Chapter 97 - Extra 4: University Courses
“…it’s settled. Monday afternoon, I’ll go to your university and attend the ‘Finance a.n.a.lysis’ cla.s.s with you. Then on Thursday morning, you’ll come to my university to accompany me to my ‘Marketing and Business Administration Cla.s.s."” Zheng PingQing had extensively studied both their schedules and had finally determined their cla.s.s schedule for the semster.
Although he had failed to get into the same university as Lin Qian, that didn’t stop his plan to attend cla.s.ses with his boyfriend. When it comes to campus romance plots, how can you not have cla.s.ses together!
So after carefully a.n.a.lyzing both their curriculums, Zheng PingQing did some tricky maneuvering to finally force out two cla.s.ses they could take together.
Fortunately, the courses arranged for freshmen weren’t that heavy. They each had one half-day in during the week, which made it convenient for the couple to attend a cla.s.s at the other’s university.
Lin Qian took a quick looked at his timetable and pointed towards one of the columns. “I only have the first cla.s.s on Friday afternoons. After my cla.s.s, I can go accompany you to your third cla.s.s.”
Zheng PingQing was elated. “I didn’t expect you to be so sticky.”
But while he was happy at Lin Qian’s words, Zheng PingQing felt a little reluctant. He said: “Of course I’d be delighted if you were to attend cla.s.s with me, but then won’t you have to constantly rush about?”
“No.” Lin Qian glanced at Zheng PingQing’s schedule. “This ‘Reforming Business Management’ taught by Professor Zhou will be very popular in the future, and any public lectures he had would always be full. I had wanted to listen to his lecture when I was working, but I never had the opportunity to attend. Since I have the time now…”
Zheng PingQing: “…”
Zheng PingQing’s expression slightly collapsed, and he looked out of sorts. “So you just wanted to listen to Professor Zhou’s cla.s.s. It wasn’t because you wanted to spend more time with me!”
Lin Qian was a man who had already coaxed his boyfriend countless times before. He had done it so many times that by now, he can do it with one hand tied behind his back. So the tone of his voice didn’t even change as he replied: “Because Professor Zhou’s cla.s.s is so popular, It’ll be the perfect cover. Even when I come rushing over to attend his cla.s.s, everyone would just think that I’m genuinely coming for his lecture. No one would be able to guess that the real reason I would tirelessly come to every single lecture was to accompany my boyfriend.
Lin Qian then hugged Zheng PingQing and gave him a kiss. “I’m merely taking advantage of Professor Zhou’s popularity. Everything I do is for you, ah…”
A resentful Zheng PingQing hugged Lin Qian back. It was only after several kisses that Zheng PingQing finally said: “Then I’ll reluctantly forgive Professor Zhou…”
……
Both Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing had university and work experience already. Compared to the ordinary freshmen, the couple was much more certain about their major and the cla.s.ses they needed to take.
Lin Qian and Ke MuZi’s partnership had already progressed well. The product had already been developed, and the operation of their company was gradually getting on the right track. They were about to start looking for external funding, but Lin Qian was confident that their company would be listed earlier than even that of Ke MuZi’s company in their last life. Therefore, despite being pressured by all sides, Lin Qian chose an accounting major instead of the engineering major University A was so famous for. Lin Qian was very clear about the fact that he would never surpa.s.s Ke MuZi in terms of technical prowess. What he needed was to master finance and understand the financial strategies that he and his company will sure to implement in the future.
Meanwhile, Zheng PingQing felt that the hardships he had experienced in his last life was enough and didn’t need to be done a second time. He already garnered an accomplished career and felt that he had already proved himself. Since his relationship with Zheng BuLu was fixed in this life, Zheng PingQing didn’t see the need to start a business from scratch all over again. Besides, his boyfriend was busy starting his own company. If he went and started a new company himself, they wouldn’t have the time to be lovey-dovey. After comparing the importance of love and career, the result was obvious. Zheng PingQing decided to graciously allow his father to pa.s.s on his company to him and chose to major in business management.
For the next semester, they followed the schedule and went to each other’s school every Monday afternoon, Thursday morning, and Friday afternoon. Rain or shine, neither was absent.
During the first few times, the other students thought nothing of it. University A and University L were both first-cla.s.s schools with famous courses, so it was normal to see other students from different majors occasionally sit in a cla.s.s.
But as time went on, the students began to feel somewhat strange. It was mainly because these two students were really eye-catching and unforgettable, so every time they appeared together, they attracted a lot of attention. Soon, more and more students discovered that these two students were always together during these particular cla.s.ses.
However, at this point, the other students only thought that they were particularly studious and that Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing simply liked the course enough to regularly visit.
For one, although Zheng PingQing was keen to show off his love, he wasn’t crazy enough to shoot himself on the foot by randomly exposing his gay ident.i.ty to strangers. And another thing, whenever they visited each other’s cla.s.s the other party…would be quite serious and would earnestly listen to the lecture.
Therefore, after a few weeks, all the other students didn’t suspect them. In fact, they even felt a little moved by their pa.s.sion for learning and studying (?)
By this time, the students have gotten to know one another, and the cla.s.s had become lively.
On this day, it was time to attend Professor Zhou TianRan’s cla.s.s again.
Professor Zhou TianRan’s lectures were always a popular pick. He would quote from the cla.s.sics while combining them with current events, making his cla.s.ses interesting and engaging for his students.
Initially, Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing were very low-key. They would sit at the back of the room and would stay quiet the entire time. However, after a few cla.s.ses, Zheng PingQing noticed that Lin Qian really enjoyed the course. So instead of sitting at the very back, the couple would now come in early and sit on the front row. Of course, since they were quite tall, they didn’t sit directly in the middle of the row and sat on the very edge. But this made them just as conspicuous as if they sat in the middle of the row.
