Thus, Ou Yunchen, filled with questions, went to find Cai Yadong.
Cai Yadong: "Outstanding student? I really don't know. Our Haiwan University hasn't even had any graduates yet, so are there really outstanding students?"
Ou Yunchen looked at Cai Yadong, who seemed genuinely unaware of the outstanding student matter. However, this also proved that Cai Yadong was likely not the talent Yun Qingyang needed...
Ou Yunchen: "I also heard that Yun Qingyang established an organization similar to the Bilderberg Club. Logically, if he wants others to join this organization, there should be some conditions..."
Cai Yadong: "If you're talking about establishing an organization... is it the Elite Association?"
Ou Yunchen: "Does this organization really exist?"
Cai Yadong: "After all, neither I nor people around me have ever been inside. Although we all just hear about it, Yun Qingyang has never confirmed it."
Ou Yunchen: "Has anyone asked him?"
Cai Yadong: "No one has actually asked. Yun Qingyang has never brought it up, but it's possible he's already contacted someone privately and the chosen ones are not allowed to speak about it?"
Ou Yunchen sighed. Cai Yadong, however, said: "But I'm already so old. Look how old my son is. Even if there is an Elite Association, if I were Yun Qingyang, I wouldn't choose me. So you've definitely asked the wrong person."
Cai Yadong: "You might have a chance. After all, you are young, so successful in your career, and so diligent. Perhaps by the time you graduate in three years, you'll be chosen?"
Ou Yunchen: "To be honest, I'm afraid I won't have that opportunity."
Cai Yadong: "What happened?"
Ou Yunchen: "I skipped class."
Cai Yadong: "This... but that's a major taboo for Yun Qingyang."
Ou Yunchen's intestines were already turning green with regret. If he had known he couldn't have both fish and bear's paw, he would have gritted his teeth and endured it back then. Why was he so eager to get Yan Shizong in?!
Cai Yadong: "I remember, isn't Ren Xiaoguang in your year?"
Ou Yunchen nodded. A hint of shrewdness appeared in Cai Yadong's eyes.
Cai Yadong: "I know something that might help you."
Ou Yunchen quickly leaned his head in to listen carefully.
Cai Yadong: "I don't know if you've heard of it, but Ren Xiaoguang is a student specially approved by Yun Qingyang to attend Haiwan University. She's different from you students who need recommenders."
Ou Yunchen began to recall every detail of his classes over the past two years. Ren Xiaoguang's presence wasn't strong, and he hadn't even noticed Yun Qingyang showing her any favoritism...
But the more she deliberately kept her distance, the more she might be concealing their relationship...
Cai Yadong's implication was for Ou Yunchen to approach Ren Xiaoguang for information, but at this moment, Ou Yunchen began to falter.
He always felt indebted to Ren Xiaoguang. When he introduced Xiong Rongfan to her, she was already helping him out of a difficult situation...
Regardless of how Yang Danzhou repaid their favor, Ou Yunchen never had a chance to return it.
Could it be that he really had to ask Ren Xiaoguang?
Cai Yadong suddenly looked at the calendar.
Cai Yadong: "Hey? Why didn't you go to class today?"
Ou Yunchen: "I was suspended."
Cai Yadong: "Because of skipping class last time?"
Ou Yunchen nodded regretfully, even feeling his face burn, even more sorry for Cai Yadong's recommendation spot.
Cai Yadong: "When one door closes, another opens! This is a great opportunity given by heaven!"
Ou Yunchen: "What do you mean?"
Cai Yadong: "Cheer up, young man! This is the perfect time for you to find Ren Xiaoguang, pretend to ask about class content, and also inquire about outstanding students and the Elite Association!"
Ou Yunchen: "But she and I..."
Cai Yadong: "Hey, didn't she use your AtL to invest in new real estate? I heard she never uses investments outside of Bi Xiuyuan. Do you know they have their own investment company?"
