Chapter 1010: Another Encounter
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Su Shen’s mood inexplicably lifted as soon as Gu Zi mentioned him twice in quick succession. Sitting in the driver’s seat, he cast a victorious glance at Su Bing, waved his hand, and gestured for him to leave.

Su Bing met his gaze, his lips pressed into a tight line. Reluctantly, he began packing up the stationery he had prepared, vowing silently to himself that one day he would surpass his father’s wealth.

As the car pulled away, Gu Zi, seated in the passenger seat, noticed something that warmed her heart. Snacks and drinks were prepared neatly within reach, and the cherries in her pocket had even been washed. She popped one into her mouth–it was sweet, fragrant, and refreshingly juicy.

Her eyes wandered around the interior, realizing for the first time that the car had been meticulously cleaned, from the seats to the floor mats, every corner gleaming. Clearly, she had underestimated how much this older husband of hers valued her college entrance exams.

Gu Zi felt a mix of warmth and amusement. This wasn’t just a ride to an exam–it felt more like a family outing. Surrounded by such care and attention, she couldn’t bring herself to feel even a trace of pre-exam nerves. Instead, the atmosphere was so lighthearted that it bordered on leisurely.

To avoid the crowds, Su Shen had left early.

This year, the exam venue was set at Renhe Middle School, and by the time they arrived, the school gates had just opened. There weren’t many people yet.

As a family member, Su Shen could only wait outside. Before Gu Zi entered, he leaned down and spoke to her in a calm, reassuring tone, “Treat it like any other day. I’ll bring you lunch later.”

Gu Zi nodded with a smile, temporarily bidding him farewell as she stepped through the school gates.

Her exam room was the very last one, designated for transfer students. The seating arrangement was random, with candidates from various schools.

Gu Zi had just found her seat when she spotted Lin Miao entering the room. She sighed inwardly–her luck really was something else.

Lin Miao’s gaze quickly landed on Gu Zi, her lips curving into a smile as she walked over. “What a coincidence, sister. We’re in the same exam room.”

Gu Zi, however, wasn’t in the mood to entertain her and shot back without hesitation, her tone sharp, “What’s so coincidental about it? We’re both transfer students. Of course, we’d end up in the same room. Or do you think that just because you’ve been to prison, you’re unworthy of being here with me?”

Lin Miao instantly regretted striking up the conversation. She glanced around nervously, relieved to see that not many people had arrived yet. Hopefully, no one else had overheard Gu Zi’s jab.

Swallowing her embarrassment, Lin Miao turned to find her own seat, but as she pivoted, her eyes lit up. A familiar figure stood at the doorway, and her expression shifted to one of pure delight. “Gong Zhan, you’re here!”

The mention of that name sent ripples through the room. Heads turned in unison, and murmurs spread like wildfire. The long-absent son of a prominent commander had made a rare public appearance.

But why? Why would someone of his stature take on the trivial task of invigilating an exam room? Was there someone important in this very room he was here for?

All eyes naturally gravitated toward Lin Miao, the girl who had called out to him so boldly.

Lin Miao herself was confident he was here for her. After all, just last night, she had asked Li Li to pass a message to Gong Zhan. Clearly, it had worked, and today he’d come in person.

Brimming with excitement, she approached him, saying eagerly, “Gong Zhan, I’m so happy you came for me. But will this affect your work? You really didn’t need to make the trip; the college entrance exams aren’t that big of a deal.”

Her voice softened as she spoke, her eyes darting nervously to the floor. Her cheeks flushed pink, and the envy-filled stares from the other students only bolstered her confidence. Of course, the commander’s son would take on a minor task like this for her.

But Gong Zhan didn’t even spare Lin Miao a glance. Instead, his eyes swept past her and landed on Gu Zi. Today, Gu Zi looked effortlessly youthful and radiant, just like she had back in middle school.

Memories of those days surged unbidden to his mind–her vivacity, her intelligence, her beauty. Back then, boys flocked around her like moths to a flame, yet none of them ever caught her eye.

Her attention had been reserved solely for him. She would save her favorite candies for him, and when he fell sick, she would personally brew soup and bring it over. There were times when, fresh from school, she wouldn’t even change out of her shoes if she saw him walking past the courtyard below. She’d rush out just to catch up with him, even if it meant exchanging just a few words.

But those days were gone, irretrievably lost.

Now, when Gu Zi looked at him, there was no admiration, no affection. Her gaze held only indifference, as though he were just another face in the crowd.

Worse still, as Lin Miao clung to him in public, Gu Zi’s eyes sparkled–not with jealousy, but with amusement and a hint of schadenfreude, as though she were savoring some juicy gossip.

Gong Zhan’s chest tightened. This wasn’t the Gu Zi who used to adore him, but a stranger–one who no longer cared.