Chapter 71

Chapter 71

Jiang Yicen remembered being admitted to Lincheng University at seventeen, but he only studied there for two years. After the war broke out in full force, the principal led the students to relocate to another city, later apparently moving further west, and then he himself ended up here.

He looked up the history of Lincheng University online, and it matched what he knew pretty closely, except that later, to avoid the war, the principal led the students and many important materials to move westward.

Although Jiang Yicen did not follow the school westward at that time, he did supply them with plenty of materials to help them get through the crisis.

Nan Shuyi didn't drink at lunch because he was driving; he parked his car at the gate of Lincheng University.

They had to make a reservation to enter the school; they booked a visit slot online in advance and scanned their IDs to enter.

Jiang Yicen sighed at how strict management had become, but then again, Lincheng University is now one of the top three universities in the country. These students were the nation's future—the key training ground for national talent, so they must be well protected.

Lincheng University had changed dramatically. The old entrance was simple: two slender pillars restricting access with an iron gate serving as the door. The sign of National Lincheng University was simply hung on the pillars, unlike the current school gate sign, which was grand and imposing, complementing the school's century-old heritage and steeped in history.

Nan Shuyi had studied at Lincheng University for six years, so he knew every inch of the place.

Nan Shuyi smiled and said, "How do you want to tour? Now that we're no longer students here, some places are off-limits."

Jiang Yicen said, "That's a real pity."

Lincheng University had become completely unfamiliar to Jiang Yicen. The campus now had multiple high-rise buildings and separate teaching blocks for different colleges, and various student recreation areas. The campus area was much larger than before.

However, the school still retained many historical traces; the door signs of some old departments were kept as mementos.

Jiang Yicen used to think they were just ordinary signs, but now they were must-see attractions for tourists.

Everything had changed.

The two of them strolled around, and even bought two cups of milk tea at a student-run milk tea shop. When they reached the College of Arts and Sciences, he asked Nan Shuyi.

"Brother Shuyi, which college are you from?"

He had been a student of the College of Arts and Sciences back then, and had entered Lincheng University as the top scorer.

Nan Shuyi said, "I'm from the School of Business. Want to go check it out? The School of Business is quite new. The most historic parts of Lincheng University should be the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Agriculture, and the Department of Engineering, formerly called the School of Engineering. But what our school is most famous for is the library, which holds many ancient historical texts."

Jiang Yicen said, "I know. During the War of Resistance, the principal and students led a westward migration to protect those ancient books."

As they talked, they walked toward the library, which happened to be not far from their current location.

Today there was also an exhibition about the westward migration during the War of Resistance. It closed at 5 p.m., and it was now 4 p.m., so they had an hour left.

Nan Shuyi said, "Want to take a look?"

Jiang Yicen said, "Sure."

The exhibition was free, so the two walked straight in.

At this time of day, there were far fewer tourists. Ahead, there was a small elderly tour group led by a young tour guide. The guide used a Bluetooth audio guide to explain to them, which also happened to explain the exhibition's purpose to Jiang Yicen as he entered.

The first exhibition hall covered the reasons for the migration and showed photos of the original Lincheng University campus before the move.

The second exhibition hall covered the preparations for the westward migration and the difficulties caused by the war, including how the principal organized students to evacuate important cultural relics and documents.

The third exhibition hall displayed the locations of several westward migrations, the difficulties encountered, and photos from those periods.

They reached the last hall, which was special. One wall was covered with many names and group photos, densely listing the kind-hearted people who had helped the school during the War of Resistance.

How was this list created?

On a screen mounted on the wall, the current president of Lincheng University was giving a speech.

"This is a list we found while reorganizing old materials. We don't want the kind-hearted people of those years to be forgotten. Without their help, there would be no Lincheng University as it is today. We must remember history and remember the good-hearted people who helped us back then."

Jiang Yicen turned his head and saw Nan Shuyi carefully looking at the list on the wall.

Nan Shuyi had never entered such historical exhibition halls before, purely because he had no interest. But after entering the exhibition hall today, seeing Jiang Yicen look at each display with such reverence and seriousness, he also settled in. When they reached the last hall, he gave the list a casual scan.

He turned to Jiang Yicen and said, "There's someone here with the exact same name as you."

Jiang Yicen's heart skipped a beat: "What?"

Nan Shuyi pointed to the name on the list: "Look, here, this person's name is exactly the same as yours."

He said it without thinking, but Jiang Yicen took it to heart.

Jiang Yicen followed his finger and saw the printed name. He stared at it, stunned. So he had left proof of his existence; history had not forgotten him.

Nan Shuyi suddenly remembered the photos that had been posted online and told him an interesting story: "You know? Some people say that historical warriors can be reborn with the same face and memories of their past lives. There was even a kid who people said didn't drink Meng Po's soup after reincarnation and still remembered everything from before."

