Chapter 20: Your Girlfriend, "Qiao Jingjing?"

A voice whispered in her ear: “We all covered your retreat…”

Qiao Jingjing spun around and launched herself into Yu Tu’s arms, hugging him tight with a grin. “I knew you’d find a way to come see me!”

“I’ll be stuck in the flight control center for a month.”

Jingjing was practically floating on air.

The cold-eyed man pulled her back down to earth. “You’re riding your bike while staring at a computer screen—afraid the process will crash?”

“Zijing Courtyard is all guy dorms. If you’re going to go, head over to Dongda.”

“Who’s that foreign language department professor?”

After a few minutes of whispering close to each other’s ears, they casually discussed a few articles on technological advancements.

Yu Tu stayed overnight in a classmate’s dorm. Jingjing hummed a tune as she continued her intensive reading. As always, when the genius showed up, magic followed.

Guan Zai noticed something was off—Yu Tu wasn’t staying at the guesthouse; instead, he kept sneaking out to the city every day.

Today he visited his professors. Tomorrow, a class reunion. The next day, another one. The day after that, off to see yet another teacher…

Suddenly, the continuous coverage from “Crystal Dumpling Waterwood Branch” hit a revelation: *Wait… there’s a knight in shining armor guarding my Jingjing?!*

No way could she let competition pile up all the way to Paris!

He was a super handsome guy—but seemed to come and go late at night, not even part of our school.

Could it be someone from the neighboring campus trying to steal my girl?

Not necessarily the neighbor…

They’ve been jogging together at Xida these past two days.

Just now, Jingjing appeared at the 11th canteen—looked so young, like a freshman. She’d just gotten her food when the guy finally arrived.

This morning, the mystery guy came out of the faculty apartments. Could he be a newly hired professor?

With that face—how are girls supposed to focus on lectures anymore?

Caught her at the library, seat beside her clearly reserved for the handsome stranger.

She even brought *The Devil Wears Prada* to class today—absolutely flawless.

Saw her at Zijing Courtyard watching the guy play basketball. She handed him his clothes and water.

I swear I saw it—I didn’t realize Jingjing was actually tall! Always thought she was petite.

She went to drama club rehearsal to watch sunrise practice—and even improvised that “He’s an idiot” scene on the spot.

Spotted them by the lotus pond earlier—too much for public viewing, so I bailed.

Guy’s playing basketball again. I know a senior who’s playing with him. Jingjing only showed up later—then they all went to Jia Suo Dining Hall together…

After getting used to daily eye candy—why is it only Jingjing today? What happened?

Something *did* happen.

Guan Zai insisted on a heart-to-heart after work, claiming it was his duty as project lead: “Look, you show up late every day, vanish right after clocking out—this isn’t good for morale!”

“We’ve only been in Beijing eight days. Normal work schedule’s only six.”

“That’s still *every single day*.”

“I already told you I had things to do.”

“But your shady behavior doesn’t exactly inspire confidence!”

He wore that look—*you don’t confess, you don’t leave*.

Yu Tu sighed. He told Jingjing not to buy food at the canteen anymore. Come back to Jia Suo and wait for him—he had to bring along this clingy, dead-weight baggage.

And then he invited Chen Wei—the friend who’d lent him his apartment, now a counselor in the Finance Department.

But Chen Wei was busy gaming with Zhai Liang at the time, so now the baggage list grew by one more.

In the quietest restaurant on Tsinghua campus, they spotted Yu Tu descending the stairs with a familiar-looking girl.

“Old Yu,” Guan Zai quipped, “everyone else hides their lovers in golden palaces. You’re using Tsinghua as your secret hideout?”

Guan Zai was sharp, and never shy with his barbs.

Yu Tu ignored him and made the introductions: “Jingjing, this is Chen Wei—he lived next door to me in undergrad. These past few days, he’s been kind enough to host me.”

“Thanks, Chen Wei. Did Yu Tu cause you too much trouble?”

“No problem a celebrity autograph can’t fix. If one isn’t enough, two will do.”

Chen Wei was easygoing and witty—Jingjing liked him right away.

“This is Guan Zai. Currently my boss. Probably will be for the foreseeable future.”

“Come on, Yu—you’re being sarcastic. You’ve been disappearing without a trace. Do you know how much pressure I’m under?”

“I haven’t disappeared. I’ve got two witnesses right here in front of you.”

Once seated, the small talk had barely warmed up before the door swung open—and Zhai Liang burst in, instantly raising the room’s energy to 85%.

“Who’s treating today? Wait—have I ever eaten at Jia Suo before?”

Yu Tu stood to greet him, and the two clapped shoulders.

“Túshén! Long time no see. Last time you were in Beijing on business—we missed each other. Now you remember me!”

Chen Wei jumped in: “Zhai Liang, don’t flatter yourself. It was *me* who remembered you. Yu Tu’s already forgotten about us poor brothers…”

Yu Tu dragged him over to meet Guan Zai: “This is Guan Zai. My boss.”

Zhai Liang slowly pulled his eyes away from the only woman at the table, shook hands: “Good to meet you, Director Guan. I’m Zhai Liang—college roommate and bunkmate of Yu Tu’s.”

“Director? Don’t listen to Yu Tu messing with me. I’m just Guan Zai.”

Then he turned and saw Yu Tu gently resting his arm on Jingjing’s shoulder, smiling softly at him.

“This is my girlfriend, Jingjing.”

Two dazzling faces side by side—instead of blinding, they somehow felt…

Zhai Liang couldn’t put it into words. But whatever it was—it was warm. Subtle. Grounded.

“Oh my god… that just burned my eyes out.”

Since he’d already been briefed during the confession, Zhai Liang quickly won Jingjing’s trust. She reached out her hand: “Hi, Zhai Liang. I’m Qiao Jingjing—Yu Tu’s girlfriend.”

“Qiao Jingjing?”

Zhai Liang rubbed his eyes. “Wait—is that really *you*?!”

Even after sitting down, he was still processing the impossible.

Dinner was relaxed—mostly because Yu Tu and Jingjing were at ease. The others expressed their inner thoughts in different ways.

Guan Zai asked: “Old Yu, when did this happen?”

“My last pack of mushrooms? He stole it.”

That line was meant for Jingjing. Fine—let it pass as an answer. After all, you eat someone’s food, you shut up. Guan Zai fell silent.

Chen Wei said: “Yu Tu, a student came asking about you recently—probably saw us playing basketball together.”

“You’ve been at school for years, practicing daily. Yet your skills haven’t improved one bit.”

Got it. Let’s pretend that never happened. Chen Wei shut up too.

But nothing could stop Zhai Liang’s curiosity: “Yu Tu, how did you even meet Qiao Jingjing?”

“It’s like a dream.”

Beside him, Jingjing nodded politely. “We’re high school classmates.”

“High school classmates… so that means…”

“Oh… so you two… have been in touch all along?”

“No, not for years. We only ran into each other recently.”