Part 2 Hello, Mr. Major General I'm Gu Nianzi

218. Open it!

Had she broken protocol by sitting too early?
Wen Shouyi smiled and seated herself next to He Zhichu.
He Zhichu nonchalantly withdrew the arm resting on the back of the sofa. He tossed the menu over to Gu Nianzhi and Brother Huang. "Order whatever you like."
A waiter in a white uniform was already waiting next to their table, notepad and ballpoint pen at the ready.
Gu Nianzhi glanced through the menu. She had never tried any of the food on it. She shut the menu, and looked at He Zhichu with her large, sparkling eyes. "Professor He, why don't you order for me? I'll have whatever you think is good here, I'm not picky."
Wen Shouyi snorted as she suppressed a laugh. "Nianzhi, you're asking too much of Professor He. Most of the time, I have to order his meals for him"
"Philly cheesesteak, skip the onions. Mediterranean seafood platter. Crab soup. Two of each, for me and the young lady opposite me." He Zhichu had begun placing his order before Wen Shouyi could finish her sentence.
Wen Shouyi flushed. Her face was as red as a tomato as she awkwardly added, "but then again, you're special, of course. Professor He has always been extra nice to you."
"Oh no, that can't be right." Gu Nianzhi smiled as she got out the gift box she had prepared. "Professor He cares about all his students, that's why everyone is so eager to be his student. Isn't that right, Professor He?"
Sweat was pouring off Brother Huang's brow as he listened to Gu Nianzhi. The girl was absolutely fearlessand also absolutely shameless when she was in suck-up mode, it seemed.
He quickly backed her up: "You're absolutely right! Professor He's admission exam is the most difficult exam in our university, but everyone tries for it anyway. It's a real privilege to be able to study under him."
He Zhichu looked at Gu Nianzhi. He picked up the menu and ordered a complete meal for Brother Huang as well: an appetizer, a main dish, a side dish, and even a slice of cheesecake for dessert.
He also ordered a bottle of red wine as a starter, to whet their appetites while they waited for the food to be served.
Wen Shouyi ordered a Caesar salad for herself. "I'm on a diet," she said, smiling and winking at Gu Nianzhi. "I want to be as thin as Nianzhi."
Gu Nianzhi smiled back. "I don't like it when others try to copy me." She lifted the gift box she had stowed next to her feet, and held it out to He Zhichu with both hands. "A present for you, Professor He."
The gift box was a sapphire blue, and rather bulky. There was a light blue bow tied around it.
He Zhichu accepted it, and casually placed it next to Wen Shouyi so she could put it away.
Gu Nianzhi objected to this. She narrowed her eyes as she stopped him. "Professor He, aren't you going to open it? I heard that in America, you're supposed to open your presents right awayit's rude not to."
"Is that so?" He Zhichu glanced at her, his brow slightly furrowed. "You seem to be very knowledgeable. You've been to the States before this?"
"No. But this is the age of the internet, we can travel the world without leaving the comfort of our homes." Gu Nianzhi did not care what anyone else at the table thought; she was adamant that He Zhichu open her present.
He Zhichu was left with no choice. He said to Wen Shouyi: "Open it."
Wen Shouyi inwardly shook her head. She gracefully undid the bow, removed the wrapping paper, and casually lifted the lid of the gift box.
As soon as she saw what was inside, she froze.
There were two shattered cameras inside the box
The jet-black cameras lay in striking contrast to the clean, white gift box.
"What's the meaning of this?" He Zhichu looked at Gu Nianzhi, perplexed. "Two broken camerasis that your idea of a gift?"
Gu Nianzhi pointed to Wen Shouyi with her chin. "You'll have to ask your assistant, Miss Wen, about that. I found those cameras inside the apartment she booked for me"