Jiang Yicen's heart pounded; the more Nan Shuyi talked, the paler he got.

He asked cautiously, "If such a thing really happened, would they be captured and studied?"

Nan Shuyi laughed: "No, otherwise it wouldn't have made it online. But we don't know if those stories are true or not."

Jiang Yicen: "What if they are real?"

Nan Shuyi: "If they are real? Then maybe people would worship them?"

For Nan Shuyi, it was actually just an ordinary topic, but Jiang Yicen secretly sighed in relief.

After the exhibition, the two went to the library.

Lincheng University's library was also an internet-famous photo spot; visitors would take photos here. However, to prevent visitors from disturbing the students, the school had set up separate areas for visitors and students.

Jiang Yicen could only admire the library's architecture; he really wanted to see the ancient books Nan Shuyi had mentioned, but unfortunately, he couldn't.

Jiang Yicen said, "I really want to see what books they have in there."

Nan Shuyi: "If you want to see them, come again next time. I'll check my graduate student ID when I get home and see if it still works."

Jiang Yicen: "It probably expired."

They left the library feeling a bit disappointed.

"Yicen?"

However, as soon as they reached the entrance, someone called out to Jiang Yicen. It was a lady.

Jiang Yicen and Nan Shuyi turned around at the same time.

Jiang Yicen had almost forgotten there was a Jiang Yiqi in the family.

He knew she was an outstanding student, but he didn't expect her to also be an outstanding student at Lincheng University. She must have a very bright future.

"Third Sister." Actually, Jiang Yiqi had also been a bit uncertain whether it was Jiang Yicen just now.

She was here to look up some materials in the library and didn’t expect to run into them here.

It’s only been a few months, but the change is huge.

Jiang Yiqi: “What are you two doing here?”

Jiang Yicen: “We had lunch at a friend’s place and decided to come take a look around.”

He realized that Jiang Yiqi here was a completely different person from the Jiang Yiqi at the Jiang family home. Here, she was just an ordinary student, confident and outgoing.

Jiang Yiqi and Jiang Yicen didn’t usually interact, but since they’d met, it would be awkward not to sit together for a bit.

She asked, “Want to grab a coffee?”

Jiang Yicen looked at Nan Shuyi: “Is that okay?”

Nan Shuyi: “We’re not in a hurry. We could even have dinner together.”

He felt that Jiang Yicen treated Jiang Yiqi differently from Jiang Yiting and Jiang Yifeng. Jiang Yiqi was technically his junior in school.

Jiang Yicen: “How about we have dinner together? Third Sister, are you free? It’s rare to run into you.”

Jiang Yiqi was taken aback. She hadn’t really expected Jiang Yicen to agree to coffee—she had only asked out of politeness.

“Sure.”

She agreed just like that.

Nan Shuyi asked her, “Anything you’d like to eat?”

She said, “You decide. I’m not picky.”

Jiang Yicen then recalled that there was a good restaurant near Lingcheng University. He wondered if it was still there.

“Let me look it up first?” He now knew to search first; asking directly would give him away, as he couldn’t explain how he knew there was a good restaurant nearby. “Number One Restaurant, want to go? They serve local Lingcheng cuisine, and their lightly pickled bass is really good.”

Nan Shuyi: “You sure know how to find old places.”

He noticed that the restaurants Jiang Yicen liked all had long histories. He seemed like someone particularly nostalgic, yet he was only in his twenties and had just returned to Lingcheng not long ago.

Jiang Yicen: “For good food, you have to go for something special and enjoy life.”

Jiang Yiqi: “I’ve heard classmates say this restaurant is great, but not many people know about it. You only find out after spending a long time at the university.”

The three left Lingcheng University and headed straight for Number One Restaurant.

Jiang Yiqi naturally rode in their car. Contrary to her expectations, Nan Shuyi’s car, which looked cool and tough on the outside, was surprisingly cozy inside.

There were cute doll ornaments on the dashboard, the neck pillow on the driver’s seat was an adorable green Mickey Mouse, and the back seat had tissues, a hat, a blanket, and other daily necessities. It was clear they had a good relationship.

She had thought it was just a typical arranged marriage with no deep connection, but it seemed she was wrong.

Number One Restaurant was a tile-roofed building with two floors. To Jiang Yicen, it hadn’t changed much—just new electrical appliances and refurbished old tables and chairs. The interior decoration remained the same, preserving its original character.

As Jiang Yicen walked upstairs with Nan Shuyi, he said, “Their steamed buns with ground pork are also a signature dish. No gamey taste at all.”

Nan Shuyi: “Have you been here before?”

Jiang Yicen realized he had spoken too casually: “Sort of.” He was a bit excited today—first finding out Uncle Yuan was still alive, then seeing his name recorded at Lingcheng University. He had left a trace of his past in this era.

