Chapter 1888 — Matchmaker

"Ah, now that you've all gone off like this, I'm really not used to it," Uncle Qing said with feeling. "When we were together, it felt rather like a family. Now Mr. Gu and I, two old bachelors, come home every day and don't know what to do with ourselves. Even after work, I still catch myself thinking I ought to buy you dinner..."

Wei Zhao sighed softly. Uncle Qing's words stirred him deeply. Uncle Qing's life had been nothing short of tragic, yet Gu Mengyao and little Shu had brought a little joy into his lonely existence—he had even doted on Gu Mengyao as though she were his own daughter. But with the three of them gone, the blow to Uncle Qing was likely even harder than it was to Gu Pengzhan.

Gu Pengzhan, though his wife was no longer at his side, at least had something to hold on to, and his daughter was still his own flesh and blood. Uncle Qing was different. In truth, he had nothing at all.

"Uncle Qing, have you ever considered finding yourself a wife?" Wei Zhao ventured after a moment's thought.

"Oh?" Uncle Qing was slightly taken aback; he hadn't expected Wei Zhao to bring up such a thing. He gave a wry smile. "When I was young, there was hatred in my heart, and no room to think of it. Now, at my age, what's the point? Besides, I carry... too many secrets. Being a cultivator alone is something ordinary folk can't understand or accept. If a secret slipped out, the loss would far outweigh any gain... And then there's my position now. Most who'd want to be with me are probably after the money, aren't they? And if I went looking for a young one, someone about your age, I couldn't accept that myself in the first place. As for finding someone my own age—where would I find such a suitable match?"

Wei Zhao nodded. There was sense in what Uncle Qing said. If he wanted a young, pretty woman, with his present standing it would be easy enough—but most of those drawn to him would likely be after his money. And a woman of his own age would be hard to find. Who at that age didn't already have a family?

Even the divorced or widowed offered no perfect fit, and on top of that, her character had to be trustworthy. After all, both Wei Zhao and Uncle Qing carried too many secrets. If someone carelessly let slip a few of them for the sake of money, it would be too late for regret...

"Mr. Lin, the two young ladies have finished their baths, and I've heated up fresh water. You can go wash now..." Granny Sun's voice came from outside the room.

The villa's hot water system was a single shared unit, heated by one large water heater, so only one bathroom could be used at a time; running them together would leave the hot water short. For bathing, Gu Mengyao and Shen Yushu went first, and Wei Zhao went after them.

"All right, I know," Wei Zhao answered. Then his eyes lit up—he had suddenly thought of a possibility!

"Xiao Yi, go ahead and wash first. I just want to make sure you're all safe, and then I can rest easy!" Uncle Qing said.

"Hold on, Uncle Qing. There's something I'd like to discuss with you!" Wei Zhao said.

"Oh? What is it?" Uncle Qing was taken aback.

"It's what we were just talking about—finding you someone. What do you think of Granny Sun?" Wei Zhao said. "Granny Sun... she's a fine person, absolutely trustworthy. During those hard times, she was always good to us. And she saw me take down those three Earth-Rank experts—she's someone who can be trusted!"

"Granny Sun?" Uncle Qing had never met her, but he had heard Gu Mengyao mention her character and deeds many times. At least in Uncle Qing's mind, Granny Sun was a reliable sort—otherwise, when Wei Zhao and the others took her along to Donghai City, Uncle Qing would never have felt at ease.

It was just that Uncle Qing was getting on in years. Though his hatred had for the moment been set aside, his thoughts in that direction had dulled considerably, and he no longer much cared to look. So he smiled and said, "Best forget it. At my age, still thinking about such things—it's a bit shameful!"

"Pff..." Wei Zhao couldn't help but laugh. "Uncle Qing, love knows no age. How about this: next time you come to Donghai City to visit us, you and Granny Sun meet. If it feels right, you spend some time together; if not, then let it go."

"We'll talk about it next time, then..." Clearly Uncle Qing hadn't taken Wei Zhao's suggestion to heart.

"All right, I was just tossing it out there. I'll bring it up with Granny Sun later," Wei Zhao said.

"Fine, then—we'll meet once..." Uncle Qing said with some resignation, though in his view the matter had no chance at all of working out.

Wei Zhao's failure to return all night did not, as it happened, rouse the suspicions of the other three in the dormitory.

After Wei Zhao had left, Bai Weituo had nothing to do that evening and actually called He Meiyue's dormitory. Once he confirmed that Wang Xinyan was also in the room, the three of them lost all interest in Wei Zhao's whereabouts. Of course, they never dreamed that Wei Zhao might be off with yet another beauty...

October ninth was the day for official registration within the department; October tenth was the formal start of classes.

After classes began, of course, there might be military training, a welcome gala, and other such activities—all depending on how the school arranged things.

When Wei Zhao returned to the dormitory, Bai Weituo and the others had only just gotten up. Song Xiaodao was holding a washbasin and about to head to the washroom, while Zhao Shengji had evidently just come back and was pulling on his clothes.

"Morning, Brother Lin! Where'd you go have fun last night?" Bai Weituo asked casually.

"Oh, I have a relative who lives nearby. They asked me over." That was the excuse Wei Zhao had come up with. Otherwise, if he was always absent from the dormitory on weekends, they'd surely get suspicious—but with a relative in town, going to visit family on the weekend seemed perfectly normal.

"So that's it!" Bai Weituo nodded, and Song Xiaodao and Zhao Shengji likewise wore looks of sudden understanding.

"Where do we go to register? What time?" Wei Zhao asked.

"The notice came from the department last night. Room 1109 in the main teaching building of the Biology Department." Bai Weituo pointed to a notice sheet on the table. "Our pharmaceutical major—one classroom is enough to hold us all. My brother said this year there aren't even twenty of us."

"That few!" Wei Zhao frowned. That was fewer than a single class in some other majors.

"Nothing to be done—it's a niche major!" Bai Weituo said with a wry smile. "Still, it's not bad. Quiet, not much trouble."

As the two of them talked, Song Xiaodao returned from washing up, and the four of them went straight out of the dormitory and headed for the Biology Department.

The area in front of the Biology Department building was crowded with people, and among them were no lack of beauties. After all, every department had its department belle—relatively speaking, of course.

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