Was it like the novels?

A week had passed since the start of term, and classes officially began that Monday.

Freshmen had more classes than students in the other years. Apart from Thursday and Friday afternoons, they had classes from morning to evening on the other three days.

Major-specific exams began in the second year. At Jinghong, only six majors required students to meet a score threshold to enter: finance, law, financial management, business administration, international business, and investment studies.

What these five majors taught were skills every child of an elite family had to learn.

Gu Zhiyue had asked Zhao Wanling what Gu Shuoyan was majoring in. Zhao Wanling said he studied financial management and would go straight to work at their own company after graduation, which would also take a little of the burden off Gu Jiangfeng.

Luo Yunhe propped his chin on one hand and lowered his head to yawn. "I'm really not used to suddenly getting up early again. I was still out of it when I got up this morning."

Gu Zhiyue agreed. "I'm doing all right. I got up even earlier than this for three years in high school, after all."

"I completed my high school studies at home. University is my first experience of campus life."

"Then you've got plenty to experience from now on. You might even have a whirlwind campus romance."

"I hear that a lot from people I know who are already at university."

The teacher at the front spoke up. "All right, everyone, our ten-minute break is over. Let's finish covering the second half."

The two of them ended their conversation without being prompted and listened attentively.

The teacher said there would be no homework for the first part of this course; everyone just needed to keep reviewing the key points. Once class was over, the teacher left the classroom with the textbook, and the room began to grow lively.

A few naturally outgoing students had already started chatting with the classmates sitting in front of and behind them.

Gu Zhiyue remarked, "It's so lively."

Luo Yunhe nodded. "Yeah."

"Huh? People are already dating on the first day of classes?" Gu Zhiyue looked in some surprise at the young man and woman sitting close together up ahead, holding hands as they chatted.

The student in front turned around. "Those two are childhood sweethearts. They've known each other since they were little. As far as we know, they've been together for over a year."

Luo Yunhe smiled. "Wow~ A childhood-sweetheart romance."

The student in front continued, "There are two other couples in our class, too. One of them is even two guys."

"How do you know so much?"

"From chatting with the other classmates, of course. I happened to talk to that couple. It's been a week since term started, and we haven't had proper classes, so naturally we should get to know our classmates more."

Gu Zhiyue gave him a thumbs-up. "Impressive. All I've remembered this week is which cafeteria counters have good food."

Luo Yunhe said, "I could walk to the medical building with my eyes closed now. Even the security guard downstairs knows me. Does that count?"

Gu Zhiyue patted Luo Yunhe's shoulder with the back of his hand. "Every extra person you know opens another door. That connection will come in handy sooner or later."

The student in front took out his phone. "Oh, right. Do you want to join the campus confession wall? It's really lively in there."

"Lively? Count me in!" Gu Zhiyue took out his phone to scan the code, and Luo Yunhe followed right after him.

The two of them opened the confession wall. The most popular comment below was a complaint about someone taking their food delivery.

Luo Yunhe clicked his tongue. "Takeout isn't even expensive. Why not order your own? If you take someone else's, what are they supposed to eat?"

The student in front said, "Maybe they're used to helping themselves. Other people's takeout must taste better."

Gu Zhiyue asked, "We've been talking for so long, and we still don't know your name."

"My surname is Xie, and my given name is Zhen-the character with the clothing radical on the left and 'true' on the right. It means receiving blessings through sincerity. What about you?"

"Luo Yunhe. Integrity and fairness, peace and a smooth life. My dad just wants me to be safe and well."

"Gu Zhiyue. My mom said she chose that name hoping I'd understand right and wrong and have a calm, clear mind."

Xie Zhen looked astonished, then asked, "Are you the youngest son the Gu Family just found?"

"How did you know?"

"I didn't think it really was you! I thought you just had the same name. The Gu Family announced your identity in all their circles a while ago. Although they didn't hold a reunion banquet, everyone knows they found their youngest son, who'd been missing for years. They just haven't released your photo. Maybe only the relatives and friends around your parents and family, and the people in their circles, know what you look like."

Gu Zhiyue smiled. "My mom originally wanted to hold a reunion banquet. She was even planning to have it last three days and nights, but I said no. I'm not really into occasions that get that lively, so they respected my suggestion and didn't hold one."

Xie Zhen asked curiously, "Then are you still in touch with your adoptive parents?"

"I just came back to my biological parents. It's not like I cut ties with my adoptive parents. Why wouldn't I be in touch?" Gu Zhiyue pursed his lips. "It's so strange. Every one of you asks that question."

Xie Zhen explained, "That's how it goes in TV dramas and novels. Once you return to your biological parents, staying in touch with your adoptive parents feels awkward. So I was curious whether it was like what the novels say."

Gu Zhiyue shook his head. "No, it's completely different. My two sets of parents have been friends for years. There's no question of it being awkward. Besides, that couple devoted themselves to raising your child for so many years. Whether out of sentiment or reason, you shouldn't stop them from staying in touch. Wouldn't that just be ungrateful?"

Luo Yunhe sighed helplessly. "If only my uncle and his wife understood that. My cousin wanted to contact his adoptive parents, and my uncle lectured him, telling him to hurry up and bring his heart back where it belonged."

Gu Zhiyue shook his head helplessly and patted Luo Yunhe's shoulder earnestly. "With your uncle acting like that, forget getting your cousin to fit into the family. They'll be lucky if he doesn't grow more and more distant from them."

Luo Yunhe shrugged. "There's nothing I can do. It's not my place to interfere in someone else's family affairs. We may be relatives, but it's still their family business."

Xie Zhen clicked his tongue repeatedly. "That really is a difficult family situation."

Luo Yunhe waved a hand. "Forget it. If that's what my uncle chooses to do, let him. He's the controlling type. Since my cousin is his child, he has to follow his arrangements."

Gu Zhiyue asked Xiao Jiu, [What happens to this cousin of Luo Yunhe's in the future?]

Xiao Jiu searched for a few seconds, then replied, [He dies by suicide due to depression two years from now. That father of his only feels regret after seeing his child's suicide note and body.]

[Why does he have it so awful too? This father sure is something. He finds a perfectly fine child, then drives him to his death in just two years.]

Xiao Jiu continued, [The couple divorces six months later. The father donates all the assets in his name and enters a temple to become a monk.]

Gu Zhiyue curled his lip in disdain. [What good does turning prayer beads do? If he'd figured things out sooner and treated his child better, none of that later crap would have happened.]

Luo Yunhe asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Gu Zhiyue said calmly, "Nothing much. Just thinking about what to do this afternoon since we don't have class."

Xie Zhen fanned himself with his textbook. "It's so hot. Let's go to the shop and get ice cream after class."

The two nodded at the same time. "Sure." "No problem."