Chapter 21: The Astonishingly Brilliant Genius

At dawn, Zhou Chen eagerly called Gu Zhaoyue.

“Zhaoyue, are you up yet?”

On the other end, Gu Zhaoyue was heavy with morning grumpiness, tinged with a hint of resentment.

“You called me, and now you ask if I’m awake?”

Zhou Chen chuckled softly. “As a teacher, one should lead by example—early to bed and early to rise.”

Gu Zhaoyue replied with a hint of sorrow, “I’m not a teacher today; it’s summer break now. Call me sister.”

“Zhaoyue, get up quickly, breakfast is ready,” Zhou Chen urged.

Gu Zhaoyue muffled herself under the blanket. “Be good, little brother Chen. Let sister sleep a little longer.”

Zhou Chen smiled mischievously. “If you don’t come to pick me up soon, I’ll have breakfast at your place!”

Gu Zhaoyue was unfazed; she had never brought Zhou Chen to her home before.

“Only if you can find it.”

Naturally, Zhou Chen could—after all, he had once sent a soul-devouring bug to follow Gu Zhaoyue for an entire day.

Gu Zhaoyue briefly dozed but soon got up, unable to fall back asleep.

As she washed up, she suddenly heard Zhou Chen’s voice from downstairs.

“Zhaoyue, I’m here to mooch breakfast.”

Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Gu Zhaoyue widened her beautiful eyes, disregarded her messy hair, and hurried to the balcony to look down.

Today, Zhou Chen wore a brand-new casual outfit, full of vitality and youthful energy.

Gu Zhaoyue’s home was a two-story house. On the first floor, Lu Xiuying, preparing breakfast, heard Zhou Chen’s voice and stepped out wearing an apron.

“Who are you?”

Looking at the young man, Lu Xiuying was curious.

Zhou Chen introduced himself: “Hello, Auntie, I’m Zhou Chen, Zhaoyue’s student and friend.”

Lu Xiuying didn’t disdain Zhou Chen’s modest casual clothes.

Gu Zhaoyue’s family was from a literary lineage, all esteemed intellectuals.

Her parents were professors at Baoqing University.

Thus, Lu Xiuying did not judge by appearance and warmly invited Zhou Chen to join breakfast.

Zhou Chen naturally did not refuse.

Entering the living room, Zhou Chen caught the aroma of delicious food.

The scent was subtle but enough to tease the appetite.

Gu Zhaoyue wondered how Zhou Chen had found her address.

But since he was here, she had no choice but to entertain him.

Gu Pingrun, Gu Zhaoyue’s father, emerged from the restroom and nodded at Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen, comfortable and unreserved, eagerly devoured the fragrant breakfast.

Today’s breakfast was soybean milk, meat patties, and boiled eggs.

The highlight was the meat patties, bursting with aroma.

The outside was soft yet chewy, while the filling had tender meat with some fat and fragrant scallions.

One bite was pure satisfaction—a true delicacy.

Zhou Chen hadn’t expected Gu Zhaoyue’s mother’s cooking to be so exquisite. If he married Gu Zhaoyue someday, he’d have a legitimate reason to mooch meals.

He was thinking a bit far ahead—marriage before even being together.

At the table, Gu Pingrun chatted intermittently with Zhou Chen.

There was a generational gap, so after a few words, Gu Pingrun picked up his newspaper.

“This perfect score essay in the college entrance exam is truly remarkable. Written by this year’s national top scorer, to compose something so excellent on the spot—it’s astonishing talent!” Gu Pingrun sighed.

He then said to Zhou Chen, “Chen, you must be a high school student, right? You should learn from this top scorer, treat him as a role model, and strive to excel in next year’s exam.”

Zhou Chen cleared his throat, secretly pleased but outwardly calm.

“Uncle, I am this year’s exam taker—I’ve already finished the test.”

“Oh?” Gu Pingrun raised an eyebrow, “How did it go? Did you pass our province’s first-tier university cutoff?”

Gu Zhaoyue laughed heartily beside them.

She wondered how her normally composed father would react if he knew the unremarkable young man before him was the national top scorer from their very city and high school.

“I did,” Zhou Chen nodded.

Gu Pingrun nodded approvingly. “Good. Which university did you apply to?”

Zhou Chen took a sip of soybean milk. “Capital City University.”

Hearing this, Gu Pingrun put down his newspaper.

“Capital City University is the top institution in our realm. Even if you pass the cutoff, they don’t always accept you.”

Zhou Chen scratched his head. “With 750 points, they should accept me, right?”

Gu Pingrun nodded. “750 points is definitely enough. Seventy-five… Wait! How many points exactly?!”

Gu Pingrun’s eyes widened.

“Ha ha ha!” Gu Zhaoyue burst into laughter.

“750 points? Just before you came, Capital City University’s admissions office called me.”

Gu Pingrun suddenly recalled that the national top scorer this year was from Baoqing City in Xiangnan Province—the very city of his daughter’s school!

“So the astonishing genius is you!”

Gu Pingrun’s breath grew heavier.

As heir to a literary family, he neither chased fame nor money, but facing this living national top scorer, he was overwhelmed with excitement.

“Wife, why are you still sitting there? Go fry some more meat patties for our top scorer!”

Gu Pingrun shifted from his earlier calm demeanor into a passionate smile.

This was the national top scorer—only one emerges each year!

If he went into business, he would become a hidden power in commerce.

If into politics, he would wield immense authority.

If in education, he would become a reformer.

For such a supreme genius, Gu Pingrun showed triple enthusiasm.

Zhou Chen found Gu Zhaoyue’s parents’ warmth overwhelming, as if they’d become entirely different people—almost asking for autographs.

He quickly left Gu’s house with Gu Zhaoyue.

“Today, I promised Chen to treat him and spend the day together; I might be back late,” Gu Zhaoyue told Lu Xiuying.

“No problem, take your time,” Lu Xiuying smiled.

Gu Pingrun handed over a bank card. “The password is your mother’s birthday—spend freely.”

“Uh…”

On the electric scooter, Zhou Chen drove while reflecting, “Your parents are really enthusiastic.”

Gu Zhaoyue sat behind him. “Do you think it’s because of you that they’re so warm?”

Zhou Chen feigned surprise. “No way, it’s just a perfect exam score.”

Gu Zhaoyue rolled her eyes. “You don’t realize how much the title of national top scorer means to them.”

“Enough about them. Where do you want to go first?”

Zhou Chen opened the couple’s date guide he had saved.

“Let’s go to the amusement park first!”

...

A joyful day always passes swiftly.

Zhou Chen silently deleted the last item on the couple’s date guide—booking a hotel room.

After a day of fun, the two strolled through the park.

Though close in proximity, a thin veil still separated them.

Zhou Chen yearned to confess, but he knew it was not yet the time.

Confessing now would likely lead to a polite refusal.

Though their relationship had warmed, it was far from the level of lovers.

Gu Zhaoyue would probably cite their teacher-student bond, age difference, or impending separation as excuses.

Indeed, she had already prepared gentle refusals in her heart.

Yet, as they neared parting, Gu Zhaoyue felt a hint of disappointment that Zhou Chen never confessed.

Just as Zhou Chen hailed a taxi to go home, Gu Zhaoyue couldn’t help but ask, “Are you the mastermind behind the mental illness cases?”

Zhou Chen gave no answer, only a faint smile.

...

P.S.: Next, the protagonist will truly embark on cultivation and master miraculous medical arts!

The Soul-Devouring Bug and Life-Devouring Bug will be unsealed—stay tuned!