortlist position for becoming Professor He’s teaching assistant! Over 400 people applied and only 10 people made it to the shortlist. Look at at how difficult it was, Major General Huo!”

Huo Shaoheng nodded to Dou Aiyan as a greeting then asked Gu Nianzhi, “Did you make it to the shortlist?”

Otherwise why would Dou Aiyan be chasing her for it? Gu Nianzhi cocked her head with a smile, “My luck was good, I made it.”

The words were like needle pricks to Dou Aiyan’s heart as she mumbled, “I sent in three reference letters from my Daddy, Minister of Education and even the dean of B University, but I still didn’t make the preliminary shortlist. –Major General Huo, who did you get to write Sister Gu’s reference letters? Was it General Ji and Speaker Long?”