Chapter 54 – Introduce
Qiao Huaiyao’s eyes were bright, and his face was full of surprised smiles as he lowered his voice and asked, “When did you arrive?”
Just now, he was too focused on the podium and didn’t notice what was happening below.
His reaching hand just touched the candy, and he hadn’t had a chance to pick it up.
Bai Jinyan directly closed his fingers and held Qiao Huaiyao’s hand.
Qiao Huaiyao’s fingertips twitched, instinctively wanting to curl his fingers, but Bai Jinyan held his hand and brought it under the table.
A warm feeling spread in his hand. Qiao Huaiyao pursed his lips, unable to suppress the curve that lifted at the corners of his mouth.
In the classroom, some students were discussing the problems with the PPT with their nearby classmates.
Bai Jinyan said softly, “You came in when you were on the podium.”
He had Qiao Huaiyao’s class schedule, knowing every day and every class time in which building and classroom he had class. He was well aware of it.
In the large classroom, there were usually many students from other majors as well, and those interested would come to sit in on the class.
The school encouraged this kind of studious behavior, so if unfamiliar faces appeared, the teacher wouldn’t pay much attention.
Wang Zhan noticed when they came in.
He even reminded him that there was someone in this seat.
But later, when he found out who he was, he huddled with Qiu Shufeng next to him.
Bai Jinyan had always known that his little friend from this family was quite outstanding.
On the podium, with beautiful blackboards and a clear, calm voice, he explained the relevant experimental data methodically, making it impossible for people to look away.
Qiao Huaiyao saw that he looked a bit tired, and his grip on his hand tightened involuntarily, asking, “How long has it been since you rested?”
Bai Jinyan said, “Just been busy recently.”
He held Qiao Huaiyao’s fingertips and put the candy in his coat pocket, but he didn’t let go of the hand he was holding.
After the experiment results were out and confirmed, he changed his flight.
Time was tight, almost going straight from school to the airport for ticket checks and boarding.
Any delay in that process could mean missing this flight.
The next flight would be in two hours.
Qiao Huaiyao handed him the dorm key card, “You should go back to the dorm first.”
Bai Jinyan took the room key but didn’t leave. “I’ll leave with you after your class.”
“But…”
“Be good.” Bai Jinyan said softly, “I’ll wait for a while.”
An hour or two wouldn’t make much of a difference.
Qiao Huaiyao hesitated, considering going to ask the teacher for permission to leave.
His PPT was already finished, and with the remaining time without teaching, it didn’t matter much whether he stayed or not.
Moreover, it seemed like there weren’t as many people in the classroom as there were at the beginning; quite a few had quietly left.
As Qiao Huaiyao pondered, he looked up and glimpsed three people huddled together nearby.
To be precise, it was two people.
Yu Luofan was sitting between Qiu Shufeng and Wang Zhan, and their heads were almost colliding.
Yu Luofan, unable to escape, leaned back awkwardly, wishing he could just flip over the back of the desk to escape from these two silly guys.
Seeing Qiao Huaiyao looking over, Yu Luofan signaled the two silly guys with a movement of his chin.
Qiu Shufeng and Wang Zhan immediately straightened up and collided with a ‘bang.’
Wang Zhan held his head, and Qiu Shufeng held his nose.
Fortunately, they remembered it was class time, so neither of them cried out in pain, just silently holding their heads.
Yu Luofan raised his chin and pointed to Qiao Huaiyao’s direction not far away.
Wang Zhan looked in that direction and saw Qiao Huaiyao and Bai Jinyan both looking at them.
Wang Zhan: “!!!”
My idol is looking at me!
Ah——!
Buzzing noises filled Wang Zhan’s head.
Qiu Shufeng cleared his throat lightly, relatively calm. He met Qiao Huaiyao’s gaze and shrugged helplessly.
When Qiu Shufeng realized that the incoming person was Bai Jinyan, he was taken aback.
Because of Qiao Huaiyao’s relationship, whenever they saw Bai Jinyan while browsing the internet, they would stop and take a look.
The latest street-side photos showed that Bai Jinyan was in a class at the University of Science and Technology.
After looking at this picture, he looked up and saw Bai Jinyan appearing in front of him. Anyone would be startled.
Qiu Shufeng wanted to remind Qiao Huaiyao, but Qiao Huaiyao was on the podium just now, and with Bai Jinyan quietly entering, it was obvious he had come to prepare a surprise.
He reminded him of what?
