Chapter 132: Goodbye, Lei Yuan
“Lei Yuan?”
Memories surfaced in his mind. The part-time little girl from back then seemed to have gotten into Qinghui Scientific Research University.
“Brother Zhou, it really is you!”
Hearing Zhou Ming call out her name, Lei Yuan immediately confirmed that the person in front of her was Zhou Ming.
“Why did you come to the Qinghui Base?”
Lei Yuan wore a smile on her face, stepping over the thin layer of accumulated snow as she ran to Zhou Ming’s side, casually asking him.
“I got an auditing certificate from Qinghui Scientific Research University. I almost forgot that you’re also studying at this school.”
Looking at the somewhat more mature Lei Yuan before him, Zhou Ming directly stated his purpose for coming.
“Brother Zhou, you’re really amazing. I didn’t expect that we’d still become schoolmates.”
“You just arrived? Do you want me to be your guide?”
After learning Zhou Ming’s purpose, Lei Yuan proactively volunteered. She still had a good impression of Zhou Ming, who had helped her before.
“Sure. Having a great beauty lead the way is exactly what I was hoping for.”
Facing an acquaintance, the indifferent aura on Zhou Ming’s face faded quite a bit. He did not refuse Lei Yuan’s suggestion.
Although he had an auditing certificate, it only meant he didn’t need to pass the entrance exam for Qinghui Scientific Research University.
All kinds of fees, enrollment procedures, were no different from ordinary students.
The only difference was that Zhou Ming’s annual tuition fee cost five hundred thousand Alliance Coins, more than five times that of students who entered Qinghui Scientific Research University through the normal examination route.
As for top students like Lei Yuan, their tuition was completely waived.
With Lei Yuan’s help, Zhou Ming spent just over an hour completing all the procedures.
“Lei Yuan, should I call you Senior Sister now?”
From their earlier casual conversation, Zhou Ming already knew that Lei Yuan’s major was research related to the application of energy crystals.
Moreover, the staff handling enrollment procedures all knew Lei Yuan. Judging from the situation, she had quite a bit of fame within Qinghui Scientific Research University.
Therefore, Zhou Ming didn’t mind using this opportunity to deepen their relationship. He might need her help in the future.
“Of course. Once spring comes, I’ll be a fourth-year student. You can call me Senior Sister without any problem.”
In response to Zhou Ming’s teasing, Lei Yuan slightly raised her chin, wearing an adorably proud expression.
Several years had passed, yet her personality hadn’t changed much.
“To thank Senior Sister for helping me today, I’ll treat you to a meal.”
“No need to trouble yourself. Last time I treated you to a meal and you didn’t even agree.”
Seeing Zhou Ming just spend five hundred thousand Alliance Coins, Lei Yuan quickly waved her hands in refusal, not wanting him to spend any more money.
Faced with Lei Yuan’s kind refusal, Zhou Ming didn’t give up. He directly pulled Lei Yuan along as they headed outside the campus.
Their intimate actions had already been photographed and posted on the campus wall.
《Qinghui Scientific Research University’s gifted beauty Lei Yuan has been successfully taken》
Such an eye-catching title immediately attracted a large crowd of onlookers.
Lei Yuan’s reputation as a gifted talent wasn’t exaggerated. In three years, she had mastered five years’ worth of courses and had already begun assisting her mentor with various experiments.
As for what was happening within the academy, Zhou Ming and Lei Yuan were still unaware. The two of them had arrived at a high-end restaurant.
At the dining table, through casual conversation, Zhou Ming learned about Lei Yuan’s general situation.
Lei Yuan had come to Qinghui Scientific Research University, and due to the expensive cost of taking an airship back to the Qinshan Base, she hadn’t returned home once in the three years she’d been at the Qinghui Base.
However, relying on the conveniences provided by Qinghui Scientific Research University, she had one opportunity each month to communicate remotely with her parents.
