This was not the first time that Professor Yuan has cooperated with the He Group and he was quite familiar with the place. This partnership was very important. He brought his most outstanding students with him, plus Li Shu who was still an undergraduate student. It could be seen how satisfied he was with this child.
The other two people who came with Professor Yuan were master’s students. They often completed projects under his guidance, and they were surprised to see an undergraduate junior participating in such a significant project.
Professor Yuan’s ability and reputation were excellent. Every year, countless students would do anything to get into his mentorship, but he didn’t accept students every year. This year, for instance, he hadn’t taken in any students.
It was no secret that Professor Yuan favored a freshman from the mathematics department because he was so obvious about it. Not only did he break the rules to let him join his team, but he also chose suitable projects for him to practice on.
Having inherited the original owner’s memories, Li Shu had a good impression of Professor Yuan. Whatever Professor Yuan asked him to do, he did obediently.
“You’re doing well. I’ve heard about what happened outside, and I’m glad you’ve refocused on your studies.”
The night after the exams ended, Professor Yuan called Li Shu to his office.
The original owner hadn’t been here for a while. Since Ruan Muyan appeared, the original owner’s life trajectory had taken a turn towards the unknown. For Ruan Muyan, he had declined several of Professor Yuan’s invitations.
“I’m sorry, Professor, for worrying you during this time.”
Though the original owner had caused the issues, Li Shu now occupied his body and had to deal with the mess left behind. Moreover, Professor Yuan’s concern for the original owner was genuine. He truly appreciated this child and sincerely regretted his previous behavior.
“It’s alright. I called you here to ask if you are still interested in coming back?” Professor Yuan was sitting behind his desk, leafing through some documents. “I have a major project this summer. If you’re interested, you can give it a try.”
Li Shu was quite surprised. The original owner had left Professor Yuan’s team for Ruan Muyan, even sacrificing his future. If he remembered correctly, the original owner had had a fallout with Professor Yuan over this. He didn’t expect the professor would want him back.
“If you don’t mind, Professor, I’d be happy to join.”
After agreeing, Li Shu found out that Professor Yuan’s project was a collaboration with the He Group.
The He Group was a leading enterprise in City B, occupying an entire office building. Under Professor Yuan’s guidance, Li Shu and his two seniors entered this place that so many dreamt of.
Professor Yuan led them to meet their collaborators, who, of course, were not Li Heyuan. For a collaboration of this scale, Li Heyuan didn’t need to be involved directly. They wouldn’t even enter his office area.
However, Li Shu was not in a rush. If he seemed too deliberate, he might arouse Li Heyuan’s suspicion. Once he was labeled as having ulterior motives, completing his mission would become much harder.
He knew the mission failure was related to the death of his previous body. He realized that Li Heyuan’s happiness value had plummeted into the negative in a very short time because of this. He had anticipated that his departure would sadden the boy but hadn’t expected it to be so profound.
Li Shu spent the entire morning by Professor Yuan’s side, familiarizing himself with the tasks. Their collaboration with the He Group was a big project so there was no room for error. Professor Yuan’s experience was invaluable, and Li Shu followed him closely, learning diligently.
His two senior students were the same. From their actions, Li Shu could see their genuine admiration for Professor Yuan and understood why so many people were desperate to become his students.
At noon, instead of returning to school, they stayed for lunch.
The He Group’s dining area was on par with any hotel, and the food was delicious.
Professor Yuan invited his three students to sit down, casually bringing over some dishes, “Since we’re here, we should try their food.”
Li Shu and his companions ate heartily while discussing what they had seen and learned that day. The two seniors were very excited, and Li Shu, infected by their enthusiasm, became excited too.
They shared their thoughts, unaware that someone nearby was watching them.
More precisely, observing Li Shu.
From the moment Li Shu and his group arrived, Klaus’s eyes were wide open, barely restraining himself from making a scene.
He watched that familiar figure and was unable to speak for a long time.
Worried that Klaus’s gaze might attract suspicion, Li Heyuan tapped the table, pulling him back to reality.
Klaus was so shocked that he remained silent for a long while. He sat in his chair in a daze. The noise around him faded away and he couldn’t hear or see anything else.
That figure, that figure he could never forget—it was the person he had followed for years, the one he watched grow step by step. His entire existence was dedicated to this person.
He watched as that person chatted with his companions in a relaxed manner, something he had never seen. The person he followed was always mature and composed, hiding his true self due to the responsibilities of his position.
Even when he was unwell, he bore it without showing any sign of discomfort.
Many times, Klaus hated himself for being unable to help. If he could, he would have borne all the pain for him.
