CHAPTER 629: 【623】ORPHAN’S COUNTERATTACK 92 (2ND UPDATE)

The two were inseparable for two days, with Zhou Mo accompanying Zhou Yiyi to classes. As she wrote, he tapped away at his code beside her.

On Monday morning, he drove Zhou Yiyi’s Volkswagen Polo to Qing University. More than once during the drive, he complained about her car.

"Why did you buy such a car? It’s too cramped."

Zhou Yiyi rolled her eyes at him: "No kidding. With legs as long as yours, how could it not be cramped? I think it’s perfectly fine for me. It’s just a car for getting around. If I bought a nicer, bigger one, I’d still have to find somewhere to park, wouldn’t I? Don’t you know how hard it is to find a parking spot in Beijing?"

"Why not live in a house with more privacy and better security? At least there’d be an underground garage or something,"

Zhou Yiyi gave a matter-of-fact reply, "I’m afraid of heights. Living too high up gives me no sense of security, and what if there’s a fire? I’d have nowhere to run. This house is my first one and means something different to me. Besides, didn’t you see the cabbages I planted? They’re great. I just like it here. If you don’t like it, I—"

"How about I buy you a villa?" Zhou Mo offered, and Zhou Yiyi was left speechless: "You can grow vegetables in the villa, and you won’t have to worry about heights."

"No way, absolutely not. This place is close to where I work. Why would I bother moving to some villa? I’m not going,"

Zhou Mo pursed his lips and tilted his head: "Then shall we just live in Qing University’s faculty housing?"

Zhou Yiyi’s eyes brightened instantly: "Right, how could I forget? With my qualifications, I’d have to wait years before I’d be eligible for a professorship and the housing that comes with it. But you’re different. With your skills, you’d be a professor as soon as you arrive, and professors qualify for housing. Living at Qing University would be truly idyllic."

"Alright, I’ll take that as a yes. What kind of wedding do you want? Once I sort out my work, shall we head back to our hometown?"

"Let’s travel for our wedding. Skip the hassle. We’ve already taken wedding photos, haven’t we? We can travel and take pictures."

Zhou Mo found Zhou Yiyi’s suggestion perfectly aligned with his own thoughts, although he couldn’t be the one to suggest it lest it seemed he didn’t value Yiyi enough. Now that Yiyi had brought it up, he was naturally happy to go along: "Alright, but we can’t go to Europe just yet. I—"

"I’m not going abroad. Don’t just worry yourself; I’m worried too. Let’s just stay within the country. We’ll visit Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau. Can you please take some time off work before the new year? I’ll take a leave too. I really want us to spend some quality time together. I miss you so much,"

Who could resist such an earnest declaration of love?

Zhou Mo readily agreed. When he returned to school, Zhou Yiyi went to teach, and he parked the car and went to the Computer Department to find the dean. The dean, upon seeing Zhou Mo descend as if from the sky, was too excited to speak. When it was confirmed that Zhou Mo would be returning to teach, the old professor grasped his hand fervently, overwhelmed with emotion.

"It’s not easy, child. You’re still so young, and the world outside is so vast. I thought you’d never come back, just like seventy percent of the talents that our country spends so much to cultivate, who stay abroad. But you, honestly, it’s a surprise and a relief. On behalf of Professor Yao, I thank you for your determined return. Thank you, thank you, child!"

Afterwards, they went to meet with Professor Yao and then the president. Upon learning he was about to marry Zhou Yiyi of the Computer Department, the leadership at the scene was deeply moved, for no one expected that, even after so many years, their relationship could remain as pure as when they first entered the university. This was no small feat.

Even after being immersed in the foreign melting pot, they never changed their original intentions. The president immediately decided to gift them a three-bedroom, two-living-room house as a wedding present and also signed an employment contract with Zhou Mo.

Zhou Mo, wanting to take care of his wife, specifically chose a ground-floor house with a garden. In the future, they could still cultivate flowers and vegetables. What could be difficult about a pastoral life?

Once Zhou Mo picked up Zhou Yiyi after her class, the dean of the Information College spoke to the president.

"See, I told you it was beneficial to choose Zhou Yiyi. Look, such a big fish, willingly returning."

"You should be glad Zhou Mo is so loyal. Otherwise, even ten Zhou Yiyis might not bring back one Zhou Mo. Hua Yang, didn’t he still sign with a foreign company? People are different, faith is different, values are different, so the outcomes are naturally different. This batch’s best talent was undoubtedly Zhou Mo. Thankfully, he still belongs to the motherland. Just for that, we should treat them well, because making such a decision is by no means easy. Honestly, I’m quite impressed."

...

While Zhou Yiyi was teaching, Zhou Mo wandered aimlessly around the campus. After a short stroll, her class ended, and he stood below the building waiting for her.

Students from the Computer Department passing by Zhou Mo—who was dressed in casual attire—felt he looked familiar, as if they’d seen him somewhere before, but they just couldn’t recall.

It wasn’t until their teacher came down from the building and wrapped her arms sweetly around him that a boy, who often browsed forums, suddenly ran excitedly towards them.

"Senior Brother Zhou, is that you, Senior Brother Zhou Mo?"

Zhou Mo didn’t expect anyone to recognize him, especially since this kid was clearly just a freshman. He politely turned around and greeted them.

"Hello, I’m Zhou Mo."

"Oh my God, are you really the elite genius Zhou Mo from the first-ever Yao Class of our Computer Department? We never imagined we’d get to see you in person."

As soon as this statement was made, his admirers instantly surrounded Zhou Mo. Zhou Yiyi felt proud to see how popular he was.

"You two?" Under the ambiguous glances of his admirers, Zhou Mo confidently drew Zhou Yiyi into his embrace: "Isn’t it obvious?"

"She’s my childhood sweetheart and my girlfriend. We’re getting married soon, and next year, I’ll officially join Qing University. We’ll have plenty of time to meet. I hope you won’t groan too much. I’m quite strict, definitely not as gentle as Teacher Zhou."

The admirers chuckled instantly: "Brother, you probably don’t know what your girlfriend is like in class. She’s not gentle at all, very strict indeed!"

Nevertheless, the revelation that Zhou Mo would soon be joining the Computer Department of Qing University had everyone jumping with joy, quickly spreading the news.

At that moment, a girl holding her first-generation smartphone glanced at the phone, then looked at Zhou Yiyi, and finally with some uncertainty turned to Zhou Yiyi: "Teacher Zhou, do you know Lin Mu?"