What subject?
"...Mathematics...Given that Figure 1 contains..."
Xiangyu was multitasking and not very fast at solving problems. However, he happened to come across a long and interesting problem. He listened to chat messages while analyzing the problem and unconsciously read it aloud, gradually getting into the zone of solving math problems.
Gu Chen was about to say something more, but when he heard the other person reading the question aloud, the voice was slow and had the unique characteristics of a young boy.
It sounds nice.
For some reason, the image of the other person reading the question gradually appeared in my mind, and I wanted to see this scene with my own eyes. This thought suddenly flashed into my mind.
Xiang Yu was getting into the swing of things when he finished the test and only then did he notice the faint static coming from his phone.
Oh no, I forgot I was still on the phone.
I picked up my phone and found that the call had indeed continued.
"Hello? Are you still there?" Xiang Yu apologized, "Sorry, I was doing some homework and forgot I was on a call."
Gu Chen listened to the other person's soft murmur, so engrossed that he completely forgot about the call mute function. Afraid of disturbing his deskmate who was doing his homework, he stood quietly in the middle of the bedroom, still holding his phone, until the other person finished his homework and realized that the call was still on.
"I'm here, it's okay." Gu Chen's laughter came from the other end. Unlike his usual cheerful laughter, this time it was gentle and attractive, and even his voice was deep and magnetic: "Was the question difficult? What score did you get?"
As if drawn by magic, Xiang Yu reached out and opened the answer key under the influence of the enticing voice.
"Not difficult." Xiang Yu answered while grading the papers, and couldn't help but complain when he saw the last fill-in-the-blank question: "There are really four answers? Hmm... 150." It was a perfect score test.
"Great job!" Gu Chen's shout shattered Xiang Yu's previous impression of him. Gu Chen said as usual, "You really are excellent, my deskmate!"
Even though I've been praised by the other person many times, I still feel happy, and each time it feels different.
"You too." This seemed to be the first time Xiang Yu had given a formal response to a compliment.
After listening, Gu Chen realized he hadn't turned on the recording function, so he switched to the phone's built-in recording and said, "Classmate, I didn't hear you praise me clearly, could you repeat it?"
"..." He clearly heard her clearly. Heh, repeating was out of the question. Xiang Yu refused and asked, "Is there anything else?"
"It's okay. Oh, by the way, remember to send me your location. I'll leave around 7 a.m. tomorrow and send you a message when I get close to you."
"Okay, sure."
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a moment of silence between the two of them.
It's normal for Xiang Yu to be like this, but it's truly rare for Gu Chen, a chatterbox, to be like this.
After a moment of silence, neither of them made a move to speak first. Even though they were separated by a phone, the atmosphere gradually became awkward.
"Goodnight, bye." Xiang Yu was the first to be unable to stand the atmosphere and hung up the phone before the other party could reply.
Gu Chen only realized what was happening after the call was disconnected. He scratched his head, confused about what was wrong with him.
I lay in bed pondering for a long time but still couldn't figure it out, so I prepared to go to sleep, since I had to get up early tomorrow.
Actually, things weren't much better here. Xiang Yu stared blankly at the call duration on the two people's chat interface. His phone screen was black and he didn't react. He just stared at the phone screen, unable to process what was happening for a long time.
'Buzz—Buzz—'
The vibration of his phone brought him back to his senses.
Gu Chen: Goodnight, sweet dreams. [Goodnight]
Xiang Yu had finally shaken off the awkward atmosphere from before. When he saw the familiar old-fashioned emoji being sent over, he was left speechless.
[Author's note: Xiang Yu: Ha, as expected of you.]
】
Chapter Twenty-One: Who Laughed at the Corner? I Didn't Laugh.
Chapter Twenty-One: Who Laughed? I didn't laugh.
Xiang Yu got up, tidied up, and sat in the living room scrolling through her phone when Li Yifan finally came out of the bedroom.
As the other person passed through the living room on their way to the bathroom, Xiang Yu glanced at him and was startled by his appearance.
What's wrong with your eyes?
"I didn't sleep well." Li Yifan's pajamas were loosely draped over his body. He rubbed the bruises under his eyes that looked like they were from being beaten, and couldn't help but yawn again.
"It's all my mom's fault. She insisted I bring this National Day homework, which kept me up most nights. And when I finally did fall asleep, my dreams were filled with homework chasing me." Li Yifan gestured with his hands. "So much homework! I've been working on it for seven days straight and it's still not finished. It's a nightmare! Cousin, do you understand?"
"Sigh, you don't understand. How can a top student empathize with a slacker?" With that, Li Yifan turned and went into the bathroom without looking back, not even giving Xiang Yu a chance to speak, leaving him with only a lonely and desolate figure.
"..." Xiang Yu watched in silence as the other person finished their monologue. A voice call came in on his phone, which he answered immediately.
"Hey, I just got on the bus. I should be at the entrance of the neighborhood in about five minutes. Are you all ready?"
"It's all packed up."
Have you had breakfast?
"not yet."
"What a coincidence, I didn't have any either. I brought soy milk and bread, let's eat something before we get on the bus... huh?"
Xiang Yu overheard someone talking on the other end of the phone; it was probably Gu Chen's father.
Mr. Gu was probably joking.
But Gu Chen was quite serious, saying in a solemn tone, "What girl? This is my deskmate. What's wrong with me caring about my deskmate? He's a guy. Sigh, Dad, drive carefully. It's not safe to talk while driving."