He didn’t know how long he sat there until his eyes started to ache. He blinked, and steadied his voice as best he could: “Is it him you wanted me to see?”
Li Heyuan also looked in that direction. Seeing Klaus’s reaction, he became even more certain of the answer in his heart.
Even though that answer was so incredible, almost like a fairy tale, if it were any other matter, he wouldn’t believe such a thing. But now, with various facts laid out before him, the balance in his heart had already tilted.
“Klaus, do you think miracles can happen?” Li Heyuan gently played with the tableware. His movements were small, his voice steady, but Klaus could feel the immense turmoil in his heart.
Because now he felt the same.
Silence stretched between them. For a moment, neither spoke, and time seemed to stand still.
It was unclear how much time had passed, perhaps just a moment, or perhaps a long time, Klaus slowly unclenched his fist and looked at the now grown man in front of him: “Li Heyuan, do you think that’s him? Or do you want to treat that person as him?”
“You already have the answer in your heart, don’t you, Klaus?” Li Heyuan countered.
“…”
Klaus wanted to say something, but in the end, he didn’t say a word.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to refute, but he saw Li Heyuan’s eyes. He had always known that Li Heyuan wasn’t as harmless as he appeared in front of his master. The events that followed had proven this. This man was never a gentle kitten; from the beginning, he was a tiger.
The man’s eyes were very dark, like thick ink, and like the vast and boundless universe. Those eyes contained volcanic lava and polar ice. At this moment, Klaus saw a storm brewing in those eyes—a suppressed eruption.
They both knew the probability of what they hoped for was minuscule. If it truly happened, it would be an act of divine mercy. Yet they clung to a faint hope, especially Li Heyuan. He had been sustained by this one-in-a-million chance until now.
“What a coincidence, this person is also called Li Shu.”
Both their hearts were restless, but they were both skilled at concealing themselves. After a brief loss of composure, Klaus regained his usual calm demeanor, and Li Heyuan showed no abnormalities throughout.
Although their actions were subtle, and they tried not to arouse Li Shu’s suspicion while observing him, Li Shu still felt the gaze from behind him.
[Host, it’s the male protagonist and Klaus.] As if knowing what Li Shu was thinking, 1314 reported the answer promptly.
‘Klaus? How could Klaus be here? Or was Klaus always with Li Heyuan?’
Knowing that his body couldn’t last long, he had arranged everything properly before leaving, and Klaus was naturally no exception. But… Klaus shouldn’t be here. He remembered asking Klaus before if he wanted to follow Li Heyuan, and Klaus had refused.
So, how did they end up together now?
Li Shu didn’t know that after he left, things hadn’t gone according to his plan.
He was reborn ten years later, and because it was an additional mission, the system couldn’t read the plot changes made by Li Shu. Li Shu was unaware of what had happened to the male protagonist, the Li family, and others in these past ten years.
Li Shu ignored what was happening over there. He pretended not to know about Li Heyuan and Klaus, and calmly rejoined the discussion.
They still had work to do here in the afternoon. After a brief rest, the four of them plunged back into their intense work.
When busy, time always passes quickly. It felt like a blink of an eye, and the day was over. Li Shu and the others packed up and returned to the hotel.
This place was quite far from the school. Professor Yuan was not stingy. To spare the students some hardship, he had booked rooms here.
After returning to the hotel, Professor Yuan and the students summarized their day and then finally left Li Shu alone.
“Xiao Li, are you getting used to it?” Professor Yuan in everyday life was completely different from his work mode. At this moment, he was gentle and kind, like a benevolent elder.
Li Shu: “I’m used to it. Professor, you don’t need to worry about me.”
The workload here was intense, but it wasn’t much for Li Shu.
“It will get busier in the future. You need to prepare yourself mentally. I don’t accept quitting halfway. No matter how tough it gets, you must grit your teeth and persevere, understood?”
After receiving Li Shu’s affirmative answer, Professor Yuan’s expression softened further. He poured Li Shu a glass of water and asked, “Xiao Li, do you know anyone from the He family?”
Li Shu: “Professor, why do you ask this?”
Professor Yuan: “At noon today, I felt someone watching us, or rather, watching you. I thought that person would approach you, but I waited all day and no one came. If something happens, you can come to me. Don’t be afraid.”
Li Shu didn’t expect Professor Yuan to be so sharp. He was sure his two senior brothers hadn’t noticed this. He didn’t intend to lie about this matter: “I’m not sure if it’s the person I think it is.”
“Who is it?” Professor Yuan asked curiously.
