Over the next few days, Chen Yang spent his free time wandering around the old residential area of Hongguang Road, searching for suitable properties. He also checked numerous real estate listings online, his target very clear: the area west of Hongguang Road. Chen Yang knew that the government would issue a land acquisition notice in a little over a month, and this area would undergo urban renewal.
Chen Yang currently had nearly 600,000 yuan on hand. Based on current housing prices, he only focused on properties around 100 square meters in size, and those where the owners were eager to sell. Only with such properties could he potentially negotiate a lower price if he paid in full, and the transfer of ownership would be relatively smoother.
Ning Qiaoqian still hadn't returned to Rongcheng these past few days, but she had called Chen Yang several times to tell him about her recent situation. With Ning Kuncheng's intervention, the Lujiang Intermediate People's Court had accepted her cousin's appeal and quickly ruled the first-instance judgment invalid due to improper application of legal procedures, remanding the case to the district court for retrial. Ning Qiaoqian was optimistic about the case, saying that after a retrial, the most she would likely be convicted of excessive self-defense, and might even receive a suspended sentence without jail time.
Furthermore, Ning Qiaoqian told Chen Yang that Ning Kuncheng had a very good impression of him now, mainly because Chen Yang had helped him greatly with the calligraphy request. Master Baiyan not only wrote the calligraphy but also clearly stated in the inscription that it was for Cheng Susu. Even more remarkably, Master Baiyan used the seal "怡然自得" (meaning "content and at ease") on the piece. Influenced by his deceased wife, Ning Kuncheng had some knowledge of Master Baiyan's works and was well aware of the seal's value.
Ning Kuncheng knew that Master Baiyan had done this out of respect for Chen Yang, so he was deeply grateful. He had several times offered to personally visit Rongcheng to express his gratitude, but Ning Qiaoqian had stopped him each time, fearing that her father's public display might lead him to say something inappropriate that could affect Chen Yang and Su He's relationship.
That morning, Chen Yang had found a 110-square-meter old apartment online. Just as he was packing his things and preparing to head out for a site visit, his phone rang.
Chen Yang picked it up and saw it was Liu Xinyao calling. After working together on their thesis the other day, they had exchanged phone numbers. Since they would be collaborating on the thesis for some time, exchanging numbers for easy communication was only natural. So, although Liu Xinyao was a little reluctant, she gave Chen Yang her number.
Initially, Liu Xinyao was worried that Chen Yang's texts and calls would be a nuisance, but she was wrong. Chen Yang had been incredibly busy these past few days and had completely forgotten about the thesis; he had no time to contact Liu Xinyao.
Liu Xinyao, on the other hand, had taken it seriously. She had researched extensively and proposed several new viewpoints to enrich the thesis. After hesitating for a while, she took the initiative to call Chen Yang.
"Hello, Xinyao! Any progress on the thesis?" Chen Yang asked with a faint smile. He knew that Liu Xinyao, so proud and aloof, couldn't have contacted him for anything else.
"...Hmm!" Liu Xinyao seemed a little uncomfortable with Chen Yang's way of addressing her, hesitating for a moment before replying, as always, sparing with her words, "Are you free this morning? I have some new ideas I'd like to discuss with you."
"No problem!" Chen Yang readily agreed, "Are we still going to the archives? I'll be right there!"
"Okay!" Liu Xinyao hung up the phone decisively.
After hanging up, Chen Yang put the documents he had just organized back in the cabinet, then went straight to the school's administration building.
Pushing open the door to the archives, Chen Yang saw Liu Xinyao already sitting in her seat, with that cute pink laptop in front of her again.
Liu Xinyao was wearing a light pink three-quarter sleeve fitted blouse that accentuated her curves, revealing half of her fair arm. The fluorescent light from the computer screen illuminated her face; her expression was as aloof as ever, her delicate face appearing slightly pale.
Chen Yang walked straight to Liu Xinyao, pulled out a chair, and sat down. He casually placed his phone on the table and asked with a smile,
"Am I late?"
Liu Xinyao's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, seemingly uncomfortable with such close proximity to a man. She shifted her chair slightly to the side before speaking,
"I've been looking at some materials these past few days, and I'd like to hear your opinions on a few points. Why don't you copy them over and take a look? Did you bring a USB drive?"
Chen Yang, however, simply reached out and slightly turned Liu Xinyao's laptop, saying casually,
"Copying back and forth is too much trouble. Just look at it like this! You... don't mind, do you?"
Although Chen Yang said this, he made no attempt to ask Liu Xinyao's opinion. Without waiting for her reply, his left hand unceremoniously placed on the cute Hello Kitty-shaped mouse and began intently reading the document.
*Would saying I mind have made a difference?* Liu Xinyao thought resentfully, looking at Chen Yang's focused expression.
