"Okay, I'll go take a look." After finishing grading 998's homework, Yang Wei went to the homework thread to look at the newly submitted assignments. Li Gou Dan's assignment was the most recently uploaded, and Yang Wei was stunned when she saw the painting.
This painting departs from Li Gou Dan's usual minimalist style. Although still slightly rough, the nose and ears are distinct, and there are even details in the hair. The background is a small garden with only a few blue roses, but the composition is carefully designed, making the whole picture look full and harmonious. He has always had a good grasp of light and shadow, and this painting, as she suggested, deliberately enhanced the contrast between light and dark, instantly elevating its sophistication.
But none of that matters. The important thing is, the person in the painting looks exactly like her!
Author's Note: Special thanks to: Little Jade Soup (who threw a grenade), lestat (who threw a landmine), and Wei Shou Tianzhen Yisheng (who threw a landmine). Thank you to the three little angels who fed me! =3333= The comments on Jinjiang have been acting up these past two days. The comments that disappeared should probably come back, but my replies also disappeared from them qwq
42
The students were also excited by Li Gou Dan's rapid progress.
998: Congratulations to Li Gou Dan for making the leap from kindergarten to fifth grade! [Applause]
Kiki's Meow: The senior from last week sent her a congratulatory message.
Coco: Did you draw a flower fairy?
Li Gou Dan: No, I drew my wife :)
Yang Wei: "..."
So what's wrong with the students in this class?!
"Take a ten-minute break first, we'll go over the rest of the homework later." Yang Wei said, then closed the teaching software and picked up her phone to call Qi Xiaoyan. The call was quickly answered, and before Qi Xiaoyan could speak, Yang Wei started yelling into the receiver, "Qi Xiaoyan, what's wrong with you! Is it fun coming to my class disguised as Li Gou Dan?!"
Compared to Yang Wei's temper, Qi Xiaoyan appeared remarkably calm and composed: "I think it's quite interesting."
Yang Wei: "..."
"What's the point? Isn't the registration fee three thousand? If you're so rich, why don't you go and help rebuild roads!"
"Because I would rather help rebuild your home."
Yang Wei: "..."
The saying goes, "A shameless person is invincible." Unbeknownst to her, Professor Qi had already cultivated this skill to its highest level.
“Baby, I never wanted to divorce you in the first place. I thought that by drawing, I could understand you better.”
"...So in exchange, do I need to do a math test and give it to you?"
"...I'm fine with it if you're willing."
Yang Wei's lips twitched slightly, and Qi Xiaoyan called out from the other end of the phone, "Baby."
"Um?"
"Another reason is that I want to hear your voice."
Yang Wei choked on her own saliva, then fell silent. Professor Qi had not only become thick-skinned, but his skill at sweet talk had also improved: "Did you find these lines online? A complete guide to relationship advice?"
"...I was just expressing my true feelings." He paused, then said somewhat solemnly, "That painting was a gift I gave you."
Yang Wei's eyelids twitched: "...You have the nerve to give something so ugly as a gift?"
"But didn't you recognize it was you?"
Yang Wei: "..."
"That's because you drew it based on my picture!" Yang Wei's tone became irritable again, as if she wanted to drag Qi Xiaoyan away from the other end of the phone. She hung up the phone and stared at the homework that Li Gou Dan had handed in.
Although the figures and background were simple, and the lines were stiff and unchanging, it was clear that the artist had put their heart into it; it wasn't the kind of hasty drawing done in ten minutes to finish an assignment. Yang Wei pursed her lips and kept the drawing.
At this moment, Liang Minghao was also studying the painting on his computer. Although it wasn't an exact replica, many of the characteristics matched Teacher Yang. After thinking for a while, he concluded that the person in the painting was indeed Teacher Yang. Meanwhile, Li Gou Dan had just said that the painting was of his wife…
Good heavens! He thought he was hiding very well in this class, but it turns out there's someone even more hidden than him! Teacher Yang's ex-husband actually came to learn painting in person; the uncle's death was entirely deserved!
Liang Minghao had just finished his shock when Yang Wei started the lesson again. Her voice came through the earpiece: "Alright, let's continue with the graduation project. Li Gou Dan's painting is a direct copy of a photograph, so it will receive a zero and will not be modified."
Li Gou Dan: ...
Li Gou Dan: Teacher, I think you should treat all students equally.