After they sat down, it was Jiang Yicen and Nan Shuyi who did the chatting and ordering. Jiang Yiqi wasn’t close to them, so she only answered when asked.

After they ordered, Nan Shuyi asked Jiang Yiqi what her major research direction was. Jiang Yiqi explained in detail, even mentioning that a project she was working on with some friends was short on funding.

Jiang Yiqi was three years older than Jiang Yicen and was currently a doctoral student researching AI. Nan Shuyi found it quite interesting.

Talking about professional topics brought the three closer. Jiang Yicen didn’t understand much but listened attentively, feeling more and more that he had a lot to learn.

Nan Shuyi nodded thoughtfully: “When you get back, show me the project. The company has funding for AI-related projects. You can try applying.”

“Sure,” Jiang Yiqi said, never expecting to land project funding for herself like this.

Jiang Yicen also finally got to eat the steamed buns and fish he had been craving. He had only eaten it once with his elder brother back then, and never had the chance again. Now, even after death, he got to eat it—and the taste hadn’t changed.

After dinner, they drove Jiang Yiqi back to school.

When Jiang Yiqi got out of the car, Jiang Yicen followed. He had a reason for inviting her to dinner today.

“Brother Shuyi, wait for me a moment.”

“Sure, go ahead.” Nan Shuyi didn’t ask further.

He wanted to ask about He Nuanqing and “Jiang Yicen.”

“Third Sister, can I ask you something?”

Jiang Yiqi smiled: “I knew there was more to this dinner invitation.”

She wasn’t stupid. She and Jiang Yicen had no connection, so the dinner invitation was quite abrupt. She also felt a bit relieved.

Jiang Yicen smiled back.

Jiang Yiqi said, “Go ahead. I’ve eaten the meal, and my brother-in-law even gave us a chance to apply for funding. Ask whatever you want.”

Jiang Yicen skipped over her teasing about “brother-in-law” and directly asked, “Do you remember when Mom got pregnant with me?”

Jiang Yiqi was surprised: “Why are you asking that?”

Jiang Yicen: “I feel like there’s a distance between Mom and me. I want to know more.”

Jiang Yiqi: “I was quite young then, but I have a good memory. I remember she was pregnant with you in the spring, and you were born at the end of the year.”

Jiang Yicen: “Were there any special features when I was born?”

Jiang Yiqi thought for a moment: “I remember you had very black hair when you were born, a chubby little baby.”

Jiang Yicen: “Did anything unusual happen at that time?”

Jiang Yiqi: “It was quite dangerous when she went into labor. Only she and I were home. She suddenly said she was about to give birth, and I panicked. Dad was away on a business trip. She called the ambulance herself. Luckily, Uncle He and the others came to see her and took her to the hospital.”

Jiang Yicen: “So when Dad came back, I was already born?”

Jiang Yiqi: “Yes, by the time he got back, you and Mom were already home. Why are you asking?”

Jiang Yicen: “I just wanted to know if it was hard for Mom when she gave birth to me.”

Jiang Yiqi: “It was really hard. When she needed her husband the most, he wasn’t home.”

Jiang Yicen: “Thank you, Third Sister. We’ll head back now.”

"You're welcome, take care on the road," Jiang Yiqi said.

Jiang Yicen returned to the car and was lost in thought.

He had no intention of keeping this from Nan Shuyi, who had probably overheard their conversation a moment ago.

Nan Shuyi had indeed caught every word. "Why are you asking about your childhood? Is something wrong?"

He didn't believe Jiang Yicen would want to repair his relationship with He Nuanqing—He Nuanqing did not treat Jiang Yicen like a mother should.

Jiang Yicen looked up and said, "Shuyi, I don't want to hide this from you either. I feel like there's something off about my background."

He mentioned to Nan Shuyi the incident at the He family's full moon celebration, which had puzzled him before. He had been stuck with no leads until he met Jiang Yiqi today, and it turned out she provided a breakthrough.

Nan Shuyi: "Your uncle threatened your mother-in-law, then made her help your cousin marry the heiress of the Jiao family?"

Jiang Yicen: "Yes, that's it. What could he possibly use to threaten my mother?"

Nan Shuyi: "Judging by her attitude, you don't seem like her biological son. And your appearance doesn't match either. Why not get a DNA test?"

Jiang Yicen: "A DNA test?"

Nan Shuyi: "Yes. As long as you get a biological sample—like hair—Jiang Ruolin often handles these things for his clients and knows some professional testing agencies."

Jiang Yicen let out a breath. This was far more direct than asking Jiang Yiqi.

Just a strand of hair could confirm a parent-child relationship through modern technology.

It seemed he needed to find time to return to the Jiang family.