Ever since that meal opened the door to her appetite, Qiao Jingjing's weight had been skyrocketing. One afternoon, Ling Jie came by for an inspection and immediately pinched her cheek.
"How much do you weigh now?"
"95 jin."
Ling Jie gasped sharply: "You've gained five jin? Five jin in just one week? Even if you're trying to gain weight, you don't have to be in such a hurry. Aren't you afraid that blogger will come after you again?"
"Don't worry. She was recently caught in candid photos and has gained at least ten jin herself. How dare she criticize me with a face that big!"
With her secret account, Qiao Jingjing kept up with all the gossip at all times!
"Besides," Qiao Jingjing said proudly, "I've reached Diamond I in just one week. What's the problem with gaining five jin?"
Yes, Qiao Jingjing was now a prestigious Diamond I, and she had achieved it entirely through solo queue.
Yu Tu?
Nonexistent.
Teacher Yu outright refused to duo queue with her, strictly adhering to the educational principle of having her reach King Tier through solo queue. Sometimes, when she encountered terrible teammates consecutively and suffered ten straight losses, making her so angry she wanted to throw her phone, it still couldn't shake his cold heart.
His reasoning was quite sound too.
"In competitions, you'll have two random teammates. You won't know their skill level, so you should prepare for the worst."
Did she think that was all? No, there was even worse, like right now.
"In the last ranked match, you were the one who let your teammates down."
As soon as Ling Jie left after discussing matters, Teacher Yu, who had remained silent until then, seamlessly began his lecture. "In two team fights, you initiated before your teammates could catch up. You were too impatient."
Qiao Jingjing: "..."
Yu Tu: "I recorded it. Come over and watch."
Qiao Jingjing: "...Wait a moment, let me weigh myself again."
Qiao Jingjing put down her phone and scurried away.
There was a scale by the entrance too. Qiao Jingjing went over and weighed herself, returning with a somewhat heavy heart.
After that lunch, she had actually reached 96 jin. Although it usually dropped a bit by the next morning, if she continued with a big dinner tonight, it might temporarily increase to 97?
Should she still go to the restaurant she had planned for tonight? The oil-braised shrimp and drunken chicken with Huadiao wine were really tempting. And it had been so long since she last ate out.
But, as a female celebrity, professional integrity was also important. How could she let her weight reach ninety-six or ninety-seven jin?
She sat on the sofa, her slightly rounder face looking solemn.
Yu Tu observed her for a few seconds, wondering if he had been too strict and harsh with his words. He rarely felt the need to reflect on himself, but before even a minute passed, he heard Qiao Jingjing making a resolute decision.
"Alright then! If I can reach Diamond by 5:30, we'll still go out to eat, but starting tomorrow, we can't keep this up."
Yu Tu: "..."
Yu Tu: "Come over and watch the replay of the last ranked match."
...Qiao Jingjing thought that if this man ever had children in the future, they would surely be pitiful.
Yu Tu: "Hurry up."
Teacher Yu was rapping the blackboard!
After Yu Tu finished explaining her mistakes in the team fight, Qiao Jingjing continued her solo queue. It was already past 3 p.m., and she was at Diamond I with one star. To reach Diamond, she needed a net gain of four wins. With each match taking about twenty minutes, calculating the time, she basically couldn't afford any losses.
So Qiao Jingjing was already prepared to eat at home, but to her utter surprise, she had a stroke of luck.
In the first match, she encountered a skilled Han Xin teammate who carried the game.In the second match, the enemy team composition was quite fragile, and she picked Baili Shouyue, earning herself the MVP title.
In the third match, the enemy team had a significant advantage initially, but one of them went AFK after eighteen minutes.
The fourth match was even more dramatic—the enemy team's Jungler and Mid-laner started arguing, and then both began intentionally feeding.
When the enemy Crystal exploded in the fourth match, Qiao Jingjing put down her phone, her expression somewhat bewildered.
Had she really reached Diamond just like that?
Wasn't it said that ranking up was like overcoming a tribulation, with great difficulty?
Yu Tu had been spectating the matches on his phone the whole time, ready to record and analyze the gains and losses with Qiao Jingjing if necessary, but these matches clearly didn't require any analysis. He closed the game directly and asked, "Where shall we eat?"
The place they chose for dinner was an old Shanghai-style restaurant in Puxi. When the car arrived at the entrance, Qiao Jingjing looked out from inside and found it a bit strange.
"Why are so many people waiting for a table?" It wasn't even the weekend, and this restaurant hadn't been particularly popular before.
Xiao Zhu said, "I know about this. It seems they were awarded a Michelin star recently. Jingjing, Teacher Yu, you two go ahead first. I need to return something to the brand and will join you later."
Yu Tu said to Qiao Jingjing, "You go in first."
Qiao Jingjing thought for a moment and agreed, "Alright, so I won't get caught in photos because of you."
Yu Tu replied expressionlessly, "Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking."
Qiao Jingjing couldn't help but laugh, then put on her hat and mask and slipped out of the car first.
She smoothly made her way through the crowd and disappeared into the reserved private room, though the server who led her seemed to have recognized her, barely containing their excitement. Qiao Jingjing, accustomed to being stared at, calmly sat down and began studying the menu.
