Chapter 117: Chapter 115: Geniuses Belong to the Nation

It was a strange sort of fondness. It didn’t seem like love, but Zhang Wenliang couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

"Sister Wen Ying, what do you do for work now?"

"I’m a psychologist. That mental health clinic down the street is mine."

Zhang Wenliang looked at Wen Ying in surprise. "Sister Wen Ying, did you come back right after graduating from college? You’re not planning to go to a big city?"

Wen Ying shook her head. "It’s nice here. I like this slow-paced life. I don’t have to deal with too many people. Isn’t that good?"

Zhang Wenliang couldn’t answer that question. He was about to graduate from college himself but had no intention of returning home.

He just felt that Wen Ying, in this moment, fit his image of a pure and innocent goddess even more perfectly.

Hearing the two of them chatting, Aunt Zhang chimed in, "See? I told you. You’re both highly educated people, so you’d definitely have things to talk about. Xiaoliang, you didn’t want to be swarmed by those girls, did you?"

Zhang Wenliang knew Aunt Zhang was referring to the girls from earlier, but he hadn’t really been bothered by them.

They were all from the same hometown, after all.

"Little Ying is at her clinic every day, but she doesn’t have many clients. It’s so boring for her. Xiaoliang, how long are you back for? If you’ve got time, you should go chat with Little Ying. You two will definitely have a lot in common."

At this, Wen Ying’s eyes lit up.

’Of course.’

"I’m a psychologist. Little brother, if you’re feeling off about anything, you can come talk to me, okay?"

Zhang Wenliang nodded.

"You have to come."

Zhang Wenliang, "Mm."

"You really must come."

Aunt Zhang looked at Wen Ying, her expression turning a little tense. "Little Ying, did you notice something?"

"If there’s something wrong, you tell your auntie, and I’ll go talk to Xiaoliang’s parents."

Hearing Aunt Zhang’s words, Zhang Wenliang was completely baffled. ’What does she mean by that?’

’Noticed something?’

’Why would she go talk to my parents?’

’Have we already reached the marriage proposal stage?’

"Auntie, don’t overthink it. It’s nothing serious."

Aunt Zhang took a deep breath. "Okay, you really gave me a scare. Xiaoliang is the most promising young man we have here! The director even said he wants him to drive our local economic development in the future! It wasn’t easy for us to produce a student from such a top-tier university. Xiaoliang, what was the name of your school again?"

"Qingbei University."

"Right, right, Qingbei! Anyway, he’s incredibly promising. We absolutely can’t let anything happen to him."

Hearing that name, Wen Ying couldn’t help but exclaim in her mind, ’Well damn!’

’Qingbei University, huh? That really is the best of the best!’

’The pinnacle!’

’The apex!’

’Even if I tried to test in now, I’d have a zero percent chance of getting in. Talent like that is the real deal!’

’I absolutely can’t be the one to ruin him.’

"Auntie, just tell Xiaoliang’s parents to have him come and talk with me. That’ll be enough."

Aunt Zhang nodded. "Alright, leave it to me."

"Auntie, I only took three days off..."

"No problem! Don’t worry, your parents will definitely let you add another three days!"

In Aunt Zhang’s mind, if Wen Ying said something was wrong, then something was definitely wrong. A short leave of absence might mean missing out on some lessons, but if he lost his life, what good would all that knowledge be?

"Little Ying, you and Xiaoliang stay here and watch the show. Auntie is going to go talk to Xiaoliang’s parents first."

Aunt Zhang stood up and left without a second thought. She was remarkably decisive.

Zhang Wenliang was still a bit confused. Looking at Wen Ying’s profile, he had to admit she was much prettier than their campus belle.

"Sister Wen Ying, I’m a bit younger than you."

"I know. Three years younger."

"So, do you think that age gap can be overcome?" Zhang Wenliang didn’t mention the old saying about marrying a woman three years older bringing you gold, because he didn’t want to be tied down here. He had great ambitions to fulfill.

The world was too big; he had to go out and make his mark.

"Age is never an issue. You’re a genius from Qingbei University, you wouldn’t be unable to understand a simple principle like that, right?"

As Wen Ying spoke, she watched the aunties on stage, who were already in their performance costumes and getting into formation.

’Their formation is actually pretty interesting.’

But to Zhang Wenliang’s ears, it sounded as if Wen Ying was even more interested in him—so interested that she didn’t care he was three years younger.

’My parents aren’t actually going to be persuaded, are they?’

After all, given Aunt Zhang’s domineering manner just now, even he wouldn’t know how to refuse her.

He admitted he was attracted to her, but marriage? It was too soon!

’A man must establish his career before he can start a family.’

His future lay in the wider world.

"Sister Wen Ying, I think... I don’t plan on coming back to our hometown so soon."

"I know."

Wen Ying was watching their neighbor Xiao Qiang’s mother, who seemed to be standing in the second row. While everyone else wore black leather shoes, she was in a pair of dazzling gold ones.

"So you’re willing to wait forever?"

Zhang Wenliang looked at Wen Ying in astonishment. He could understand why she wasn’t looking at him—after all, girls were supposed to be modest.

"Wait? Wait for what?"

’No way. She isn’t willing to wait, which means she wants to get married now?’

’I’m still in school! There’s absolutely no way I can get married!’

"Sister Wen Ying, you’re really beautiful."

Wen Ying, who had been admiring the aunties’ makeup, turned to look at Zhang Wenliang when she heard this. "I know. A lot of people say that."

Zhang Wenliang was speechless. "..." ’So how am I supposed to say this?’

’How can I not break Sister Wen Ying’s heart?’

’After all, she’s all alone now that Grandma Wen has passed away. She must be very fragile inside.’

Seeing Zhang Wenliang looking down, all conflicted, Wen Ying immediately reached out and pinched his cheek.

’Finally, my chance!’

And Zhang Wenliang, having his cheek pinched by Wen Ying, was completely stunned.

’Physical intimacy?’

’My body doesn’t reject it, but my mind must!’

’This is terrifying!’

"Little brother, why are you blushing? You don’t have a crush on your big sister, do you? You’re still young. Focusing on your studies is the right path, understand?"

The blush slowly faded as Zhang Wenliang analyzed Wen Ying’s words. "Sister Wen Ying, my grades have always been excellent, but I’m not considering getting married this young."

Wen Ying turned her head back to watch the square-dancing formation, which was still being adjusted.

Each person held a big, red silk fan.

"Sister Wen Ying is so beautiful. There must be a lot of people who like Sister Wen Ying and want to marry her."

’So it wouldn’t make a difference if I’m not one of them, right?’

Seeing the silent Wen Ying, Zhang Wenliang gritted his teeth. ’No!’

’I have to make things clear. I can’t waste Sister Wen Ying’s youth. Doing that would be no different from being a scumbag.’

"Sister Wen Ying, I admit it, I like you!"

"Whoa there, kid! You didn’t just see me and instantly fall for me, did you? You can’t be thinking like that! Everyone appreciates beauty. It’s natural for people to have a better first impression of beautiful faces and things, I can understand that.

But your number one priority right now is to study! To serve your country, you know!

How can you be thinking about mushy romantic stuff like this?"

A huge "DANGER" sign flashed in Wen Ying’s mind.

’Has my beauty reached such an invincible level?’

’But I can’t be the one to poison the mind of a teenage genius like him! Absolutely not!’

’Geniuses belong to the country!’