Chapter 40: 39: Laozi Lays Down
In the lethargic afternoon of early summer, accompanied by the intermittent chirping of cicadas, two patients who had just found new directions walked on the path back to their dormitory.
"Are you still going to attend class this afternoon?" Su Mucheng asked cheerfully.
Qiao Ze shook his head and said, "I'm planning to go to the library this afternoon. Haven't you realized that attending lectures is the least efficient way to learn?"
"Oh?" Su Mucheng tilted her head and looked at Qiao Ze with some delight.
She had just been thinking about what excuse she could use to skip class without guilt, and then an opportunity presented itself.
"Really, haven't you noticed how much the teachers ramble? I just watch videos online and skip right past the nonsense parts," Qiao Ze said earnestly.
He was happy to have taught another friend a method to save time.
"Wow! Really? Then I must try it. This way, I'll go to the library to watch videos and learn by myself this afternoon. We can do it together, and if I come across something I don't understand while watching the videos, can I ask you?"
"Sure!"
"Great! Then it's settled. Let's go back to the dorm to grab our laptops first, and then head to the library together."
"Okay!"
At that moment, the two of them were passing by the Science Building. Su Mucheng looked around and suggested, "Qiao Ze, how about we take a selfie here?"
"Why?"
"Because today is a memorable day! It's the first time you're starting on your research project, right? We should capture this memorable day with a photo. Plus, I've promised to be your exclusive publicist from now on! We need material for future promotions, don't we?"
"Well, okay! But who's going to take the photo for us?" Qiao Ze looked around; there was no one near the teaching building in the afternoon.
"We can take a selfie. Come on, stand closer, we have to get the words of the Science Building in the shot... Yes, smile, just like that, 1, 2, 3..."
"Click!"
The moment the phone screen capture, although the two weren't actually touching, the visual effect showed Su Mucheng leaning her head on Qiao Ze's shoulder with a brilliant smile.
And so, their first photo together was eternally preserved.
Although Qiao Ze's smile looked a bit stiff, in Su Mucheng's eyes, it was the most perfect.
Thus, without hesitation, she opened WeChat, uploaded the unedited photo directly to her Moments with a simple caption: "On the day we set sail, let's work hard, my fellow patient!"
Qiao Ze looked at Su Mucheng, somewhat puzzled…
Although he also used WeChat, he had never opened Moments before.
But it seemed today was going to be an exception.
"How about you give me the first like?"
"What's a first like?"
"Ah... It's liking something on Moments! You haven't used WeChat Moments before?"
Qiao Ze nodded; he truly hadn't used it before.
"Here, let me teach you. Open WeChat, look for Moments at the bottom, and tap that little heart button, just like that!" However, her smile faded within three seconds as her annoyance appeared, "Ah? How can my dad be so annoying! Why did he like it first?"
"Hmm!"
"Ah well, at least you're the second one!" Su Mucheng turned her head and gave Qiao Ze a sweet smile.
The next moment, Su Mucheng's phone rang.
Qiao Ze, with keen eyes, glanced at it and saw the caller ID—"Unrestrained Dad."
Then he saw Su Mucheng promptly hang up the call and cheerfully said, "Let's go, get our laptops."
At that moment, Qiao Ze suddenly remembered something Li Jiangao had said: "Your university life should be colorful!"
Looking at the 'patient' before him, he suddenly felt as if his life were being brushed with a stroke of color.
Kind of strange!
...
Back at the dormitory, Qiao Ze gently pushed open the door, expecting that his three roommates hadn't slept well last night and should all be asleep by now. However, to his surprise, the three of them were sitting in their respective places, looking rather dejected.
That's fine, then there's no need to be overly cautious about making noise.
Qiao Ze walked to his spot and began to pack up his laptop.
Zhang Zhou, who had been staring at him since he entered, spoke with a bit of soreness, "Qiao, you just went on a date with the class representative, didn't you? I mean, why pick the noon for a date? It's so hot. Evening would be much cooler."
"Date?" Qiao Ze shook his head, "That's not the case."
"Come on, the class representative has already posted your cozy group photo on her moment, and you liked it. Are you still hiding it from us? We are not blind," Gu Zhengliang couldn't help but join in with a tease.
"It wasn't a date, just had a meal with Li. That photo wasn't from a date either, it was just for documentation," Qiao Ze clarified earnestly.
Chen Yiwen couldn't help but ask, "Documenting what exactly?"
Qiao Ze explained, "Li agreed today to let me start working on a research topic, so it was to document my first formal research project."
Silence...
Chen Yiwen regretted not slapping himself…
What a big mouth he had, why did he have to ask?!
Especially with Qiao Ze's calm expression, as if it was only natural for an undergraduate to work on a research project.
No, not even an undergraduate yet, still a high school student...
MMP!
They had been at the university for a year, still struggling to get a few more points on their final exams to boost their GPA, and their roommate had already started independent research!
As for Qiao Ze, seeing that his roommates seemed fine, he quietly picked up his packed laptop and the materials given by Li Jiangao and prepared to leave.
Just as he reached the door, Zhang Zhou couldn't help but ask, "Qiao, you're not going to class this afternoon?"
"Yeah, I'm going to the library to read some papers. Actually, attending classes isn't very efficient; self-study is better," he replied.
Zhang Zhou also wanted to slap himself.
Even though it sounded pretentious, he didn't dare to question it.
He really feared Qiao Ze would come up with another outrageous method to prove he wasn't showing off...
The process was truly crushing.
"By the way, the class representative listened to my suggestion and decided to start self-studying in the library this afternoon. If it works out well, I'll teach you guys how to self-study too," Qiao Ze added cheerfully before leaving the dorm.
...
As the dorm door closed, Room 408 fell silent once again.
After a while, Chen Yiwen silently stood up and began climbing the ladder, ready to get into bed.
"Old Chen, going to sleep now? You won't wake up in time for the afternoon class," Zhang Zhou advised.
"You guys go ahead; don't wake me up; it's pointless," Chen Yiwen said without looking back.
Zhang Zhou and Gu Zhengliang exchanged glances.
Having dark circles is so ugly!
"Forget class; I'm too lazy to attend now! A year's worth of lectures isn't as good as his casual self-study! Why even bother going; from today on, I'm lying flat! Whatever will be, will be!" Gu Zhengliang stood up with a jolt and then also started climbing towards his bed.
Zhang Zhou sat there with a bitter face, thinking for a minute. He glanced at his bookcase, crammed to the brim, then over at Qiao Ze's, not a single book in it, feeling an indescribable sense of neatness and refreshment, and suddenly life felt as lonely as snow.
"As three brothers in this life, if we're going to sleep, let's sleep together! Ah... how about we go drinking tonight?"
"Tsk, with your drinking ability, you wouldn't even be taken seriously in our Shanyang Province."
"Old Gu, why do you look down on people? At least I braved the world and made it six rounds! You can only make it through seven or eight rounds at most!"
"Let's drink! Haven't drunk in a long time!" Chen Yiwen said succinctly.
Well, the history of the class leader, the class representative, the head of the Communist Youth League, and four of the top five students in their grades skipping class at the same time occurred, and they even contemplated drowning their sorrows in drink.
If Li Jiangao knew about this, he might find the scene somewhat familiar, after all, he had just been through it not long ago…
THIS CHAPTER UPLOAD FIRST AT NOVELBIN.COM