Aside from that, Zhou Ming also learned from their chat the specifics of her major—how to efficiently utilize energy crystals, such as energy shields, air-defense barriers, energy weapons, crystal engines……
Although she only mentioned it briefly, from the confident look in her eyes and the fact that she received a full scholarship every year, Zhou Ming guessed that she had extremely high achievements in this field.
Because these matters involved top-level confidentiality, Zhou Ming didn’t probe further. He only took the opportunity to deepen their relationship.
At the dining table, most of what they discussed were the changes each had experienced over the past three years.
Zhou Ming talked about matters in the wilderness, while Lei Yuan spoke about the changes she’d undergone since coming to Qinghui Academy.
“Lei Yuan, do you know if there are any mentors in the academy who specialize in research related to the spirit, mind, or consciousness?”
Seeing that their conversation was winding down, Zhou Ming asked Lei Yuan. After all, her understanding of Qinghui Scientific Research University was far greater than his.
“Brother Zhou, why are you interested in that field?”
“You know I’m a Beast Tamer, but I ran into a small problem on the mental side, so I came to the Qinghui Base to find a solution.”
“Ah, is it serious? I’m on good terms with several mentors. Do you want me to ask them to take a look?”
Hearing Zhou Ming’s answer, Lei Yuan immediately put down her chopsticks and asked further, a hint of worry in her expression.
“Don’t worry, it’s just a small issue.” Zhou Ming continued explaining.
“You also know that research on Spiritual Power at the Qinshan Base can’t compare to that of these large bases. As long as I find a suitable mentor, my problem really isn’t serious.”
Seeing Zhou Ming smiling calmly, Lei Yuan finally felt reassured.
“In another month, it’ll be the official start of the semester. By then, you can look for Mentor Lu Dabo from the spiritual field.”
“He himself is also a Beast Tamer. Although his talent in Beast Taming is limited and he hasn’t become a Professional Beast Tamer, he has his own unique insights into spirit, consciousness, the mind, and Beast Taming.”
After that, Lei Yuan told Zhou Ming all the detailed information about Lu Dabo.
Zhou Ming hadn’t expected that the little girl he had met by chance back then would one day help him.
And with this dinner-table conversation, the sense of unfamiliarity brought about by time gradually disappeared between them.
After the gathering ended, the two returned to Qinghui Scientific Research University together.
Just as they were about to enter the school gate, a provocatively dressed girl with wavy wine-red long hair passed by from the side.
“Hmph, still ended up looking for a man.”
That sudden mocking remark broke Zhou Ming and Lei Yuan’s conversation, after which the girl didn’t stop and walked toward a luxury car in the distance.
“Lei Yuan, do you have a conflict with her?”
“A self-degrading, shameless person.”
Anger showed on Lei Yuan’s face as she explained the reason to Zhou Ming.
It turned out that students who got into Qinghui Scientific Research University were all the chosen elites in their respective bases, but some still faded into mediocrity.
Just as the saying went—genius is merely the threshold to seeing my door.
The girl they had just encountered was not only Lei Yuan’s classmate but also her roommate during freshman year.
However, after a year of hard study and realizing that she was far behind the other students, she gradually began to give up.
Especially with the prosperity of the Qinghui Base, and the nearby Qinghui Beast Taming University having many students who relied on their Beast Tamer status to flirt around, she eventually degenerated into a social escort.
Toward Lei Yuan, who remained a top student, that girl was filled with jealousy toward her former roommate.
After listening to Lei Yuan’s explanation, Zhou Ming thought about it briefly and didn’t find it surprising.
Within the Blue Star Alliance, education from high school onward had always maintained a “better none than inferior” attitude.
If one couldn’t complete their studies, whether in high school or university, they wouldn’t receive a diploma.
At the neighboring Qinghui Beast Taming University, graduation requirements involved advancing to a Professional Beast Tamer, yet most people each year were unable to obtain a diploma even upon reaching adulthood, at most receiving a certificate of incomplete study based on performance.
As for such a minor incident, Zhou Ming could only give Lei Yuan some simple words of comfort. After all, she and that girl were already living in two completely different worlds.