Then, the agent kindly led him away from the kitchen and the cameras and patiently persuaded him, "We don’t want you to lie, it’s just that we’re filming a show, after all. We can embellish the language a bit..."

She talked on and on about this and that to Xie Yizun.

Xie Yizun scratched his head and hesitantly said, "Alright."

...

"We’re at Bright Moon Hall, just ask the waiter to bring you up when you get here." Ning Youguang received Li Qing’s voice message while waiting at a red light.

"Okay, sorry, you guys start chatting. I’ll be there in five minutes."

Usually punctual when meeting people, Ning Youguang was a few minutes late today due to traffic.

"No worries, drive slowly." Li Qing carefully reminded.

Today, Li Qing was hosting Zhao Ying for dinner, specially planned for a Saturday, and he’d also invited Ning Youguang to join them.

Back in university, Li Qing and Ning Youguang had joined the school’s astronomy club as freshmen. Zhao Ying was the president of the university’s astronomy club at the time.

Usually, there weren’t many girls in astronomy clubs. But since the president was the campus celebrity Zhao Ying, the club wasn’t small.

Most of the boys who joined liked astronomy, while many girls were like cats lingering near the stove—"had ulterior motives."

Anyone who saw Zhao Ying’s handsome face would understand these ulterior motives.

Li Qing joined the astronomy club partly because she, like many other girls, had ulterior motives for Zhao Ying.

But her ulterior motive was slightly different; rather than wanting to be the president’s girlfriend, she simply wanted to admire the handsome face of the campus heartthrob up close.

Face-above-all fans really have no integrity!

Ning Youguang was dragged into the astronomy club by her, but Jie Qing was able to persuade her without any involvement from Zhao Ying; she just genuinely liked astronomy.

The "astronomy club" at the university had never been particularly popular, but during those years, it seemed blessed by fate. First, Zhao Ying, who was crowned campus heartthrob for four consecutive years after enrolling, joined the club, making it known throughout the campus and breaking the record for most girls joining since its founding.

Then Ning Youguang, whose few photos took the campus by storm as a stunning beauty, joined, attracting hordes of boys to the club.

In a school famous for research, the university’s academic atmosphere was stronger than any other domestic university. Students competed fiercely, but that didn’t mean they didn’t love handsome men and beautiful women.

So many wanted to join the club that they had to apply to the university for a larger venue.

"Haven’t visited the school in ages; I wonder if the club is still the same." Without Ning Youguang, Zhao Ying and Li Qing hadn’t seen each other for so long and mostly talked about the past. As for their current situations, their conversations were limited.

Different fields, different careers, different genders — two old classmates with hardly any shared interests found it hard to have in-depth conversations about each other’s current lives.

"They moved locations. You Guang told me that fewer students have joined the astronomy club in recent years. The previous venue was too large, and the school felt it was a bit of a waste, so they switched it to a smaller place," Li Qing remarked with an elegant smile, though her tone bore a twinge of regret.

After all, it belonged to their once blissful youth.

"I see." The former president remained refined and patient, as gentle as ever, unfazed upon hearing the "astronomy club," for which he had labored significantly to expand, had reverted to its previous quiet state without displeasure on his handsome face.

On a sunny summer’s day, he dressed simply in a crisp white shirt and neatly pressed black trousers.

In Li Qing’s eyes, he looked little different from how he did back in school, still dashing enough to provoke a hearty appetite, though now even with a good appetite, she wouldn’t indulge like she used to in college.

Despite their youthful appearances and wrinkle-free faces, the years have not passed in vain.

They may look as they did, but their inner selves have undergone significant changes.

That includes individual metabolism, immunity, thoughts, and temperament.

... 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

The three of them arranged to meet in an elegantly appointed tea restaurant.

Even with traffic delays, when Ning Youguang appeared outside the restaurant, she was right on time, as promised in her WeChat message to Li Qing — five minutes late was five minutes late.

The girl, with a remarkable presence and exquisite looks, drew numerous admiring glances from passersby as she stepped out of the car, both men and women alike.

Some discreetly took photos while others boldly clicked away.

The graceful and ethereal girl seemed oblivious to the excitement around her, focusing solely on heading into the restaurant after closing her car door.

Tall and slender, wearing a cream-colored cotton casual dress, carrying a fabric tote bag, and flat shoes on her feet.

Her back was as upright as a pine tree, exuding elegance and grace as she walked.

Her comportment was impeccably refined.

With just a trace of eyebrow makeup and a hint of lipstick, she looked stunning, like a mystical fairy emerging from the woods, exuding beauty that astonished those around her.

Zhao Ying watched Ning Youguang from afar through a transparent piece of glass, parked in the distance in the parking lot. Unconsciously, he touched the phone beside him but refrained from preserving the picturesque sight below, mindful of Li Qing sitting next to him.

As Zhao Ying let his mind wander, a gentle knock sounded at the door.

"The Little Fairy is here," Li Qing said with a smile.

Zhao Ying stood up very gentlemanly, ready to open the door, only to find the waiter had already opened it for Ning Youguang from outside.

They spoke about PhD admission offers.

Zhao Ying said he met an academician in the UK who admired her and once discussed her, expressing hope she would pursue her doctorate at Oxford.

Ning Youguang shook her head slowly, "Since kindergarten, I’ve said I want to go to Stanford for my PhD."

"When I started, I didn’t expect you’d see it through," Li Qing said with a laugh.

Zhao Ying also chuckled, "Professor XX is very esteemed in academia."

Ning Youguang shook her head, "My grandmother was a top student at Stanford, so I want to go see Stanford for myself."

"Alright then..." Zhao Ying didn’t bother to persuade further.

"Auntie." As Ning Youguang carried several bags down from the third floor of the mall to the second, she happened to see Ming Jinxin being escorted by a young, pretty girl.

"Youyou?"

"Ning Youguang went out to buy things for Shi Wangyue and unexpectedly ran into Ming Jinxin and a young girl shopping."