“By the way, there’s something I want to discuss with you…”
Gu Jianing told Sheng Zexi about the phone call she received from Elder Chen. She had been invited by the authorities in Beijing to participate in designing the college entrance exam papers.
“You didn’t agree?” Sheng Zexi asked. “This is a good opportunity.”
It was indeed a good opportunity, but…
“But if I go, it’ll take at least two months. What about you? What about Xingxing and Yueyue?”
Sheng Zexi thought for a moment. “I’d love to go with you, but I can’t. I start my new job tomorrow.”
“However, as for Xingxing and Yueyue…”
He paused, then said, “Grandpa and Grandma have been missing them a lot. I heard they don’t have much going on lately. How about this: you take Xingxing and Yueyue to Beijing with you this time? While you’re working on the exam papers, Grandpa and Grandma can look after the kids.”
Gu Jianing raised an eyebrow. That didn’t sound like a bad idea.
“Except…” Sheng Zexi’s expression turned reluctant.
“Except I won’t get to see you for two months.”
Not seeing the kids for a while was one thing, but not seeing his wife? He’d miss her terribly.
And also…
“You’re already over three months pregnant. Won’t this trip be too exhausting for you?” That was another concern of his.
Gu Jianing shook her head. “That part should be fine.”
“I’ll talk to Xingxing and Yueyue and see if they’d like to go to Beijing.”
“Alright.”
So, during dinner, Gu Jianing mentioned that she might be going to Beijing to design the college entrance exam papers and would be away for two months. She suggested bringing Xingxing and Yueyue along and letting Grandpa and Grandma Sang take care of them.
Perhaps because they had taken intelligence-boosting pills at birth, Xingxing and Yueyue, though only a little over two years old, were exceptionally bright.
They understood many things already.
Because of this, Gu Jianing never treated them as ordinary children. Instead, she always explained things honestly and asked for their opinions.
Xingxing and Yueyue had excellent memories. Grandpa and Grandma Sang had spent a lot of time with them, so they still remembered the elderly couple.
Ever since the twins could speak, whenever Gu Jianing called the Gu family or Grandpa and Grandma Sang, she always included Xingxing and Yueyue, letting them say a few words too.
So, the twins knew that besides their relatives from the Gu family, there were also their great-grandparents in Beijing who loved and cared for them deeply.
“Mom, we want to go,” Xingxing and Yueyue exchanged glances and made their decision.
“Alright, then it’s settled.”
…
With that, Gu Jianing had made up her mind.
Meanwhile, in Beijing, the exam design team received feedback from Elder Chen that Gu Jianing had reservations due to her academic qualifications and was still considering the offer.
The team grew anxious upon hearing this.
While there were many accomplished figures in the medical field who could design exam questions, Gu Jianing had been their carefully considered choice.
After all, at such a young age, she had already caught the attention of higher-ups, received commendations, and could even treat conditions like tuberculosis and PTSD. She had been featured in numerous newspapers.
Unless someone lived in a remote village or never read the papers, they would definitely know of Gu Jianing.
Zhao Weiguo, who disliked reading newspapers: I feel like you’re subtly mocking me!
It was safe to say that the entire nation recognized Gu Jianing’s contributions, especially after her recent free medical service in her hometown, which further elevated her reputation.
Thus, inviting her to design the exam questions this time was a fitting choice.
“If Dr. Gu has concerns, we’ll address them for her.”
Only a high school diploma? No problem! Prestigious universities like Peking University and Tsinghua University stepped forward, offering to confer doctoral degrees on Gu Jianing and even appoint her as an honorary professor at their institutions.
They knew all too well the immense benefits their schools would reap by associating with Gu Jianing.
So, she absolutely had to become one of the exam designers.
No matter what reservations she had, they were prepared to address them all.
Thus, the next day, Gu Jianing received another call from her master, Elder Chen.
Not only did he inform her that top universities were willing to grant her doctoral degrees—allowing her to choose one—but he also mentioned that the exam committee would cover her round-trip train tickets (in sleeper class) and reimburse all expenses.
If Gu Jianing had any other requests, she was welcome to voice them.
As long as it was within their capabilities, they would fulfill them.
“So, Ning girl, what’s your decision?”
“Master, I accept.”
Since the exam committee had shown such sincerity, and since serving as an exam designer would also benefit her, why not go?
Taking Xingxing and Yueyue to Beijing sounded like a great idea too.
Almost the moment Gu Jianing agreed, the System’s voice chimed in her mind.
[Ding! System Task Issued: Host, please complete designing a set of college entrance exam questions. Reward: Water-Avoiding Pearl ×5, Fire-Avoiding Pearl ×1.]
Gu Jianing was stunned.
“System, designing exam questions counts as a task too?” She had assumed only childbirth would trigger rewards.
[Host’s childbirth is the main storyline mission.]
[Becoming a Divine Physician is the secondary mission.]
[Whether treating illnesses, saving lives, or joining the exam design team, all contribute to your path as a Divine Physician. Hence, they qualify for tasks and rewards.]
Gu Jianing suddenly understood. So that’s how it worked.
The Water-Avoiding Pearl and Fire-Avoiding Pearl were self-explanatory.
The Water-Avoiding Pearl, as the name suggested, allowed the wearer to breathe underwater like a fish, with no fear of drowning.
As long as it was worn, one could stay submerged indefinitely.
The Fire-Avoiding Pearl worked similarly—forming an invisible protective barrier around the body, shielding the wearer from high temperatures and flames while ensuring normal breathing.
Wearing it meant complete immunity to fire.
But…
“Is the Fire-Avoiding Pearl rarer than the Water-Avoiding Pearl?”
After all, the reward included five Water-Avoiding Pearls but only one Fire-Avoiding Pearl.
The System didn’t answer.
Gu Jianing wondered why these rewards had appeared.
Was it because she was currently on an island surrounded by the sea, hence the Water-Avoiding Pearl?
Regardless, she accepted the task.
Since the exam committee was in a hurry, Gu Jianing wasted no time. She began packing, including luggage for Xingxing and Yueyue.
This time, she wouldn’t need to take the train—the committee had arranged a dedicated vehicle for her, partly as a confidentiality measure.
This arrangement put Sheng Zexi more at ease.
Otherwise, the thought of his pregnant wife traveling alone with two young children on a train would have worried him endlessly.
And so, before the families in Huansha Island’s military compound even had a chance to meet her, Gu Jianing and the twins boarded a private car bound for Beijing.
As for Sheng Zexi, though he missed his wife and children dearly, his new job kept him too occupied to dwell on the separation for long.
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