Hello, Mr. Major General

Huo Shaoheng looked at her for awhile and smiled faintly. “Just like before.”

“Before? Like when I lived in Fengya Precinct?” Gu Nianzhi suppressed her excitement and tried to respond calmly.

“Yes.” Huo Shaoheng was monosyllabic as always. “Go on up now.” He glanced at his watch. “I still have a meeting.”

Gu Nianzhi nodded with a smile. “You go to work then.”

Yin Shixiong walked out of the building and passed the key to the dorm to Gu Nianzhi. “All your things are in your room, but I haven’t unpacked yet.”

“I can unpack it myself.” Gu Nianzhi waved the key at him. “Thank you, Brother Xiong!”

“You’re welcome, be good in school and be the top of the class again!” Yin Shixiong nodded with satisfaction and reached out to pat Gu Nianzhi’s head.

“I’ll be the top of the class for sure!” Gu Nianzhi boasted. Studying was the one thing she was most confident in.

“Don’t be cocky now. What if you can’t be the top?” Because Fan Jian was still upstairs, Yin Shixong leaned against the door and joked around with Gu Nianzhi. His tall and handsome figure and the finely formed face were drawing a lot of attention as he teased Gu Nianzhi.The female graduate dorm was teeming with girls who all looked at him.

Gu Nianzhi shoved him away. “Brother Xiong, you should leave now and stop attracting attention.”

“I’m attracting attention?” Yin Shixiong pointed at himself, confused. “How?”

“A few girls were checking you out just now; how can you ask that?” Gu Nianzhi adjusted her bucket bag and zipped up her down jacket. She was cold from standing outside, even though it hadn’t been so long.

Huo Shaoheng saw her shiver from and said to Yin Shixiong, “Big Xiong, get in the car.” He raised his chin at Gu Nianzhi, indicating for her to leave. “Go up now and stay out of the cold.”

Gu Nianzhi smiled warmly at him. “I’m not cold.”

Fan Jian finally came out of the dorm and said to Gu Nianzhi, “I’ve checked your entire dorm room: the lights, thermostat, and bathroom appliances are all in working order. The bed was a bit squeaky but that’s normal for a wooden one. I’ve already fixed it for you though.”

Gu Nianzhi was very grateful. “Brother Fan, thank you so much. I’ll treat you to dinner next time.”

“Haha, why are you being so polite? You should go now; there’s a lot of stuff for you to do, so you’d better start unpacking.” Fan Jian waved goodbye at her and got inside the driver’s side.

Yin Shixiong opened the door to get in but turned back to remind her, “I already sent your schedule today to your phone, so be sure to check it, ok? I attached the campus map too; this is a huge place and the buildings are far apart. Don’t get lost.”

Gu Nianzhi snorted. “I have a great memory; you’re the one who tends to get lost.”

Huo Shaoheng knocked on the window and gave Yin Shixiong a look. He quickly got into the car and said to Gu Nianzhi, “Go now! We’ll have to leave as well.”

“Yeah, bye everyone!” Gu Nianzhi stood at the entrance to the dorm and waved until the SUV disappeared from sight then reluctantly walked back inside. Her room was on the 6th floor; she had thought at first that it would be a bit too difficult to get to everyday, but there was actually an elevator inside. She happily pressed the button and got in. Just as the doors were about to shut, several girls shouted, “Wait for us!” and rushed in. Gu Nianzhi held the doors open.

“Thank you.” The girl in the very front looked mature. She wore a lavender belted camel coat and a matching hat: a sophisticated color combination. She wore her long hair down and her exquisite eyes made her face very becoming.

Gu Nianzhi immediately took a liking to the girl’s overall manner and smiled at her. “You’re welcome! It was nothing.”

The second girl was very quiet and stood in the corner of the elevator with her head down. She only gave Gu Nianzhi a cursory glance when she pressed the button for her and said, “6th floor, please.”

Gu Nianzhi smiled. “Great, I’m going to the 6th floor too.”

The first girl replied, “What a coincidence, I’m going there too.” She surveyed Gu Nianzhi with a small smile. “Are you here to visit a friend? Who is it? I know everyone who lives on the 6th floor.”

Gu Nianzhi shook her head, “I’m not here to visit.”

“Not here to visit?” The girl looked at Gu Nianzhi from head to toe again and this time noticed that she was exceptionally beautiful but dressed quite plainly. She wore a white knee length down jacket and her cheeks were flushed from the cold outdoors. “Then, are you here to sell something, or to preach?” The girl grew more serious.”We have a rule that states sales people aren’t allowed in the dorms. Missionaries are also denied entry.”

Gu Nianzhi looked at her own outfit—would a salesperson or preacher wear a 2000 USD Canada Goose down jacket? Or a 20000 USD Hermes bucket bag? She could only shake her head.

“Neither?” The girl grew even more perplexed. “Then what are you here for?”

Gu Nianzhi didn’t reply; the elevator had arrived to the 6th floor. She walked out and then said, “I live here. I’m not here to visit, sell things, or preach.”

“You live here? Which room? Why haven’t I seen you before?” The girl regarded Gu Nianzhi dubiously. “You’re so pretty. There’s no way I would’ve forgotten meeting you.” The girl knew that with Gu Nianzhi’s looks, she was not only the most beautiful person on the 6th floor, within the B University graduate students, or the entire B University—she might even be in the top three for all of the Huaxia Empire.

Gu Nianzhi smiled. “Thank you for your compliment. I live in Room 608; let’s have dinner when we have the chance.” Nodding at the girl, Gu Nianzhi walked down the hallway.

“Room 608? Hey, Little Miao, isn’t that your room? That’s lovely! Your roommate is finally here.” The silent girl, was called Miao Yunxiao and the chatty one was Ma Qiqi. They were friends. Ma Qiqi tapped Miao Yunxiao, “She looks ok. You can be reassured now.”

Miao Yunxiao finally whispered, “Qiqi, did you see that car just now? It’s a military plate. My uncle’s family uses that kind of plate.”

“Your uncle’s family? They’re in the military?” Ma Qiqi asked with interest.

“Yes, my uncle is in the upper ranks. He’s the deputy chief of staff in a certain brigade.” Miao Yunxiao spoke a bit more. “I also know the codes for the units, but those are classified and I can’t tell anyone else.”

“Does he have a high rank? I don’t get it.” Ma Qiqi didn’t seem interested at all suddenly and only shook her head as she walked up to her own room. Opening the door, she said to Miao Yunxiao, “Well, I’ll be going now. See you tomorrow!”

Miao Yunxiao nodded before heading to Room 608. It was a new and comforting thing, to see the door to her room ajar, after having been alone for so long.