Mr. Zombie lingers in the city

Qian Yun and Zhao Yuxiu remained adamant about not accepting the gifts, while Gu Xixia kept persuading the teacher and the two to accept them.

Hu Xiaoyu tried to persuade him at first, but then he got tired of it.

Damn it, I'm a thousand-year-old zombie begging two juniors for gifts, and they won't even accept them. I'm so tired...

"Teacher, please accept this. It wasn't that expensive when Hu Xiaoyu bought it."

"That's not how it works. The value of gifts isn't determined by the supervisor; it's determined by the market economy."

After saying this, Qian Yun smiled helplessly.

"Look at me, after spending so much time with your teacher, I always find myself throwing in a few theoretical remarks when I talk to him."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuxiu smiled and then looked at the hairpin that Gu Xixia had been handing to her.

"Your feelings for your teacher are..."

"Don't just say 'thank you'. It's wrong to appreciate it but not take it back. Besides, I'm sure I'll need your help again in the future."

Zhao Yuxiu was taken aback upon hearing this, then frowned and looked at Gu Xixia.

"Didn't you listen to what your master just said? There are some things you can't just agree to."

Gu Xixia smiled bitterly, her lips pursed in resignation.

"You misunderstood. What I meant was, similar to the time a while ago when someone used their connections to pressure me, I'd have to ask you, teacher, to step in then."

When this matter was mentioned, several of Gu Xixia's senior brothers began to speak one after another.

"Xiaxia, I was almost done by now. Did that kid bother you afterwards?"

"Yes, if you get harassed, remember to contact us. You're always messing around instead of focusing on your studies..."

"These people, one by one they get to the top and start playing with power. Don't they know that power can backfire? That Zhang..."

"Ahem!"

Old Tang coughed quickly, and Zhao Yuxiu looked at Gu Xixia with a helpless expression.

"I want to apologize for this. When I introduced him to you, I never imagined he would be this kind of person behind your back."

"Since, since it's about that mother and daughter... sigh..."

Gu Xixia glanced at Hu Xiaoyu upon hearing this, then smiled.

"It's alright, teacher. I know you're doing this for my own good."

You don't know anything! Just because your teacher is doing it for your own good doesn't mean I'm not doing it for you either?

Seeing the meaning in Hu Xiaoyu's eyes, Gu Xixia pursed her lips.

After much persuasion, Mr. and Mrs. Zhao finally agreed to accept the gifts from Gu Xixia and Hu Xiaoyu.

Just before the dishes were about to be served, Gu Xixia specially ordered a stir-fried duck blood dish for Hu Xiaoyu and then whispered in his ear.

"Is this edible?"

"How would I know? Nowadays, people use so much oil and salt when cooking, and they use all sorts of seasonings like they're free. How would I know if it's safe to touch it if I don't check?"

"Rinse it with water?"

"A birthday banquet, and you pull this stunt? What do you expect your teacher to think? Did you not consider everyone's feelings when ordering the food?"

"I'm only doing this for your own good..."

"I know, don't overthink it. You're going to vomit anyway, so a couple more bites won't make a difference..."

As the dishes were served one after another, Hu Xiaoyu looked at the plate of duck blood, which was full of chili peppers, thick oil, and a lot of Sichuan peppercorns, and his expression was somewhat painful.

"Can't you eat it?"

"It's going to be tough. With that little bit of blood, who knows how much of it we'll end up swallowing that we can't absorb?"

"Should we take it out and let it cool before eating?"

"Give it a try..."

As the dinner began, led by Lao Tang, everyone stood up with their glasses in hand to congratulate Zhao Yuxiu.

After everyone took their seats, Zhao Yuxiu glanced at Hu Xiaoyu, who was secretly competing with her duck blood.

"Does Xiao Hu want to pursue a PhD?"

After pondering for a moment, Hu Xiaoyu spoke hesitantly.

"We'll see when the time comes... I don't have any ideas yet."

"Okay, Xiaxia, if he wants to pursue a PhD, remember to let me know, and I'll try to find him a good advisor."