After speaking for a while, Professor Zhou TianRan suddenly took out a stack of test papers and said: “I’ve already taught eight cla.s.ses of this course, so today, I thought we’d do a quiz to see how well you students have grasped the content.”
He then slyly winked. “Quizzes are naturally included in your final grade. I hope you take this quiz seriously.”
The students didn’t expect their teacher to give them a quiz so suddenly. What’s more, it affected their final grade! They were taken entirely off-guard and began to howl one after the other. But Professor Zhou TianRan just acted like he didn’t hear anything and began to distribute the test papers.
As students sitting at the edge, Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing were given test papers by Professor Zhou TianRan himself. Professor Zhou TianRan smiled at them and said: “You students are always early and would always listen attentively. I think you’ll do quite well on this quiz.”
Lin Qian had attended every cla.s.s and had never been absent, so Professor Zhou TianRan didn’t actually know that Lin Qian wasn’t a student at this university.
Lin Qian was about to explain that he wasn’t a student of L University, but Zheng PingQing took the test papers and whisper to him with a smile: “The teacher will know once he checked the test papers.”
Some of the other students behind them wanted to tell Professor Zhou TianRan the truth but swallowed their words down when they saw the situation. Instead, they looked at each other with knowing smiles and whispered amongst each other.
“Haha, Professor Zhou doesn’t know that he isn’t from our cla.s.s!”
“He never called the roll, and no one said anything. How could he possibly know? Even I almost thought that he was our cla.s.smate.”
“Yes, some people from the next cla.s.s really thought he’s a part of our cla.s.s and asked me about him. I just laughed, ah.”
“My gosh, are we really not going to tell Professor Zhou? Isn’t this bad?”
“What’s wrong with it? That boy has come to so many cla.s.ses, ah. It’s time to see the results of his studies, heh.”
“Pfft, Professor Zhou might become overwhelmed by his grief once he sees that boy’s test paper. He comes to every single lecture, but his quiz results are like that? Professor Zhou might start to doubt his teaching prowess.”
“Then, we can just tell Professor Zhou that the boy isn’t actually a part of his cla.s.s. It’ll be a huge mood reversal, haha.”
“Wow, I can’t wait to see the look on Professor Zhou’s face once he knows the truth!”
……
It was a pity that the shocking reveal everyone expected never appeared. On Professor Zhou TianRan’s lecture the week after, the papers had been marked, and the scores had been counted.
Professor Zhou TianRan’s face had a big smile on his face as he said: “The student with the highest marks in last week’s quiz is student Lin Qian. Which one of you is Lin Qian? Raise your hand and let this teacher have a look, ah.”
Lin Qian, who was sitting in the first row: “…”
Feeling a little embarra.s.sed, he raised his hand.
The students: “…”
Professor Zhou TianRan’s eyes lit up. “So it really was you. You didn’t let me down, ah.”
“Students, although L University has always advocated self-development, this teacher has to say that this time, we should really learn from Lin Qian.” Professor Zhou TianRan sounded very excited as he said this. “I don’t have standard answers to a lot of the questions I put in this course and always mark your answers personally. But this was the first time I’ve read such a beautiful answer like Lin Qian’s. And I’m not exaggeration things, ah. After teaching for so many years, I’ve definitely seen it all. However, Lin Qian’s answer is an answer that combines theory with practice. I usually teach my cla.s.ses to other businessmen too, but none of them have this kind of understanding…”
Professor Zhou TianRan’s words felt exactly like going outside without any money on you. But while Lin Qian was listening with a head full of black lines, Zheng PingQing was listening to Professor Zhou TianRan with rapt attention. He even opened the recording software on his phone.
Professor Zhou TianRan has been teaching for many years, but he seldom praised his students to this extent. Generally speaking, as long as he sincerely gives a student a kind word, it would attract the attention of the other students. A more lively cla.s.s might ever directly poke fun at the student.
However, this time, after a round of generous praise, Professor Zhou TianRan didn’t hear the familiar teasing he expected from the other students. Instead, what he heard was an unexpected silence.
A dead silence.
Honestly, Zheng PingQing would’ve loved to wantonly applause, but with an atmosphere like this, it was certain that he would become isolated from his cla.s.smates for the next four years if he did so.
Professor Zhou TianRan began to feel a little confused. But when he looked at the embarra.s.sed and slightly ashamed faces of his students, he suddenly realized.
It seems that he praised Lin Qian too much and hurt the self-esteem of the other students.
Professor Zhou TianRan secretly reflected on his actions. He didn’t pay attention to the emotions of the other students and inadvertently hurt their pride. He softly coughed and pretended nothing happened. Instead, he said to Lin Qian: “By the way, when I tried to register your mark, I didn’t find your name on the list. Did you miss putting your name on the cla.s.s list?”
“Er-” Lin Qian didn’t expect that this small quiz would make everyone feel so embarra.s.sed. He really just wanted to take the quiz to check his knowledge, ah.
In the end, Lin Qian coughed and said: “Excuse me, Professor Zhou. Actually, I’m not a student of L University. I just wanted to sit in for your lectures.”
Professor Zhou TianRan: “…???”
The other humiliated students buried their heads even lower.
After a long silence, Professor Zhou TianRan opened his mouth and said: “Lin Qian, are you interested in taking the postgraduate entrance exams for our university? I also bring graduate students…oh, no wait. What university are you from? I’ll see if I can apply for a spot for you…”
The other students: “…”
Zheng PingQing calmly blocked Lin Qian and said: “Professor Zhou, he has no intention of taking the postgraduate entrance exams. You’d better forget such notions.”
Professor Zhou TianRan: “….”