Reborn with My Genius Husband

Chapter 186: Even a Bride Price Is Fine

The Mathematics Department’s formation was right next to the Finance Department’s. Mortimer Quincy’s class, Finance Class 1, and Holly Winslow’s class, Mathematics Class 1, were in the same row.

However, Mortimer, at five-foot-eleven, was in the last row of his class’s formation.

Holly was in the first row. She was the only girl in Mathematics Class 1; she’d somehow hit a one-in-a-thousand-chance lottery.

...

’At least I’m not the shortest one here.’

*Cough*. ’It feels a bit like I’m mocking someone, but at least I don’t stick out.’

On the first day of military training, the university president had some things to announce, which could be briefly summarized as: follow all instructions from the drill instructors.

After the president left, the drill instructors spoke. There were no other activities on the first day of training, only standing at attention. It started with standing for twenty minutes followed by a five-minute break, then progressed to standing for forty minutes with a ten-minute break.

After two or three hours of this, it was already close to eleven o’clock.

Holly was starting to lose her balance and shifted her heels slightly. The instructor glanced at her but didn’t say anything, applying a double standard. He then yelled at the boys, "Straighten your backs! What are you fidgeting for? If you can’t handle this, you won’t be able to handle what’s coming. Hands flat against your pant seams! If I see anyone let go, I’ll single you out!"

When the break finally came, Holly didn’t care if the ground was dirty. She sat right down and started massaging her calves.

Mortimer walked over and offered her a hand to pull her up. "Don’t sit. You’ll be sore tomorrow if you do. Come with me to buy some water."

The instructors and students from several nearby classes all looked over.

Holly said, "Oh," and the two of them left the training grounds, holding hands.

Pantheon cursed his excellent eyesight. Even though everyone was wearing the same style and color of clothing, he could still spot the hand-holding couple with unerring accuracy.

’Fuck, just blind my damn eyes already.’

The guy next to him was his dorm mate. He had seen it too and asked curiously, "Pantheon, is that our city’s top scholar holding hands with his girlfriend?"

The news about the good-looking, genius couple had been a hot topic in Garrison City, but it hadn’t gotten as much attention in other cities.

As for the honor of being the top science scholar, news programs had broadcast it for days. Basically, any family with a TV knew about it.

Pantheon perked up at that. He took out his phone, searched for the news article, and showed it to him. After reading the whole thing, the guy was speechless. "..."

"Holy shit, they’re that incredible? They were even on the news."

Pantheon shot him a disdainful look. "That’s nothing. In high school, they dated right in front of the principal and teachers, and no one did anything or said a word."

"And both their parents approved. How awesome is that?"

In the guy’s experience, dating in high school had to be done secretly and carefully. This was the first time he’d ever heard of a case where the principal and teachers didn’t interfere, and both sets of parents approved.

He was both amazed and envious. "Your school is so laid-back. At my school, they’d hunt down anyone dating. If you got caught, you’d be publicly criticized."

Pantheon’s tone had a hint of a single guy’s sour grapes. "You’re overthinking it. Our school cracked down on everyone *except* them. Get caught, and you’d be publicly called out and forced to write a self-criticism."

The guy: "..."

’What kind of divine-tier maneuver is that?’

He asked, "Is he the principal’s son?"

"Nope."

Pantheon couldn’t help but chuckle. He then gave the guy a look that said, ’Figure it out yourself,’ and headed to the campus mini-mart to buy water.

He only got half the gossip, and now the story was cut short. The guy: "..."

’Is this something a human being would even do?’

...

The mini-mart was crowded, so Mortimer had Holly wait for him on the circular stone planter by the entrance.

Once he was inside, Holly pulled out her phone and checked the "Little Fairies" group chat. Anna Willow and Iris Kensington were complaining about the horrors of military training.

Anna Willow: Our instructor is a psycho, he doesn’t treat guys and girls any differently. AHHH!! I just fidgeted a little and he made me stand out by myself.

He also said my hat was crooked, demonstrated how to wear it, and then made me put it on for him to inspect.

Iris Kensington: Hahahaha, I’m dying! Anna, that’s so rough.