“If I didn’t treat everyone equally, you would have been kicked out of the classroom.” After saying that, Yang Wei crossed out his drawing and started talking to the next student’s homework.
After all the assignments were corrected, Yang Wei summarized the learning experience: "Today, all courses have come to an end. Thank you all for your hard work. After such a long period of learning, I believe everyone has gained something. I hope you will continue to draw better and better in the future. If any students want to continue learning, please contact the academic affairs office. Goodbye."
Coco: Teacher Huajuan is so cute, I'll miss you QAQ
998: Thank you for your hard work, Ms. Huajuan! Will you continue to teach this class? I still want to attend your classes—
Future rich and handsome guy: Teacher, can I meet you in person? :)
The chat box kept popping up with farewell messages from classmates, and Yang Wei even felt a little sad: "I probably won't be teaching classes for a while anymore. Hope we can meet again someday."
After she finished speaking, she left the classroom, while many students remained inside to continue chatting.
Qi Xiaoyan ignored their conversation and followed them out of the classroom. He wasn't lying; after this period of study, he truly understood Yang Wei better than before. Just as different people use different methods to solve math problems, the same applies to drawing. Watching Yang Wei gradually fill a blank sheet of paper with vibrant colors, he realized that perhaps they had overlooked too many details in their previous interactions.
It was during a casual chat between Yang Wei and her classmates that he learned that Yang Wei had fallen off the horizontal bar during a physical education class when she was a child, and had never dared to play on the horizontal bar since.
It was only then that he realized they had never really sat down for a proper conversation... Yes, he did want to have a proper talk with her, but he could never find a topic, so he always ended up talking about Goldbach. He knew Yang Wei didn't like that, but he didn't know what she liked.
Listening to Yang Wei chatting with her classmates while she was drawing, he seemed to be starting to understand how to talk to her.
He picked up his phone from the table and typed a text message for Yang Wei: "Goodnight, Teacher Huajuan. I really enjoyed your class :)"
Yang Wei: "..."
Qi Gou Dan, if you're sick, take your medicine quickly! Don't give up on treatment!
Qi Gou Dan, of course, didn't take the medicine. He slept soundly and went to T University early the next morning to give a lecture. The school officials received him very warmly, leading him to the meticulously decorated auditorium like a hotel welcoming a VVIP guest.
A bright red banner on the stage read: "Warmly welcome Professor Qi Xiaoyan from the Department of Mathematics at Beijing University to give a lecture at our school."
Today is Sunday, and at this time of day, students should either be sleeping or off campus. However, the auditorium is packed with people, even more lively than a movie theater.
This wasn't Qi Xiaoyan's first time being invited to give a speech at a university. He delivered his opening remarks with great ease and then began his formal speech.
Yang Ming had just woken up. He glanced at his roommate playing games downstairs, then leaned on the railing and looked at him: "Hey, didn't you say you were meeting up with Miaohua from the music department today?"
The eldest brother frowned sharply and corrected him righteously, "It's Guan Hua! She went to listen to Professor Qi's lecture."
Yang Ming was taken aback and sat up in bed: "Professor Qi? Which Professor Qi?"
"Have you heard of that guy from Beijing University? I heard he's incredibly handsome, and even someone like Guan Hua, who only scored 8 on his math test, has the audacity to attend his lectures."
Yang Ming: "..."
He nimbly climbed down from the top bunk, washed up, and then pulled a black coat out of the closet. As he put it on, he asked, "Do you know where the lecture is?"
The sound of typing abruptly stopped. The eldest brother slowly turned around, glanced at Yang Ming a few times, and said, "Fourth brother, this is a road of no return."
"Huh?" Yang Ming's lips twitched. "What are you talking about?"
The eldest brother said earnestly, "Take my advice, go find a girl and have a proper relationship."
Yang Ming: "..."
He walked up to the eldest brother, put his hand on his shoulder, and asked, "Do you know why you can't get a girlfriend?"
"Why?"
"Because you know too much."
Boss: "..."
After leaving his dormitory, Yang Ming casually asked a classmate and learned the location of today's lecture. When he arrived at the auditorium, people were already crowding out of the building. He nimbly squeezed through the gaps and found the auditorium filled with students, with many more standing at the back.
He had never known that students at T University had such a high level of enthusiasm for mathematics.
