Chapter 6

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Zewen noticed that her expression dimmed significantly, much like a phone screen that has run out of battery. It is not an exaggeration to say that he could almost hear the hissing sound of insufficient power.

Xi Yu pressed her lips together and said: "... ... No. We haven't been classmates for long ... ... so we haven't had the chance to take a photo together."

Do you have a photo of your classmate Cheng Yin

Did you not look for Cheng Yinyin later?

If one wants to inquire, they will always find a way. Li Zewen said, Her parents' previous workplaces, friends they know, these people will always have some information.

"Really, it doesn't matter at all." Qi Yu emphasized her tone, thoroughly expressing her plea

Hmm," Xi Yu lowered her head, a glimmer of light flashing in her eyes, "After that... we all transferred schools, and I don't know where she went.

Li Zewen retorted, "Are you saying that you transferred schools and Cheng Yin also transferred schools?"

Xi Yu quickly said: "I have a very good memory, and at that time, my relationship with Cheng Yin was also very good. We sat at the same table for several months, and I can guarantee that I would not mistake her appearance even after ten years."

It seems to be the case, Xu Yu said helplessly, I also searched for her information online but couldn't find any clues

Where will you be transferred to

That is to say, over the past ten years or so, you have not seen your classmate Cheng Yin. A span of ten years is sufficient to change a person's appearance

"Professor, this really is not a bother to you," Xi Yu exclaimed in surprise, excitedly waving his hand, "It's fine, you don't need to trouble yourself."

Li Zewen's inquiry is certainly reliable; after obtaining a doctor's degree, one should not have such a long vacation

Xi Yu recalled the scene at the hotel entrance yesterday and suddenly realized that Li Zewen and Cheng Yin knew each other, and likely were also quite familiar with her situation

... ...

"At the end of August? Do you have such a long vacation? What about the work in the laboratory?" Li Zewen stared at her

"Is that so..." Qi Yu responded in confusion

It seems to be because her mother was transferred for work—this is what the teacher told me

I am not saying that your memory is poor," Li Zewen pointed out, "but this host, Cheng Yin, has undergone cosmetic surgery and has top domestic makeup artists serving her

In the United States, after obtaining a doctor's degree, some individuals choose to enter the industrial sector, while the remaining half generally prefer to seek positions within academia if possible. Qi Yu is no exception; after graduating from MIT in June of this year, she secured a two-year postdoctoral position at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This postdoctoral title may seem impressive to the general public, but in reality, it is not much different from a regular job. It is a full-time position with working hours from 9 AM to 9 PM, where one earns money by working. Qi Yu is no different; after graduating from MIT in June, she found a two-year postdoctoral position at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This postdoctoral title may seem impressive to the general public, but in reality, it is not much different from a regular job. It is a full-time position with working hours from 9 AM to 9 PM, where one earns money by working, except that the workplace is a laboratory.

Xi Yu took a deep breath and slowly said, "Because the last time I saw Cheng Yin, she mentioned that she wanted to discuss something very important with me"

"Cheng Yin told me that she does not know you," Li Zewen said

The lifestyle habits she occasionally reveals indicate that she has spent time in both Jianghuai Province and Anjiang Province

Yes

After that, did you have any further contact with Cheng Yin?

Now it was Qiu Yu's turn to stare wide-eyed and be at a loss for words

In that moment, Qi Yu found the feeling of attending his class, recounting everything in detail

... ... Um, it should be possible to stay for one month, until the end of August

However, it is not appropriate to directly refuse the other party while sitting in their vehicle

I did not say that Cheng Yin will definitely not be your classmate; in fact, that possibility still exists. Li Zewen lightly tapped his fingers on his knee, "If my judgment is correct, Cheng Yin indeed spent some time in Jianghuai Province."

Xu Yu finally showed some reaction, she said softly: "... transferred before the start of the second semester."

Yes

Li Zewen patiently waited for thirty seconds but still did not receive a response from her. Qi Yu remained silent, preoccupied with her own thoughts, pinching her fingers and pursing her lips as she stared at the carpet in the car. This was an undeniable posture of refusal to engage in conversation—she was unwilling to bring up this past event, even if it made the atmosphere in the car more awkward.

