"I heard from someone that the place where you lived has been turned into the biggest and most bustling department store in the city, something called the Pacific Department Store," Lin Chan said.
"Pacific Department Store?" He Zhilan was taken aback, then she got up with her phone in hand and pulled back the curtains, looking towards the towering department store not far away that was bathed in dazzling lights. Wasn’t that the Pacific Department Store?
By a twist of fate, she had moved close to the Gu family’s old place, but she hadn’t recognised any of the surroundings.
"Never mind talking about such frustrating matters, let’s change the topic and talk about something cheerful! Speaking of which, your sister had her college entrance exam this year, right? Did she pass?" Seeing that He Zhilan hadn’t responded for a while, Lin Chan tactfully switched the subject.
"She passed and has already received her admission letter, from the capital’s First Military Medical University," He Zhilan laughed. "Soon, there will be another soldier in the He family."
"A girl going to Military Medical University? If she wanted to study medicine, why not just go to a Medical University? Don’t tell me she’s as stubborn as your brother, He Mutou? The He siblings are seriously as hard-headed as logs," Lin Chan teased.
"What do you mean, He Mutou? That nickname is exclusively for my brother. Dongxue is cheerful and lively, you better be careful not to offend her, or she’ll get back at you!"
"Thank goodness! Your sister is also my sister, Lin Chan. When she comes to the capital, I’ll look after her!" Lin Chan promised. This wasn’t for any other reason, but out of gratitude to the He family for looking out for his ’sister’ Zhilan all these years. As an older brother figure, he was obliged to reciprocate the favour.
After making all the calls she needed to make, He Zhilan went to take a bath and change into her sleepwear, then she prepared to rest. However, as she lay on her bed, she couldn’t help but see the large building of the Pacific Department Store through her open curtains.
All that belonged to the past vanished from the world when Gu Zhilan left.
Even though she tried hard to remember everything, even walking all the way back to this city, Gu Zhilan was still utterly alone.
She sighed heavily. Thinking of the Gu family, He Zhilan told herself not to dwell on the things that had been forcibly removed from her life. She had suffered enough, she had despaired. She even paid with her own life, she should understand and be clear that everything related to the Gu family has nothing to do with her now.
After a restless night, He Zhilan got up early the next day, put on a dress her aunt had bought her last year, left her room, had breakfast with the team in the restaurant, then took a taxi straight to the local research institute.
This was the first time He Zhilan had ever entered such a strict place in her two lives. The research institute could be described as the technical centre of the area, and the place with the most academic atmosphere. It seemed they had arranged a meeting time in advance, so there were staff members waiting at the entrance early in the morning.
Perhaps because they were surprised to see a compatriot in the group, the receptionist gave He Zhilan an extra glance before leading the group inside.
The first day’s work involved getting a detailed understanding of the research results of the equipment needed by the team, and He Zhilan, the translator, was mostly, like an ornament. There was a translator at the institute, too.
That translator seemed to be hogging all the work, not giving He Zhilan a chance to contribute at all. With an air of arrogance, as He Zhilan saw it, it was an ill-timed display of pride that was honestly a bit of a disgrace to their country.