Qi Xiaoyan was calmly explaining learning techniques for university-level functions on stage, his charming demeanor certainly capable of impressing many girls. Yang Ming stood at the door listening to his rambling for a while, and then the lecture moved on to the final Q&A session.
When the host announced that questions could be asked freely, half of the girls in the audience immediately raised their hands. Yang Ming took a closer look and realized that the host on stage was the most beautiful girl in the Broadcasting and Hosting Department, and she had hosted many large-scale galas on campus.
Qi Xiaoyan randomly picked a girl. The girl was dressed simply, wore thick glasses, and had a traditional ponytail. Judging from her appearance alone, she should be a very down-to-earth academic achiever.
Yang Ming guessed that Qi Xiaoyan thought so too, which was why she called on her to ask a question. But as the saying goes, appearances can be deceiving. As soon as the student stood up, she excitedly asked, "Professor Qi, do you have a girlfriend?"
The faces of the leaders and the host immediately turned awkward, but Qi Xiaoyan, the person involved, remained calm and composed—he simply took out a wedding ring from his pocket and put it on his ring finger.
Author's Note: I'm having terrible period cramps today, so I'll only update this much for now and will finish later.
43
The indoor lights happened to shine on the ring, reflecting a dazzling light, and Yang Ming seemed to hear the sound of being slapped in the face.
The girl sat down, looking dejected. Qi Xiaoyan glanced at the students below the stage and asked calmly, "Do any other students have any questions?"
This time, far fewer students raised their hands. Perhaps to avoid the tragedy that had just occurred, Qi Xiaoyan chose a male student to ask a question.
University lectures by experts are, of course, more than just imparting knowledge; they also involve sharing experiences of successful life. So, this male student, holding the microphone, earnestly inquired, "Professor Qi, how can I win over a girl?"
Yang Ming almost burst out laughing. He had the illusion that Qi Xiaoyan wasn't here to give a speech, but to hold a press conference, and that all the students sitting below were actually entertainment reporters and paparazzi in disguise.
He glanced at the direction of the podium, and the school leaders' expressions were indeed quite interesting. They must not have expected that attending an expert lecture would require managing such a scene.
Qi Xiaoyan remained the most composed person on stage. He looked at the students in front of him, and his icy voice flowed through the expensive microphone throughout the hall: "If you enter university at 14 and graduate with a doctorate at 22, you will naturally know the answer."
Male student: "..."
But he was 22 years old and hadn't graduated from his undergraduate program yet.
After the male student sat down in shame and indignation, only a handful of hands were raised when the host invited students to ask questions again. Yang Ming sighed silently; that student's composure was truly appalling. Professor Qi had only criticized his intelligence, not his appearance.
After being rebuffed twice by Professor Qi, the students' questions finally became more normal. The school leaders, who had been sitting on pins and needles, had just breathed a sigh of relief when Yang Ming, who had been standing at the door, raised her hand.
Qi Xiaoyan noticed Yang Ming as soon as he entered, and the host also saw him at that moment. Seeing that this handsome young man was actively seeking knowledge even though he was standing at the back, she asked the students to help pass the microphone to him.
The microphone was passed around for a while before it reached Yang Ming. He tested the sound first, then looked at Qi Xiaoyan and asked, "Professor Qi, which is more important to you, your wife or Goldbach?"
The school leader was utterly exasperated. Had the students been collectively kicked by a donkey today?! He simply didn't want to admit he was a leader of this school! No, he simply didn't want to admit they were students of this school!
Fortunately, Professor Qi was a man accustomed to big occasions, and even when faced with the most difficult questions, he didn't even flinch: "Of course it's my own wife, because I won't marry Goldbach."
The students in the audience chuckled softly. As if afraid that the students might ask some strange questions, the school leader subtly gave the host a wink. The host received the signal and hurriedly announced that the Q&A session was over.
After the speech concluded, the students began to leave. The school had originally intended to invite Qi Xiaoyan to lunch, but he politely declined. After leaving the auditorium, he walked alone towards the parking area.
He ran into Yang Ming halfway there, but Qi Xiaoyan didn't delve into whether Yang Ming had been waiting for him there on purpose. Yang Ming, with his hands in his pockets, glanced at him and casually walked up to him, asking, "Professor Qi, I heard you're divorced. Why are you still carrying your wedding ring? Or are you planning to remarry?"