The all-round academic master's girlfriend

Back in the luxurious yet unsettling presidential suite of the grand hotel, the heavy doors blocked out the outside noise, but seemed unable to shut out the invisible gaze.

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, the night view of City C was still dazzling, but in the eyes of Tang Yuze and Xia Jinxi, this beautiful view was shrouded in a faint sense of alienation.

Xia Jinxi kicked off her shoes and stepped barefoot onto the soft, expensive carpet. Her small toes gripped her slippers tightly as she silently walked to the sofa, sat down, hugged her knees, rested her chin on her knees, and gazed somewhat unfocusedly out the window.

"What's wrong? Still worried?"

Tang Yuze walked over and sat down beside her, gently put his arm around her shoulder, and asked softly.

Xia Jinxi shook her head, turned to look at Tang Yuze, and her long eyelashes trembled slightly.

"Brother, the research project you're going to participate in this time... I don't really understand it, but it sounds really impressive and important."

"Will it... take a very, very long time?"

She hesitated for a moment before speaking softly, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible loneliness.

"Yes, it does require a lot of time and effort."

"This is a top-secret national research project, and once it begins, it is estimated to take a considerable amount of time."

"We need to separate, so it might not be very convenient to meet."

Tang Yuze nodded, making no attempt to hide anything.

He understood Xia Jinxi's feelings; how could he bear to be separated from the girl who was already an integral part of his being?

Upon hearing Tang Yuze confirm it himself, Xia Jinxi's eyes dimmed for a moment.

But then, she pursed her lips tightly, as if she had made up her mind.

She raised her head, her gaze fixed firmly on Tang Yuze, his figure reflected in her clear eyes.

"Brother, I support you unconditionally."

"Really! Although I don't understand those formulas and genes, I know that this is a great thing that can make our country stronger and help many, many people around the world!"

I'm proud of you.

Xia Jinxi's tone was so earnest it was almost pious.

"But...the thought of not seeing my brother for a very, very long time still makes me feel empty and especially sad..."

She paused, her voice lowering slightly, carrying a hint of undisguised melancholy.

However, this vulnerability lasted only a moment before her gaze became incredibly firm again, even carrying a resolute determination.

She reached out and grasped Tang Yuze's hand tightly, as if to pass on her beliefs and strength to him.

"But it's okay, brother, you don't need to worry about me!"

Xia Jinxi spoke each word firmly and clearly.

A slight blush rose to her cheeks, not from shyness, but from excitement and solemnity.

"Whether this research takes ten or twenty years, I will wait for you!"

"I will study hard and live well. I will stay in Beijing, in our new home, waiting for you to come back!"

"I'll wait for you to come back, and then you can marry me. Xiaoxi will always be waiting for you!"

She gazed into Tang Yuze's eyes and uttered the promise hidden deep in her heart.

"Ten years? Twenty years?"

Tang Yuze was stunned. He looked at the girl's extremely serious expression, which even carried a sense of tragic heroism, and for a moment he was unable to react.

Then, he suddenly realized what was going on, and felt both amused and overwhelmed by an indescribable, warm feeling.

That silly girl, she must have misunderstood something.

She thought this research would be like some legendary top-secret projects, requiring participants to remain anonymous and isolated from the world for decades.

"Silly girl, what are you thinking? Who told you it would take that long?"

Tang Yuze couldn't help but chuckle softly, reaching out to gently flick Xia Jinxi's forehead, his tone filled with doting helplessness.

"Eh?"

Xia Jinxi blinked her big eyes, looking completely bewildered.

"Isn't that how it is in the movies? Those super-secret research projects, aren't they all..."

"Deciphering the human genome formula is indeed a groundbreaking and great project, but it didn't take as long as you might imagine."

Tang Yuze pulled her into his arms, rested his chin on the top of her head, and inhaled the familiar fragrance of her hair as he patiently explained.

"To give an analogy, we are now like having a very, very complex key that leads to a treasure trove."

"The most important thing is to figure out how this key works, that is, the decryption formula itself."

"With your brilliant ideas and current computing power, this process can definitely be completed in one to two years if we concentrate our efforts on it."

He organized his thoughts and spoke in a way she could understand.

