A few months without seeing each other, Youyou had also grown taller. Although her face still held some childishness, the form of a future beauty could already be seen.
Tears instantly welled up in Youyou's eyes, and she rushed over to hug Gu Ya's waist.
"Brother!"
At this moment, Youran hurriedly came out of the house, carrying a large bag and a small bag. After locking the door, she turned around and was also stunned.
Gu Ya extended his hand to Youran.
Youran, with tears in her eyes and a smile, walked quickly over and also hugged Gu Ya.
"Heh heh, I'm not late yet, right?" Gu Ya asked softly.
Youyou nodded, her eyes still teary as she looked at Gu Ya, unwilling to let go.
Gu Ya hadn't contacted home at all these past few months, and to be honest, it felt rather heartless.
Youyou also sulked and refused to speak to Gu Ya.
Now that brother and sister were finally reunited, all the past grievances were forgotten, replaced only by boundless tenderness and excitement.
Youran was calm. She raised her hand and checked the time, saying, "There's still half an hour, we're still on time."
Gu Ya mounted his mecha motorcycle and, with his two sisters, sped towards the Prep Mecha Mechanic Academy in Wastewater Treatment Zone 12.
Returning here after more than half a year, it was still the same as before, unchanged.
Except, the people were different.
These past half-year had been earth-shattering. Not only had the Gu Ya siblings' lives improved, but Gu Ya had also grown into an excellent mecha mechanic.
Now that Gu Ya had recovered the original host's memories, looking at this familiar academy,
Many memories flooded back,
Both happy and troubled.
The opening ceremony was held in the academy's grand auditorium. The ceremony was very subdued. There were a total of one hundred students in the entire year, most of them children from the surrounding areas. Some lived in the Proletarian Union community, and Gu Ya recognized them.
Gu Ya still remembered when an entire class was locked up here for a whole day after a male student committed suicide.
After the ceremony, it was time for student class assignments.
It was still based on academic ranking, with the strong surviving and the weak eliminated.
Youyou was assigned to Class A. Gu Ya knew she had the ability.
In a short while, Youyou would grow into a little mecha mechanic.
What comforted Gu Ya was that the little boy named Ling Lanfeng was also assigned to Class A. The boy's serious, unsmiling gaze forward made Gu Ya feel a little envious.
Children who worked hard for their dreams had an inspiring quality that influenced those around them.
After class assignments, teachers led students on a tour of the school. Parents could, of course, follow.
Most of the parents here were graduates of this academy, both the poor and the rich.
Gu Ya remembered that when the original host first came to school, he was alone. Seeing his classmates accompanied by parents, the sourness and helplessness in his heart were deeply etched in his memory.
Those years, the original host and Youyou had lived truly difficult lives.
The original host not only had to attend school but also take care of his younger sister. Every day, he had to leave before dawn to collect trash and sell scrap to earn a little money, living frugly and saving up to make ends meet.
Youyou was always hungry, skin and bones, her head hanging low, waiting for the original host to return home soon with some food.
Later, when the original host grew a bit older and stronger, he could collect more trash, and their lives improved slightly.
But he was still looked down upon, even mocked and ridiculed.
Gu Ya was also influenced by the original host's memories, and he grew to deeply resent those who looked down on him.
If Gu Ya hadn't transmigrated and possessed him, the original host would likely just be someone doing manual labor, constantly busy with family and Youyou.
Youyou was the original host's entire hope.
"Brother..." Youyou tugged at Gu Ya's sleeve, pulling him back from his memories.
"What are you thinking about? Your face looks so grim," Youyou asked worriedly.
Gu Ya patted her head and said, "Seeing the academy reminded me of our past lives. The scene evoked memories."
Perhaps it was because she had grown up or because she was in a new environment, but Youyou was uncharacteristically quiet. She whispered to Gu Ya, "Brother, that's all in the past. Our lives are good now. Don't worry, I will study hard and become a mecha mechanic like you."
Gu Ya was a little unaccustomed to Youyou's sudden seriousness and smiled gently, "I'll be happy if you can finish your homework on time."
Youyou stomped on Gu Ya's foot in annoyance.
Everyone arrived at the mecha training grounds.
This group of freshmen was seeing it for the first time, and their excitement was evident. Youyou pulled away from Gu Ya and happily went to explore with her friends.
Gu Ya sat in the spectator's seats, looking at the wide training field, lost in thought.