Ou Yunchen: "I know..."
Cai Yadong: "I think that girl is interested in you. Even an old man like me can see it. Can't you?"
Ou Yunchen: "This..."
Cai Yadong: "Try it, go try it!"
Ou Yunchen: "But..."
Cai Yadong: "Why do you become so hesitant when it comes to romance? Don't talk about feelings. You are classmates and also partners. What can't you talk about? Why has your skin suddenly become so thin?"
Ou Yunchen: "Uncle Cai, do you really think she... likes me?"
Cai Yadong: "Ren Xiaoguang going with you..."
Ou Yunchen: "Uncle Cai, that's because I look like her deceased brother..."
Cai Yadong: "You... really don't know how her brother died?"
Ou Yunchen's mind buzzed. Wasn't it suicide?!
Cai Yadong locked the door and whispered: "It was rumored back then that her brother had psychological problems and was in love with his own sister. To avoid suspicion, Ren Xiaoguang deliberately kept her distance from her brother, which led to her brother being unable to accept it and committing suicide..."
Ou Yunchen: "Then Ren Xiaoguang she..."
Cai Yadong: "It's all rumors. It's not like they made it up out of thin air..."
Ou Yunchen suddenly understood why, when Ren Xiaoguang looked at him, her eyes held not just concern, but also that indescribable ambiguity...
So, in Ren Xiaoguang's heart, perhaps her brother was also her lover...
Ou Yunchen: "Is he really her biological brother?"
Cai Yadong: "They say he's biological, but he doesn't look like it at all... he doesn't resemble any of their family members."
Ou Yunchen shook his head helplessly. It seemed his face was both a blessing and a curse. There would be no more pure affection, nor would there be help that came for no reason.
***
Another week passed, and Ou Yunchen finally managed to arrange a meeting with Ren Xiaoguang.
Ren Xiaoguang: "These are the class notes, and oh, this recording."
Ou Yunchen: "You recorded it?"
Yun Qingyang's school rules strictly prohibited anyone from transmitting class content in electronic form. He hadn't expected Ren Xiaoguang to have secretly recorded it.
Ren Xiaoguang: "Just delete it after you listen."
This explanation made Ou Yunchen even more convinced that Ren Xiaoguang had prepared this specifically for him.
Ren Xiaoguang: "What's wrong?"
Ou Yunchen: "Thank you."
Ren Xiaoguang: "What for? We're classmates, after all."
During the meal, Ou Yunchen was uncharacteristically silent. He didn't even dare to look into Ren Xiaoguang's eyes, always worried that his actions would provoke her, make her see through his intentions, or cause any misunderstandings...
On the other hand, Ren Xiaoguang became more talkative, sharing things and people she found amusing...
Ren Xiaoguang: "What do you think, isn't it funny?"
Ou Yunchen, lost in thought, was interrupted and had to force a chuckle.
Ren Xiaoguang: "Yeah, I thought it was funny too, but I held back. I almost had to pinch my thigh."
Ou Yunchen pursed his lips and continued to force a smile, but Ren Xiaoguang naturally placed a piece of cut steak onto Ou Yunchen's plate and continued to tell amusing stories.
Ou Yunchen looked at the beef that had suddenly appeared on his plate. His fork felt as if it were being pulled by a strong magnetic force behind him, making it impossible to insert.
With a clatter, Ren Xiaoguang's laughter stopped.
How did Ou Yunchen's fork fall out of his hand?!
Ou Yunchen: "I, I'm going to the restroom..."
In the restroom, Ou Yunchen repeatedly splashed water on his face, trying to calm himself down. But his mind was filled with images of Ren Xiaoguang and him in the US.
He had truly treated Ren Xiaoguang like a sister, but now, as if brainwashed by Cai Yadong, he couldn't face Ren Xiaoguang's feelings squarely.
It wasn't until Ou Yunchen stared at his reflection in the mirror for a very long time that he reluctantly made a decision.