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

“So that’s the case…” Gu Nianzhi’s eyes curved as she smiled. “Qiqi, there must be many people pursuing you?”

“Not really…” Ma Qiqi blushed as she looked up at Gu Nianzhi’s large, shining, lucid eyes, her soft porcelain cheeks, nose so straight and delicate that it looked like it was drawn with a ruler, and her naturally rosy, curvy lips. She gushed with envy, “A girl as pretty as Nianzhi must have even more people pursuing her! Why did you choose your boyfriend?”

“My boyfriend? Who?” Gu Nianzhi also blushed as she waved her hand. “No, no…. No one is really pursuing me.” She immediately thought of Mei Xiawen, and Gu Nianzhi calmly removed him from her list of suitors. The way she saw it, being pursued only counted when it was someone she liked. Being pursued by someone she disliked was considered harassment. She only wanted Huo Shaoheng to pursue her, but she realized it was impossible.

“No way? Our Nianzhi is smart and pretty. Are those other men blind or something? But luckily, your boyfriend has good taste and locked you in so early.” Ma Qiqi pinched Gu Nianzhi’s cheek with a smile. “Look at this pretty little face, how alluring!”

Gu Nianzhi quickly cocked her head to avoid Ma Qiqi’s “lecherous claws,” while pinching her nose. “Speaking about beauty, our Qiqi is the true first class beauty. Look at that alluring smile. Even a girl like me can’t hold myself back!”

The two girls fooled around in the dorm and because they were so young, they quickly forgot about stressful things. To them, life was a kaleidoscope constantly giving them surprises, and every step back was beauty and goodness, so even the gloomy clouds were adorned with silver linings.

…

On Saturday morning, He Zhichu woke up in his bedroom and almost didn’t want to open his eyes. After quietly laying there for a while, he finally fumbled for the phone on his side table and unlocked it to check the time. It was 8am sharp, and he still didn’t want to get up. Last night he had been dealing with some family issues and busied himself until nearly midnight before he got to sleep. He didn’t think he would wake up at just 8am. Circadian rhythms were truly a scary thing. When he checked his phone, he also looked at the locating function out of habit. He bolted upright from bed as soon as he looked. The phone location system actually indicated that Gu Nianzhi was on campus…

This was a rare opportunity. Ever since Gu Nianzhi started school, she almost never spent weekends there, so it was very rare that she actually stayed for the weekend. Looking at the phone for a while, He Zhichu finally set it down and fell asleep again. So what if she was at school? It wasn’t like he could invite her to spend the weekend with him. Their relationship was only that of a student and a teacher, nothing else, he Zhichu reminded himself.

He slept some more, and it was almost noon by the time he roused again. Getting up from the bed slowly, he went to the bathroom to take a shower then made himself coffee. After finishing the drink, his entire body was finally awake. He Zhichu glanced at his computer but didn’t really want to continue working. Taking out his phone to check again, he found that Gu Nianzhi was located at the campus tennis courts. It seemed like he hadn’t played tennis for many days now, so he needed to exercise a bit. He Zhichu walked into the bedroom to change into a tennis outfit and tennis shoes. He carried a tennis bag with a tennis racket downstairs. He drove to the campus tennis courts and parked in the underground parking lot then went up in the elevator.

Gu Nianzhi and Ma Qiqi were playing against each other on the fourth court. They both wore pure white tennis outfits and white sport socks, their pale and slender legs running and jumping around the courts, exuding an extreme aura of youth. Carrying a tennis racket, He Zhichu calmly walked past them without letting his eyes stray. Gu Nianzhi had her back to him as he passed by, but Ma Qiqi faced him directly. Looking to see He Zhichu walking over, she stiffened and completely forgot to receive the ball, so it almost hit her.

“Qiqi, are you ok?” Gu Nianzhi was shocked and quickly ran over to the net.

Ma Qiqi shot Gu Nianzhi a desperate look and almost smacked her back with the racket. Gu Nianzhi was bewildered and turned around to see that He Zhichu had somehow appeared. He happened to look over and meet her eyes. “Professor He? You’re here to play tennis ?” Gu Nianzhi walked up to him with a cheerful smile and waved her racket. “Do you want to play a game or two?”

