"We?" Wen Yao repeated softly.

Listening to Wen Yao's tone, Jiang Shuyi was taken aback. "...Are you not coming back with me?"

Wen Yao lowered her gaze.

Jiang Shuyi had assumed it was only natural for Wen Yao to return with her, especially since Wen Yao didn't seem to enjoy hanging out with Song Jinxi and the others much.

Zhou Jingtang and Lin Qing planned to celebrate the New Year with Song Jinxi, so it didn't seem unreasonable for Wen Yao to stay back and celebrate with them.

But when Jiang Shuyi thought about possibly having to fly back alone, she panicked.

"Are you really going to let me go back by myself?"

Jiang Shuyi firmly wrapped her arms around Wen Yao's waist, clinging to her as usual.

"Come home with me."

"Moreover, technically, you are staying with my family now, so you are part of my family. Family should celebrate the New Year together."

Jiang Shuyi made a convincing argument, and her chaotic reasoning surprisingly had a strange persuasive power.

Wen Yao furrowed her brow. "Do you know what it means for me to go back with you for the New Year?"

Jiang Shuyi's gaze shifted for a moment.

Of course, she knew what it meant to bring Wen Yao back with her.

Wasn't that exactly her plan? She wanted to show off Wen Yao.

Jiang Shuyi avoided Wen Yao's question.

"You're mine. How can you celebrate the New Year with Song Jinxi and not with me?"

Jiang Shuyi shook Wen Yao's shoulders, looking at her with a forlorn expression.

". . ." Wen Yao remained silent, reaching for a towel to slowly help Jiang Shuyi dry her hair.

"I'll go back with you."

"Really?" Jiang Shuyi instantly broke into a smile, becoming even more animated. "What do you want to eat for the New Year? I'll ask the auntie there to make it for you."

---

At the dinner table, Jiang Shuyi announced that she would be going back to Huan City for the New Year with Wen Yao.

"You two are going back to Huan City for the New Year?" Song Jinxi exclaimed.

"I have elderly family members, we gather less and less each year." Jiang Shuyi repeated Tang Wenzhen's reasoning seriously.

"Well, there's nothing you can do about that." Zhou Jingtang said, looking at them with a hint of regret. "Song Jinxi said we were going to set off fireworks on New Year's Eve..."

"Honestly, I'm relieved to be able to celebrate the New Year here." Lin Qing sighed.

"My family usually visits relatives for New Year's greetings. I'm not great at making conversation, and my relatives are very enthusiastic, so I always feel a bit uncomfortable. I end up arguing with my mom about it every year..."

"Is that so?" Song Jinxi took a sip of her drink. "My family doesn't have many relatives, we just have a simple New Year meal together..."

Zhou Jingtang looked incredulously at the others, "Am I the only one who has to make rice cakes at home?"

The people at the table all paused for a moment.

"Rice cakes?" Song Jinxi glanced at Zhou Jingtang.

"Yeah, my family makes rice cakes every New Year at the hotel entrance, symbolizing 'rising every year'..." Zhou Jingtang explained.

"On New Year's Eve, my dad, the hotel manager, and I played mahjong together and split the winnings among the staff."

Jiang Shuyi found it quite interesting to listen to.

After Zhou Jingtang was done speaking, he looked at Wen Yao, who had not spoken since earlier. "Class monitor, how does your family celebrate the New Year?"

Wen Yao looked ahead, expressionless, and replied, "It's pretty ordinary, like any typical family."

"My family is also very ordinary. We just eat together and play cards at home."

Jiang Shuyi slowly picked up two pieces of shrimp and added them to Wen Yao's bowl.

Wen Yao glanced at her.

Jiang Shuyi smiled, "Adding some protein."

---

"This type of nucleoprotein has a suppressive effect on fatty liver that may develop concurrently with hepatitis C virus, so in this controlled experiment..."

Jiang Shuyi felt exhausted listening to the group discussion, feeling like there was no end in sight.