Our instructor is fine, though. He’s pretty handsome, looks to be only twenty-five or twenty-six. All the girls in my class want to get his contact info.

Holly pitied Anna’s plight for a second before she couldn’t help but laugh.

Holly Winslow: Anna, you’d better watch out.

Then she replied to Iris.

Holly Winslow: Let’s see.

Anna Willow: *cries* (´;︵;`), console me, I wanna see too.

Iris sent a picture to the group. Holly tapped to enlarge it. He was indeed quite handsome, in a rugged sort of way.

Anna Willow: Not my type.

Btw, I tried to break up with Zeke Zane last night, but he said no.

Ugh, there are no feelings left. It’s a waste of my youth, a waste of my "beauty."

Iris Kensington: ...

Holly Winslow: ...

’Looks like Zeke’s love life is going to be a bit bumpy this time around.’ In her past life, Anna and Zeke’s relationship had been the smoothest of the three friends, and they were the couple who dated for the shortest time before getting married.

*Cough*. ’Maybe it was because Zeke had already slimmed down by then and was much better looking.’

’Otherwise, Anna wouldn’t have stayed in a long-distance relationship with him for several years.’

Iris Kensington: Have Holly introduce you to a handsome guy. Branton University must have some.

Anna Willow: I’ll go as soon as I’m single. I’m determined to find a tall, rich, and handsome guy.

Holly couldn’t help but try to persuade her.

Holly Winslow: Why don’t you give it a bit more time? I have a feeling Zeke is a potential dark horse.

Anna Willow: ...

Holly, are you trying to say Zeke is fat?

Iris Kensington: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... I’m dead.

Holly Winslow: ...

I was just using a metaphor.

Iris Kensington: I think Zeke is actually decent-looking. He’d definitely be handsome if he slimmed down. Anna, you should just ’raise’ your boyfriend a bit more. ’Raise’ him up and he’ll be handsome.

Anna Willow posted a status update: My fairy god-sister says fat guys are dark horses and told me to ’raise’ mine a bit more.

Zeke Zane commented: ’Raise’ me?

Anna Willow sent a screenshot to the group, which made Holly laugh.

She checked the time. Three minutes had already passed. If Mortimer didn’t come out soon, they would have to fall in.

She got up and went into the mini-mart. As soon as she entered, she saw Mortimer trying to pay. The card reader was probably broken; it couldn’t read his meal card, and everyone was waiting.

She felt around in her pocket, pulled out a ten-yuan bill, and handed it to the young woman at the register. She pointed to the water in Mortimer’s hand. "For the two bottles of water."

The young woman glanced at her, then at Mortimer, before giving her six yuan in change.

Holly paid no mind to the cashier’s thoughts. ’It’s no use looking. Mortimer is already my husband.’

She took a few more bills from her pocket and stuffed them into Mortimer’s. Grinning, she said, "Leaving the dorm without any money? Are you planning on robbing someone?"

A smile flashed in Mortimer’s eyes as he twisted open a bottle of water and handed it to her. "You don’t have to give me any. I have cash back in the dorm."

Holly took a sip of water, then tilted her face up and said, "Hehe, pay me back double tomorrow. I don’t do business at a loss."

Hearing this, Mortimer raised an eyebrow. "I could even give you the betrothal gift."

Holly: "..."

"In your dreams."

’That guy Mortimer is getting restless. He wants to get married.’

She used to think that with Mortimer’s looks, he wouldn’t turn from his prodigal ways until he’d broken at least seven or eight girls’ hearts.

She never expected that he wouldn’t break a single one and would instead dive headfirst into the grave of marriage.

*Cough*. ’I don’t dare say that out loud. If I did, Mortimer would "break" me.’

Suddenly, she heard a whistle blow in the distance. Holly’s eyes went wide. She grabbed Mortimer and sprinted toward the training grounds, but it was too late. The third whistle had already blown.

An instructor at the entrance to the grounds called them over and made them stand on the platform.

They were probably being made an example of on the first day to emphasize the importance of discipline.

Holly was speechless. "..."