"Once we have a complete grasp of the principle of the key and the door is opened, there are still countless genetic variations to explore. We need to use formulas to derive these variations in order to find ways to treat various genetic diseases."

"Then the subsequent research, although equally important, no longer falls into the category of core secrets that require absolute secrecy, and the research environment and degree of freedom will be much greater."

"At that time, I will no longer need to conduct fully enclosed scientific research in the research institute. The exploration of variations will become the goal of all mankind."

He felt the girl in his arms relax slightly and continued speaking.

"Therefore, it won't take ten or twenty years at all."

"Xiaoxi, I promise you, I will use all my abilities to complete the core decryption as quickly as possible."

"Then I'll have plenty of time to be with you. I swear, I'll never make you wait that long."

Tang Yuze cupped Xia Jinxi's face in his hands, looking at the renewed light in her eyes, and made a vow with gentle yet firm resolve.

No, not seeing my sister for a year or two is still too long.

He made up his mind that he would do everything he could to push himself and his team members to complete the research within six months!

Hearing Tang Yuze's clear and powerful explanation and promise, Xia Jinxi finally felt a huge weight lifted from her heart.

It turns out this wasn't a long separation; it was just a temporary one, as my brother was striving for a better future.

Overwhelmed with joy and relief, her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

But this time, they were tears of joy.

"Really? Brother! It'll only take a year or two to finish?"

She burst into laughter through her tears, like a child who had received the candy she wanted most.

"Really, I promise."

"I even feel like it's been a long time since I've seen Xiaoxi for a year. I'll definitely do my best to complete the research!"

Tang Yuze nodded solemnly.

"Then let's pull the hook!"

Xia Jinxi burst into laughter through her tears, extending her slender little finger like a child, her face still glistening with tears, but her smile was more radiant than the neon lights outside the window.

"Pinky promise, a hundred years from now! Brother, you have to keep your word and finish your research as soon as possible to come back and find Xiaoxi!"

Looking at her charming yet earnest expression, Tang Yuze's heart was filled with boundless tenderness.

He also extended his little finger and solemnly hooked it around her slender finger.

"Okay, pinky promise. For a hundred years, no take-backs."

Two fingers are tightly hooked together, as if making a promise that transcends time.

The gentle city lights outside the window enveloped them, freezing this simple yet sacred ceremony into a warm and touching scene.

Despite the unusual circumstances and the unknown future, at this moment, two young hearts are closely linked, filled with shared expectations for the future.

The lights in the presidential suite didn't go out until very late that night. The two snuggled on the sofa, whispering intimate words and planning their life in the capital.

Although they knew that "walls have ears," the warmth of mutual understanding was enough to dispel any discomfort caused by surveillance.

The next morning, sunlight streamed into the room through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Tang Yuze and Xia Jinxi got up early and packed their simple belongings.

At 9:00 a.m. sharp, Mao Huan and Dean Huang Yu's assistant arrived to pick them up.

Without alerting any bystanders, they arrived directly at the underground parking lot via a private passage, boarded a vehicle with an ordinary exterior but a specially modified interior, and drove smoothly towards C City Airport.

Instead of entering the bustling departure hall, they were directly guided to a separate, heavily guarded VIP area.

It eventually stopped in front of a sleek private jet painted with the national flag and a specific serial number.

Beside the plane, besides the crew, were Dean Huang Yu, Lian Wenshi, Professor Xin Ziang, and several other personnel who were clearly accompanying security and research support staff.

"Yuze, Xiaxia, are you ready? We're about to head to the capital."

Dean Huang Yu said with a smile.

Tang Yuze and Xia Jinxi nodded, and took one last look back at the city where they had lived and studied.

Then, hand in hand, they stepped onto the gangway and into the private jet, a symbol of national importance and future mission.

The engines roared with a deep, powerful hum, and the plane accelerated down the runway, gracefully leaping into the azure sky.

Inside the cabin, Xia Jinxi curiously looked around at the luxurious and comfortable environment, sitting close to Tang Yuze.

Her brother had already fulfilled her dream of flying once, but this was her first time experiencing first class on a private jet.

Tang Yuze gazed at the city skyline outside the window, which was gradually shrinking, his eyes calm and profound.

A new journey has begun.

He will fulfill his promise to the girl before him as quickly as possible and uncover the ultimate mystery of life.