Professor Wen sat in the front, beginning to elaborate on the discussion. "The issue with the data lies in..."

In the evening, Jiang Shuyi continued to review the materials to avoid missing any key information the next day.

The room was now much emptier. Jiang Shuyi silently typed away. At this moment, a fair hand reached out from behind her.

"You've made a mistake here."

A cold voice sounded.

Jiang Shuyi nervously turned around. The person behind her had an expressionless face, seemingly lost in thought.

"It's not 'SRP,' it should be 'SPP.' Don't get the basic terminology wrong, Jiang Shuyi."

". . ." Jiang Shuyi felt her entire body tense up. "I'm sorry."

Ever since she misplaced Professor Wen's documents a few days ago, she had been hesitant to speak to her, but it seemed the professor didn't mind much.

"There's also a formatting issue. For this text, refer to the format used by the person above you. Even if your content is different, you'll have to do this kind of repetitive work many times in the future. If you don't meet the formatting standards, it will seem inefficient to the reader and inconvenient for you to write."

"Formatting is fundamental, I should have taught you this."

Professor Wen spoke sternly.

"I'll fix it right away." Jiang Shuyi said respectfully.

"After you're done, let me have a look." Professor Wen nodded.

Jiang Shuyi checked the clock and felt a sinking feeling. "Okay..."

It was already eight o'clock, and she had no idea how long it would take to make the revisions.

After making the changes, it was nearly eleven o'clock.

At her usual pace, she might not finish until the early morning, but since Professor Wen had been sitting beside her, her focus had improved significantly.

Jiang Shuyi handed the documents to the professor. After the professor looked through them, she nodded, marked them with a red pen, and then handed them back to Jiang Shuyi.

"It's good now."

Jiang Shuyi breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Thank you, Professor Wen."

Today, she could finally go to bed early.

"Have you had dinner?" Professor Wen glanced at her.

Jiang Shuyi hadn't really had time to eat, but lately, she was too tired to feel hungry.

"Yes, I have."

She spoke against her true feelings, but her stomach rebelliously made an honest and embarrassing sound.

Professor Wen glanced at her watch, picked up her coat, and said, "...Put on your coat."

". . ."

"Okay."

Jiang Shuyi obediently put on her coat and followed the professor out of the exhibition hall.

Professor Wen hailed a taxi, gave an address, and Jiang Shuyi sat next to her, unsure of where Professor Wen was taking her.

Before long, the taxi arrived at a high-end Chinese restaurant.

Jiang Shuyi had no idea how the professor found such a place, but the restaurant was clean and decorated with lanterns, giving it a charming, antique vibe.

As soon as the manager saw the professor, he approached with a smile, greeting them warmly and leading them to a private room.

As it was already late, there weren't many people in the restaurant.

". . ." Jiang Shuyi felt a bit awkward.

Professor Wen and Jiang Shuyi sat across from each other, and she handed the menu to her.

"Order whatever you'd like to eat."

". . ."

Jiang Shuyi was not shy either and ordered many dishes she liked.

Professor Wen also ordered a few dishes.

Although dining with Professor Wen felt almost like eating alone, the food here was unexpectedly authentic and delicious, surpassing Jiang Shuyi's expectations.

For her, who had been tormented by the food here these past few days, the food here felt very comforting.

—How could someone like Professor Wen, who seemingly doesn't care much about indulging in food, find such a restaurant...

Jiang Shuyi thought quietly as she put the third dumpling into her mouth.

At that moment, her phone on the table started ringing.

Jiang Shuyi looked at the phone hesitantly.

It was her mother calling. Jiang Shuyi didn't understand why her mother would call her at this time and was momentarily stunned.

The professor looked at her. "Answer it."

Jiang Shuyi nodded and picked up the call.

"Mom? Why are you calling me at this time?"

It should be early morning back home.

"Shuyi, today is New Year's Eve." her father's voice came through the phone.

