Chapter Three: A Millennium of Love

The next day was registration day at the university. Alone, Du Gu Ming carried his admission letter to Ningxia University, located in Yinchuan, Ningxia Province.

At the grand and imposing entrance, the name "Ningxia University" gleamed in bold golden characters, exuding an air of prestige and dignity. No wonder it was one of the country’s 211 Project universities—the gates alone were testament to its distinguished status.

As Du Gu Ming approached, he was startled—not by the imposing gate, but by the scene before it. Lined up in perfect order were more than a dozen luxury cars—not just the usual BMWs and Mercedes, but Rolls Royces, Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and even a Bugatti Veyron. Good heavens, was this reality being upended?

He couldn’t help but mutter to himself: Did attending university now require arriving in a luxury sports car? Although Du Gu Ming himself owned a few such vehicles, he would never flaunt them at school.

Truth be told, he harbored a certain resentment toward those who flaunted their wealth. Yet, this unusual sight left him puzzled. These cars were far beyond the reach of ordinary folk; even most of the wealthy would think twice before buying one. This meant that at least a dozen scions of powerful families—truly the elite among the elite—were gathered here. For a regional university, this was simply inconceivable. Unless...

A thought struck him—were these students, like himself, compelled by their families to attend this school? If so... Du Gu Ming glanced up at the four golden characters of Ningxia University and whispered, “I’m determined to uncover whatever secrets you’re hiding here.”

With that, he strode confidently onto campus, his devilishly handsome face lit by a self-assured smile.

It had to be said: Chinese universities were vast. Du Gu Ming wandered for a long time before finally finding his college office. Standing before the building, he let out a quiet sigh and mocked himself inwardly: As I cross this threshold, my university life truly begins.

What he didn’t know was that his entire life would be changed by stepping through that door—because he was about to meet someone.

The moment Du Gu Ming pushed open the door, an inexplicable sensation swept over him, as if his heart had stopped beating.

At that instant, a girl also stood opposite him, about to open the door from the other side. My God, what an ethereal beauty! Before Du Gu Ming stood a girl so stunning, it seemed impossible she belonged to this world.

Her skin was as delicate as porcelain, her face radiant and flawless, her teeth snowy white—a paragon of all charms. Even the finest artistry of nature could not have sculpted such exquisite perfection.

She wore a warm yellow coat, her hair tied with a sky-blue ribbon, a pink skirt flowing down, and dainty princess shoes—her entire look playful yet dignified, impossibly adorable, as if she had stepped out of a dream, surpassing even the famed beauties of legend.

Those large, moist, jet-black eyes could draw one in, the longer you gazed, the deeper you fell. But what truly struck Du Gu Ming was not her beauty, but the overwhelming sense of familiarity—an inextricable bond, as if their souls had crossed lifetimes, impossible to sever or untangle. It was a yearning etched deep in his mind, burned into his blood, imprinted on his heart.

In an instant, Du Gu Ming’s eyes filled with tears, as though he were weeping for her across a thousand years.

With a thud, he fainted.

The girl standing opposite also had tears in her eyes. As Du Gu Ming collapsed, she darted forward and caught him.

She anxiously checked his pulse, her expression full of worry. After a moment, she breathed a sigh of relief, seemingly assured there was no danger. Then she spoke to the empty air beside her: “Grandpa Hei, could you please take this student to the infirmary for me? I still have things to do.”

A swirl of black mist slowly materialized before her, growing denser until it formed a human silhouette—the very same black-clad elder who had once appeared in the grand villa on the outskirts of Yinchuan.

And the girl was none other than the stunning beauty who had sat on the bed that night. Yet, she seemed different now—her aura was more endearing, playful, approachable, a far cry from the cold and aloof majesty she’d radiated in the villa. If not for her identical features, one might have thought them twin sisters. But clearly, this was not the case.

The black-robed elder effortlessly lifted Du Gu Ming onto his back. Though Du Gu Ming wasn’t particularly robust, he weighed at least seventy kilograms, yet the old man bore him as if he were weightless—a clear sign he was no ordinary elder. Like a gust of wind, he carried Du Gu Ming to the infirmary, unnoticed by any of the students and staff along the way, as though cloaked in invisibility or some subtle magic.

He laid Du Gu Ming on an empty bed and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Meanwhile, in his restless sleep, Du Gu Ming kept calling out, “Mengyao—Mengyao—” Yet, among all the people he knew, there was no one by that name. Who was he calling for?

Far away, in the grand villa a thousand miles from the infirmary, the little princess had just returned home and was lounging lazily on the sofa. “Grandpa Hei, please investigate that boy from today. I want the fastest, most comprehensive report possible. Use the family’s full resources.”

The black mist replied in a raspy voice, “Of course, young miss. Barring any surprises, you’ll have everything you want by tomorrow.”

The old man wondered to himself: What’s come over the young lady? Since meeting that boy, she seems completely changed. She’s never before taken an interest in anything outside of cultivation; now she wants to mobilize the family’s power just to look into his background?

Could it be that she’s taken a liking to him? That seems impossible. The boy is handsome enough, but surely not enough to make the young miss fall so easily... Forget it, I’ll just look into his origins and see what kind of person he really is.

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