Her computer and mouse had never been used by a boy before, and Chen Yang's unsolicited use of them made Liu Xinyao a little uncomfortable. However, Chen Yang was already reading the materials, and since she had taken the initiative to come to him today, Liu Xinyao couldn't make a scene. She just gave a soft snort and moved her chair further away.
Chen Yang was completely unaware of Liu Xinyao's thoughts. Strictly speaking, Chen Yang and Liu Xinyao were related in their previous life, but since Liu Xinyao didn't live in Beijing, they had only met once. In Chen Yang's eyes, Liu Xinyao was still the little girl he remembered from his previous life, so he didn't have any other thoughts.
Chen Yang read very carefully. He spent a full ten minutes reading just a few pages of the paper, admiring Liu Xinyao's dedication. Several points in Chen Yang's paper, written from memory, lacked sufficient evidence, and Liu Xinyao had meticulously found numerous sources to strengthen her arguments. Furthermore, Chen Yang could tell that her own viewpoints were well-thought-out, containing many fresh and insightful ideas. Chen Yang thought for a moment, then spoke:
"Xin Yao, I can see you've done a lot of solid work these past few days. I agree with your points in principle, but there are a few details we might need to discuss further!"
Once the conversation turned to business, Liu Xin Yao became much more relaxed. She nodded slightly and looked at Chen Yang. Chen Yang smiled slightly and continued, "Let me first share my thoughts. Our paper is intended for the Boao Forum for International Law. As far as I know, this forum has been held six times, and each time it invites renowned international law experts from home and abroad. Not only are there experts from our country, but also some foreign legal scholars. Therefore, I think some of the wording in our paper should be more rigorous, and international impact should be considered as an important factor. For example, in the section on the dishonorable role played by the United States in the Dushanbe issue, some of your wording was too sharp..."
After speaking, Chen Yang naturally leaned closer to Liu Xinyao, using his right hand on the C key for the mouse and his left hand pointing on the computer screen:
"For example, here..."
Liu Xinyao frowned slightly, but quickly relaxed. Her attention was drawn to Chen Yang's words. Liu Xinyao had indeed not considered the wording issues in international communication when preparing her paper, so she felt that Chen Yang had hit the nail on the head in several places. The two began discussing the thesis, and the atmosphere gradually became much more harmonious than at the beginning. Liu Xinyao's mind was completely focused on academic issues, and unconsciously, her subconscious aversion to the opposite sex lessened considerably.
Under normal circumstances, it would have been unimaginable for Liu Xinyao to talk this much with a boy.
During the heated discussion, Chen Yang, who was speaking with great interest, suddenly noticed that Liu Xinyao's face was a little pale. He quickly stopped and asked with concern:
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Liu Xinyao swayed slightly, rubbed her temples, and said wearily:
"I'm fine!"
These past few days, Liu Xinyao had been staying up almost every night to research, and coupled with her mild anemia, she had felt dizzy after using her brain a little too much.
Chen Yang asked worriedly,
"Are you really alright? Should we go to the school clinic? You don't look well!"
Liu Xinyao frowned slightly and said reproachfully,
"I already said I'm fine! Keep talking!"
"Okay!" Chen Yang shrugged helplessly, saying nothing more. Whether in his past life or this world, Chen Yang and Liu Xinyao weren't very close, and he didn't want to appear too concerned, lest the sensitive Liu Xinyao misunderstand.
Chen Yang turned his gaze back to the computer screen, about to continue the discussion, when his phone, which had been on the table, vibrated.
Chen Yang picked it up and saw it was a multimedia message from Ning Qiaoqian.
It contained a selfie of Ning Qiaoqian wearing a tight, sexy leather outfit, accompanied by the caption:
"Little cutie, have you missed your sister?"
Liu Xinyao also happened to see the message, and a strange expression appeared on her face. Chen Yang felt Liu Xinyao's gaze and quickly and awkwardly pressed the lock screen button on his phone. Liu Xinyao looked at Chen Yang, a hint of disdain rising in her heart. The rumors about Chen Yang and Su He were practically common knowledge at Rong University; in Liu Xinyao's eyes, the two were definitely dating. Now, having witnessed Chen Yang's ambiguous text messages with another glamorous woman, she couldn't help but draw some conclusions.
Men are all the same! Liu Xinyao couldn't believe that the seemingly honest Chen Yang was no different from those guys who relentlessly pursued her—they were all cut from the same cloth. At the same time, she secretly felt sorry for Su He.
Thinking this, Liu Xinyao had no desire to continue the discussion with Chen Yang. She snorted coldly and said sternly,
"That's enough for today! Revise the paper according to your suggestions and submit it directly to Professor Yan!"
After thinking for a moment, she added,
"Remember to put your name as the first author!"
With that, Liu Xinyao abruptly stood up and walked towards the door.
After taking only two steps, Liu Xinyao suddenly felt dizzy and lightheaded, then her vision went black, and she collapsed limply to the ground.
"Liu Xinyao! Liu Xinyao!" Chen Yang rushed forward to support her, calling out loudly.