". . ."

Jiang Shuyi froze for a moment, realizing that today was New Year's Eve.

The Spring Festival in the UK lacks any festive atmosphere, not even as lively as Valentine's Day a few days earlier.

Jiang Shuyi was taken aback for a moment, then politely wished the two people on the other end of the phone a Happy New Year.

"Mm, Happy New Year." the two elderly people on the phone nodded.

"Shuyi, when will that professor of yours let you come back?" her mother asked on the phone.

". . ." Jiang Shuyi almost choked on the dumpling in her mouth. She lowered the phone volume, afraid that Professor Wen might hear.

Actually, she had mentioned her return date during a previous call, but her mother might have forgotten.

Since she was getting older, her mother often forgot things lately.

Jiang Shuyi turned her back and quietly reported the date.

"Oh my, why is it taking so long? I told you to ask to let you come back..."

"Since it's New Year's, your professor should give you a break, right? Go out for some good food and hang out with friends." her father said.

How could it be that just because she mentioned wanting a break, the professor would give her one.

Jiang Shuyi's father always thought the school was his own company.

And Jiang Shuyi felt that if she wanted to go back, Professor Wen definitely wouldn't stop her because she was the kind of person who always lagged behind.

For that reason, Jiang Shuyi felt that if she didn't stick to her commitment, she wouldn't be able to face staying in the lab anymore.

She didn't voice her thoughts and just nodded in response, "I know."

"Make sure to wear more clothes, it looks like it's getting colder over there..."

Her father reminded her on the other end of the phone.

After hanging up, Jiang Shuyi turned back to see Professor Wen quietly gazing out the window, lost in thought.

Jiang Shuyi wasn't sure if Professor Wen had heard what was said on the phone, but she reported to the professor like a good student:

"It was my parents calling."

"It seems like they are celebrating the Spring Festival back home, so they called."

"Mm," Professor Wen didn't seem too keen on talking more.

As Jiang Shuyi looked at the dishes in front of her, she felt a strange sense that perhaps the professor had brought her here to make up for her not being able to celebrate the New Year.

". . ." Jiang Shuyi shook her head and stuffed another dumpling into her mouth.

How could it be.

She looked at Professor Wen, feeling a bit puzzled, and suddenly asked without much thought, "Professor Wen, what kind of New Year dishes does your family usually eat?"

Professor Wen slowly raised her head, her expression calm as she glanced at Jiang Shuyi.

"I stay at the school during the New Year and don't eat New Year dishes."

Upon hearing this answer, Jiang Shuyi choked a bit, "Oh, I see..."

It was rare to find someone who stayed at school during the New Year, even if they were a teacher.

Upon hearing Professor Wen's response, Jiang Shuyi felt that Professor Wen was simply a workaholic, probably one of those who work year-round without rest.

Jiang Shuyi couldn't help but admire this person.

After their meal, the waiter approached with the bill. Jiang Shuyi intended to pay for the dishes she had ordered.

However, Professor Wen stopped Jiang Shuyi's hand and calmly took out her card to settle the bill.

"...Thank you, Professor."

Jiang Shuyi watched as Professor Wen signed the bill and politely expressed her gratitude.

Professor Wen glanced at her. "No need to thank me."

---

In the UK, by February, the temperature remains quite low.

The two of them left the restaurant, and the taxi they had called inside hadn't arrived yet.

Walking one behind the other, light snow began to fall from the sky.

"It's still snowing a little bit occasionally these days..." Jiang Shuyi took out a folding umbrella from her backpack and held it above Professor Wen's head.

Professor Wen was removing her glasses to wipe the snow off them with a cloth. Noticing the umbrella overhead, she slightly tilted her head back.

Professor Wen hadn't realized there was snow on her head as well.

Jiang Shuyi smiled as she watched her, gently brushing off the snow from her hair with her hand.

"Happy New Year, Professor."

---

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