The competition was officially over, and it had been a productive one.
A few people were in a hurry to get home and left directly; most of the group had luggage still at the school, so there was an organized return trip.
Zhu Yun was in charge of the ticket exchange at the airport — with Li Xun in the same group as a point of comparison, Old Teacher Lin had complete confidence in his class representative handling the logistics.
When collecting the boarding passes, Zhu Yun had been clever about it and arranged herself and Li Xun side by side — but fate had other ideas, and the moment they boarded, Old Teacher Lin swapped seats with her.
Zhu Yun was one hundred and eighty percent unhappy about this.
You’re already so old, why are you competing with a young girl for a seat……
At least Old Teacher Lin’s seat was just one row ahead. Once Zhu Yun had settled into the new spot, she pressed her back firmly against her seat, pricked up her ears, and eavesdropped on the conversation behind her.
After the customary opening of criticism and scolding, Old Teacher Lin moved on to the real subject.
“What are your plans going forward?”
Zhu Yun’s ears perked up.
Did Li Xun actually look like someone capable of having a normal conversation about his future plans?
Sure enough — the next second came Li Xun’s breezy reply:
“Probably going to sell potatoes.”
Old Teacher Lin erupted: “Don’t give me that nonsense!”
Zhu Yun hunched her shoulders in the row ahead, then heard Old Teacher Lin say: “I’m talking to you seriously right now — get your attitude together! Do you hear me? Open your eyes!”
Finally getting somewhere. Old Teacher Lin said to Li Xun: “Here’s the thing — do you know Peng Guorui? He’s a computer science professor who receives a special national stipend, and he’s also my teacher. He’s currently working on developing the operating system for a large-scale national computer project. Does that interest you?”
A brief silence. Li Xun said slowly: “That kind of thing would be classified, wouldn’t it.”
Old Teacher Lin laughed. “Of course it is. Didn’t expect you to know that.”
Li Xun said nothing. Old Teacher Lin went on with a note of feeling in his voice: “In all my years of teaching, I’ve come across plenty of talented students — but someone who already has this much hands-on practical experience right off the bat? You’re genuinely the first. Your family must be in this field — it’s the only way you could have been exposed from such a young age. What do your parents do?”
Li Xun: “They sell potatoes.”
Old Teacher Lin: “……”
“You incorrigible little——!” Old Teacher Lin laughed despite himself, then steered back to the matter at hand. “You got that part right — it is classified, and getting on the project itself isn’t possible. But Professor Peng is opening a seminar soon, aimed primarily at his own students, for in-depth theoretical training. It would last about a month. I’ve recommended you to him.”
Li Xun: “A month…… the new term will have started by then.”
“You don’t need to worry about school — I’ll speak with the department head. It comes down to what you want. But this is a real opportunity. It would do a great deal to consolidate your entire knowledge base, and it’s not something just anyone can access. I hope that you——”
“Fine.”
While Old Teacher Lin was still working out how to make his case, Li Xun had already nodded his agreement. And with his agreement came a rare flash of courtesy: “Thank you, Teacher.”
“……” The sudden normalcy of it caught Old Teacher Lin off guard. “Why did you agree so easily this time?”
Li Xun tilted his head slowly toward him, and gave Old Teacher Lin a smile that said: you know and I know. “That place is a bit different from this little competition, isn’t it.”
Old Teacher Lin pointed a finger at him and shook his head repeatedly. “You crafty little——. Alright, I’ll put in a good word for you. It’s not a place you can just walk into, though — there’ll likely be a small assessment, but for someone like you that shouldn’t be any obstacle……”
The conversation continued. Zhu Yun had stopped wanting to listen.
If there had been a mirror in front of her right now, she would have seen that the corners of her mouth had drooped all the way to her chin.
They had only gotten together the night before last, hadn’t they……
Had forty-eight hours even passed……
Was this any way to handle things?
Of course — regarding the course Professor Peng was offering that Old Teacher Lin had just mentioned, she was fully, enthusiastically in favor of Li Xun going. But that didn’t mean the matter had zero value as something to at least mention to her first.
Zhu Yun had no experience in relationships. She kept running through films and television dramas in her mind — in most of them, after the leads had finally confirmed their feelings for each other through all manner of trials and tribulations, there was always a light, easy stretch of scenes to ease things down gradually…… Why had that part apparently been skipped entirely in their case.
When they landed and went to collect luggage, both Zhu Yun and Li Xun had nothing to claim — they stood at the back of the group.
“I have something to take care of later. I probably won’t go back to campus,” Li Xun said.
Zhu Yun turned. “Is it what Teacher Lin mentioned? You’re going already?”
Li Xun glanced at her sideways and smiled. “You heard. I did agree to go — but this isn’t about that.”
Bags were retrieved one by one. Old Teacher Lin gathered everyone together for the airport bus. Li Xun went over to say something to Old Teacher Lin, then came back to Zhu Yun. “I’m heading off.”
Zhu Yun: “……”
Just like that?
Shouldn’t there be some kind of gesture?
Watching Li Xun stand there looking utterly unbothered, Zhu Yun felt a small frustration rise in her chest — but she didn’t want to show it too obviously, like she had no dignity about her.
Hmph. If he wants to go, let him go. What’s the big deal.
With her internal pep talk complete, Zhu Yun tilted her chin up with the air of someone granting royal dispensation.
“Off you go, then!”
Li Xun looked down at her. Then, suddenly, he smiled — and taking advantage of the fact that everyone ahead was waiting by the bus, he caught her by the arm and pulled her around into a corner out of view.
He leaned down.