You don't recognize me?

For deserters, any nation will implement exceptionally harsh punitive measures.

Although the volunteers on the Earth Era were not soldiers, they had consumed a massive amount of public resources during their training. Those who signed up with great enthusiasm only to suddenly back out before departure would inevitably face punishment.

Wang Lili added, "But with that ten million, plus the inheritance your father left behind, you could live a completely carefree life on Earth. Credit scores and such aren't that big of a deal, and any faults you have shouldn't be forced upon your descendants..."

Zhang Yuan said indifferently, "It would affect my descendants, how could it not? With a father like me, my son or daughter would basically never pass a background check. It's not just my generation that would be affected."

"Besides, I already donated the inheritance, leaving myself no room to back out. I never consider the things you're talking about, so I don't worry about them either."

Feeling mentally outclassed, Wang Lili felt very discouraged and pouted, "You strange astronauts really think differently from us... acting all high and mighty!"

"It's not actually being high and mighty, it's just being a fool!" Xu Yunjing stood to the side, laughing and fully agreeing with Wang Lili's assessment.

"Right, just a fool!"

"How am I a fool?"

"The kind of fool that's just plain stupid."

Unable to win the argument, Zhang Yuan suddenly wanted to tease these two seniors who kept stirring up trouble: "I have a few questions for you. If our answers are the same, it means our IQs are about the same."

Wang Lili smiled, bracing herself in advance: "What kind of questions? If they're too weird, I might not be able to answer. Even if I'm smart, I can't answer every single question."

"They're very simple, even a three-year-old would know the answers, but you have to answer within one second!"

"Fine, go ahead and ask."

Zhang Yuan held up one finger and asked, "Is there a number greater than 1?"

"Yes." Both girls said in unison, their eyes filled with suspicion. What kind of moronic question is this?

He held up two fingers, "Is there a number greater than 2?"

"Yes!"

Zhang Yuan sped up his pace, "Is there a number smaller than 3?"

Smaller than 3?

The suspicion in Wang Lili's eyes deepened, and she said again, "Of course there is!"

"Is there anyone stupider than you?"

"No! Haha, I knew you'd suddenly pull a trick, I'm a master of brain teasers..."

After a few seconds of silence, Xu Yunjing, standing to the side, suddenly burst into laughter, shaking so hard she nearly choked.

Wang Lili looked at her suspiciously, seemingly still trying to figure out what that brain teaser was all about.

"You said it yourself, there's no one stupider than you..." Zhang Yuan looked up at the sky, feigning the air of an enlightened master: "There is indeed a gap between us, a gap in IQ!"

Wang Lili had a sudden realization, finally understanding the trap Zhang Yuan had laid.

She said in a fit of shame and anger, "How dare you bully your senior! You've become bad!"

She stomped her foot: "I'm leaving, I'm going to return these clothes..."

"If you've got the guts, stay right there and don't move! I'm going to call my boyfriend to beat you up!"

Wang Lili and Xu Yunjing ran off while bickering.

After saying goodbye to the two silly seniors, Zhang Yuan walked alone across campus.

Girls often ran over, wanting to exchange social media information with him.

Girls these days were very enthusiastic and open; getting to know a "celebrity" was a good thing, and who knew what kind of story might happen later?

"Mr. Zhang Yuan, could I have an autograph?"

"Could we take a photo together?"

"Let's go grab a meal!"

Having no choice, Zhang Yuan quickly ducked into a side path.

"Damn it, do they really think I'm going to become a celebrity? Impossible. I wouldn't become a celebrity even if I died!"

This kind of thing annoyed Zhang Yuan to no end. He didn't really use those social apps, nor did he care about celebrity gossip; he just wanted to be himself.

He'd rather go home and study than spend time scrolling through Weibo.

Yes, go back and study.

"Work hard, keep going, fighting!"

Grind out one paper, then grind out a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth!

"Zhang Yuan, Zhang Yuan!"

Just then, a shout came from behind him, "Wait for me! Wait!"

Zhang Yuan turned his head and saw a girl in a white short-sleeved shirt chasing after him.

He couldn't help but ask in confusion: "Who are you?"

The girl brushed back her messy bangs, sweating profusely because there was no air conditioning outside the venue: "You don't recognize me? Really? Think hard, try your best to think."

Zhang Yuan felt very awkward. The girl in front of him was beautiful, fair-skinned and delicate, and seemed to be an acquaintance, yet he didn't recognize her at all.

Who could this be?

He racked his brain, but while her features and appearance seemed vaguely familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere before, he couldn't recall anything at all.

Who is it? Who? That feeling of having the name on the tip of his tongue made him very uncomfortable.

Instead, he recalled a technical term called the "TOT phenomenon."

That's right, a vivid "TOT," meaning a failure of memory retrieval in the brain.

Seeing his puzzled expression, the girl said softly: "Mr. Zhang is truly a busy man. Could it be that you've even forgotten your first love?"

First love?

How could that be possible?

Did she get plastic surgery?

Zhang Yuan suddenly seemed to remember something and gestured with his hands: "Ah, you're Han Jing's younger sister?"

Han Ziyue blinked: "You only just remembered me? I'm so annoyed!"

She was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt, her dark, loose hair falling naturally over her shoulders. Beneath her denim shorts, her legs were fair and shapely. For a girl with such a good figure, it was certainly an eye-catching combination.

Zhang Yuan recalled that dark, skinny middle school student from back then; she had grown up to be so radiant. Truly, girls change with every passing year, becoming more beautiful as they grow.

"To think I'd meet you at this school, it really is fate!" Zhang Yuan chuckled.

"I only saw you at the awards ceremony, too. I got into Xisha University, isn't that great!"

"Yeah, that's great... staying here to study during summer break? So diligent?"

Han Ziyue smiled and said: "Not at all! I'm just clinging to the coattails of a top student. If I can win some awards, it'll be even better, making it smoother to get into graduate school later."

The two walked side by side, found a random restaurant, and ordered a few small dishes.

"Are you going to treat me to a meal? Let me order, let me order. I like the Dongdong Grass here. Don't worry, I have a small appetite, I won't eat much of your food..."

Zhang Yuan asked casually: "How is your sister doing now? Is she married?"

Han Ziyue looked up, eyeing him with a very ambiguous expression: "Huh? Do you want to rekindle an old flame? You old folks love doing these boring things. If it were me, I definitely wouldn't think about grazing on old grass."

Zhang Yuan shook his head quickly: "That's not it. It's been so many years, the past is the past. I was just asking casually..."

Han Ziyue smiled and said: "Alright, I'll tell you then. My sister already has a boyfriend. Both sides have already met the parents, though they haven't registered the marriage yet."

"If you want, I can help set you two up. I don't really like that future brother-in-law anyway... he looks quite sleazy and isn't as handsome as you."

"As for you, to think you're Professor Zhang's son, we never knew back then... Professor Zhang, my idol!"