Nominal: Intercepting Zhong Xiaoai, Dominating Handong

In 1988, the air at Handong University was filled with the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms, and also with a new kind of hope.

In early September, with the autumn heat still lingering, the registration point for the Department of Political Science and Law was set up beside a tree-lined path, with a few desks pushed together and several enthusiastic senior students sitting behind them.

The banner swayed gently in the breeze, making the words "Welcome New Students" stand out prominently.

Gu Mingyuan was wearing a faded polyester shirt and carrying a worn canvas bag. He looked travel-worn, but his steps were steady.

He came from a nationally designated poverty-stricken county in Lincheng and took a full day and night on a green-skinned train to reach the university he had always dreamed of.

His eyes were clear, yet they held a calmness and insight beyond his years—only he knew that within this young body lay a soul from the future, a researcher who had dedicated many years to the field of legal studies.

Having been given a second chance at life, he clearly understands that while knowledge is a ladder, in this land, human relationships and rules are equally indispensable passports.

"Students, please register here for the Department of Political Science and Law." A clear female voice rang out.

Gu Mingyuan looked up and saw a girl with a ponytail, wearing a light blue dress. Her eyes were curved and her smile was very infectious.

Standing next to her was a tall, handsome young man in a perfectly pressed white shirt. He was frowning slightly as he sized up Gu Mingyuan, his gaze lingering for a moment on Gu Mingyuan's slightly worn-out canvas shoes, and a barely perceptible twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Thank you." Gu Mingyuan nodded calmly, took out the admission notice and related materials from his canvas bag, and handed them over with a gesture that was neither humble nor arrogant.

"Gu Mingyuan...Lincheng No.1 Middle School..." the girl murmured, then looked up at him and smiled again.

"My name is Chung Hsiao-ai, and I'm also in the Department of Political Science and Law. I arrived a day earlier than you, so I'm your senior."

Her enthusiasm was natural, without the slightest hint of charity or pity.

The boy next to him spoke up then, his tone somewhat distant: "Hou Liangping, he's in the same year as you."

He stretched out his hand, and Gu Mingyuan noticed that his fingers were long and clean, and his nails were neatly trimmed.

"Gu Mingyuan, it's a pleasure to meet you." Gu Mingyuan reached out and shook hands with him gently, his tone calm.

Hou Liangping applied some force with his hand, seemingly trying to test something, but Gu Mingyuan's hand was steady and strong, and he naturally released it, thwarting Hou Liangping's little scheme.

"You came from Lincheng? That's quite far. You must have had a long journey." Zhong Xiaoai asked with concern as she helped with the registration.

"It's alright, time just passes by while I read a book," Gu Mingyuan said with a slight smile.

He noticed a hint of disdain in Hou Liangping's eyes, probably thinking that he was just putting on an act.

Gu Mingyuan understood that this future Director Hou was a proud and arrogant young man from a wealthy family, and it was normal for him to look down on a country bumpkin like him.

But he didn't care; people are at different levels of psychological maturity, so there's no need to dwell on it.

After registration, Zhong Xiaoai offered, "The dorm is over there, shall I take you there?"

"No need to trouble you, Zhong. I can manage on my own," Gu Mingyuan politely declined.

"It's okay, it's on the way." Zhong Xiaoai insisted, she had developed a strong interest in this calm and composed rural classmate.

He didn't have the usual reservedness or obsequiousness she often saw in people from small towns; instead, he had a kind of... composure as if he had seen it all.

Hou Liangping felt a little uncomfortable seeing Zhong Xiaoai being so enthusiastic towards Gu Mingyuan, and interjected, "Xiaoai, aren't we supposed to be picking up Teacher Liu?"

"Oh, right." Zhong Xiaoai suddenly realized and said to Gu Mingyuan with a slight apology.

"Well... Gu Mingyuan, you go and settle in first, we'll see you later."

"Okay, thank you." Gu Mingyuan nodded, picked up his simple luggage, and walked towards the dormitory building, his back straight.

Hou Liangping watched his retreating figure and muttered, "What's with the pretentious act..."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Xiaoai frowned slightly: "Liangping, how can you say that about your classmate? I think he's quite mature."

Hou Liangping felt a little embarrassed after Zhong Xiaoai's words, but the seed of resentment towards Gu Mingyuan was planted in his heart.

The panorama of university life slowly unfolds.

Gu Mingyuan absorbed knowledge with great eagerness. His background in law from his previous life gave him a far deeper understanding of profound legal principles than his peers. In class, he often offered unique insights, citing numerous classical texts and employing rigorous logic, which not only drew the attention of his classmates but also caught the eye of his instructors.