By the time Yu Tu entered, she had already mentally selected five or six dishes and was still feeling a bit unsatisfied. "Let's order a few more dishes. If we can't finish them, you can take them back for Hao Huang. There are several I'd like to try."
But Yu Tu didn't sit down. Qiao Jingjing tilted her head and looked at him in confusion.
After a moment's consideration, Yu Tu said, "Jingjing, I'd like to ask you for a favor."
"What is it?" She closed the menu.
"Just now, when I came in, I ran into my teacher and his wife. They're waiting for a table at the entrance, but there are over ten groups ahead of them. So, could we give this private room to them? I'll take you to eat somewhere else."
Yu Tu treating her? Of course, that was fine. After all, he was joining an investment bank next month, and Qiao Jingjing wouldn't stand on ceremony with him, but...
Qiao Jingjing blinked, "Couldn't we invite them to join us for the meal?"
Yu Tu was somewhat surprised, "You wouldn't mind?"
"Why would I mind?"
Yu Tu's gaze rested on her face, a slight smile curling at the corners of his mouth. "I'll go invite them."
Soon, Yu Tu returned with a couple in their sixties, dressed simply, and entered the private room. Qiao Jingjing had already been waiting inside with a smile.
Warmth spread in Yu Tu's heart as he introduced them to each other, "Teacher, Mrs. Wang, this is my high school classmate, Qiao Jingjing. Jingjing, this is my teacher, Professor Zhang, and his wife, Professor Wang."
Qiao Jingjing smiled and greeted them, "Hello, Professor Zhang, Professor Wang."
The two professors nodded in return, but their hearts were filled with boundless surprise. Although Yu Tu had mentioned on the way over that he was having dinner with a friend, such a beautiful friend?
And a girl at that?
Could they be dating?Both of them couldn't help but glance at Qiao Jingjing several times, finding her more stunning the longer they looked, with an inexplicable sense of familiarity. However, as a couple devoted to scientific research who rarely paid attention to entertainment, they naturally couldn't recall where they might have seen her before.
After exchanging pleasantries, everyone took their seats. Only then did Yu Tu notice that Professor Zhang was holding a cake box. "Is it your or your wife's birthday today?"
Professor Wang said with a smile, "Neither. It's our wedding anniversary. We come here to eat every year. Actually, we had a reservation today, but somehow it got canceled."
It was their wedding anniversary?
Qiao Jingjing immediately looked at Yu Tu, her eyes asking if their presence was inconvenient.
Yu Tu also felt it might be inappropriate and was about to speak when the observant Professor Wang preempted him, saying, "It's fine, it's fine. We're an old married couple and actually prefer having more people around—it's livelier. Besides, you're the ones who booked this private room."
Since the elders had said so, it would be awkward to leave.
Professor Zhang reached for the menu to order: "Let me handle the dishes. I've been eating here for decades and know what's good. Consider this my treat today."
Professor Wang said, half-amused and half-exasperated, "We're the ones using their private room—don't turn it around."
Yu Tu smiled and poured tea for everyone, then called the server to take their order.
While ordering, the server kept glancing at Qiao Jingjing with an excited expression. Fortunately, their professionalism prevailed, and they didn't say anything.
Professor Wang, however, looked at her a few more times with a puzzled expression.
Qiao Jingjing responded with a dignified, ladylike smile, which made Professor Wang somewhat embarrassed.
After ordering, the server left the private room. Professor Zhang took a sip of water and asked Yu Tu, "You didn't go traveling? You've been in Shanghai all along?"
"Yes, I had some matters to attend to in Shanghai."
Professor Zhang nodded, seeming in high spirits. "Actually, I was just about to look for you."
He beamed with a smile. "Yu Tu, I've already resolved your issue."
Yu Tu was taken aback.
"I know that you and Guan Zai have faced some frustrations with the current model project. Your project doesn't show immediate returns like civilian models, so it's natural that higher-ups aren't prioritizing it as much in terms of attention and resources. There's also some inefficiency in staffing, and unfair situations do occur—I'm aware of that. When you impulsively talked about leaving before, I understood, so I suggested you take a break. First, to give you some space, and second, as a strategy to make it clear to the higher-ups that the problems exist and must be addressed."
The old professor was quite pleased with his little scheme. "Normally, I don't get involved in administrative matters, but it's important to voice concerns when necessary. Sure enough, when I brought it up, the institute took it very seriously. Your project represents the future, and both you and Guan Zai are seen as the next generation of leaders."
"Your break is almost over, right? In a few days, there will be a meeting. You and Guan Zai should present your difficulties and requirements—aim to get everything addressed at once."
Qiao Jingjing gently set down her teacup, resisting the urge to look at Yu Tu. So, he had to deal with these issues at work too? And it seemed his teacher didn't know that his thoughts of leaving were also influenced by considerations for his parents?
Professor Zhang finished speaking, but Yu Tu remained silent for a long while without responding.
The old professor seemed to sense the unusual atmosphere, and his smile gradually faded as he realized something was wrong. "You still plan to leave?"
Professor Wang quickly interjected, "Let's not talk about work today. Let's keep things relaxed and just enjoy the meal."Professor Zhang was somewhat angry, "Let him speak, what other reasons are there?"
Yu Tu lowered his eyes and said clearly, "Teacher, I resigned for the money."
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