Chapter 35: Chapter Twenty-Nine: No One Can Stop Him!

Lu Sisi recognized him—Professor Zhao was a teacher at the academy and had taught one of her required courses.

To Lu Sisi, a poor student, this teacher seemed incredibly impressive—Professor, master’s supervisor, and even held the title of deputy dean of the department.

Since the cafeteria lay along the way to the academy’s administrative building, Lu Sisi simply followed the path there.

At the administrative building, she went upstairs, found the office, and knocked on the door.

Inside the office, Professor Zhao sat behind her desk, head bowed over a book, a delicate meal box placed before her. Her silver hair was neatly combed; one hand held chopsticks, the other held the book, her posture elegant, utterly absorbed.

Hearing the knock, Professor Zhao looked up and saw a delicate girl entering.

Hm? Why is there gauze on her forehead?

“Who are you?”

Lu Sisi, timid, swallowed hard, stepped forward quickly, placed the wallet on the desk, and whispered: “I found this wallet on the road—it must be yours, so…”

Professor Zhao froze, then instinctively patted her pocket—her expression changed instantly. She snatched up the wallet and opened it to check.

“Oh my! It really is mine!” Professor Zhao beamed, standing and walking over to Lu Sisi: “Thank you so much, student. If you hadn’t found it, I wouldn’t even have realized I lost it—by the time I noticed, it would’ve been gone for good.”

There’s no cash inside, but the ID cards and bank cards—replacing them is such a hassle.

You’ve done me a huge favor.”

Lu Sisi, nervous and dazed, watched as Professor Zhao extended her hand, then mechanically shook it without fully understanding.

“Thank you!” Professor Zhao paused thoughtfully: “Did I just interrupt your lunch?”

“No, no, no… I was just heading to the cafeteria.”

“Mm, then go quickly! Though you’re young, still take care of your health!”

Lu Sisi quickly bowed and turned to leave, but had taken only two steps when Professor Zhao called out again.

“Wait a moment!”

“Student, you look familiar—are you one of my students?”

Lu Sisi hurriedly replied: “Yes, I’m in Class Two, Economics and Management, 2024 cohort.”

“What’s your name?”

“Lu Sisi.”

“Mm, such a refined name,” Professor Zhao smiled warmly, then nodded: “Go on, hurry and eat.”

Lu Sisi left in a daze and hurried toward the cafeteria.

·

Back in the office, Professor Zhao put away the wallet after seeing Lu Sisi off.

Returning to her desk, she suddenly had an idea, moved the book aside, and pulled a form from the drawer.

It was a grade sheet—the exam results from the required course she had taught a few days ago.

Given her status, she never graded papers herself; her graduate students handled it, then delivered the final sheet to her for review.

This sheet had been delivered that morning.

Professor Zhao quickly found Lu Sisi’s name on the list and glanced at her grade.

“Ah, such a pretty girl, but her grades are just average,” she murmured, then checked her attendance and participation scores—all complete.

Emmmm…

Professor Zhao paused, picked up a pen from the desk, and crossed out the grade next to Lu Sisi’s name.

She wrote a new number.

The new number was a few points higher than the original.

Just barely passed.

·

Lu Sisi didn’t know her encounter had unknowingly spared her from a makeup exam.

Sitting at the cafeteria table eating, Lu Sisi felt only one thing.

When the lady serving food today didn’t shake her hand at all!

There were two extra pieces of meat.

·

Gu Xiaoniang sat outside the Extreme Internet Cafe, on a small stool.

She propped her chin on both hands, eyes wide, watching the stream of people on the street.

The door opened from inside, and the owner’s wife poked her head out, inhaling sharply and shivering: “Little Gu, aren’t you cold? It’s zero degrees today—you’ve been sitting by the door all morning!”

Come in! You’ll catch a cold if you keep this up!”

Gu Xiaoniang turned and gave the owner’s wife a faint smile: “I’m fine, Boss Lady. I’m used to the cold.”

