Chapter 116

Chapter 116

Bai Xingshu was truly thrilled by Song Xiyan’s initiative to invite him as his assistant.

This meant he highly recognized his abilities!

"Last time at the exchange event, I was helping out your Mech Eng Department, so it was more convenient for you to apply for me as your assistant," Bai Xingshu began pondering the feasibility of the matter.

"But this time, if you’re assigned to a Combat Department task, since I’m already from the Combat Department, it might be trickier, right?"

"Anyway, since it’s within the Combat Department, I can just swing by and help whenever I have time. There’s no need to make it official with an assistant title."

Every word Bai Xingshu spoke was considerate of Song Xiyan, heartwarming to hear. But...

Song Xiyan frowned. "Your income..." At this thought, he felt a little flutter as he looked at Bai Xingshu, his eyes brightening. "Want me to pay you?"

The idea of openly spending money on Bai Xingshu was really tempting to Song Xiyan.

Bai Xingshu wasn’t surprised by Song Xiyan’s offer.

Teacher Song was such a great guy!

"I’ve made good money during this long break and already bought all the equipment I wanted on the platform. Right now, I don’t have any major expenses, so it doesn’t matter to me. But..." Bai Xingshu got to the point about his main intention. "Once the new equipment is rolled out, someone will need to field-test it, right?!"

Bai Xingshu’s angle was obvious.

The newly rolled-out combat equipment was super tempting to him.

If the academy didn’t need to pay him as an assistant, asking for some perks in return was a pretty reasonable request, wasn’t it?

Anyone could spot what Bai was angling for—or rather, he hadn’t bothered hiding it in the first place.

Song Xiyan wasn’t about to refuse.

Since Bai Xingshu was interested, Song Xiyan began considering how to fulfill his wish.

As a scholar in mechanical engineering, Song Xiyan was inherently accustomed to meeting others’ requests—even going beyond them.

This applied to both research and Bai Xingshu.

With this mindset, Song Xiyan now found himself thinking that hand-me-down field gear wouldn’t really suit Bai Xingshu.

He wanted to give him something better.

A thought popped up in Song Xiyan’s mind: "If you want to experience new equipment, how about visiting the Green House?"

What Song Xiyan referred to was the high-security lab of the Mech Eng Department—the same place Jiao Rong had once tried to get Bai into.

"My research project is currently in the testing phase." To be precise, it was the first phase of testing, primarily conducted by internal researchers. The second phase would involve performance testing with professionals.

Bai Xingshu was surprised. "Isn’t that a top-secret project?"

Song Xiyan didn’t deny it. "The confidentiality requirements for testers aren’t that high. You can apply."

Of course, this "not that high" standard was relative—specifically tailored for someone like Bai Xingshu.

It wasn’t just because of Song Xiyan’s fondness for him, but also because Bai Xingshu himself was pretty famous.

Bai Xingshu probably didn’t even realize this himself.

A total legend in military academy circles, his various performances on the mecha platform had long since made him famous.

This gave him a built-in edge when it came to approvals.

After all, Bai Xingshu had been checked inside out by everyone.

With no red flags raised despite such thorough scrutiny, it was essentially confirmed that there was nothing shady about Bai Xingshu.

And Song Xiyan didn’t think his decision to bring Bai Xingshu to the Green House was purely out of personal motives.

For researchers like them, when selecting gear testers, they naturally leaned toward someone like Bai Xingshu.

As everyone knew, Bai Xingshu’s platform account, "Xing Ze Jiang Zhi," showcased moves that constantly broke the mold—he was a real outside-the-box thinker. Cookie-cutter operators were a dime a dozen, but someone as distinctive as Bai Xingshu was rare.

In Bai Xingshu’s mind, Song Xiyan had never made empty promises about things being impossible.

Wait— he might actually get to try out the latest research gear?

Bai Xingshu’s eyes immediately lit up: "How do I apply?"

"I’ll submit the application. Once approved, you can come on weekends," Song Xiyan said flatly.

In reality, once this schedule was set, aside from class and sleep, every waking minute of Bai Xingshu’s time was Song Xiyan’s.

When new gear dropped, Bai Xingshu would assist Song Xiyan. When there was no new gear, he’d be in the maintenance room.

Just like that, Song Xiyan had quietly staked claim to every bit of Bai Xingshu.

After being apart all break and seeing Bai Xingshu again, Song Xiyan’s desire to spend more time with him just kept ballooning.

Bai Xingshu, oblivious to this, whooped and did a little victory dance before suddenly remembering something and leaning in close to Song Xiyan.

Lowering his voice, Bai Xingshu asked, "Doc, can you give me the inside scoop on your research?"

Normally, Bai Xingshu wasn’t one to nose around classified stuff.

But now, things were a little different, weren’t they?

Song Xiyan, however, wasn’t about to let love mess with his head.

Meeting Bai Xingshu’s expectant gaze, Song Xiyan steadied himself and forcibly looked away.

Deadpan, he answered, "I’ll tell you after your application is approved."

This response didn’t surprise Bai Xingshu at all. In fact, to someone like him, who always interpreted things optimistically, Song Xiyan’s words might as well have been a yes—once the qualifications were confirmed, he’d share the information early.