Why did Cheng Yin transfer schools

"What is the problem?" Li Zewen stared at her, his gaze behind the lenses pressing down on her, making it hard for her to breathe.

Transferring schools is not a common occurrence; during the middle school stage, the number of transfer students that a school can accept each year is limited. However, now Qiu Yu mentions that two individuals are transferring at the same time, which can be considered a low-probability event

I do not know

As time passed, Qi Yu was still quite young at that time and could not think of more ways and means to contact the other party. Time is indeed the best remedy for erasing memories. By the time she reached high school, her academic pressure increased, and later she went to university and studied abroad, frantically pursuing a doctor's degree, lacking both resources and spirit. It was not until yesterday that she saw Cheng Yin again in the hotel—many memories from that time surged back to the surface, prompting her to call out to Cheng Yin to seek confirmation.

She is half a member of the entertainment industry and also relies on her looks for a living. Her appearance is quite important to her, and it is quite common in this industry for someone to undergo cosmetic procedures on their face. Considering that Qi Yu has zero knowledge of the domestic entertainment gossip, Li Zewen patiently explained, "Even without cosmetic surgery, today's makeup artists can make a person look so different that they wouldn't recognize themselves after makeup."

Ah!

Then what about you, why did you transfer schools?

Li Zewen's gaze deepened as he pondered for two seconds: "Continue"

Since the elective course two years ago, she and Li Zewen have maintained a relatively close contact. Even after she went to Princeton to pursue her doctor's degree, they continued to correspond via email. Two or three weeks ago, Li Zewen informed her that he would soon be returning to the country and inquired about her current work situation. Qi Yu replied that she was busy with her work in the laboratory and would not be able to return home for the time being—little did she expect to be so swiftly confronted by the harsh reality.

The national laboratories in the United States are the best places for those with a doctor's degree, similar to state-owned enterprises in China. They have ample funding and relatively low work pressure. Her after-tax monthly salary can reach 4,000 US dollars—though not a large amount, it is sufficient for single individuals without family burdens. Overall, working at a national laboratory is somewhat easier than in a school laboratory. If the boss is not overly demanding, it is certainly possible to receive ten to fifteen days of vacation each year. However, taking more than a month of vacation for someone who has just started is quite unusual. At least Li Zewen has never heard of such a generous boss—he himself is a boss and considers himself quite rational and not pushy, yet he would never grant his students and teaching assistants such long vacations.

Even Li Zewen would find it difficult to pry open a clam that does not wish to speak without any information to draw upon, so he changed the subject: "How long is your vacation?"

In fact, Cheng Yin's transfer occurred even before she officially transferred, so suddenly that she was hardly able to obtain any information from Cheng Yin; Cheng Yin vanished quickly and abruptly, as if she were an NPC character in a game, disappearing at the mere command of deletion

Despite countless calculations, she never expected that such a reliable method of recognizing people by their faces would actually fail. This shows just how much effort modern individuals have invested in their own appearances

Yes, I think so too... So at that time, I also asked the teacher to help me contact her mother's workplace, but they said they did not have any new contact information either. As for contacting Cheng Yin's father, that is even less likely. Her parents are divorced, and Cheng Yin has told me that she can only see her father occasionally.

I have looked for her, but I do not know where she transferred to. At that time, we did not have mobile phones, her home phone was disconnected, and the information from the teacher was also vague. I only knew that her mother took her away from this city, " said Xi Yu.

"... ... Hmm," Xi Yu said helplessly, "I have encountered some problems for the time being"

Li Zewen turned his face to look at her for three seconds, noncommittal: "Really?"

Li Zewen said: "Is she your classmate? If you need, I can help you find out."

What does 'the last time' mean?

Is that so? How do you know that?

Li Zewen received an answer from her body language, and thus changed the subject: "What grade were you in when you transferred schools?"

Xi Yu looked at her professor in shock once again, as she was somewhat uncertain about the point he was trying to express