Ling Baifeng walked to his side and smiled, saying, "Do you remember during the class battles, you single-handedly defeated three people from our Class B? Honestly, even thinking back now, I can't believe it."
Gu Ya looked at the training field and said distractedly, "Yeah... At that time, I just wanted to win. If I couldn't win, I'd fight to win. I never thought about what would happen after winning."
"What about now?" Ling Baifeng asked softly.
Gu Ya thought for a moment in a daze and said, "Now I have other goals."
Ling Baifeng smiled faintly and said, "The strong are always pursuing new goals. Gu Ya, you're not a naturally talented mecha mechanic, but you have a competitive spirit, a very persistent one. There's nothing wrong with that, but a strong desire to win also belongs to the dark side of personality and can easily lead to losing one's way. With your strength, you must do the right thing."
"Perhaps what I'm saying is presumptuous and preachy, but I sincerely hope you can become a strong person in Xianxia, not an enemy."
Gu Ya stood up, patted Ling Baifeng's shoulder, and smiled, "What are you thinking? My heart will always belong to Xianxia..."
And also to Ye Ying.
Gu Ya suddenly saw the spectator seats in the training field.
It was under the spectator seats back then that he first saw Ye Ying.
That incomparable surge of emotion, the inexplicable roar echoing in his ears, and the sudden image of two comets colliding in his mind.
Later, Gu Ya realized that was the feeling of his heart being stirred.
"Ye Ying..." Gu Ya murmured, gazing at the spectator seats.
Ling Baifeng smiled faintly, no longer disturbing Gu Ya, and walked away.
The time Gu Ya spent meeting, getting to know, and understanding Ye Ying wasn't long, only a few months. They only dated a few times during that period, and had heart-to-heart conversations only a handful of times, yet each one was so important.
Perhaps when Ye Ying first saw Gu Ya, she felt the same stirring and unease in her heart as he did, but she was very good at hiding her inner feelings.
Furthermore, Ye Ying's upbringing had made her extremely distrustful of men.
Viewing things from Ye Ying's perspective and understanding her inner world, Gu Ya realized that they both poured their all into this relationship.
Gu Ya pursued Ye Ying wholeheartedly, while Ye Ying cautiously, little by little, opened her heart, let down her guard, and moved closer to Gu Ya.
Gu Ya smiled even more brightly, mocking himself, "I was too selfish. I thought only I was making an effort."
After a long while, Gu Ya put away his memories and hurried to catch up with Youyou.
The opening ceremony was completed, and the new students were led to their respective classrooms by their teachers. The parents could finally leave with peace of mind.
Gu Ya said goodbye to Youyou, promising to pick her up after school and bring Youran and Sister Ling Ling along so the family could have a big meal.
He rushed out of the school and made his way to the Herc City Society without delay.
He still had an important matter to attend to, concerning Special Department Nine and betrayal.
Gu Ya arrived at the Consciousness Field Research Institute, located on the eleventh basement level of the Herc City Society building.
He summoned the eleven scientists who followed him.
Sitting in the conference room, he displayed Dou Mei's photo on the holographic system in front of them.
He scanned each of them coldly and said calmly, "I won't waste any more words with you. Whoever it is knows who they are, step forward."
A moment later, a short man lowered his head and slowly stepped forward.
Gu Ya nodded to the others, and the remaining ten scientists left the conference room.
The short man's expression began to become somewhat discomposed, his eyes shifting uncertainly.
He knew Gu Ya's abilities and personality. He could definitely erase him from this world without anyone noticing.
Gu Ya slowly stood up, his expression stern, his fists clenched. He walked up to the man and looked down at his bald head.
He slowly said, "Spit out the deadly poison card you have in your mouth."
The man trembled, raised his head, and looked at Gu Ya in terror.
Gu Ya said coldly, "Dou Mei trusted you, and I trusted you."
"Young Master, you..."
Gu Ya said calmly, "Your superior and I are friends."
The man let out a heavy sigh of relief, almost collapsing to the ground. It seemed he had truly been prepared to die.
"However, you privately leaked research results. That is betrayal," Gu Ya said blandly.
The man stood before Gu Ya, at a loss, his nerves tightening once more.
"As punishment, you will answer my questions truthfully."
"First, my father's matters, does Special Department Nine know?"
The man lowered his head and silently nodded.
Gu Ya had his answer. He continued, "Look up at me. Then, do they also know that I am Gu Xingchi?"