YPSSS Chapter 22

The next day, Xia Shiruan finally understood what Xie Ji meant by “see you tomorrow.”

During holidays, Xia Shiruan usually wouldn’t sleep in, but Gao Qiuyun woke up even earlier than him. At seven o’clock, she came upstairs to knock on his door, shook him awake, and told him to hurry up and get ready.

Xia Shiruan didn’t have any morning grumpiness, but he was still a little annoyed. “Isn’t it vacation? What do I need to get ready for?”

Gao Qiuyun pulled out several sets of clothes from the closet and held them against him while saying, “Xie Ji’s parents are back. They came to see Professor Yang and want to see you too.”

Xia Shiruan jolted, now more than half awake.

He stammered, “See… me?”

Gao Qiuyun smiled, “Yes.”

Xia Shiruan’s impression of Xie Ji’s parents was limited to the few times he had seen them at Professor Yang’s house when he was young.

He only remembered that Xie Ji’s father was a tall Alpha with an imposing presence. He was always accompanied by several people whenever he came and went and never stayed for long.

Xie Ji’s mother was a traditionally petite and sweet Omega from a scholarly family, who later married into the prestigious Xie family. She had never suffered in life and always maintained her dignity and elegance.

Gao Qiuyun explained that since Xie Ji had returned to attend Science University, and Xia Shiruan was an excellent senior who had grown up with him, Xie Ji’s father specifically wanted to treat him to dinner and ask him to look after Xie Ji.

“I told him, ‘Look after what? It’s Xie Ji who should be looking after you’,” Gao Qiuyun said with a smile. “You’ve troubled him so many times. Remember to greet them properly when you meet, okay?”

Xia Shiruan sat on his bed hugging his blanket, rubbed his eyes, gave a dry “oh,” and slowly got up to change his clothes.

The dinner was set at a private estate-style country restaurant in C City.

Although it was called a country restaurant, the head chef was a nationally renowned starred chef. The restaurant required reservations months in advance to secure a spot.

With the excellent food, the dinner atmosphere was pleasant.

The adults of both families had kept in touch, and in recent years, Father Xia and Father Xie had even collaborated on work projects. After some pleasant small talk, the topic naturally turned to their children.

Xia Shiruan and Xie Ji sat facing each other, taking turns poking at a plate of fish between them with their chopsticks.

Mrs. Xie, as graceful as Xia Shiruan remembered, looked at him tenderly and asked, “I heard Xiao Ruan is pursuing a doctorate. That’s wonderful! What’s your major?”

Suddenly being addressed, Xia Shiruan put down his chopsticks, no longer competing with someone childish enough to deliberately poke at the spots he wanted to eat.

Caught off guard by the question, Xia Shiruan put down his chopsticks, giving up on trying to grab a piece of fish from someone childish enough to deliberately poke at the spots he wanted to eat.

Xia Shiruan said, “Photonic Devices.”

Mrs. Xie smiled. “That’s a great major. You’ve always been smart.”

Mr. Xie nodded in agreement. “The Department of Particle Physics at Science University ranks first nationally. Their research achievements are outstanding, and Institute 741 currently has ongoing collaborations with your university.”

Institute 741 was a military research institute specializing in technology projects, where Mr. Xie held a position.

A certain conversation flashed through Xia Shiruan’s mind. After some thought, he asked, “Is it the collaboration with Professor Lu’s laboratory?”

After receiving confirmation, Xia Shiruan said, “I’m currently involved in that project.”

“Oh?” Mr. Xie’s interest was immediately piqued, and he asked which part Xia Shiruan was working on.

Although Xia Shiruan wasn’t particularly outgoing and usually struggled to converse with elders, when discussing his field of expertise, he spoke with both depth and conciseness, avoiding excessive academic jargon so that even those outside the photonics field could follow comfortably.

After his explanation, Mr. Xie nodded repeatedly in approval.

Gao Qiuyun poured more lemonade into their cups while saying with a smile, “You’ve been talking so much, you’ve forgotten to eat all these delicious dishes.”

“Xiao Ruan shows great academic promise,” Mr. Xie said. “If you’re interested in joining Institute 741 after graduation, let me know.”

Although Institute 741 wasn’t primarily focused on photonics research, it was still one of the top research institutes. Working there was a dream for all high-achieving engineering students.

Gao Qiuyun suddenly remembered something and made a small sound of surprise. Just as she was about to speak, Xia Shiruan said, “Thank you, Uncle. I’ll consider it.”

Gao Qiuyun glanced at Xia Shiruan and swallowed her words, probably feeling that whatever she wanted to say wouldn’t be appropriate for the occasion.

A phone on the table vibrated twice, followed by a second and third buzz.

Xie Ji picked it up, unlocked it, and after checking it, typed a reply.

“What are you doing?” Mr. Xie glanced at him and asked.

Everyone’s attention turned to him.