So, he quietly held down his dormitory mates, and everyone pretended to be oblivious.
With his other hand, Qiao Huaiyao lightly tapped Bai Jinyan’s hand, “Brother, I need to talk to the teacher.”
“Okay.” Bai Jinyan let go of his hand and said, “Go ahead.”
The teacher was looking up at the master dismantling the projector.
Qiao Huaiyao walked over, and the teacher didn’t notice. He asked softly, “Teacher, can I be excused for this class?”
“Excused? Definitely—” As soon as the teacher spoke, the voice sounded familiar, and she turned her head to see Qiao Huaiyao. She raised an eyebrow and continued, “Definitely no problem, the second half of the class is for self-study, no new content.”
“This class was originally about the PPT. After it’s done, we can leave directly. You don’t need to ask the advisor for a leave slip. Just go back.” If it were someone else, she wouldn’t grant the leave because this class counted for credits. But for Qiao Huaiyao… the credit for the PPT was enough. Plus, he was the only student who completed the content of this class. Others could review the PPT multiple times, but Qiao Huaiyao had nothing to do during self-study.
Qiao Huaiyao smiled and said, “Thank you, teacher.”
“Go ahead, do your thing.” While speaking, the teacher remembered something and said, “Oh, I won’t erase the blackboard for this, just use it for the next class.”
The data on it was a concise summary, even more streamlined than the PPT.
“Alright.” Qiao Huaiyao responded and turned back to his seat.
“Brother, let’s go,” Qiao Huaiyao picked up his notebook and said, “Let’s go back first.”
Bai Jinyan raised an eyebrow, guessing what he had gone to do, “Just now, you…”
Qiao Huaiyao extended his hand and whispered, “We can go now.”
Bai Jinyan held his hand and got up, walking out through the back door.
Seeing this, Qiu Shufeng deliberately teased Wang Zhan, “Your idol left.”
“I saw…” Wang Zhan sighed in frustration, “I didn’t dare to ask for an autograph. It was so close, just a little bit, just a little bit!”
Qiu Shufeng chuckled softly, “You, cough, you can’t be like this, seeing him made you want to shrink your neck into your collar.”
“I’m shy.” Wang Zhan touched his face, “Not everyone is like you.”
Qiu Shufeng rolled up his sleeves, “Hey, you little guy—I’ll strangle your throat!”
Bai Jinyan’s luggage was on the mainland. Fortunately, there were many of Bai Jinyan’s things in Qiao Huaiyao’s dorm, so there was no rush to bring the luggage over.
Qiao Huaiyao opened the dorm door and was saying, “I remember you have some pajama sets here. Did you take them when you packed your luggage for the variety show?”
“Have you eaten dinner yet? I’ll have the cafeteria send something…”
He suddenly felt a tightness around his waist, and Qiao Huaiyao’s words stopped.
‘Bang‘
The dormitory door closed, and Bai Jinyan hugged Qiao Huaiyao’s waist, bringing him in, and kissed him directly.
Qiao Huaiyao swayed, leaning against the door, and lifted his head to respond to this passionate kiss.
“Mmm…”
Qiao Huaiyao narrowed his eyes, and in the gaze they shared, he couldn’t help but reach out and encircle Bai Jinyan’s neck, responding to the kiss, which became more intense.
As their breath became rapid, Qiao Huaiyao instinctively wanted to step back, creating some space to compose himself.
But with a slight movement, he was pressed into Bai Jinyan’s embrace, and he had no chance to step back.
Rose bouquets were visible all over the room, filling the air with intoxicating fragrance.
…
After this kiss of several days of separation, when Bai Jinyan let go of Qiao Huaiyao, he was already unsteady.
Qiao Huaiyao leaned against Bai Jinyan’s chest, and as he spoke, his lips tingled. He paused and said in a muffled voice, “You haven’t said what we’ll eat tonight.”
Bai Jinyan lightly kissed his cheek, “I ate before getting on the plane.”
Qiao Huaiyao slightly moved away and raised his hand to cover Bai Jinyan’s lips.
With their noses almost touching at such a close distance, he blinked lightly and said, “You should go rest.”
Bai Jinyan looked at him and said, “Let me kiss you again, then I’ll go to sleep.”
The fingertips covering Bai Jinyan’s face trembled slightly, and Qiao Huaiyao slowly withdrew his hand. The next moment, his wrist was tightened, and the force propelled him stumbling into Bai Jinyan’s embrace.
