Which Tsinghua and Peking Universities?

Actually, Su Mu originally wanted to bring his aunt to the city where Tsinghua and Peking Universities are located, but his aunt firmly refused.

"I won't know anyone over there, and I'll be stuck indoors all day. I won't be used to it," my aunt said. "At least here I know a few people, and there's a small park downstairs where I can go for walks."

Su Mu thought about it and agreed. His aunt had gone there, and neither he nor his cousin had time to keep her company; she would definitely be very lonely. Here, at least she had neighbors and a familiar environment.

Su Mu is always quick to act.

That evening, he helped his aunt move her things over.

Actually, there wasn't much to move. My aunt's belongings over the years amounted to just two boxes.

Su Mu didn't allow any of the old furniture or appliances to be taken; they were all left in the old house. The new villa was fully furnished, ready for immediate move-in.

My aunt stood in the living room of her new home, staring blankly at the small courtyard outside the floor-to-ceiling windows for a long while.

Then she turned her head, looked at Su Mu, and her eyes reddened again.

"Your sister would be overjoyed if she knew."

Su Mu smiled and said, "I sent her a message, otherwise, if my cousin came back and found that she had returned from studying and her home was no longer there."

My aunt smiled, then wiped her eyes, and started nagging again, "Alright, alright, hurry up and pack your things. What do you need to bring to Tsinghua and Peking Universities? Do you have enough clothes? It's cold there in winter, do you need to buy a thick coat...?"

Su Mu listened to his aunt's rambling, a smile playing on his lips, without interrupting her.

Night.

Su Mu sat in the bedroom of his new home, with quiet streetlights and green belts of the villa area visible through the window.

His phone vibrated, and when he looked down, he saw it was a call from Li Ming.

He answered the call.

"Brother Mu!" Li Ming's voice boomed from the receiver, still that same booming voice, "How did your college entrance exam go? I've been training like crazy these past two days, my phone was confiscated, I only got it back today. Did you do well?"

Su Mu leaned against the headboard, thought for a moment, and said in a flat tone, "It's alright."

"So-so?" Li Ming's voice carried a clear hint of worry. "It's alright, Brother Mu, don't be discouraged. Core cards still account for a large proportion of the college entrance exam. Your... that stone card was indeed a disadvantage. But it's okay, I'll take you under my wing from now on. I'm already level 15 in the military academy, once I set up the Biochemical Mothership system, taking you through dungeons will be no problem at all."

Su Mu's lips curled into a slight smile, "Alright, I'll follow you from now on."

"Absolutely!" Li Ming chuckled, then asked, "By the way Brother Mu, have you decided which school you want to apply to?"

"It's decided," Su Mu said.

Which one?

Tsinghua and Peking Universities.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

"Tsinghua and Peking Universities?" Li Ming repeated, a hint of confusion in his voice. "Tsinghua and Peking Universities? Which Tsinghua and Peking Universities?"

"That Tsinghua and Peking Universities in the capital."

There was silence on the other end of the phone. Su Mu could hear Li Ming's breathing, each breath heavier than the last. Several seconds passed before Li Ming finally spoke, his voice sounding like it was being squeezed out between his teeth.

"Brother Mu, are you talking about... Tsinghua and Peking Universities? Tsinghua and Peking Universities?"

"Um."

Silence.

A long silence.

Su Mu even thought the call had dropped, but when he glanced at the screen, it was still connected. Then Li Ming's voice suddenly boomed out.

"Holy crap! Brother Mu, you Shangqing or Peking University?! Tsinghua and Peking Universities?! That Tsinghua and Peking Universities that only admits a few hundred people nationwide?!"

"Um."

"Didn't you fucking say your test score was just average?!"

"It's pretty average," Su Mu said. "He just got first place in the province."

There was a sound like something fell to the ground on the other end of the phone, followed by a rustling noise, as if Li Ming had rolled off the bed.

"Number one in the province..." Li Ming's voice trembled, "Brother Mu, you're number one in the province?"

"Um."

Another silence fell. Then Li Ming let out a long breath, his voice carrying an indescribable complexity.

"Fine. I give up. I'm completely convinced. How did you manage to get that stone card?"

Su Mu smiled and said, "We'll talk about it when we meet again."

"Okay, okay," Li Ming replied quickly, then suddenly remembered something, "Oh right, you just said 'so-so,' and I really thought you failed the exam. I was almost scared to death. Can you not talk so dramatically?"

"You didn't ask."

Li Ming gritted his teeth on the other end of the phone, but even through the phone, Su Mu could imagine his angry yet amused face.

"Alright, alright," Su Mu said. "You're replying so late. I sent you a message yesterday and you didn't reply either. Are you that busy with training?"

"I've been busy with training these past few days," Li Ming said, a hint of fatigue in his voice. "I can't go into specifics. I can only tell you that the time difference is..."

Su Mu frowned slightly.

The time difference is incorrect.

Could he be abroad? But then I thought about it and realized it couldn't be. Li Ming is a military academy student; he couldn't possibly be abroad.

There's only one possibility... some kind of special secret realm. This already involves military intelligence, so Su Mu naturally wouldn't ask any further questions.

"Then be careful," Su Mu said.

"It's perfectly safe." Li Ming said casually. "Alright, I'm not talking to you anymore, I have to get up early tomorrow. I'll come visit you at Tsinghua and Peking Universities when I have time off here."

"Good."

After hanging up the phone, Su Mu glanced at the time; it was almost eleven o'clock.

He was about to rest when he thought for a moment and then sent another message to Ye Qingxue.

"I've decided to go to Tsinghua and Peking Universities."

The message was sent, and the other party replied shortly afterward.

"Okay. I'll apply to Tsinghua and Peking Universities too."

After a pause, she sent another message: "What conditions did Tsinghua and Peking Universities offer you?"

Su Mu didn't hide anything and sent over the messages Shen Ruolan had mentioned.

There was a long silence on the other end.

Then Ye Qingxue replied, "I only received the A-level treaty."

Su Mu looked at the message and didn't know how to reply for a moment.

Comfort?

It seems unnecessary. Ye Qingxue isn't the type of person who needs comforting.

But not replying would be a bit awkward.

Just as he was struggling with this, another message from Ye Qingxue popped up.

"But you deserve it. And don't think you have more resources than me. My family gives me far more resources than you do."

Su Mu stared at the words for a moment, then smiled.

He recalled how Ye Qingxue had casually pulled out millions of cooling items and tens of millions of cards, and how she had spent over a dozen soul skill books without batting an eye. Well, he realized he had been deluding himself.

He replied with an "Mm," and then Ye Qingxue fell silent.

Su Mu put down his phone and closed his eyes to rest.

Midnight.

He opened his eyes right on time.

But he didn't sleep well that night, his mind preoccupied with the new cards.

When the time was up, he meditated for one minute, replenishing his Soul Power to 210 points.