Gu Xixia said helplessly after taking a bite of the cold beef tripe salad.

"He most likely won't read it; he doesn't have the patience."

Hu Xiaoyu raised an eyebrow. This was the truth; going to university was just a spur-of-the-moment decision to experience the university atmosphere.

"Is Xiao Hu feeling unwell? Why is he eating so little?"

Old Tang noticed that Hu Xiaoyu had barely touched his chopsticks, instead focusing on a bowl of duck blood and devouring it, while the table was covered in peppercorns and chili peppers.

In response to her senior brother's concern, Gu Xixia picked up a piece of duck blood and removed the peppercorns and chili peppers from it for Hu Xiaoyu, and then poked the rice to drain the oil.

"He hasn't been feeling well these past couple of days and has been eating very little."

"Okay...waiter, please bring us some boiled shrimp."

Gu Xixia quickly stopped her senior brother from adding more dishes, and Hu Xiaoyu also repeatedly said no.

Damn it, I hope I don't get food poisoning after today's dinner...

After all, during the process of breaking down duck blood, it is inevitable that some of the other ingredients from the dishes you just ate will enter your body.

"let's go?"

Hu Xiaoyu, who was processing duck blood, looked at Gu Xixia with a puzzled expression upon hearing this. Seeing the worry in her narrow eyes, he spoke helplessly.

"Why are you leaving? A whole table of people are sitting here, and you haven't even finished your meal. Do you think that's appropriate?"

"Inappropriate."

"Then..."

"But you're in pain."

"..."

"Since you knew that, why did you call me here?"

Because I want you to be with me...

Ultimately, her concern for Hu Xiaoyu's health outweighed her regard for table manners, and without spending any more time with her teacher, Gu Xixia got up and said goodbye to everyone.

After the two left, Lao Tang and his fellow apprentices started drinking contests.

"To be honest, what I told Xiaxia earlier was true."

"What did you say?"

"Is there any younger brother in their lineage? In all my years, I've only ever seen two people as beautiful as Xia Xia and her brother in her family."

"Putting everything else aside, just looking at him, it's definitely worth bringing him in."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuxiu glanced at her eldest disciple with disdain.

"What, is your wife ugly?"

Old Tang quickly spoke up.

"My wife is beautiful, of course, but that doesn't stop me from wanting my grandchildren to be even more beautiful!"

Old Tang's wife nodded in agreement.

"That's true. Xia Xia and her brother are really beautiful. This is the first time I've ever used the word 'beautiful' to describe a boy."

"I just feel a bit weak, and my skin is unnaturally pale..."

"I feel like I'm even whiter than Xia Xia. To be honest, I might not even be as white as him when I die."

"Nonsense."

Zhao Yuxiu frowned and interrupted them. Qian Yun picked up a peanut for himself.

"This Xiao Hu is probably not simple. As for the longevity hairpin that he and Xia Xia gave each other, I don't even have a way to get it, let alone an ordinary person."

Old Tang was curious when he heard this.

"Master, is this thing very rare?"

Qian Yun took a sip of tea.

"If it weren't difficult, why would I have hesitated with your teacher for so long? Besides, the price I just mentioned was a conservative estimate."

"This longevity hairpin..."

As Qian Yun picked it up from the box and held it in her hand, she became more and more surprised.

"Judging from its appearance, I even suspect that this thing has just been sitting on a shelf without being touched."

"Aside from a few signs of oxidation, there are no flaws. If I hadn't been collecting antiques for many years, I would have almost thought it was a modern artifact."

Zhao Yuxiu, who was standing to the side, seemed to be deep in thought and interrupted Qian Yun's continued screening.

"Don't pry into the details of gifts given to you; it's annoying."

Upon hearing this, Qian Yun glanced at her husband, smiled, and gently put the hairpin back in her hand.

"Okay, you're the birthday person today, so I'll do as you say."

Amid the lively atmosphere, Zhao Yuxiu's gaze kept drifting, intentionally or unintentionally, to the duck blood dish that Hu Xiaoyu had practically devoured all by himself.