The faint smile on Liao Yuqing's face opened up into a big arc . "Wang Zheng? It's been so long . "
"What the heck? You can still remember that ugly nickname? Wow, look how you've grown; you're even taller than me now . Are you here on holiday? You've really changed . You look good!" Xiao Xia was checking him out carefully .
Wang Zheng also smiled heartily, remembering his childhood days . How miraculous it was that he had received so much care and attention from the two before him . It was just sad that he never got to see them after he moved, not to mention how surprised he was to see them in Aslan .
"I am an exchange student here," Wang Zheng said .
"Hello, I'm Yuqing's boyfriend, Zhang Lu . " The tall guy smiled generously .
The four of them went to a nearby café, reminiscing the good old days .
"Oh, now that you're all grown up, do you have a girlfriend?" Xiao Xia asked while standing in front of Wang Zheng . "Wow, you were way shorter than me in the past . "
"Hey, Sister Rain, I am not the same child," Wang Zheng said helplessly . Liao Yuqing had not changed much at all . While her hair had become shorter, she was much more mature and energetic, and she looked very happy .
Xiao Xia patted Wang Zheng's shoulders . "Little radish, no matter how tall you are, you are still our little brother . Did you say you exchange here?"
Wang Zheng shook his head, swallowing his laughter . When he was still a boy, he had a good impression of Liao Yuqing, a gentle big sister from next door . Thinking back… the only reason he was so fond of her was because she would give him snacks everytime they met…
"Yes, I entered Ares College and then managed to come here for exchange . "
This shocked the other three, especially Xia Yu . It was as though she saw a monster .
"How could this be? Since when were your grades that good? Oh, God, that's unreasonable . To think that even I did not get in; I really must learn from you," Xia Yu said while covering her mouth .
"Xia Yu, Wang Zheng definitely worked hard . How did you expect to get in with how you studied… Congratulations, Wang Zheng!"
"Sister Yuqing, you're making me feel embarrassed . I did not expect you to have a boyfriend already . Looks like I was too slow . " Wang Zheng laughed .
Zhang Lu also smiled . "Fortunately, I was quick enough, or I would've had a strong competitor . The pressure you give out is like that of a mountain!"
Liao Yuqing also laughed . "Now you know how popular I am . "
"I always knew that," Zhang Lu said softly .
"I really can't stand the two of them . Are we invisible . . . " Xia Yu looked disgusted .
"Wang Zheng, bring your girlfriend to meet us . " Liao Yuqing laughed .
Wang Zheng nodded . "We are still working on it . "
"Wow, even you can find a girlfriend, yet here I am single… . What on earth! Where is she from?" Xia Yu was quick to ask the right questions .
"Aslan . " Wang Zheng nodded .
"Not bad! It must have really boosted your ego . Remember to bring her to us before we leave . I really wonder what kind of girl would be tricked by you," Xiao Yu said heartlessly .
Liao Yuqing was also very happy . "Remember how naughty you were before? You only knew how to play and eat . Time really flies . Oh, right, how's that old man? Still tending to his shop?"
These memories could never be erased . "Old Merchant moved too, not sure where to . I remembered you guys moved to the Moon, right?"
With such a temperament, Zhang Lu looked like he was from the moon .
"Yeah, when we left, we were worried that the old man would sell you off," Xia Yu said .
Wang Xiao smiled . What a foresight . He would be considered lucky if he could even be abducted . "Do you still remember Xiaosu? He is also at Ares College . "
"Of course, the boy who was always looking to play with you . Short, tanned face, pretty cute too . " Liao Yuqing smiled .
Zhang Lu was a good guy, but not particularly talkative . He periodically handed water to Liao Yuqing . Wang Zheng could tell that he was a very stable and peaceful person, and he felt happy for Liao Yuqing . Although they were living in completely different worlds, he really hoped for the best for them .
A notification popped up in his Skylink .
"Dr . Ari's reply!"
"Oh, be quiet . "
Xia Yu blinked and gestured for Wang Zheng to quieten down . It looked like an important call .
Liao Yuqing, who had been joking, also looked seriously at Zhang Lu .
