Chapter 94: In High Spirits

After waiting for about ten minutes, Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo returned from outside.

“Comrade Zhong.”

Zhong Yuxiu turned to look at them, noticing their hair was damp once again. “Did you wash with cold water again?”

“Cold water feels refreshing,” Hao Nan replied with a cheerful smile. Then he added, “Comrade Yan will be joining us too. He’s gone home to fetch something at the moment.”

“All right.” Zhong Yuxiu’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Go and freshen up.”

Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo nodded and headed to the bathroom to wash up again. When they emerged, they looked invigorated; indeed, people who exercise regularly tend to have finer skin.

At that moment, Yan Rushan hurried in. “Yuxiu, I’m here.”

“You’re just in time. Breakfast has been ready for a while.” Zhong Yuxiu beckoned with a bright smile. Yan Rushan strode forward and handed her a bundle of large and small packages. “See if you like them. If not, they can be exchanged.”

With some confusion, Zhong Yuxiu opened the four packages and found that they were all clothes—various garments, including dresses, dacron shirts, sweaters, and wool coats, all in styles a bit more fashionable than what was generally sold in the shops.

“Where did you get these?”

“They’re from a new batch of stock. I chose the best ones and picked two colors for each style for you,” Yan Rushan said, sitting beside her. “And don’t even think about paying me.”

They hadn’t been seeing each other long, and Zhong Yuxiu was an independent young woman, never one to rely on others. Even with Yan Rushan, she preferred not to take advantage, which sometimes left him feeling a little disappointed.

Seeing the earnest look on his face, Zhong Yuxiu didn’t want to seem ungrateful. “All right then. As it happens, I was planning to go to the department store to pick out some outfits. Now that you’ve brought them, I won’t need to make a special trip.”

That would save her quite a bit of time.

“Luo San has made arrangements with the clothing factory in the south. From now on, I’ll bring you a few new sets every month so you can have some variety.” He wanted her to always look her best.

“Is that so? Then I insist on paying for them,” Zhong Yuxiu replied. Catching the look on Yan Rushan’s face, she quickly added, “Not to you, but to your friends. They work hard too, and just because you’re a partner, I can’t accept things with a clear conscience. I’ll accept this once for your sake, but taking more would inevitably cause resentment.”

She understood these things well enough.

Yan Rushan said no more and nodded silently in agreement.

Finally at ease, Zhong Yuxiu grinned. “If there are new styles, I want all the pretty ones.”

“I’ll take you to pick them out myself next month when the new stock comes in. That way you can choose what you like best.”

“Wonderful!” With no shortage of money and a proper way to spend it, she could use it freely and without worry. “I want to buy lots of new clothes and shoes, and change every day.”

The girl’s smile bloomed like a flower, her wishes so simple and yet so touching it ached.

“You’ll have endless new clothes to wear from now on.”

“Mmm.” Zhong Yuxiu happily held up a deep blue sweater against herself; it seemed just the right size. She looked through the other clothes—wool coats in pale red, goose yellow, and indigo.

She tried each one for size, and every piece fit perfectly. Pleased as could be, Zhong Yuxiu realized that Yan Rushan had chosen them with real care.

The wool coats and sweaters fit well, and the shirts weren’t bad either, though the patterns were a bit old-fashioned. But at the time, that was normal—she wouldn’t have worn anything too flashy, anyway.

“All right, they all fit.” Zhong Yuxiu tugged Yan Rushan to his feet. “Come on, let’s eat. After breakfast, I’ll change into something new before heading to school. Comrade Hao Nan, Comrade Tian Shangguo, let’s have breakfast.”

Yan Rushan smiled indulgently and let her lead him to the table.

Goudan followed behind, respectfully setting out bowls and chopsticks for his mistress and standing at her side.

Yan Rushan picked up his chopsticks and placed a plump, white bun on Zhong Yuxiu’s plate. She accepted it with a smile, enjoying his attentiveness with a clear conscience.

After breakfast, Zhong Yuxiu chose a wool coat and matching flared trousers and went upstairs to change. The trousers were lined with cotton, not too thin. After changing, she adjusted her hairstyle, using her fingers to braid her hair into stylish, layered plaits—modern and attractive, but not ostentatious.

With the pale red wool coat and light-colored flared trousers, she looked fresh and beautiful.

She went to the lab to collect her pen and ink, put them in a small bag, and added a copy of her medicinal formula and data. Then she opened her door and went downstairs.

“All right, we can go now.”

Yan Rushan looked over at the sound of her voice, and his breath caught—his heart raced, the tips of his ears slowly heating until the blush crept across his face. As Yuxiu moved, his gaze followed her, unable to look away.

Noticing his gaze, Yuxiu felt a shy flutter in her heart. She pursed her lips. “What are you looking at? It’s time to go.”

Hao Nan chuckled softly, while Tian Shangguo hurriedly dragged him out, thinking he was being a third wheel.

“Don’t pull me,” Yan Rushan protested, dazed and good-natured, delighting in the moment.

Jolted back to his senses by the commotion, Yan Rushan looked embarrassed. Seeing her cheeks tinged with pink, he smiled gently and held out his hand. “Come on, I’ll walk you to school.”

“Won’t that delay your work?” she asked. He’d just received new stock, and handling both the sales and inventory was exhausting.

“It’s fine. Someone else is overseeing things. I can be a little late.”

Yuxiu placed her hand in his, their fingers entwining tightly as they stepped out and locked the door behind them. The four of them headed to Hua University, where Yuxiu and Yan Rushan parted at the south gate.

Yan Rushan watched Zhong Yuxiu enter the campus, gave Hao Nan and Tian Shangguo a few instructions, and then left.

Zhong Yuxiu first went to the office to check in with Professor Ding, then headed to the principal’s office. The principal hadn’t arrived yet, so she waited outside for about half an hour before Principal Guo finally arrived.

“Principal Guo.”

“Comrade Zhong! How long have you been waiting here?” Principal Guo paused, noticing that Zhong Yuxiu had clearly dressed up today—her clothes were brand new, and her hair was beautifully styled. “You look very different today.”

In the past, Zhong Yuxiu had always dressed plainly. Even when she did her hair, she never put in so much effort.

Zhong Yuxiu smiled lightly. “I’m in a good mood today.”

“Is that so?” Principal Guo couldn’t help but smile, shaking his head at the obviousness of youth. “What’s made you so happy?”

“My project has taken another step forward. Isn’t that something to be happy about?”

Principal Guo understood at once. “Of course, that’s something to celebrate. Come, let’s sit in my office for a bit before we head to the medical university.”

“No need to rest, I’m ready. I’ve brought my pen and ink as well.” She lifted her small bag—a dark, palm-sized cloth pouch, bulging with a telltale horizontal mark where the pen lay inside.

“What’s the rush? When we get to the medical university, if they’re not in, you’ll still have to wait.” Principal Guo changed direction, unlocked his office, and opened the door. “Come in and sit for a while. Even if you’re not tired, I am.”

With no other choice, Zhong Yuxiu tried to calm her excitement and stepped into the office.

“Sit wherever you like,” Principal Guo called, moving to his desk to open a drawer and take out a file folder.

Zhong Yuxiu glanced at it but didn’t ask any questions.