Among them, the one who appreciated Gu Mingyuan the most was Gao Yuliang, an associate professor who taught jurisprudence.

Professor Gao is in his prime, knowledgeable, and has a charming demeanor; his lectures are extremely captivating.

He soon discovered that this quiet student from a poor county could always give him insightful answers when he raised open-ended questions. His answers were unique, insightful, and thought-provoking, unlike those of a freshman who had just entered university from high school.

During a classroom discussion on the boundaries of law and morality, Hou Liangping quoted the views of several Western legal scholars and spoke eloquently, winning much applause.

He sat down with a smug look on his face, and subconsciously glanced at Gu Mingyuan to his left and right.

Gu Mingyuan raised his hand slightly, and after Gao Yuliang nodded in acknowledgment, he stood up and said in a steady voice, "Hou's point of view is very insightful. However, I believe that when discussing this issue, we cannot detach ourselves from the land beneath our feet and its historical traditions."

"For example, the ancient Spring and Autumn Period's practice of incorporating rites into law in adjudicating cases was itself an attempt to legalize morality. The principle of determining guilt based on intent behind it still has reference value for us today in dealing with certain conflicts between emotion and law."

"The rigidity of the law needs to be supplemented by the flexibility of morality. The key lies in the grasp of scale and procedure, rather than a simple binary opposition."

He cited several ancient Chinese legal cases and combined them with some real-world contradictions during the current period of social transformation, providing a reasonable and insightful analysis.

The classroom fell silent; the students were awestruck by his solid foundation and broad vision.

Gao Yuliang's eyes revealed undisguised admiration, and he clapped lightly: "Gu Mingyuan is right! Legal research requires both looking up to the sky and learning from the advanced legal concepts of the West, and being down-to-earth and rooted in our cultural soil and social reality. This is very commendable."

After class, Gao Yuliang specifically stopped Gu Mingyuan, offered him a few words of encouragement, and told him to visit his office more often.

This scene was witnessed by many classmates, and Hou Liangping felt a mix of emotions. He felt that his carefully prepared speech had been completely outshone by Gu Mingyuan.

Another teacher in the department, Liang Lu, also noticed Gu Mingyuan.

Liang Lu comes from a family of cadres. She suffered setbacks in her love life when she was young and remains unmarried to this day. She has a somewhat eccentric and stubborn personality.

Her father was a leader in Handong Province, and she herself held a prominent position in the department.

She admires talented young people, and to some extent, she also harbors a desire to find promising individuals to compensate for her own shortcomings.

Gu Mingyuan's performance showed her that he was a promising talent. The maturity and composure that this young man possessed beyond his years had a special attraction for her.

She began to praise Gu Mingyuan in public, and occasionally, under the guise of discussing academic matters, she would invite Gu Mingyuan to her office.

However, Gu Mingyuan always managed to maintain a proper balance, being polite and respectful while keeping an appropriate distance, which left Liang Lu somewhat at a loss and hesitant to make her feelings too obvious.

Zhong Xiaoai, on the other hand, was like a happy little bird, appearing more and more often around Gu Mingyuan.

She was attracted by his eloquent speech in class, and even more moved by his quiet and hardworking spirit in daily life.

She discovered that this seemingly aloof classmate actually had a rich and warm heart.

He would quietly help his roommates with mobility issues fetch water, and he would gently tidy up the scattered tables and chairs when the library closed.

"Gu Mingyuan, this is osmanthus cake my mom made. It's delicious, you should try some!"

"Gu Mingyuan, I bought an extra copy of this reference book. Here you go!"

"Gu Mingyuan, let's go to a lecture this weekend. I heard it's a senior judge giving the lecture..."

Zhong Xiaoai could always find various reasons to get close to him, such as bringing him delicious food or sharing study materials.

Her care and consideration were natural, like a gentle spring rain, nourishing things silently.

Gu Mingyuan's heart, which had been tense in his previous life in the officialdom and after his rebirth, gradually softened in front of her.

He could see Hou Liangping's feelings for Zhong Xiaoai, and he could also see that Zhong Xiaoai only had a classmate relationship with Hou Liangping.

On one occasion, Hou Liangping stopped Gu Mingyuan, who had just come out of the library, and said in an unfriendly tone, "Gu Mingyuan, stay away from Xiao Ai! Do you know what her background is?"

"You're just a country bumpkin, do you think you're good enough for her? Don't be a toad trying to eat swan meat!"