The Skylink connected . The caller looked like a short man who was about 50 years old . He was clothed in an institute's white lab coat . He was direct and to the point . "Mr . Zhang, your sincerity touched me . The quantum engineering model you were planning to do has limited prospects in my opinion . My schedule is quite full now, but maybe you should focus on some other methods . "
"But . . . "
"Thank you for your interest, I hope there will be opportunities for cooperation next time . Good-bye . " Dr . Ari was very decisive and hung up the call even before Zhang Lu could reply .
Zhang Lu reluctantly smiled and his gaze averted to Wang Zheng . "Company matters, do not be too concerned . "
"Sigh, to think we spent all that effort just to get here just to get rejected again… . Why are Aslanians so difficult to handle? I don't give a f*ck anymore," Xia Yu said in injustice .
Wang Zheng also learned about their situation . Zhang Lu managed a small-scale technology company . He recently encountered a bottleneck in development and needed expert guidance from Aslan . Based on the size of the company, it was difficult to collaborate, but they still gave it a shot and made it to Aslan . It took a lot of effort to get connected, but they had gotten rejected in the end .
"It's okay . Dr . Ari is no good . We will look for others . There will be a way; I believe in you . " Liao Yuqing held Zhang Lu's hands encouragingly .
Zhang Lu smiled . "Oh, having a girlfriend like you already motivates me . Let's just ignore this matter and have a good celebration for your reunion!"
Zhang Lu was a person who understood that while life came with endless hurdles to be conquered, it was important to enjoy it too .
Zhang Lu would try as hard as possible with the limited time he had . The reunion was planned for the next evening, and Zhang Lu took the initiative to treat them .
"Zheng, remember to bring your girlfriend! Let Sis check her out for you!"
"I will try . " Wang Zheng nodded .
"Xia Yu, stop fooling around . " Liao Yuqing pulled back Xia Yu . The problem was whether Wang Zheng did indeed have an Aslanian girlfriend or if he had just said it in the spur of the moment .
She did not want to make things difficult for him .
Xia Yu wanted to ask how much of a big shot Wang Zheng's girlfriend was that they had to compromise to her schedule, but seeing how Liao Yuqing was, she rephrased her sentence .
"See you tomorrow night . "
They exchanged contact numbers .
On the way back, Wang Zheng felt inexplicably happy . It was the kind of happiness that could not be felt by winning battles . He felt truly happy for his old neighbors, but they way they were still treating him like a child caused him headache . He had no face at all in front of them . Maybe it was better that way .
Wang Zheng dialed Aina's skylink . He knew that after joining the club, his Skylink was automatically upgraded to silver grade . Even Aslan's royal family could not monitor his calls, and he could have privacy calling Aina .
Wang Zheng told Aina about his encounter just now . "So, Your Royal Highness, care to join tomorrow?"
"What to do? The Princess is very busy; Princess duties naturally come first . "
Aina could tell from Wang Zheng's tone how important they were to him . The big sister from next door… was she his first crush?
Yuqing… such a familiar name . Remembering Yan Xiaosu's confession, Wang Zheng was not fond of anyone in high school, but he had a first crush before that . That person was called Yuqing or something!
In the end, once Wang Zheng hung up, Aina immediately dialed back .
"Neighbor's sister? Was it that Yuqing?"
Wang Zheng's jaw cracked . It had nearly dislocated from his surprise . How did Aina know?
"Don't be too alarmed . Yan Xiaosu told me everything . If that's the case, I better prepare!"
Xiaosu, that traitor… . When did he even spill all these secrets? Hopefully he did not make too many exaggerations .
"No need to be too alarmed, we are all just friends!" Wang Zheng did not want Aina to be too showy, as Liao Yuqing and Xia Yu were all down-to-earth people .
"Yes, Sir!"
On the other side, Zhang Lu and Liao Yuqing were caught in a crisis . Back on the Moon, several Aslanian scientists were very interested in their projects, but a few factors posed a threat to a collaboration . Mainly, the duration of the project and the long distance .
"We have competitors, but it is difficult as we are an emerging company . It seems that a few of the industry leaders are jointly competing against us . "
"Maybe there's an internal spy . It just doesn't make sense that the few interested Aslanian specialists suddenly chanced upon better opportunities . "
Zhang Lu quietened down . After analysis, their situation was dire, and they might return empty-handed .
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