"Doc, you’re really too good to me!" Bai Xingshu said, beaming.

Song Xiyan: "..."

As the recipient of Bai Xingshu’s gratitude, Song Xiyan just squirmed with discomfort instead.

He knew all too well just how selfish his so-called kindness really was.

What would Bai Xingshu say if he knew what was really going on...?

"Back to work." Song Xiyan lowered his gaze, replying curtly with just two words.

Bai Xingshu studied Song Xiyan's expression and grinned knowingly.

Teacher Song’s getting flustered again!

Oh, he got it.

So Bai Xingshu quickly adjusted his expression to appear serious.

"Roger that!" Bai Xingshu responded, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Song Xiyan watched as Bai Xingshu, just like before, buzzed with energy and enthusiasm in the maintenance room, restocking parts and replacing damaged sections of the mech.

Just like he’d always pictured.

No—even better than he’d dreamed.

So much so that the brief hour or so of the repair session flew by in what felt like seconds in Song Xiyan's perception.

"Till tomorrow!" As usual, Bai Xingshu waved at Song Xiyan with a bright smile, but this time, he didn’t receive the usual response.

Bai Xingshu: "?"

Noticing the look on Song Xiyan’s face—as if he had something to say but couldn’t bring himself to voice it—Bai Xingshu frowned in confusion. "Teacher?"

Song Xiyan: "..."

Receiving no answer, Bai Xingshu blinked in surprise. "Teacher, is there really something you’re too shy to tell me?!"

"Don’t worry, Teacher, go ahead and say it! I swear I’ll totally laugh at you!" Bai Xingshu patted his chest for emphasis.

Song Xiyan: "......"

That was truly the worst reassurance ever.

Still, Song Xiyan knew deep down that Bai Xingshu was never one to make people uncomfortable, let alone humiliated.

On the contrary, he was the kind of person who would give everyone patience and respect.

So...

"Do I treat you better, or does Lin Lie?" Song Xiyan took a deep breath, unable to meet Bai Xingshu’s gaze, and blurted out the question that had been weighing on his mind.

This question had been echoing in Song Xiyan’s head ever since Bai Xingshu had gushed earlier, *"You’re really too good to me!"*

Bai Xingshu: "...Snort."

Though he had promised to laugh, Bai Xingshu had only been joking at the time.

But upon hearing Song Xiyan’s question, he couldn’t help it.

Well...

No wonder Teacher Song agonized so hard before spitting it out.

Still...

Song Xiyan asking this question struck Bai Xingshu as particularly endearing.

After all, the fact that he would ask showed how much the other cared, wanting to know where he stood with them.

"So who's really your best friend?"

Whether it's friendship, love, or family bonds, all that worrying comes down to this.

But this question...

With a chuckle, Bai Xingshu seriously thought about it and realized it was genuinely difficult to answer.

Lin Lie had protested the championship video for him at the start of the semester, often took the initiative in class matters, and regularly took care of the duties Bai Xingshu needed to complete as Deputy Squad Leader.

There were also the team competitions, saving him seats in lecture halls, and explaining concepts he struggled with during lectures.

And then there was Song Xiyan—after realizing how important the income from Bai Xingshu’s work-study was, no matter the weather, Song Xiyan made time daily to push forward on the mech repairs.

When Jiao Rong bullied him, Song Xiyan went to bat for him immediately.

Later, during the Exchange Fair, he got him an assistant spot.

And now, knowing Bai Xingshu wanted to try the new equipment, he made sure he got access.

Time after time—whatever Bai Xingshu wanted or needed—Song Xiyan hardly ever made a fuss, but once he heard or knew about it, he made it happen without being asked.

The more Bai Xingshu thought about it, the more he frowned, until he finally threw in the towel.

"You two have both been so good to me—there’s just no way to compare." He could have said something smoother, but he felt that since Song Xiyan had worked up the nerve to ask, he owed him the truth.

Song Xiyan stayed silent.

In his heart, he knew Bai Xingshu’s response wouldn’t be the one he most hoped for.

This answer wasn’t the worst outcome for him.

But he still couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed.

If only Bai Xingshu had said something like, "Right now, of course, it’s you who treats me best"—even if Song Xiyan could read the subtext that it implied Lin Lie might have been or would be better in the past or future—he could have given himself that much.

Tell himself that, at the very least, Bai Xingshu was willing to humor him on this.

That he held a somewhat special place in Bai Xingshu’s heart.

These subtle thoughts of Song Xiyan’s naturally didn’t reach Bai Xingshu, who was still turning it over in his mind.

He kept thinking aloud before suddenly realizing Song Xiyan was right in front of him. With an awkward chuckle, he bit back the rest.

Having already heard the beginning, Song Xiyan obviously couldn’t pretend he hadn’t.

"But what?" Song Xiyan lifted his gaze to meet Bai Xingshu’s.

Scratching his head, Bai Xingshu figured that while this probably wasn’t something he should say to Song Xiyan, since he’d been asked, it wasn’t completely forbidden either.

"It’s just… I suddenly realized I haven’t really done much for Lin Lie," Bai Xingshu admitted, with some guilt.

Song Xiyan: "...”

Irritating.

So why did he have to mention Lin Lie?