Chapter 2973

The news of Yan Xiwan’s achievements had sent shockwaves through the Imperial Capital and indeed, the entire nation.

A sixteen-year-old postdoctoral researcher was not merely a title; it was a phenomenon.

The university president had visited Old Yuan and Professor Feng. Both mentors immediately agreed that Yan Xiwan should officially complete her apprenticeship.

In truth, Yan Xiwan’s abilities had long surpassed theirs. Yet, despite her superior skills, she remained deeply respectful toward them. Because she honored them, they refused to hold her back.

This was no longer ancient times, where a master might fear a disciple outshining them. There was no such jealousy here. Thus, Yan Xiwan’s graduation was smooth, quiet, and dignified.

Once she graduated, the president began arranging for her to accept graduate students.

Yan Xiwan stared at the thick stack of student files, speechless. "Principal, I asked for four candidates. Why did you give me so many?"

The principal replied, "I provided these files for you to choose four from."

Yan Xiwan nodded slightly. "I will review them first. Once I decide, I will inform you of my selections."

This was her first batch of graduate students, a matter of significant importance. Therefore, she intended to be strict.

Ouyang Tianyun entered the room, catching sight of Yan Xiwan reviewing the documents. He smiled. "What are you looking at?"

"Student profiles," Yan Xiwan said, setting the papers down. "You’ve come at an odd hour. Have you eaten?"

Ouyang Tianyun shook his head. "Not yet." He added, "No need to get up. I’ll go make some noodles myself."

"Alright." Yan Xiwan returned to her reading. Ouyang Tianyun walked into the kitchen, prepared a simple bowl of Yangchun noodles, and returned.

Yan Xiwan glanced at the bowl. "You should have added two eggs."

Ouyang Tianyun smiled faintly. "It’s just to fill the stomach. Noodles alone are sufficient."

She looked at the files in her hand. "Planning to take on students?"

"Not exactly. It’s more about supervising graduate research," Yan Xiwan explained. "The principal has already intervened. Besides, since I hold this postdoctoral title, it would look bad if I didn’t supervise any students."

Ouyang Tianyun understood her reasoning. Every postdoctoral professor at the university was expected to mentor graduate students.

If Yan Xiwan had chosen to work solely in a hospital clinic, it might have been different. However, although she could treat patients, she preferred medical research. Therefore, mentoring students was an inevitable outcome.

"Supervise one or two cohorts, then you can stop," Ouyang Tianyun advised. As someone who had walked this path, he knew how to handle such matters.

Yan Xiwan nodded indifferently. "Don’t worry. It’s not a heavy burden for me. Teaching a few more students is actually beneficial."

Ouyang Tianyun hummed in agreement. "Our house renovation is complete. Would you like to go see it?"

They were engaged. According to local regulations, engaged couples could live together. Previously, Ouyang Tianyun had been busy with research, and Yan Xiwan had been at school, so they hadn’t moved in together.

Now that Yan Xiwan had effectively graduated early, staying in the dormitories was no longer appropriate. Ouyang Tianyun had simply had a small villa he had purchased earlier renovated.

"Alright. Let’s pick a date in a few days to move in," Yan Xiwan said. To her, the location didn’t matter. Moving into Ouyang Tianyun’s house was merely a declaration of sovereignty.

It would deter anyone from making advances toward Ouyang Tianyun. Yan Xiwan had no patience for dealing with manipulative women, so acting decisively was the best approach.

Yan Tieniu and Wang Suyi did not object. Although they missed their daughter, she was rarely home anyway. Even if she lived with Ouyang Tianyun, she would still visit the Yan family every week.

Thus, neither parent opposed Yan Xiwan moving into the villa.

Most importantly, Ouyang Tianyun had convinced them. Both he and Yan Xiwan would eventually have their own laboratories. Experimental projects were critical and required secrecy.

The more successful their projects, the more attention they would attract. Just recently, Yan Xiwan’s development of the HL virus vaccine had drawn international attention.

Therefore, Yan Xiwan’s personal data and her family’s information needed to be kept confidential. Although Yan Tieniu and Wang Suya already had covert protection, it did not mean no one would take risks.

For the safety of her family, Yan Xiwan moving out was a necessary step. This was why her parents agreed.

"Also, do you want to learn to drive?" Ouyang Tianyun asked. "When I am available, I will pick you up. But sometimes I will be busy with projects for days. I thought it better if you had your own car."

"Aren’t there people protecting me?" Yan Xiwan raised an eyebrow.

"Protection is guaranteed. But don’t you think learning a skill yourself is better?"

Yan Xiwan tilted her head, thinking. "Fine. Arrange it for me. I want to learn."