Her tone was sincere—and she wasn’t lying.

Zero degrees… cold?

Compared to the gale on the [Zhenyu Tai] that could strip flesh from bone, this wind felt warm and soothing…

·

The owner’s wife thought for a moment, then pulled the door open fully and stepped out, clutching a hand warmer, hunched and shivering: “What’s gotten into you these past few days? You don’t go out anymore, just sit outside my shop like a lucky cat?”

Gu Xiaoniang shook her head, then thought: “I feel stifled inside. Sitting by the door lets me breathe.”

The owner’s wife studied the girl and whispered: “Still no luck finding them?”

“Mm, but it should be soon,” the girl’s eyes flickered with determination.

The owner’s wife sighed, then suddenly stared at Gu Xiaoniang’s face and hair for a moment.

“Little Gu… how many days has it been since you last bathed?”

“Uh…”

A faint blush spread across Gu Xiaoniang’s clean, pale face.

The owner’s wife thought again, then pulled a key from her pocket and pressed it into Gu Xiaoniang’s hand.

“Go to the third floor, the last room on the left—that’s my room. There’s a bathroom inside.

On the balcony hangs a set of underwear I just bought—washed and rinsed, never worn.

You’re about my height, so put them on.”

Gu Xiaoniang’s face flushed, her eyes suddenly warm, and she whispered softly: “Boss Lady, I couldn’t possibly…”

“Don’t be shy—the clothes aren’t expensive. I bought them on sale at the supermarket. Go on, hurry!”

Though embarrassed, Gu Xiaoniang couldn’t help but feel moved.

For a girl… bathing held great appeal.

Who doesn’t want to be clean and beautiful?

Gu Xiaoniang hesitated, but the owner’s wife was direct—she grabbed her arm, pulled her inside, and shoved her up the stairs: “Go! The hairdryer’s hanging by the sink!”

Gu Xiaoniang climbed the stairs reluctantly, while the owner’s wife returned behind the counter and resumed watching her variety show.

About an hour later…

The owner’s wife looked up and saw Gu Xiaoniang standing before her, face bright red.

Most of the red came from the steam of hot water; her hair still dripped with beads of moisture.

“Oh, look at you—so clean now,” the owner’s wife smiled, then frowned: “Why aren’t you drying your hair? It’s freezing out—your head will ache if you don’t dry it!”

She stood up immediately. Lunchtime brought no customers—nearby schools were in exams, and the internet cafe’s business had slowed.

“Lao San!!”

The owner’s wife shouted loudly.

From the second row of computers, a large head popped up—buzz cut, fierce expression, growling: “Sis?”

“I’m going upstairs for a bit—watch the counter!”

The buzz-cut guy grunted, stood, shuffled over, a cigarette dangling from his lips, and slumped into the chair behind the counter.

“This is a business! Be polite to customers!”

“Got it, sis. I won’t hit or yell,” he forced a grin: “How’s this smile?”

The owner’s wife glanced at her brother—his grin could scare children into tears at midnight.

She sighed, gave up speaking.

The owner’s wife simply grabbed Gu Xiaoniang’s hand and led her upstairs to her room.

She made Gu Xiaoniang sit down, then took off her black cotton coat and tossed it into the washing machine.

“Your outerwear needs washing too—wear mine for now.”

She rummaged through the closet and pulled out a few items: a fitted sweater, a down jacket, and a pair of jeans.

She paused, then asked: “What size shoes do you wear?”

“…………”

Gu Xiaoniang bit her lip, silent—she didn’t know what “size” meant.

The owner’s wife didn’t mind; she assumed the girl was shy and simply grabbed a pair of her own sneakers.

“You’re about my height—your shoe size shouldn’t be far off. Wear these for now.”

Then she sat Gu Xiaoniang down at the dressing table, brought the hairdryer, and began drying her hair.

The whirring of the hairdryer startled the girl at first, but she soon grew accustomed to it, her eyes half-closing with three parts curiosity, three parts comfort, savoring the warmth on her scalp.