Bai Jinyan left a fleeting kiss and directly lifted him up horizontally.
“Huh?!” Qiao Huaiyao suddenly widened his eyes, “Brother?”
Bai Jinyan hooked the corner of his mouth, “Together.”
With that, he turned and walked into the bedroom.
They came back early.
Qiao Huaiyao wasn’t really tired, but when he returned to the bedroom, he thought for a moment and changed into his pajamas to lie down.
The beds in the dorm were much smaller than those at home.
But lying down now, it wasn’t too crowded, and there was still some space left behind.
Qiao Huaiyao brought up the covers a bit like he did to soothe him, saying softly, “Goodnight.”
Bai Jinyan hugged him, lowered his head to kiss his brows and eyes.
“Goodnight.”
Qiao Huaiyao, in a hazy state of drowsiness, seemed to hear Bai Jinyan saying they were going out.
He mumbled a vague response.
Now, hearing Bai Jinyan’s voice again, he felt a bit bewildered.
Qiao Huaiyao frowned, turned over, and reached out to pull the blanket, intending to cover himself, but when it fell, it was held.
“Brother…” Qiao Huaiyao buried his head in the pillow and mumbled, “Why are you up so early?”
“I went to the set for a walk,” Bai Jinyan held his hand and brought it to his lips, kissing the back of his hand, “Get up, the morning attendance will be checked in a while.”
The morning attendance check was much stricter than regular classes. Regular classes seldom had students skip, but early classes were different. Although it had the word ‘class’, in reality, it was just morning self-study. Since there were no lectures, some students wouldn’t show up. Early classes weren’t held every day; they were occasional, making the attendance check strict.
Qiao Huaiyao, with his eyes closed, mumbled, “Hmm.”
Seeing this, Bai Jinyan leaned over, pressing the edge of the blanket, and kissed Qiao Huaiyao a few times. “I’ll go prepare breakfast.”
Qiao Huaiyao nodded slightly, burrowing a bit more under the blanket.
Bai Jinyan’s cooking was gentle, and after closing the door, there was almost no sound.
After what seemed like a while, the phone on the bedside table vibrated twice.
Qiao Huaiyao thought it was his alarm going off. He groped and reached out for the phone, looking at the screen only to realize it was a group message.
Qiu Shufeng: [@All members, there will be a student union patrol during morning attendance today. Come early and try not to run into the student union.]
The student union had just started recruiting, and there weren’t many freshmen from their batch in it yet. Today was the student union’s first patrol, and it was unavoidable they would be strict, catching typical cases.
These messages would be notified to the class monitor. Qiu Shufeng heard about it when he went to the advisor in the morning and immediately shared it in the group.
It was sent to the main class group and the smaller ones as well.
After reading these messages, Qiao Huaiyao’s drowsiness was almost gone.
But…
Qiao Huaiyao raised his voice and asked, “Brother, do you have anything to do this morning?”
“Nothing.” Bai Jinyan went to the set early in the morning to free up the daytime to accompany Qiao Huaiyao. When other actors’ individual shots were done, he would join the crew. He didn’t need to go in the morning.
“Alright.” Qiao Huaiyao sat up and said, “I’ve arranged to treat my dormmates to lunch.”
“Sure.” Bai Jinyan paused and came in with hot milk, asking, “Shall I book a restaurant? Do any of your dormmates have dietary restrictions?”
“I’ll ask.”
Qiao Huaiyao sent a message to the smaller group, [I’m treating you guys to lunch today. Any dietary restrictions?]
Qiu Shufeng: [Huh? Why suddenly treating us?]
Wang Zhan followed closely: [Is something good happening? Not going to the morning class today?]
Yu Luofan: [Is it because the study god’s partner is here?]
Qiao Huaiyao: [Yes.]
He had mentioned treating them when his partner came, and it was a good opportunity now that Bai Jinyan had some free time. Waiting until after joining the crew would be a bit rushed. They had classes, and Bai Jinyan had filming; finding a suitable and mutually unobtrusive time would be difficult.
Qiu Shufeng: [I’m in! Is it really happening? You’re amazing, being the study god and all. We don’t have any dietary restrictions. What do you want to eat? I’m familiar with the restaurants nearby, I can arrange.]
Wang Zhan: [? He’s ahead of us, isn’t he? Let me tell you, I’ll be the one paying for the bill today.]
Qiao Huaiyao: [My partner will handle it. After the morning class, I’ll come over.]
There were no classes today, making it a perfect time to go out for a meal.