Chapter 354: Chapter 354: First Day of School
Su Shuochi’s job was now settled, and he was in high spirits. "I’ll make dinner. Why don’t you all stay and eat at our place?"
"Sounds great!" Everyone was happy to agree.
But Xiao Jiyan had to go back to work at the research institute. She looked at Mu Ziquan, reluctant to leave.
She hoped he would say something to her, but unfortunately, Mu Ziquan was tired and resting with his eyes closed.
Elder Xiao spoke privately with Su Shuochi and his wife about some collaborations. He had previous experience working with Gu Jiao on producing medicine from her formulas.
Some of the medical equipment blueprints that Su Shuochi had "researched" would be given to the research institute, while another portion would be sold to the Xiao Family in a profit-sharing partnership.
"With the profits from these shares, you two won’t have to work another day in your lives," Mr. Xiao teased Su Shuochi and Gu Jiao.
"How could that be enough? Can you ever have too much money? Besides, we’re just doing our part to contribute to the country and its people," Gu Jiao said with a charming smile.
"Oh, you two. I really have to hand it to you," Elder Xiao said, his mood quite cheerful. He feigned a helpless sigh.
In the afternoon, Gu Jiao gave Mu Ziquan another acupuncture session with her silver needles and gave him a bottle of Health Pills.
She also gave different Health Pills to each of the three old gentlemen. Mr. Han’s health had always been managed by Gu Jiao, so he had no major issues.
Elder Xiao’s family owned a pharmaceutical factory and had a family doctor who gave them regular check-ups, so he didn’t have any major problems either.
Mr. Mu, on the other hand, was in very poor health. He had lost his son in middle age, suffered through torture later on, and just as his final years were getting a little better, his only grandson was injured.
His body was practically at its breaking point, not to mention he still had shrapnel in his head that had never been removed.
"Mu, please stop worrying. Just focus on getting better. Once I’ve recovered enough myself, I’ll discuss it with Xia Qiuming and we’ll arrange your surgery."
"Jiaojiao, knowing you is truly my great fortune, spanning three lifetimes," Old Mu said, his eyes welling up with tears.
"It was fate that we met. You’ve worked for the good of the country and its people. I’m only doing my small part. It’s really not worth mentioning."
Gu Jiao wasn’t just being sentimental to curry favor with anyone; she genuinely admired these old heroes.
After dinner, everyone said their reluctant goodbyes.
The next day was Gu Jiao’s official first day of university registration. Grandpa Gu and Mr. Gu were waiting at her door first thing in the morning.
Su Shuochi invited the two elders inside for breakfast. He had woken up early to cook, but Gu Jiao was still in bed.
After getting Grandpa Gu and Mr. Gu settled, he went upstairs to wake Gu Jiao for breakfast.
"Grandpa, Dad, are you two worried I won’t be able to find the university gates?"
Gu Jiao, having finished washing up, came downstairs to find her grandfather and father sitting at the dining table. She leaned in and said teasingly.
Her eyes, however, were fixed on Grandpa Gu and Mr. Gu. They both looked much older than their actual ages.
An indescribable emotion churned within Gu Jiao. "Grandpa, Dad, did you not take the Health Pills I gave you last time as scheduled?"
"Grandpa isn’t sick or in pain, so I couldn’t bear to eat them. What Jiaojiao gave us must be precious medicine pills. I wanted to save them for when I’m not feeling well."
"Grandpa, those are Health Pills I made especially for you. They’re meant for daily use. You and Dad need to start taking them as I said, one in the morning and one at night."
Gu Jiao hadn’t expected Grandpa Gu and her father to be like this, saving Health Pills for when they felt unwell.
She wanted to be angry, but when she thought about how they were only doing it because they treasured the pills so much, her heart ached instead.
"Alright, I’ll take one right now. I carry them with me all the time! I even gave one to a good friend yesterday. He said it cured his arrhythmia, HA HA..."
