Chapter 143: That Love Letter

With Grandpa and Grandma away, breakfast had to be eaten out today. Zhang Mingyang took Bai Muqing to the breakfast stall at the entrance of their neighborhood.

“Boss, five yuan for a fried dough stick and a bowl of soy milk.”

“Got it!”

“By the way, what are you having?” Zhang Mingyang asked Bai Muqing.

“Same as you.”

“Boss, ten yuan for two fried dough sticks and two bowls of soy milk.”

“Alright!”

Zhang Mingyang found an empty table and sat down, while Bai Muqing smoothed her skirt and took the seat opposite him.

It was eight in the morning; most office workers had already finished their meals. Around them sat elderly neighbors and middle-aged men from nearby.

“Bai...,” Zhang Mingyang suddenly hesitated, unsure how to address her. “So, how long are you planning to stay at my place?”

“I told you, just call me Qingqing,” Bai Muqing said, wiping the table with a napkin. “I plan to go back to the base with you when the time comes.”

“Huh?”

“No...!” Zhang Mingyang glanced around before lowering his voice. “I’ve been wondering—did you come here willingly, or did the base send you?”

“Of course, I came voluntarily. I’ve set my mind on you, and you can’t escape.”

“Why?”

Zhang Mingyang was puzzled. “I remember when you first entered the base, you weren’t like this at all. How did you suddenly change so much?”

“It started when you gave me that love letter,” Bai Muqing blushed. “That was the first time I ever received one.”

“A love letter?” Zhang Mingyang thought for a moment. “When did I ever give you a love letter? I don’t remember.”

“Are you dumb? Think carefully, by the dormitory door, that night.”

“I really don’t remember,” Zhang Mingyang racked his brain but couldn’t recall ever giving her a love letter.

Seeing he still couldn’t remember, she prompted, “The day you came back from the power plant.”

“The power plant?”

“Oh!”

Zhang Mingyang slapped his thigh, suddenly recalling the day he visited the fusion reactor. As he was about to return to the base, a young man ran over and handed him a letter, saying it was for Bai Muqing.

“No! I think there’s been a misunderstanding. That letter was from a young man to you; I was just delivering it on her behalf.”

“Zhang Mingyang, do you know you’re terrible at lying?” Bai Muqing looked utterly unconvinced. “I know you’re still upset about last night. No worries, once you’ve calmed down, we can talk.”

Zhang Mingyang grew anxious when she didn’t believe him. “I swear it’s true! I’m not lying!”

Bai Muqing smiled at his earnestness. “Alright, alright, let’s eat first. This isn’t the place to discuss this.”

Just then, the owner approached carrying their breakfast. “Little Zhang, long time no see!”

“Oh! Yes!” Zhang Mingyang took the tray and set it on the table.

“Huh? Is this your girlfriend?” The owner looked at Bai Muqing in surprise. “You’ve got quite the skill to snag such a beautiful girl.”

“Thank you, boss,” Bai Muqing smiled warmly. “Boss, I’m Zhang Mingyang’s girlfriend, Bai Muqing. You can just call me Qingqing.”

Zhang Mingyang quickly explained, “Boss, you’ve got it wrong, she’s not—”

Before he could finish, Bai Muqing interrupted. “Boss, does Zhang Mingyang often eat here?”

“Yes! Little Zhang has been coming here for over ten years. He’s been having breakfast here since elementary school.”

Bai Muqing chatted with the owner, leaving Zhang Mingyang unable to get a word in.

...

“Thanks, boss. From now on, I’ll come here for breakfast with him too.”

“That’s great!” The owner patted Zhang Mingyang on the shoulder. “Little Zhang, you’re lucky to have such a good girlfriend! You better treat her well.”

Zhang Mingyang nodded stiffly.

“Dear, you keep eating; I have to get back to work.”

“Alright.”

The owner left, and Zhang Mingyang sat holding his now-cold soy milk.

“Why is the soy milk cold?” Bai Muqing tasted it and was about to ask the owner for a hot one.

“Wait!” Zhang Mingyang stopped her. “Didn’t I notice? Can you chat for so long with just anyone?”

Bai Muqing smiled. “Of course! Everyone around my neighborhood knows me.”

“Hmph!”

Zhang Mingyang snorted and drank the cold soy milk.

...

After breakfast, Zhang Mingyang prepared to return to school to check on a project in the lab.

“So, are you staying home or going out?” Zhang Mingyang asked Bai Muqing.

“You’re going out?”

Zhang Mingyang nodded with a smile. “I have a project at school I need to check on, so I won’t be able to accompany you.” With that, he headed toward the bus stop.

“Hey! I’m coming too,” Bai Muqing followed. “I want to see what the top-ranked school in the country looks like.”

Seeing her insist, Zhang Mingyang quickly tried to stop her. “You need a campus ID to get in. You won’t be able to enter.”

Bai Muqing ignored him, swinging his arm and pouting. “You must have a way. Just take me in!”

“Alright, alright! I’ll take you in.”

Unable to resist her charm, Zhang Mingyang agreed. “But you have to promise me one thing.”

“Tell me.”

“You can’t say you’re my girlfriend while we’re on campus.”

“No problem,” Bai Muqing agreed cheerfully.

With her consent, Zhang Mingyang led her onto the bus.

On the bus, Zhang Mingyang was texting his senior, saying he’d arrive soon.

“Zhang Mingyang?” Bai Muqing nudged him with her elbow. “I’ve heard your school’s science programs are amazing?”

“Of course! Our school’s science ranks first in the country and second in the world!” Zhang Mingyang beamed with pride. “Aren’t you studying in China? How could you not know that?”

“I didn’t attend school in China. I graduated from MIT.”

“What?”

Upon hearing she graduated from MIT, Zhang Mingyang’s expression changed instantly; he looked at her as if she were an adversary.

“What’s with that look?” Bai Muqing felt uneasy under his gaze.

“Miss, don’t you know that North China United University and MIT are mortal rivals?”

Bai Muqing shook her head in surprise. “Really? I had no idea!”

“What’s your major? You didn’t know that?”

“Medicine.”

“Medicine?” Zhang Mingyang finally understood. “MIT’s science ranks first worldwide, and our North China United University comes second. Every year, the international academic conference is like a battlefield. Out of 145 science and engineering disciplines, our school holds first place in 71, and MIT holds first in 73. These two schools fight tooth and nail every year. But I feel like your school must have some underhanded tactics—there are clearly projects where our school should dominate, but they get sabotaged. Otherwise, the title of world’s number one would definitely belong to us.”

Listening to Zhang Mingyang’s explanation, Bai Muqing realized this was the first time she’d heard of such rivalry.