Aside from this little surprise of gifting and preparing a program.
The hot pot at this restaurant was still delicious. The ingredients, while not top-tier, were indeed fresh.
The wine that Shi Wangyue brought was also quite good, and everyone drank a lot.
The meal came to an end as they left the private room.
The group teased, "Today’s dinner was free, Shi Wangyue didn’t have to shed any blood. As the ’son-in-law’ of our lab, how can you not spend a bit?"
With the buzz of alcohol, even the normally serious academics were having fun.
"Shi Wangyue will keep this one, and treat us again next time."
The ’son-in-law’, Shi Wangyue, was very happy and chuckled, "I’m at your service anytime."
"We want seafood," a senior sister said.
"Yes, yes, yes, seafood! Crabs and lobsters," others chimed in.
"I want oysters!"
"Oh, don’t go too far." Ning Youguang said with a smile to everyone, "Remember, there are many days ahead..."
There was a deeper meaning in her words’ latter half.
Chen Yifan sobered up instantly.
He had just announced that he was dating someone, which meant next time it might be his turn to treat their lab?
With seafood being so expensive in the capital, even if a capital tycoon could fly in seafood for everyone, he certainly couldn’t.
He rubbed his head to smooth things over, "In such cold weather, why seafood? I think hot pot is just fine."
"Yes, yes."
"Hot pot, hot pot."
"Let’s continue with hot pot; we haven’t had enough today, next time more hot pot."
The other single senior brothers and sisters caught on quickly and changed their tune.
Tonight they truly understood what "tables turn" means!
Professor Yu had also had quite a bit to drink, his cheeks a little red, as he watched everyone with a smile, "It’s getting late, everyone’s full. Go home and get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow morning we’ll continue with our meeting, brainstorming."
"Ahhhh!"
"Don’t remind me of such cruel things now, okay?!"
"Teacher, could you take back that second part?"
"Take it back, take it back."
The group erupted in laughter once more.
"Teacher, we’ll take you home." Ning Youguang offered her arm to Professor Yu.
"Okay." Professor Yu nodded, "Everyone head home."
"Those with cars, give a lift to those without. Remember to call a driver." She instructed carefully.
At this point, Shi Wangyue said, "This area is full of restaurants, and it’s the weekend, finding a driver is hard."
——"So, I arranged cars to take everyone home."
He pointed to a row of gleaming luxury cars parked on the roadside by the entrance.
"Wow!" Brothers and sisters were amazed.
"What kind of CEO-style scene is this?!" They looked at Shi Wangyue with newfound admiration.
"Everyone, please get in." Shi Wangyue invited them.
Old Nie came over from the car, guiding Ning Youguang’s brothers and sisters into the cars one by one.
After seeing them off, he returned to wait here.
Shi Wangyue and Ning Youguang helped Professor Yu into his own Maybach.
Old Nie drove the car smoothly and steadily.
The luxurious business car gently coursed through Beijing’s long streams of traffic.
Professor Yu sat in the middle and said to Shi Wangyue in the back row, "Shi Wangyue, next time you eat with us, you don’t need to arrange cars to take everyone home. We’re all adults, no need to take such meticulous care."
"Teacher, did I arrange something inappropriately tonight?" Shi Wangyue humbly inquired.
Professor Yu offered a gentle smile, "You’re a thoughtful kid, nothing inappropriate, just overly thorough."
So thorough that it might feel too polite to others.
...
Back at the dorm.
"Sis, did I do something wrong today?" Shi Wangyue buried his head in Ning Youguang’s embrace.
"Not at all." Ning Youguang gently patted his fuzzy head, "Just a bit too careful."
"Then it’s not good." Shi Wangyue grumbled.
"Why wouldn’t it be good?" Ning Youguang chuckled, "My boyfriend is so considerate, everyone can feel it."
Shi Wangyue was somewhat comforted, "Then why did the teacher say that?"
"She wants you to be less formal and see them as your own people," Ning Youguang explained, "She really likes you."
"Got it." Shi Wangyue was pleased.
...
At midnight.
Ning Youguang was half-asleep when she suddenly felt a chill on her neck. Opening her eyes, she saw Shi Wangyue holding a necklace and attempting to put it on her.
"Honey, happy birthday." He said tenderly.
Ning Youguang was now fully awake, her first reaction wasn’t: "You were clearly asleep, why are you awake now?"
But rather—"Is the necklace ready so soon?"
Shi Wangyue paused with the necklace, "How did you know your birthday gift was a necklace?"
"..." Ning Youguang slapped her forehead.
Oops! She let it slip.
After a moment of silence, she thought of saying, "I guessed," but it didn’t seem meaningful.
When Shi Wangyue finally put the necklace on her, she reached over for her phone and brought up a post she had saved on Douban, handing it to him, "See for yourself."
Shi Wangyue read through it bewilderedly, with a very complex expression.
"These people have no professional ethics!"
"Who told them my boyfriend’s so handsome? People just got too excited." Ning Youguang watched his annoyed expression and thought he looked a bit cute, leaning in to peck him on the cheek.
"There, there, kiss and don’t be mad."
Shi Wangyue’s anger vanished instantly, yet he still mumbled, "Now there’s no surprise anymore."
Though his face remained glum, Ning Youguang simply turned over, lay on top of him, and continued kissing to appease him.
With such a delightful girlfriend, Shi Wangyue’s heart had long melted, but he pretended to stay upset to have her fuss over him a bit longer.
After a while.
Ning Youguang was tired of comforting and kissing, so she struggled to slide off him.
But he pulled her back, snuggling her as they continued to kiss.
"Why did you give me a necklace?" Ning Youguang wanted to see what the necklace looked like, gave it a tug, but couldn’t see clearly while it was on her neck.
"Because it’s closer to the heart," Shi Wangyue murmured between kisses.
"Why did you go for a custom order?" Ning Youguang said, "I have plenty of necklaces, don’t waste the money."
Shi Wangyue replied, "I know Sis has everything, but I still wanted to give you one."
——"Something one-of-a-kind."
Encircling his neck, Ning Youguang smiled, "Thank you, I love it."
Shi Wangyue suddenly got up, "Also, wait a moment."
...
A few minutes later.
"You said you bought this house?" Ning Youguang was stunned by the photo of the old house.
"Yes." Shi Wangyue said with inevitable pride, "Since returning from Europe, I met with the house’s owner. Only recently did we close the deal."
"Pretty lucky."
That far-off, deep-mountain-forest old house...
Ning Youguang gently caressed the boy’s face beside her, "You’ve put in effort, I’m touched. I love you." 1314