Ouyang Tianyun naturally agreed.

After reviewing all the files, Yan Xiwan pinched the bridge of her nose, closed her eyes briefly, and then opened them. "The candidates the principal gave me aren’t quite suitable."

"Why? Are they not good?" Ouyang Tianyun asked with concern.

"It’s not that they are bad," Yan Xiwan said, frowning slightly. "Let me explain. These students are elites in their respective fields within the university. However, looking at their grades and characteristics, I noticed one thing: their focus is heavily on Western medicine. As you know, if I am to supervise graduate students, I cannot focus solely on Western medicine."

Ouyang Tianyun understood. Yan Xiwan practiced both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western medicine. If the students only knew Western medicine, it would be a waste of her time.

"You should tell the principal your thoughts," Ouyang Tianyun suggested.

Yan Xiwan nodded. "That is what I plan to do. I intend to visit the principal tomorrow and state my conditions."

She continued, "Western medicine is not bad, but the focus is too narrow. Supervising them would be meaningless. Even if I did, they would learn very little from me."

Ouyang Tianyun agreed.

After speaking, Yan Xiwan looked at Ouyang Tianyun. "My work here is not difficult, and resolving these issues is not troublesome. You are the one who is busy. If you are occupied, do we still need to hold a housewarming banquet?"

"Since you don’t want a large event, we can just invite relatives and friends for a meal to celebrate," Ouyang Tianyun said directly.

Yan Xiwan thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. "Moving is really just our business. It has nothing to do with others. I don’t understand why moving requires a banquet."

"Perhaps in ancient times, people lacked food, so they used such occasions to add some oil and meat to their stomachs," Ouyang Tianyun remarked.

Yan Xiwan laughed heartily. "Is that how you mock the ancients?"

Ouyang Tianyun finished the last bite of his noodles and smiled. "It’s not mockery. That is simply my thought. Otherwise, think about it. Whether moving or marrying, these are personal matters. Why make such a fuss?"

Yan Xiwan raised an eyebrow. "How about we elope when we get married? Or keep it secret?"

"Have you been reading novels lately? Elopement? We are together openly, witnessed by both families and friends. Why elope?" Ouyang Tianyun was amused by Yan Xiwan’s sudden idea.

"It’s just for comfort. That way, it won’t be tiring," Yan Xiwan said. "Besides, I teased Pei Wushuang and her husband at their wedding. I worry they will seek revenge at our wedding."

Ouyang Tianyun laughed. "Since you knew they would seek revenge, why did you tease them?"

Yan Xiwan raised an eyebrow. "I was just looking for fun at the time and didn’t think about the future." She paused. "Actually, I did think about it. I just planned to keep my wedding low-key, trying to keep it unknown to others."

"Keep a wedding low-key and unknown? You really do plan to elope," Ouyang Tianyun said. Sometimes he truly did not understand his fiancée’s line of thinking.

Yan Xiwan stuck out her tongue. "No choice. Hongmei, the eldest, has a steady personality. Even if I tease her, she only retaliates to a certain extent. Hu Ya, the second, seems delicate and likes compliments. If I speak softly, she lets it go easily. Only Pei Wushuang, the third, holds grudges."

"Ha," Ouyang Tianyun touched her forehead. "You knew Pei Wushuang holds grudges, yet you teased her so much."

"I didn’t think that much while playing," Yan Xiwan said with a smile.

Ouyang Tianyun sighed. "Elopement is impossible. Low-key is also impossible. We won’t invite too many people to our wedding, but those who should come will come. As for Pei Wushuang, rest assured. By the time we marry, she likely won’t have time to cause trouble."

"Why?" Yan Xiwan asked.

Ouyang Tianyun said, "Her status will be different. She won’t feel comfortable causing trouble."

Yan Xiwan paused. Indeed, for her to marry, she would need to break through to the Nascent Soul stage. Otherwise, even if married, she and Ouyang Tianyun would be husband and wife in name only.

Once she broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, her existence in this world would be god-like. No one would dare to make a scene in front of her casually.

Understanding this, Yan Xiwan smiled. "If I had known, I should have teased them even more."

Ouyang Tianyun laughed. "There is still Hu Ya and Chen Zhengguo’s wedding. You can tease them when they marry."

"I’ll tease my eldest brother and sister-in-law first," Yan Xiwan said. "Their wedding is postponed to New Year’s Day. There isn’t much time left."

Ouyang Tianyun hummed. "In that case, I will make time to attend."

After all, it was the wedding of his brother-in-law in this world. If he did not attend, it would lead to unnecessary speculation.