บท 32: Finding an Excuse

บรรณาธิการ: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Gu Nianzhi's roommates squealed as they barrelled towards her and hugged her in a group embrace.

Mei Xiawen stood by the door and amusedly watched them squeeze and tackle each other. He felt deeply impressed by Nianzhi, since each of her three roommates were all excellent sophisticates.

The oldest was Fang Wenxin, also known as 'Green Tea Fang'.1 With a nickname like that, it was obvious she was a goddess to all men, and an enemy to all women.

The second was Cao Yunshan, also known as 'Lady Saint', or more popularly as 'Lady Cao'. It was said that her one of her ancestors had been an actual royal concubine. She projected a natural dignity and power that was certainly inherited from the bloodline of an old and distinguished family.

As for the third, Wang Junya had been from a young age, stunning and alluring. She was known as the 'Little Temptress', and with one glance, she wielded a seductive charm that toppled men by the dozens.

Although Gu Nianzhi was a transfer student—and was also an orphan with a modest background—these three haughty girls treated her exceptionally well and cared for her like a younger sister.

"You're all too overly excited. Don't go about scaring our Gu Nianzhi." Mei Xia wen was holding Gu Nianzhi's backpack and pulled her luggage behind him as he walked in.

"So, the Class Rep personally picked you up? Nianzhi, what a huge honor!" Little Temptress winked at Gu Nianzhi secretly.

Gu Nianzhi rolled her eyes. "Doesn't the Class Rep pick up anyone in the class that gets ill and hospitalized?"

"Stop it now Lil Sis! You always talk back to me!" Little Temptress slapped her shoulder playfully. She pouted at Mei Xianwen. "Class Rep, this is as much as I can help you. Our Lil Sis may be young, but she did not compromise her grades to top the class the entire year!"

"My feelings are sincere, how could they be faked?" Mei Xiawen was not abashed at all.

Looks like my roommates have already been on it with him, Gu Nianzhi realized.

Lady Cao was silent as she helped Gu Nianzhi take the backpack and suitcase from Mei Xiawen and placed it by her desk.

Green Tea Fang put her arms on the desk and had a half smile stuck on her face. "Class Rep, I see how your cheeks are rosy and how your face shines. Something good is to happen. How about it? Treat us to dinner as a celebration of Nianzhi's recovery and return?"

Mei Xiawen twirled the car key around his finger and said while at the door, "No problem, I'll treat tonight. But…" He turned to eye Gu Nianzhi, "Nianzhi, I think you should first go to the Faculty and report back from your leave?"

Gu Nianzhi burrowed her head in her backpack to dig out the medical certificate Chen Lie had written for her. "I was about to go."

"Let's go together, I happen to have something to care of at the Faculty of Law Students' Association Office." Mei Xiawen was also the President of the Faculty of Law Students' Association. He made way to drape his hand on Gu Nianzhi's shoulder and proceeded to walk her out.

Gu Nianzhi calmly walked forward faster to avoid Mei Xiawen's incoming arm. "Class Rep, I still have to go to several professors to report back from my leave. They must be displeased that I missed a week of classes."

Mei Xiawen smiled and followed her pace to walk out together.

The three roommates winked at each other and laughed. "Looks like our Lil Sis is growing up!"

…

Mei Xiawen and Gu Nianzhi left the dorm and he immediately said, "You don't have to report back for your leave. Your family already did it for you."

"Huh?" Gu Nianzhi was confused. "Then, why did you tell me to go report to the Faculty?"

"I was giving you an excuse. The most important thing you should do right now is find Professor He and ask for another chance to interview." Mei Xiawen took her to his car and opened the door to let her in. "I found out that Professor He lives in the specialist building on campus, I'll drive you over. Go find him and show him your medical certificate and ask for another chance for an interview."

Gu Nianzhi hadn't expected to face the esteemed law professor, He Zhichi, as soon as she got back. She was suddenly nervous and clutched her medical certificate, stammering, "C-Class Rep... i-i-is Professor He easy to talk to?'

"You're calling me Class Rep again, so I won't tell you even if I knew." Mei Xiawen pretended to be unhappy and tilted his head to pout at her.

Gu Nianzhi smiled to butter him up. "Don't get impatient, Class Rep. I've got to ask my family about this and get their opinion."

"That's fine, why don't you call them now?" Mei Xiawen turned the steering wheel to reverse the car and put it in park: He didn't give her a chance to muddle through. He was confident that he could win her heart.

Gu Nianzhi gripped her phone and considered it. "Then, I'll give it a try."

She first called Huo Shaoheng, it rang for a long time but he didn't answer.

She then had no choice but to call Chen Lie. Chen Lie on the other hand, picked up right away.

Before she could even speak, he was already quick to ask, "Nianzhi? What is it? Are you unwell? Where are you? I'll come pick you up right away!"

Gu Nianzhi immediately thought that Chen Lie was much too influenced by his profession; he assumed she was sick just by her calling him.

She shook her head, "I'm not unwell. How are you, Brother Chen?"

"You're feeling well? Well, that's great! That's great! Was there something you needed from me?" Chen Lie breathed a sigh of relief so great that Gu Nianzhi could hear it even over the phone.

Her brows slightly furrowed as she lowered her voice and faced the phone towards the car window. She hesitantly asked, "Brother Chen, the thing is, do you… do you know Uncle Huo's phone number?"

Originally, Gu Nianzhi wanted to ask Chen Lie about what he thought of Class Rep pursuing her. It was on the ip of her tongue, but she couldn't bring herself to say it and asked for Huo Shaoheng's number instead.

Chen Lie laughingly asked, "What is it? Why are you looking for Boss? What's the matter? Need my help?" Chen Lie looked at the general's schedule. "Huo Shao went back to the base, he's going to be hard to track down."

"Oh." Gu Nianzhi was slightly disappointed. She had intended to hang up, but saw Mei Xiawen glance over again; she was too embarrassed to look him in his face. She could only take a deep breath and murmur, "Brother Chen, the thing is, m-m-my classmate wants to pursue me and asked if I accept him. I wanted… I wanted to ask… your guys' opinion…"

"Just let him pursue you if he wants. Why would permission be necessary?" Chen Lie guffawed and then asked in a quiet voice, "Is it your Class Rep?"

Gu Nianzhi blinked and gave a barely audible confirmation.

"If that's the case, it seems very important. This is our Nianzhi's first boyfriend after all; we have to be careful. How about I ask Boss for you? He's your guardian after all!"

Gu Nianzhi nodded. A thought spun around her heart and she was compelled to spill it out. "Brother Chen, is Uncle Huo very busy with work lately?"

"It's been ok. He was busier a few days ago, but it's wound down now. What is it?"

"Then, did he get a girlfriend?" Gu Nianzhi asked, a little curious.

The last time Huo Shaohend picked up the phone, he had made her call him Uncle and forbade her from calling him Huo Shao like she had done before. It was almost as though he were hiding something.

Thinking back to the day Huo Shaoheng had accidentally called her "darling," Gu Nianzhi sensed that he probably—and it was about time—got a girlfriend.

"Huh? This I'm not sure about." Chen Lie's round mouth gaped. "Why do you ask?"

"It's nothing, I was just asking. It's about time Uncle Huo found an Auntie." Seeing that even Chen Lie didn't know, Gu Nianzhi didn't say anymore. But she was unable to forget Huo Shaoheng's attitude.