After finishing his conversation with his father, Gu Chen picked up his chat with Xiang Yu again: "Sigh, my dad thinks I came out with some girls from my class. How could that be? It would be so bad for their reputation. By the way, deskmate, I..."
The other party seemed very excited and kept talking non-stop once he started. Xiang Yu listened and didn't find it that annoying, so he simply kept quiet and let Gu Chen continue talking.
Li Yifan packed quickly, and by then he had already dragged his suitcase from the bedroom to the living room.
The person on the other end of the phone said, "You can come downstairs now, classmates."
"Okay, sure." Xiang Yu hung up the phone and looked up to see Li Yifan winking at him.
"Bro, something's up with you, you're laughing so happily."
"What's going on?" Xiang Yu picked up his backpack and said, "The other side has arrived. We can go downstairs now."
"Huh? You were just on the phone with Boss Gu?" Li Yifan sighed, looking disappointed. "I thought you were talking to some girl on the phone, you were laughing so happily."
"...Don't overthink it." How could he be smiling happily? Xiang Yu touched the corner of his mouth to confirm. He had been brainwashed by Gu Chen's lectures on rejecting early relationships all day long. Now that Xiang Yu was getting closer to him in some ways, he couldn't help but add, "You should study hard."
Li Yifan pursed his lips and replied perfunctorily, "Oh."
After leaving the apartment building, Li Yifan followed Xiang Yu, panting and dragging his suitcase. The two of them left the community together, and there was only one white sedan in their field of vision. Before they even got close to the car, someone got out.
"Give me the bag, come on, get in the car." Gu Chen took the initiative and took the bag off Xiang Yu's shoulder before she could refuse, opened the trunk and put it in, being extremely enthusiastic.
Xiang Yu: "...Thank you." In this situation, not knowing what else to say, all he could say was thank you.
Gu Chen waved his hand: "No need, you're being too polite."
Seeing his enthusiasm, Li Yifan chuckled and said, "Boss Gu, could you help me set off some too?"
Gu Chen didn't refuse: "Okay."
Gu Chen carried the suitcase and put it in the trunk. Weighing the weight in his hand, he casually asked, "What's in it? It's awfully heavy."
Li Yifan said, "Knowledge."
As expected, Gu Chen kept rambling on and on after getting in the car.
During the National Day holiday, there was traffic congestion during the morning rush hour, with vehicles moving in and out of traffic for a while.
With the murmurs and classical music playing in the car, Li Yifan, who hadn't slept well the night before, passed out on his cousin's shoulder.
He started snoring.
Firstly, he felt it was impolite, and secondly, Li Yifan was too close and making noise that hurt his ears, so Xiang Yu pushed his head to the side in an attempt to wake him up.
It sticks back as soon as I push it away, it sticks back as soon as I push it away. I sighed and gave up.
Gu Wenshi, true to his name, looked refined and scholarly, with a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. When he spoke, he had a friendly and approachable air about him, and I didn't mind: "Young man, did you stay up late last night?"
Li Yifan was asleep, so this question was directed at Xiang Yu.
Xiang Yu nodded: "Mm." Xiang Yu was clearly not used to being questioned by her classmate's parent, and even her posture became stiff.
Gu Wenshi saw this scene through the rearview mirror and said with a smile, "Don't be nervous talking to your uncle, Xiang Yu, right?"
Xiang Yu continued to nod.
"Xiao Chen often mentions you at home, saying that your new deskmate who transferred to your school is so outstanding, likes to help others, and is also good-looking."
Gu Wenshi smiled and said, "When he said it was good-looking, I thought it was a girl."
Xiang Yu was a little embarrassed and didn't know how to answer the question.
On the contrary, Gu Chen helped him out of the predicament.
"Dad, it's not safe to talk while driving." Gu Chen said for a while and then realized that no one was listening to him. His deskmate started talking to his own father, and his deskmate's cousin was even resting his head on his deskmate's shoulder.
He added, "Shall we wake my cousin up? We're almost there. He can sleep on the train."
Li Yifan was woken up still half asleep, and as he got up, he smacked his lips and made a slurping sound.
Xiang Yu handed him a tissue to wipe his drool.
Li Yifan was clearly still in a daze and asked, "Have we arrived yet?"
Gu Chen said, "No, wake up first, we'll be there soon."
"..."
I'm not driving, why should I be so alert?
Li Yifan really wanted to complain like that, but he didn't dare to speak up, afraid that Boss Gu would persuade him with reason.
Once the traffic jam was over, the traffic started moving normally again. At least there was no more traffic jam at the high-speed rail station, and we arrived right away.
The three said goodbye to Gu Wenshi and entered the station. The station was packed with people, and they were constantly being pushed and shoved.
I had taken a bus to get here, but I didn't expect there to be so many people at the high-speed rail station. For a moment, I felt like my breathing was blocked by the crowd, and my mind started to tense up.
"Hey, there are a lot of people here." Gu Chen held the front line alone, his hand tightly gripping Xiang Yu's backpack strap behind him, leading Xiang Yu forward and doing a great job.
"Don't lose them."
This almost caused Li Yifan to be separated from his cousin. He clung to his cousin's backpack and followed closely, afraid of being left behind. He only breathed a sigh of relief when he got on the bus.