“Little Gu, did you change into the underwear?”

The owner’s wife asked while drying her hair.

“Mm.”

“Does it fit?”

“Hmm…” the girl lowered her head, thought carefully, and said seriously: “It’s okay, but the pants are a bit loose, and the top is a bit tight…”

Hearing this, the shop owner’s hand holding the hairdryer stiffened slightly.

She instinctively looked down at the girl sitting in front of her.

This girl is younger than me!

She’s prettier than me!

Fine, whatever.

She’s even thinner than me—and yet… bigger?!

A twinge of bitterness stirred inside her…

It’s not fair!

The thought slipped through her mind, and the shop owner resumed blow-drying the girl’s hair.

“Little Gu, you’ve been staying here for quite a few days now, and I never asked—where are you from? Your accent sounds like you’re from Dongsanzhou.”

“Mm-hmm.”

The girl nodded. Dongsanzhou… yes, the Boundary Gate was indeed there, so in the eyes of people in this world, she was from Dongsanzhou.

“What do you do back home?”

“Hmm… slaughter.”

The shop owner’s hand trembled.

Slaughter? Such a delicate girl does that?

“Oh, so your family raises livestock?”

“…No, we don’t raise anything. We just kill… wild animals.”

“So you’re a hunter?”

Are there still people making a living by hunting these days? Hmm… maybe in Dongsanzhou?

I heard many locals in those old mountains and deep forests still do it.

There are also forest wardens—I heard it’s hard work, but they have official positions and draw salaries from the government.

Stable!

The shop owner perked up: “You’re not young anymore—do you have a boyfriend back home?”

“No.”

“Then…” the shop owner’s eyes lit up: “You’re so beautiful—don’t you want to find one?”

The girl fell silent.

The shop owner rallied herself: “I’d say you’re stunning—the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen. You’ve got everything: looks, gentle nature, quiet grace, and you’re hardworking. Any man who marries you would be…”

The girl, who had been staring at the floor, suddenly spoke softly.

“Shop owner, I’m already married.”

“…Huh?”

The shop owner froze, the hairdryer in her hand going still.

“I’m already married… my family arranged a betrothal, though we haven’t wed yet,” the girl replied seriously, lifting her gaze to meet the shop owner’s eyes: “So I won’t look at any other man.”

The shop owner felt embarrassed; the idea of matchmaking one of her three younger brothers slipped away.

But…

“You’re betrothed?” the shop owner looked at the girl curiously, then suddenly understood: “I get it—you…”

She lowered her voice: “You didn’t run away from your wedding, did you? What century are we in—still arranged marriages?

Are you unhappy with your betrothed? Is he a bad man?”

The girl pressed her lips together, a flash of lethal intent crossing her eyes: “He’s no good at all. I heard his family is heartless, cruel, and morally bankrupt.”

Got it!

The shop owner sighed, her tone tinged with regret: “Then you absolutely must run! Escape this marriage!

Women—we must never choose the wrong husband!”

“I didn’t run. I didn’t escape,” the girl shook her head. “He ran.”

The shop owner: “…”

She looked down at the girl’s face and figure reflected in the mirror.

He ran?

No way! What did that man even want?!

Look at that face! That figure!

He doesn’t want this?! What more could he possibly want?!

That doesn’t make sense…

“Wait, then why did you come all the way to Jin Ling?”

“I came to find him—and drag him back to marry me,” the girl gritted her teeth. “He’s my husband in life, and in death, my dead husband. No one can stop me.”

·

【New book ranking—please vote, collect, leave comments and reviews. The data’s all good except votes—we’re missing a leg.

I said I won’t beg for monthly votes or the monthly chart, so at the start of the month when all books rush for rankings, I stayed silent.

Now if you have spare votes and no other book you particularly want to support, just toss one my way. No pressure—easygoing. Best if I make the chart, but if not… oh well~】

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