Chapter 9

I quickly rented an apartment and dug up my study abroad application from three years ago to update it.

Thankfully, I had kept up with the research in my field over the years and had even spent two months last year participating in a university research project. My language and GRE scores were still valid.

The only things that needed a major overhaul were my personal statement and contacting professors again.

Zou Yan was a huge help.

During his break, he was either at my place helping me with my materials or having me bring them over to his.

It felt like being back in high school, preparing for the physics olympiad.

Back then, a few of us would cram into a friend’s house, squeezed around a single table, each working on our own problems and discussing them together afterward.

We were intellectual peers, all completely focused. We didn’t have to think about money or anything outside of physics.

This was my comfort zone.

…

During this period, Cheng Yedu called me twice.

I didn’t quite catch what he wanted, but his tone was thick with resentment. He launched into a tirade, condemning, questioning, and belittling me.

When I’m working, I enter a state of flow where my emotions are muted.

“I’m a bit busy right now,” I said calmly. “Can we talk in two weeks?”

Cheng Yedu laughed, a harsh, angry sound, and then slammed the phone down.

Zou Yan asked, “Are you dealing with a difficult parent?”

“An ex-boyfriend.”

“Well, he’s a parent of a student, I guess. His cousin is my student.”

Zou Yan didn’t press further and went back to helping me prepare for my interviews.

A little while later, Cheng Yedu sent me two photos.

The message read: “Diandian isn’t eating. The dog’s going to die if you don’t come back.”

Zou Yan glanced over. “Did you dump him?”

“He dumped me.”

Zou Yan raised an eyebrow. “He certainly sounds desperate.”