"Hey, senior."
"Why are you suddenly walking so fast?"
"Is something urgent?"
Xia Shuran kept close beside Gu Qing, her face full of confusion.
Gu Qing casually made up an excuse:
"No, I just remembered I have an online assignment due before six. I need to hurry back, make some changes, and send it to my teacher."
"Oh, then you really do need to hurry."
Xia Shuran nodded in understanding.
Then she hesitated before reminding him a little nervously, "Senior, did you forget you were going to treat me to a meal?"
The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them a little.
She felt as though she had reminded him too many times, and this was hardly the right time either. She worried that acting like this would annoy Gu Qing.
Hearing that, Gu Qing realized he really had more or less forgotten about it.
He turned to Xia Shuran and said a little apologetically, "Sorry. I've been pretty busy lately, and I went home over the weekend too. I really did forget."
Then he smiled and added, "No time like the present. How about we grab a meal in the Living Area now? Pick whatever you want. My treat."
"Eat now?"
Xia Shuran sounded a little puzzled. "But senior, don't you need to hurry back to turn in your assignment?"
"Look at my memory. I just said it and already forgot. Another day, then?"
"Senior, are you free tonight?"
As she spoke, Xia Shuran took out her phone, opened a food delivery app, and held it in front of Gu Qing. "I have two half-price coupons for an all-you-can-eat barbecue place. It's right across from campus. How about we eat there?"
She had gotten these two half-price coupons the day before yesterday, waiting for a suitable chance to invite Gu Qing to go with her.
And right now was the best chance.
If she missed it, who knew how long she would have to wait for another one?
After all, Gu Qing really did seem busy to her. He was almost only ever free in the afternoons when she practiced with her red-tasseled spear.
"Sure, tonight it is."
Gu Qing agreed without a second thought. "Let's meet outside the library at seven."
Xia Shuran's eyes curved into a smile, her voice a little softer than usual. "Okay. See you at seven tonight."
With that settled.
The two chatted no further and each headed back to their dorm.
[Barber] [Librarian] [Shut-in] [Ride-hailing driver] [Biochemical Maniac]
On the way back to his dorm.
Gu Qing let his gaze wander, habitually observing the labels above everyone's heads.
As he passed the dining hall, a young man wearing glasses suddenly caught his eye.
The man looked to be in his early thirties. He looked listless and staggered as he walked, his body seemingly very weak.
But none of that mattered.
What really caught Gu Qing's attention was the particularly conspicuous label above his head:
-[Biochemical Maniac]
What the hell?
Why does this guy have a label like that?
He isn't a zombie, is he?
Gu Qing was astonished.
This was the second outrageous label he had encountered since awakening his Label Cheat.
The first was the one floating above his ex-girlfriend Bai Ningyu's head-[Corpse].
While he was still marveling at it.
Suddenly.
The unsteady young man lurched sideways and collapsed straight to the ground.
Without thinking further.
Gu Qing immediately went over to check on him.
Seeing that the man had not completely passed out and was still somewhat conscious, he hurriedly asked:
"What's wrong?"
"Probably... a little low blood sugar... please help me buy a bottle of cola... thank you..."
The man's voice was extremely weak.
Since they happened to be right beside the dining hall, Gu Qing immediately went inside and bought him a bottle of cola.
The man took it and promptly gulped down more than half the bottle.
Before long, color returned to his face.
Once he felt much better.
The man looked up at Gu Qing, his face full of gratitude:
"Thank you so much, student. You really helped me out. How much was this cola again? I'll add you on WeChat and transfer you the money."
"Two yuan fifty."
Gu Qing answered casually.
He did not care about such a small amount of money at all. He was simply very interested in the man's [Biochemical Maniac] label.
So he absolutely had to add him on WeChat.
After adding him on WeChat.
And receiving the money.
To get closer to the man, Gu Qing took the initiative to make small talk. "By the way, if you have low blood sugar, why don't you usually carry some candy for emergencies?"
The man smiled wryly. "My low blood sugar isn't pathological. It's just a side effect of some chemical reagents."
Thinking of his [Biochemical Maniac] label, Gu Qing curiously asked another question:
"What chemical reagents have that side effect?"
"They don't have specific names yet. Right now, we just call them compound number such-and-such."
The man held nothing back and spoke openly.
After a little more chatting.
Gu Qing learned that the man's name was Zhou Yuan, a doctoral student at their university who conducted biochemistry research in a laboratory.
He often experimented on himself, injecting various chemical reagents and biological toxins into his body. He had even been hospitalized several times because of it.
He was a complete research maniac.
Even Gu Qing thought he was badass listening to him.
If Zhou Yuan were in an apocalypse movie, he would absolutely be the sort of villainous scientist who could create a zombie virus.
All he could say was that the [Biochemical Maniac] label had found the right person.
Speaking of labels.
Gu Qing could not help pondering.
If I get to know this doctoral student and find a way to do biochemical research with him, what attributes could I gain from his label?
Barring any surprises, they should be attributes related to biochemistry.
With that thought, Gu Qing immediately looked at Zhou Yuan and said:
"Zhou Yuan, I'm pretty interested in biochemistry research too. We should talk more about it sometime."
"Then we've got something in common."
Zhou Yuan adjusted his glasses and asked, "Are you majoring in biology or chemistry?"
Gu Qing said, "Foreign languages."
"Huh?"
Zhou Yuan froze on the spot, wondering whether he had misheard.
P.S. Holding out my bowl, begging for monthly votes and recommendation votes!
18, Southern Rat
Back at his dorm.
Gu Qing took a shower and shot the breeze with his three roommates for a while.
Later, seeing that it was about time, he went out to meet Xia Shuran at the library.
A gentle breeze blew along the campus paths at dusk.
It was pleasantly cool walking outside.
Along the way.
Gu Qing saw quite a few couples holding hands.
For a moment, the sight stirred his feelings.
Back when he and Bai Ningyu were still dating, they had often gone out for walks at night too. When they reached somewhere deserted, they could not help getting intimate. Those days had been wonderful.
But somehow, they had suddenly broken up, just like that.
Neither of them had done anything wrong, and there had not been any major conflicts either.
Whenever he thought about it, he felt it was such a shame.
I wonder if it has anything to do with that [Corpse] label above her head. I hope she's doing well and nothing happens to her...
Gu Qing murmured inwardly.
A few minutes later.
He arrived at the library entrance.
Gu Qing found Xia Shuran already waiting there.
The younger sports student was not wearing her hair in her usual high ponytail tonight.
Instead, her long, straight black hair hung naturally down, fluttering gently whenever the breeze blew.
Compared with her usual brisk, no-nonsense appearance, she looked a little gentler and more ladylike.
Aside from that.
Everything else was much the same as usual.
Her bright, pretty face was still completely bare, without a trace of makeup.
She was also wearing loose casual clothes, looking simple and fresh.
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