Chapter 123

Chapter 123

"You said you refused, didn't you?" Shen Geng's voice was hoarse.

Bai Xingshu scratched his head. "But Teacher Song told me to take it slow and think about it."

Naturally, Bai Xingshu noticed the change in Shen Geng's expression. He patted Shen Geng’s shoulder easily. "Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten what I promised you."

"I’ll only say yes to Teacher Song after I’m sure I’ve fallen for him!"

Shen Geng watched Bai Xingshu’s whole being brimming with excitement and grew even more silent.

With Bai Xingshu in this state, how could he possibly feel reassured?!

Meanwhile, Bai Xingshu was happily lost in his own joy for a while before suddenly realizing something.

Wait, had he said that the person who confessed to him was Song Xiyan? How had Shen Geng immediately known it was Song Xiyan?

Bai Xingshu touched his own face, lost in thought.

He recalled a long time ago, when he had his eye on Kang Youxin from his class, Lin Lie had figured it out immediately.

Was he really that transparent?!

Bai Xingshu was shocked.

So, the next day, on an ordinary Monday,

Bai Xingshu made a point of walking by Lin Lie a few times before asking him solemnly, "Can you tell what's different about me today?"

Lin Lie was taken aback. After hesitating for a long while, he finally replied uncertainly, "You seem... in high spirits today?"

Then, Lin Lie couldn’t help but smile. "Got some good news to share?"

Bai Xingshu blinked, once again confirming that his emotions were ridiculously obvious.

But as for good news...

"I’ll tell you once things are certain!" Bai Xingshu grinned.

With others it might be complicated,

but when it came to Teacher Song, liking him would come naturally, right?

Once things were certain, of course he’d tell his best friends first!

Lin Lie, watching Bai Xingshu’s expression, couldn't help but smile too.

He was sure he'd guessed correctly.

Bai Xingshu working on his tactical notes to gift to him—Lin Lie had already caught on.

It couldn't be helped. Everything Bai Xingshu did was something Lin Lie paid close attention to.

Bai Xingshu would also use his spare time before cultural classes to write and draw.

With just a slight glance and a bit of probing, Lin Lie easily sensed from Bai Xingshu's reactions that this was something prepared for him.

Instantly, the tinge of jealousy in Lin Lie's heart—the one that arose every weekend when Bai Xingshu was claimed by Song Xiyan—melted away.

What was the point of occupying Bai Xingshu's time every day if he still sneaked off to other lab projects?

Unlike that, Lin Lie didn’t even need to say a word to make Bai Xingshu willingly spend hours preparing a gift for him. That proved who truly mattered most to Bai Xingshu!

"Alright, I'll wait for your good news," Lin Lie said, suppressing his gleeful heart and keeping up the act of having noticed nothing.

"Mhm!" Bai Xingshu responded.

By the time the morning training session ended, Bai Xingshu was bouncing along toward the maintenance room.

With the recent seasonal gear rotation completed, the regular mech upkeep had naturally resumed.

But this time, Bai Xingshu’s mood as he headed to the maintenance room felt different.

He was expectant.

Since Song Xiyan had made it clear he wasn't backing down, how exactly would he make his move?

Bai Xingshu was genuinely curious and looking forward to it.

He found it hard to imagine what Teacher Song—normally so aloof—would be like when making his move.

Musing over this, Bai Xingshu soon arrived at the maintenance room door.

He smoothly verified his identity, but when the recognition device displayed his real-time image, he did a double-take.

His hair looked a bit messy.

Well, that made sense.

After hours of physical training and combat drills in the morning, any do would get wrecked.

Had he always met Song Xiyan in this state before?

Bai Xingshu had a revelation.

For Teacher Song to still develop feelings for him… he must have seen his one-of-a-kind awesome self!!

Zero insecurities, Bai Xingshu whistled a tune, tidied himself up using the metallic reflection of the maintenance room door, and then stepped through the now-open entrance.

Song Xiyan had arrived early today.

But he hadn’t lifted a finger.

And couldn’t bring himself to.

Though his attitude toward Bai Xingshu was firm, he couldn’t keep his cool when the person he liked was giving him the cold shoulder.

Was Bai Xingshu even coming today?

Honestly, Bai Xingshu didn't really need to keep coming.

Song Xiyan knew Bai Xingshu wasn't hard up for cash now.

He didn't need the work-study income. The only reason Bai Xingshu still came every day now was just to help Song Xiyan.

If he didn’t come, Song Xiyan would have to do the mech repairs alone.

But was that true?

No.

With most of freshman spring semester gone, other professors from the Mechanical Engineering Department had already hinted to Song Xiyan about the progress of the mech repairs.

They'd asked if third-year students should be assigned to assist by the end of the term.

The question sounded casual, but the underlying intention was obvious.

Truth was, Song Xiyan didn't need to keep fixing them anymore.

But Song Xiyan didn’t want to leave.

He'd keep waiting.

Whether Bai Xingshu skipped today or tomorrow, there would surely come a day when he’d want to drop by for a look.

Song Xiyan sat idly on the repair platform, quietly waiting for someone who might never show.

Then, he heard the sound of the repair room door opening.

Song Xiyan froze, quickly turning his head toward the entrance.

Yet, no one came in for a long time.

Song Xiyan: "...?"

Just his imagination.

Just as he was about to look away, those familiar, carefree footsteps he knew so well reached his ears once more.

Bai Xingshu’s bright figure appeared before Song Xiyan, looking as lively as always.

"Teacher, I’m here!" Bai Xingshu bounced over to Song Xiyan.

Seeing Bai Xingshu’s demeanor, Song Xiyan's tense shoulders finally relaxed.

No matter what, as long as Bai Xingshu wasn’t avoiding him, that was already enough for Song Xiyan.

Then, Song Xiyan noticed Bai Xingshu’s unusually put-together look.

It was obvious that Bai Xingshu had gone out of his way to fix up his hair and clothes.

This look Song Xiyan had only ever seen on weekends, when Bai Xingshu went to the research institute.

Did Bai Xingshu get all dressed up just to see him?

Song Xiyan paused, and he couldn't help a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"So you agreed?" Song Xiyan couldn’t suppress the joy in his heart.

Bai Xingshu: "...?"...

Crossing his arms into an X, Bai Xingshu firmly shook his head in refusal.

"Of course not!"

"I'm very certain that right now, I don’t have those kinds of feelings for you."

Once Bai Xingshu found out Song Xiyan was from a rich family, he was sure of it now.

Even then, Bai Xingshu didn’t regret turning him down before.

But who knows about the future?

"It’s not like I’m into anyone else right now."

"And hey, I don’t mind that Teacher Song likes me."

"And Teacher Song, you’re not backing down, are you?"

"So... why not use that as a deadline? Try to win me over?"

"There are still two months left this semester."