“Play with me? Are you sure?” He Zhichu subtly smiled at Ma Qiqi with a polite nod before glancing at Gu Nianzhi’s flushed little face. Her forehead was glistening with sweat from the physical activity. He raised his hand, unable to stop himself from wiping it off of her.

Gu Nianzhi backed up with a smile. “What is it? If Professor He is a world class player, then I’m not too shabby, either!” Only Gu Nianzhi could come up with that level of confidence.

He Zhichu couldn’t help laughing. “Ok, let’s play a game or two.”

Ma Qiqi also came around and said quickly, “Professor He, Nianzhi is practically a little beast! She’s way too energetic. I’m no match for her. I hope Professor He can properly teach her a lesson, so she’s not so impudent!”

Gu Nianzhi gently swatted Ma Qiqi’s back with a giggle. “What a sore loser. Tattle telling?”

“How is this tattle telling? I’m just asking an incredible person to defeat you!” Ma Qiqi winked at her before sitting at the side of the court. She took a large swig of spring water.

Gu Nianzhi was already standing opposite He Zhichu on the court to begin the game. Gu Nianzhi was first to serve, throwing the tennis ball high up in air and raising her racket to slam down fiercely, sending it hurtling over to the other side like a bullet.

Although He Zhichu appeared scholarly and elegant, unlike a skilled athlete—Gu Nianzhi knew she had made a grave mistake as soon as he received the ball. He jumped with agility and had incredible aim. With a powerful swing of his racket, Gu Nianzhi could even hear the air screaming by her ear. This was a formidable opponent! With renewed energy, she focused only on playing against He Zhichu.

…

On Saturday morning, the Special Operations Forces base was serenely silent. Most people were enjoying a nice morning of not needing to go out for early training. Huo Shaoheng still woke up at 7am as usual and had breakfast as he went through his emails. Unless it was an emergency, he typically didn’t reply to them. After breakfast, he went for a morning run. Although it was early summer, the morning temperature wasn’t too high, but it was still much hotter than it had been a few weeks earlier. After Huo Shaoheng finished running a lap, his forehead and back were covered with a fine sheen of sweat.

“Mr. Huo, General Ji is calling. Would you like to take it?” Zhao Liangze’s voice sounded over the Bluetooth headset.

“Yes.” Huo Shaoheng slowed down to a walk around the dark green, oval-shaped track with both his hands in his pockets.

“Shaoheng, you’re up?”

“Good morning, Chief.” Huo Shaoheng’s lips curved into a smile. “I got up a long time ago. I’m out for a morning run.”

“Morning runs on the weekend, hahahaha…” General Ji was very cheerful. “You’re truly my best soldier!”

Huo Shaoheng’s lips twitched. That was considered being a good soldier? General Ji sure had low standards. He casually chatted with him some more before General Ji remarked happily, “Shaoheng, we have the results of Nianzhi’s background check.”

Huo Shaoheng’s heart jolted. He walked over to sit on the stone bench at the side of the track. “Really? That’s pretty efficient.”

“Of course it’s efficient, the Standing Council of the Supreme Military Council had authorized ‘expedited handling,’ so how could it not be quick?” General Ji said smugly. “The military has unanimously agreed to Gu Nianzhi and Huo Shaoheng marrying.”

“Oh? So Nianzhi’s background check was fine?” Huo Shaoheng asked in great detail, “I had requested for it be expedited but not to lower the standards. I want to know the level of Gu Nianzhi’s background check and results.”

“You punk, you don’t forget anything!” General Ji chided jokingly before promising, “It was all the highest level, and her background check results were completely fine. It was the top score.”

“Really?” Huo Shaoheng sat bolt upright. “Then give me a copy of the background check. I want to keep a record.” Files were only worth anything if they were physical copies. Huo Shaoheng was well aware of how it worked.

“Ok, not a problem.” General Ji was happy to do this favor. “When are you coming to pick it up?”

“I’ll come right away.” Huo Shaoheng glanced at his watch. “I’ll be there in about half an hour. Other than the background check, can General Ji also please write me a marriage recommendation letter?”

“What are you in such a rush for!?” General Ji was perplexed. “Are you actually trying to get married right away? There’s not even time! You haven’t bought a new home, invited guests, or even prepared a wedding gown yet!”

Huo Shaoheng laughed. “I just want to complete all the procedures first but won’t be getting married right away. General Ji is overthinking it.”