Xie Ji put down his phone. “…Chatting with classmates.”

Mr. Xie frowned slightly and took a sip of lemonade.

Mrs. Xie said disapprovingly, “We’re having a meal, what’s there to chat about? Besides, those classmates of yours… they’re all young masters. Xiao Ruan is sitting right in front of you, why don’t you chat with him instead?”

Xie Ji didn’t say anything. He just lifted his eyes to look at Xia Shiruan, coincidentally meeting his eyes just as Xia Shiruan was reaching out with his chopsticks to take some food.

“…” Xia Shiruan averted his gaze and silently put the leafy vegetables he had picked up into his mouth.

Xie Ji curled his lips into a smile and said sweetly, “Xiao Ruan doesn’t like chatting with me.”

“…” Xia Shiruan felt goosebumps all over.

He had to admit, Xie Ji had really grown up over the years. He’d learned to change faces and tell lies.

Xia Shiruan didn’t even know how to respond to that.

After thinking for two seconds, he put down his chopsticks without saying anything. He felt that saying anything now would make it seem like he and Xie Ji were close.

But they weren’t close at all. They were just regular friends.

Mr. Xie seemed very displeased with Xie Ji’s earlier behavior. He looked at him scrutinizingly and suddenly asked, “Where did you say you were planning to go tomorrow?”

“Mount Xia,” Xie Ji said, casting what appeared to be a casual glance at Xia Shiruan. “With classmates. We’re renting a car there and back, for three days and two nights.”

Xia Shiruan’s hand paused on his cup, feeling like he’d heard these exact same words not too long ago.

Mr. Xie nodded and said, “Then take Xiao Ruan with you – Xiao Ruan, you don’t have other plans for the break, do you?”

Xia Shiruan didn’t really have any special plans. His holiday plans usually consisted of reading at home, or at most, going to the library.

So Xia Shiruan answered honestly, “No, I don’t.”

Mr. Xie said pleasantly, “If you’re free, go to Mount Xia with Xiao Ji. What fun would it be for him to go alone? Young people should spend time together. You’ll have more to talk about.”

Xia Shiruan wanted to refuse immediately and point out that Xie Ji wasn’t going alone, and that he and Xie Ji had nothing to talk about anyway.

Most importantly, he had already declined this invitation yesterday.

But before he could speak, Mrs. Xie quickly added, “Yes, Xiao Ruan, you should go.”

Then Mr. Xia chimed in, “Xiao Ruan, if you’re free, you should go. You need to get out more, you shouldn’t always stay cooped up at home.”

Suddenly, it seemed all four adults had reached some sort of consensus, staring at Xia Shiruan, waiting for his response, yet no one asked for Xie Ji’s opinion.

Xia Shiruan instinctively looked at Xie Ji, only to find him already watching, wearing a somewhat amused expression.

Seeing Xia Shiruan looking at him for help, Xie Ji finally cleared his throat and said indifferently, “Xia Shiruan probably doesn’t want to go.”

“Then you’re not going either,” Mr. Xie said.

Xie Ji paused for a second, turned to look at Xia Shiruan, and raised one eyebrow.

The expression this time was different from before, looking somewhat threatening.

Under the gaze of five people, Xia Shiruan finally gave in and said, “Okay then, I’ll go with him.”

The atmosphere in the private room became cheerful again.

–

The unexpected travel plans meant many things needed to be rearranged.

Xia Shiruan messaged Yi Junya, saying he couldn’t go shopping with him tomorrow.

His original plan was to go to the city center library tomorrow. Yi Junya had an appointment nearby and they were going to meet up in the evening.

Yi Junya replied quickly, saying it was fine, and asked what he was going to do instead.

Xia Shiruan said he was going traveling, and Yi Junya asked if he was going with his parents.

Just before sending “No, I’m going with some freshman juniors,” Xia Shiruan deleted the message.

He felt that if he replied that way, tonight’s chat with Yi Junya wouldn’t end easily.

After putting down his phone, Xia Shiruan opened his computer and moved the work scheduled for the next few days to today. After working a bit of overtime, he went to bed before two o’clock.

At six the next morning, Xia Shiruan’s phone started vibrating frantically.

The vibration pattern was unlike normal phone calls. It would ring for five seconds, hang up, then ring for ten seconds, hang up, and so on.

It was extremely annoying.

Xia Shiruan reached out a hand from under his blanket and pressed the answer button. Soon came Xie Ji’s voice, carrying the coolness of an early autumn morning, slightly scratchy, as if accompanied by wind.

“Xia Shiruan, you’re not still sleeping in, are you?”

Xia Shiruan first thought that it was only six o’clock. It could hardly be considered sleeping in.

Then it occurred to him – Xie Ji had called to wake him up, and his tone was light, almost cheerful. He didn’t sound resentful about being forced to travel with Xia Shiruan at all.

Before he could speak, the other end urged, “Hurry up, I’m waiting for you downstairs.”