You Don't Know Me?

Every country imposed exceptionally harsh penalties for desertion.

Though the volunteers aboard the Earth Era weren't soldiers, a great deal of public resources had gone into training them. If they'd signed up enthusiastically at first, then suddenly backed out just before departure, they were bound to be punished.

Wang Lili continued, "But with that ten million, plus the inheritance your father left you, you could live very comfortably on Earth. And your credit record and all that wouldn't matter much. Whatever you did wrong, they couldn't possibly hold it against your descendants..."

Zhang Yuan said calmly, "It would affect my descendants too. How could it not? With me as their father, my son and daughter would have almost no chance of passing the political background check. It wouldn't just affect my generation."

"Besides, I already donated the inheritance. I left myself no way to change my mind. I never consider the things you mentioned, so they don't bother me."

Feeling as if she'd been outclassed on a spiritual level, Wang Lili was thoroughly discouraged. She pursed her lips. "You weird astronauts really do think differently from the rest of us... You act like you're so noble!"

"It's not that he's noble. It's just a stupid thing to do!" Xu Yunjing stood nearby, laughing and wholeheartedly agreeing with Wang Lili.

"Right, just stupid!"

"What part of it is stupid?"

"The kind of stupid that's really, really stupid."

Unable to argue his way out, Zhang Yuan suddenly felt like teasing these two senior students who were always stirring up trouble. "I've got a few questions for you. If we give the same answers, it means our intelligence levels are about the same."

Wang Lili smiled and tried to brace 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 question."

"They're easy. Even three-year-olds know the answers, but you have to respond within a second!"

"Fine, go ahead."

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

"Yes." The two girls answered in unison, their eyes full of suspicion. What kind of idiotic question was that?

He held up two fingers. "Is there a number bigger than two?"

"Yes!"

Zhang Yuan quickened his pace. "Is there a number smaller than three?"

Smaller than three?

Wang Lili looked even more suspicious, but answered again. "Of course there is!"

"Is there anyone stupider than you?"

"No! Haha, I knew you'd try to trick me out of nowhere. I'm good at these brain teas—"

After a few seconds of silence, Xu Yunjing, standing nearby, suddenly burst into laughter, nearly laughing herself breathless.

Wang Lili looked at her suspiciously, apparently still trying to figure out the riddle.

"You said it yourself. There's no one stupider than you..." Zhang Yuan looked up at the sky, pretending to be some worldly sage. "There really is a gap between us—a gap in intelligence!"

Wang Lili finally understood the trap Zhang Yuan had laid for her.

She flushed with anger. "You actually dare to bully your senior! You've turned bad!"

She stamped her foot. "I'm leaving. I'm going to return these clothes..."

"Just you wait! Stay right there. I'm going to get my boyfriend to come beat you up!"

Wang Lili and Xu Yunjing ran off, still teasing each other.

After saying goodbye to his adorably clueless senior students, Zhang Yuan walked through campus alone.

Girls often ran up to him, hoping to exchange social media accounts.

Girls these days were friendly and outgoing. It was nice to know another "celebrity"; who knew what might happen between them in the future?

"Mr. Zhang Yuan, could I get your autograph?"

"Could I take a picture with you?"

"Let's get something to eat!"

With no other choice, Zhang Yuan hurriedly ducked into a side street.

"Damn it, do they really think I'm going to become a celebrity? No way. I'd rather die than become a celebrity!"

All this attention was getting on Zhang Yuan's nerves. He didn't use social media much and never paid attention to celebrity gossip. He just wanted to be himself.

With the time it took to scroll Weibo, he could be home studying.

Right, back to studying.

"Work hard! Keep it up! Fighting!"

Once he'd poured his effort into one paper, he could pour it into a second, a third, a fourth, and a fifth!

"Zhang Yuan! Zhang Yuan!"

Just then, someone called out behind him. "Wait for me! Hold on!"

Zhang Yuan turned around and saw a young woman in a white T-shirt hurrying after him.

He couldn't help asking, "Who are you?"

The girl brushed her messy bangs aside. With no air conditioning outside the venue, she was sweating heavily. "You don't know me? You really don't recognize me? Come on, think harder!"

Zhang Yuan felt awkward. The girl in front of him was very pretty, with fair, delicate skin. She seemed to be someone he knew, but he couldn't place her.

Who was she?

He racked his brain. Her features and face seemed vaguely familiar, as if he'd seen her somewhere before, but he couldn't remember where.

"Who? Who?" The feeling of having something on the tip of his tongue was driving him crazy.

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

Exactly—the vivid "TOT," which meant that the brain had failed to retrieve a memory.

Seeing his confused expression, the girl said mournfully, "Mr. Zhang really is a busy man. Have you even forgotten your first love?"

First love?

How could that be?

Had she gotten plastic surgery?

Zhang Yuan suddenly seemed to remember something. He gestured with both hands. "Ah, you're Han Jing's younger sister?"

Han Ziyue blinked. "You finally remember me. I'm so mad!"

She wore a white T-shirt, her dark hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders. Beneath her denim shorts, her legs were fair and shapely. On a girl with a nice figure, it was certainly an eye-catching combination.

Zhang Yuan remembered the skinny, dark-complexioned middle schooler she'd been back then. Now she'd grown into such a lovely young woman. They really were right when they said girls changed dramatically as they grew up—prettier with every change.

"I can't believe I ran into you at this school. What a coincidence!" Zhang Yuan laughed.

"I only saw you at the awards ceremony, too. I got into Xisha University. Pretty great, huh?"

"Yeah, really great... You're still here studying during summer vacation? So hardworking?"

Han Ziyue smiled. "Not really! I'm just riding the coattails of top students. It'd be even better if I could win a few awards. That would make it easier to get into graduate school later."

They walked side by side, found a restaurant, and ordered a few dishes.

"Are you treating me to a meal? I'll order, I'll order! I love the Dongdong Grass here. Don't worry, I have a small appetite. I won't eat much..."

Zhang Yuan casually asked, "How's your sister doing? Is she married?"

Han Ziyue looked up at him suggestively. "Huh? Are you hoping to rekindle an old flame? You older folks love doing this kind of boring stuff. If it were me, I wouldn't go back to an old flame."

Zhang Yuan hurriedly shook his head. "That's not it. It's been so many years. What's past is past. I was just asking..."

Han Ziyue smiled. "All right, I'll tell you. My sister has a boyfriend now. They've already met each other's parents, but they haven't registered their marriage yet."

"If you want, I can help set you two up. I'm not too fond of my future brother-in-law anyway... He seems kind of sleazy, and he's not as handsome as you."

"Speaking of you, I can't believe you're Professor Zhang's son. We had no idea before... Professor Zhang, my idol!"