The great classroom escape

"Huh?" Xia Wangqiu was puzzled. He hadn't wanted to attend Ms. Lin Xiaoqian's class.

She was beautiful, but he still wouldn't waste his free time attending her class.

Bai Chen had no idea what he was up to, nor did he care.

He said indifferently, "Go if you want, but once you're in class, don't expect to sneak out. That professor is pretty strict and calls on people to answer questions."

Bai Chen hoped this would bring the young man back to his senses. He could barely stay awake in that old professor's class himself, but he forced himself to endure it.

Many students in his major skipped whenever they could, even asking classmates to sign in for them.

The thing was, the professor always seemed to think everyone was present. Who knew whether he genuinely didn't know or simply didn't care?

"It's fine. I've still got you, don't I?" Xia Wangqiu shamelessly tried to negotiate with Bai Chen, all smiles.

Bai Chen: ...

Why bother? Just don't go. Bai Chen was speechless.

Bai Chen gave him a polite smile and said, "You've got some nerve, using me as your shield."

Xia Wangqiu: "Hehe-"

Bai Chen didn't want to deal with him anymore. Class was about to start, so he headed to the teaching building on his own, with Xia Wangqiu sticking close beside him.

He was incredibly talkative, capable of spewing a whole heap of nonsense in a single minute. It was quite a racket.

For example, "Hey, Bai Chen, how many people are in your family?"

"Five."

"Hey, Bai Chen, where's your hometown?"

"M City."

"Hey, Bai Chen, what do you usually like to eat?"

"Nothing in particular. I eat whatever's available."

In just those few minutes, he kept asking about all sorts of Bai Chen's preferences.

Bai Chen liked peace and quiet. Although he was a little annoyed, he answered every question.

Only after they reached the classroom did Xia Wangqiu quiet down a little, obediently following behind Bai Chen.

They picked seats fairly close to the lectern.

Mostly because Bai Chen was a little nearsighted.

Many of the students in his major had taken seats at the back. The last few rows were packed, while plenty of seats remained empty at the front, which suited Bai Chen perfectly.

The professor hadn't arrived yet, so everyone was doing their own thing. The room was noisy.

But the moment they sat down, the girls behind them started talking.

"Hey, isn't that Xia Wangqiu? The hottest guy in the school of design? Why's he here in our classroom?" The short-haired girl behind them sounded a little excited.

The girl beside her was puzzled too. "No idea. Maybe he came with someone? There's another guy beside him, isn't there? I just saw them come in together."

"I think the guy next to him is really good-looking too. Not in a stunning way, but he has such delicate, clean-cut features. He looks really easy to get along with."

The two girls behind them became engrossed in their discussion, having the time of their lives.

Bai Chen: "..."

Wow!!

How had he ended up next to a campus celebrity?

The university's looks rankings were out already? That was fast.

Bai Chen decided he absolutely had to check the campus confession page next time. He really was dancing back and forth across a minefield.

In a Mary Sue novel, good-looking people generally had more complicated identities. Otherwise, they would just be nameless extras.

The two most attractive people were usually the leads.

Bai Chen glanced at the person beside him again out of the corner of his eye.

Although Xia Wangqiu wasn't as ridiculously handsome as Gu Yun and Gu Cheng, he would still stand out instantly in a crowd, as long as those two weren't there.

Provided those two weren't there.

That thought reminded Bai Chen that the tea-loving Mr. Lin was also ridiculously handsome. Even beside Gu Yun and Gu Cheng, he wouldn't pale in comparison at all.

He even felt that Lin Jingchen was better-looking, probably because of his exceptional bearing. He had a mature man's elegance that neither Gu Yun nor Gu Cheng possessed.

Xia Wangqiu noticed Bai Chen looking him over too. His face flushed a little as he thought, Why is he looking at me? Has he suddenly realized I'm pretty good-looking?

Of course, he only thought it. He wouldn't dare ask aloud.

Who knew that the next moment, Bai Chen would blurt out without hesitation, "I've realized you're pretty handsome. No wonder so many people turned to look at you on the way up."

Xia Wangqiu: Ah-how could he just say it like that? This is so embarrassing. How should I answer without sounding full of myself?

Xia Wangqiu scratched his head, looking bashful. "Thanks. I think I look okay, but I'm nowhere near Gu Yun."

Hearing this, Bai Chen nodded and gave a hum of agreement. "True."

Xia Wangqiu: "..."

"Fine. You're blunt. I like that." That was the only way he could console himself.

After that, Bai Chen stopped talking and took the materials he needed for this class out of his backpack.

Xia Wangqiu didn't push his luck either. He lay down on the desk with his face turned sideways, staring blankly in Bai Chen's direction.

Of course, Bai Chen knew he was watching him, but he couldn't be bothered to pay him much attention. He hadn't reviewed the textbook yesterday, and he was very sleepy now. Even sitting here reading took all his effort.

He had only been reading for a few minutes when the professor walked in, carrying a glass cup in one hand and a briefcase in the other.

The professor teaching their elective was a middle-aged man with very little hair left. He had a bit of a horseshoe-shaped fringe, while the area in the middle was already completely bare, smooth and shiny, just like the blackboard at the front of the classroom.

The professor walked to the lectern, set down his things, and straightened himself up.

"Quiet down, everyone. We'll start taking attendance now. When I call your name, say 'here' and raise your hand."

The moment he finished speaking, the classroom erupted.

"Oh no, he's making us raise our hands as well as sign in today. We're screwed..." a girl behind them muttered.

"Yeah, what do I do? I'm here to sign in for my roommate. I can't do that now. I wouldn't dare raise my hand that many times."

"Why has the professor suddenly decided to catch people today?"

After the professor said that, the chatter behind them never stopped.

He stood at the lectern and gave them a few minutes.

Many of the students below pulled out their phones and rapidly typed messages.

Scene kid clan elder: [Get up, quick. I can't sign in for you today. Professor Chen's making us raise our hands for attendance.]

I want to get filthy rich: [Aaaaah-what do I do? Fuck!!]

You can't afford my love: [Sorry, bro. Looks like you're ascending to heaven today. As your brother, I'll remember to burn offerings for you. Hahaha-]

I believe in the light: [?? What do you mean? Reply right now, or you're sleeping on the street tonight. Hurry, hurry!]

Every so often, another phone buzzed as messages flew around the classroom.

Tap, tap- The professor lightly tapped the lectern with his fingers.

"Everyone finished sending messages? All right, let's start taking attendance."

"Chen Zheng."

"Here." A voice came from the very back. A girl raised her hand, then lowered it.

"Tao Liang."

"Here." A boy answered in a strained, altered voice.

"Hmm, that's not right, is it? I don't remember Tao Liang sounding like that. And he doesn't look like you either." The professor smiled at the boy in the distance.