At that, the male student lowered his head awkwardly.
Their Professor Chen would never let anyone get away with skipping class.
He continued reading out the names.
"Bai Chen."
"Here," Bai Chen answered, raising his hand.
"Hmm, I see this student in every class. Very good." Professor Chen glanced at Bai Chen and praised him.
After several minutes of roll call, it turned out that a whole bunch of students had failed to show up on time.
The moment the professor turned around, a few people slipped in through the back door.
They found some inconspicuous seats and sat down.
"Thank goodness, he didn't notice. Hey, has Professor Chen finished calling the roll yet?" one of them asked.
"He's already finished. You're too late now," the girl beside him whispered cautiously, shielding her mouth with her hand.
"What? Attendance is already done? If I'd known, I wouldn't have bothered coming. I could've stayed in the dorm and slept," a boy complained outright.
The people behind them were nervous on their behalf. They weren't exactly keeping their voices down, and Professor Chen might blow up at them any second.
"Those students who just slipped in at the back, since you're here, sit down and pay attention," Professor Chen said in a measured voice.
At his words, the students in the back froze, not daring to speak again.
Bai Chen patted Xia Wangqiu awake from where he was sleeping slumped over his desk, then signaled toward the lectern with his eyes.
"Hm? What is it, Bai?" Xia Wangqiu had been sound asleep and opened his eyes groggily.
Only to meet Professor Chen's gaze. The professor was looking right at him with a kindly smile.
Despite that smile, Xia Wangqiu felt a faint chill.
In an instant, Xia Wangqiu was no longer sleepy.
Bai Chen broke into a nervous sweat for him, too.
Bai Chen knew that look all too well. It was exactly like back in high school, when a teacher asked, "Why haven't you handed in your homework?" and you answered, "I left it at home."
Then the teacher would stare at you with that very expression.
You had to admit, that look packed quite a punch.
One glance was enough to give you goosebumps all over.
For the rest of class, Xia Wangqiu didn't dare sleep under Professor Chen's nose again. He was wide awake, even though he couldn't understand what was being taught.
Watching him pretend to understand made Bai Chen want to laugh.
A university class lasted an hour and a half.
By the time it ended, it was almost lunchtime.
Xia Wangqiu once again followed close behind Bai Chen.
Bai Chen was at a loss. He turned around and asked, "Xia, where are you heading next?"
The question stumped Xia Wangqiu. He gave an awkward laugh and asked, "Bai, are you going to the cafeteria now? Let me come along. I'm hungry, too."
Bai Chen had been planning to go straight to the cafeteria, but he really couldn't handle the way Xia Wangqiu kept clinging to him for no apparent reason.
He had no idea what Xia Wangqiu was after, either. Without knowing the reason, he would simply treat him as one of Gu Yun's admirers.
Xia Wangqiu must be trying to get on my good side and cozy up to me so he can get Gu Yun's contact details and find out what he likes, Bai Chen thought.
But he's barking up the wrong tree. There's no way I'd sell out my buddy. Bai Chen was very firm on that.
After all, you shouldn't intend to harm others, but you still had to keep your guard up.
"Actually, I stayed up too late last night, and I'm pretty tired. I want to go back to the dorm and catch up on sleep. Let's talk another time. I'll get going." Bai Chen deliberately yawned and rubbed his eyes.
He wasn't lying to Xia Wangqiu. He really was sleepy; he had simply chosen sleep over food.
Xia Wangqiu couldn't exactly drag him off to lunch. Looking a little disappointed, he said, "All right, Bai. See you next time, then. Are you free this weekend?"
His bright, dark eyes gazed at Bai Chen expectantly, like a Samoyed's.
Damn, another excuse to cozy up to me. Bai Chen couldn't understand it. Why couldn't he just go straight to Gu Yun?
"I'm really sorry, Xia. I have important things to do every weekend, so I really can't spare the time." Bai Chen looked regretful.
"All right, then we'll talk when you're free. Also, the Pottery Club is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. It's in the Hongde Building, on the southeast side."
"Okay, Xia, got it. I'll be there on time. I'm heading back now." Bai Chen smiled.
"Okay, sure. Bye. See you next time," Xia Wangqiu said.
He even waved.
"Bye." Bai Chen waved back.
Bai Chen went to sleep in the dorm at noon and slept until four in the afternoon, never even noticing when Gu Yun and Lin Sen returned.
Even after waking up, he was still groggy.
His head hurt a little, too, and he felt weak all over.
Seeing that he was awake, Gu Yun hurried over, looked him over, and asked softly, "Xiao Bai, are you okay? Your face is a little red. Do you have a fever?"
As he spoke, he reached out to feel Bai Chen's forehead, but Bai Chen tilted his head away.
Bai Chen hadn't done it deliberately. He just instinctively dodged things coming toward him.
With his hand left hanging in midair, Gu Yun felt a little awkward.
Bai Chen took his hand and lowered it, then used his other hand to feel his own forehead.
It was indeed a little hot.
But Bai Chen wasn't particularly concerned. He would buy some medicine later and get some more sleep. He was sure he would be fine by tomorrow.
"Well? Is it hot?" Gu Yun asked.
Bai Chen sniffled. "It's not too bad. Maybe I've caught a bit of a cold. I'll go buy some medicine later. It's nothing serious."
Gu Yun's brows knitted slightly at that.
"I'm sorry, Xiao Bai. I shouldn't have taken you out to watch the meteor shower in the middle of the night yesterday. I made you sick. I'll take you to see a doctor later." Gu Yun was full of regret.
Bai Chen didn't mind. "Oh, come on. Everyone gets sick sometimes. I'll just buy some medicine myself. You don't have to feel bad about it."
"Oh, right, I saw the meteor shower yesterday and got some shots of it. I'll send them to you later. There are videos and photos. It was really beautiful." Hearing Gu Yun mention the meteor shower suddenly reminded Bai Chen of the pictures he had taken last night.
Gu Yun hadn't seen it, so he must have been disappointed.
Gu Yun froze for a moment. He hadn't expected Bai Chen to remember to take pictures for him, and warmth filled his heart. His real goal hadn't been to watch the meteor shower, but to watch it with Bai Chen.
The important part was being with Bai Chen.
"Okay, thank you." Gu Yun smiled brightly.
Lin Sen silently watched everything from the sidelines. For some reason, the atmosphere between those two felt strange, though he couldn't put his finger on why.
Maybe he was overthinking it.
Lin Sen interrupted their conversation. "You two, stop just standing around chatting. The freshman mixer dance is tonight, so hurry up and get ready. Who knows, Bai Chen? You might not be single much longer."
Before you continue