Grandpa Gu laughed proudly. He always carried the medicine pills his granddaughter had given him.
He would pull them out from time to time to show off in front of his old friends, and if one of them had a medical emergency, he’d give them a pill.
"Grandpa, Dad, what I gave you are Health Pills, not life-saving medicine. They are for you to take. If you meet an acquaintance with a difficult or complex illness, you can call me. Don’t be afraid to bother me."
Gu Jiao could see right through her grandfather’s intentions and said with a sigh of resignation.
"Alright, alright. I feel like I haven’t seen my Jiaojiao in forever. You should come to the university with me and your dad today, just in case any tactless students give you a hard time."
Old Sir Gu put on a very serious expression while talking about pulling strings, which made Gu Jiao want to laugh.
"Grandpa, what are you talking about? We just saw each other three days ago. Besides, I’m no pushover. Who would dare to mess with me?"
Gu Jiao said with a grin, coquettishly tugging on her grandfather’s arm.
Mr. Gu quickly chimed in, "Whether they dare to or not, we’re not letting Jiaojiao wait in line at the registration office. Dad will take you straight to the administrative office to get registered."
"Okay, I’ll do whatever Grandpa and Dad say," Gu Jiao said cheerfully.
She had gone to university, attended graduate school, and even earned a doctorate in her past life. To be honest, she wasn’t that curious about college life.
Since her grandfather and father were helping her pull some strings, she figured she might as well avoid the crowds if she could.
Seeing this, Su Shuochi quickly interjected, "Jiaojiao is so adorable. How could any of her classmates bear to bully her?"
Gu Jiao smiled but said nothing. ’This guy has definitely never been to a proper university!’
When Old Sir Gu heard his grandson-in-law praise his granddaughter, he nodded in satisfaction.
Mr. Gu also agreed with Su Shuochi’s point. "Yes, Shuo Ci is a good man. Our Jiaojiao really is the most adorable person."
Su Shuochi quickly declared, "Jiaojiao is my wife. It’s only natural for a husband to love his wife..."
"Alright, Su Shuochi. If you keep dawdling, I’m going to be late."
Gu Jiao quickly cut the man off mid-sentence. ’He’s always spouting those cheesy sweet-nothings to everyone. So shameless.’
Gu Jiao and her husband walked to the university with Grandpa Gu and Mr. Gu. Because it was the start of the school year, the entrance was packed with cars.
It was only a ten-minute-or-so walk from their house to the university, so Mr. Gu’s car was left parked in the courtyard of Gu Jiao’s villa.
With Grandpa Gu and his son pulling strings, Gu Jiao’s enrollment process was completed in no time.
Gu Jiao and Su Shuochi were both wearing sunglasses, so their "acquaintances" didn’t recognize them. Gu Jiao, however, still spotted several familiar faces.
There was her classmate Zhang Mingyu, Xi Li with whom she had no conflict, her arch-nemeses Jiang Ruyan and Wen Qing, and the annoying Xi Siya.
"Well, well, look who it is! If it isn’t Ru Yan! You look nothing like the Ru Yan from high school," Wen Qing exclaimed dramatically.
"I know, right! Look at that pink top—must be the new stock from the supply co-op, huh? And those flared pants! Even your hair is done up like corn silk. You’ve turned into a real siren!"
Xi Siya said with a strange, ambiguous tone, making it hard to tell if she was complimenting Jiang Ruyan or deliberately putting her down.
"Hah! Listen to you two. This outfit actually cost a pretty penny. It’s all new from Red Port."
Jiang Ruyan said in a simpering voice, standing tall in her high heels, as proud as a peacock.
"Wow, oh my god! Ru Yan, look how red your lipstick is! How are you supposed to eat with that on?"
Gu Jiao had originally thought they didn’t know each other, but it turned out they were all high school classmates.
Gu Jiao could just imagine it—she was going to have endless trouble at university...
