Lu Daoxing's approval of Sally left the entire class stunned.
'Full marks already?'
'Wait, what is this about ultraviolet and infrared?'
'It doesn't seem like we ever learned that...'
'No, wait, we did learn it. But back in high school we'd been busy hunting gods instead of paying attention in class.'
'Damn it! Missed a chance at a perfect score!'
Fu Wanli nudged Hu Chan with his elbow, "Third Brother Hu, I heard you're amazing at researching god-hunting equipment, second only to Brother Qin. Do you know about the light colors of equipment grades?"
Hearing himself called "Third Brother Hu," Hu Chan found it hard to be nice to Fu Wanli. He answered perfunctorily, "Of course I know."
"Then why didn't you say anything?"
"Why would I? I'm not like you, I don't enjoy showing off. Besides, Boss Qin didn't say anything. Why would I jump out and show off?"
"Makes sense!"
The group couldn't help but look at Qin Siyang again.
Qin Siyang's expression remained calm, but everyone still felt he was unfathomable.
So far in this class, there had been many things Qin Siyang didn't understand.
But he couldn't ask.
It would damage his image as Teacher Qin, Boss Qin, President Qin, Brother Qin, and Big Brother Qin in everyone's eyes.
So he could only quietly digest what he didn't understand and find time to get Lu Daoxing to tutor him privately.
Hu Chan looked at Sally behind him and sighed, "That said, Sally really is amazing. It took me half a day of research to figure it out, and she understood it on the spot."
"Half a day of research?", Chu Baxing asked, "Isn't the spectrum just textbook stuff? What's there to research?"
Hu Chan rolled his eyes at him, "Five years ago I was only thirteen. I hadn't learned anything about the spectrum yet. Wouldn't self-studying take more time?"
"..."
———
After class, Sally stopped Qin Siyang.
She lifted her chin, a hint of playfulness showing in her blue eyes, "Qin Siyang, aren't I really smart?"
"Yeah, you are."
"Hehe! You'll slowly realize I'm much smarter than you think!"
"Uh... and then?"
"And then? Then you'll know we're a perfect match. Don't you like smart girls?"
"?"
"Never mind. I'm going back to... study in advance... no, go have fun! Bye!"
Watching Sally skip away, Qin Siyang really didn't know what to say.
Fu Wanli sighed, "Brother Qin really is Brother Qin. One stunningly beautiful classmate after another around him."
Zhao Sifang shook his head, "They're definitely stunning. But if we're talking about one after another, you've got him beat."
"Oh, right, Fifth Brother Zhao, can I date now?"
"Huh? Why are you asking me if you're dating?"
"Didn't you guys say last time that I was dating too frequently and you couldn't take it anymore?"
"Go ahead. Just remember to bring her to meet us first."
"Great! No problem! I'll definitely have all you big brothers help me judge her. Brother Qin, want to grab lunch at the cafeteria together?"
"You guys go ahead. I'm heading back to Miracle Building."
"Alright!"
———
Qin Siyang headed to Miracle Building and first stopped by Li Tianming's office.
Li Tianming was discussing something with Zhang Kuang. When they saw Qin Siyang arrive, both smiled.
"Little Qin, what brings you here?"
Qin Siyang took out the reading list Wen Shu had given him the previous night and slapped it onto the desk.
"The reading list Wen Shu made for your son."
As soon as Li Tianming heard that, he hurried over, picked it up, and read through it.
"Excellent, excellent. As expected of the genius student I trained while serving as principal at Ju'an School. This reading list is perfect for Xiaofei."
"Quit flattering yourself. Since when can geniuses be trained?"
Li Tianming neatly folded the reading list, slipped it into the inner pocket of his suit jacket, and carefully put it away.
"Of course they can! First, a genius has to survive before they can show their talent. Without the environment we provided, she and her grandmother would've starved to death long ago."
"Take you for example. If I hadn't insisted that the school cafeteria stay free, do you think you'd still be alive today?"
Qin Siyang snorted, "The free cafeteria was a Ministry of Education regulation. What did that have to do with you?"
Li Tianming glared at him, "Kid, are you pretending not to know, or do you really not know? You think the Ministry of Education's reach extends to our little backwater? Other schools near the edges of nearby safe zones all charge for their cafeterias one way or another."
"I'm the one who's seen the world and doesn't care about that little bit of money, so I insisted the cafeteria stay free. If it'd been any other principal, you'd be nothing but a pile of bones by now."
Qin Siyang lowered the corners of his mouth and said nothing.
"Anything else?"
"Nothing urgent. Professor Lu wanted to see me, so I won't interrupt you and Director Zhang."
"Alright. I heard Old Lu this morning say he'd already prepared the equipment to repay his debt. Since he's looking for you, he's probably trying to thank you."
"Professor Lu can finally pay off his debt? No wonder he looked so energetic today! That's great! I'll go see him!"
———
Qin Siyang made his way to Lu Daoxing's office. As soon as he pushed open the door, he found Lu Daoxing humming a tune while cleaning the room.
"Oh, Little Qin, you're here! Have a seat!"
Instead of sitting down, Qin Siyang picked up a broom and started sweeping the floor.
"Professor Lu, I heard you're finally paying off your debt. Congratulations."
"Haha! That's right! Just talking about it puts me in a fantastic mood! Oh, and my wife told me to bring you home for a proper meal. She's already prepared a big lunch."
Qin Siyang immediately agreed, "Sure! Aunt Yang's cooking is incredible. I'm in for a treat!"
———
Qin Siyang went to Lu Daoxing's home.
Yang Dan was still thin, but her cheeks were flushed with color, like snow melting at the start of spring.
"Little Qin, have a seat. The sweet-and-sour pork will be ready in a moment."
Six dishes and a soup were already on the table: steamed perch, braised pork ribs, stir-fried garlic shoots with pork...
Using a chipped soup ladle, Lu Daoxing scooped some fish into Qin Siyang's bowl.
"Your Aunt Yang got up at four in the morning to buy the freshest fish."
"We have somewhere that sells fish around here?"
"As long as you've got money, you can buy anything," Lu Daoxing patted his chest, "Your Professor Lu has money now."
Qin Siyang knew Lu Daoxing had probably quietly sold some equipment and technology to earn a little money and put Yang Dan's mind at ease.
"Then Professor Lu will have to support this poor student a lot more from now on."
"Poor? Give me a break. Hurry up and eat!"
During the meal, Lu Daoxing was in high spirits and even drank nearly half a bottle of baijiu.
Yang Dan simply listened with a smile, her face full of relief and happiness.
Lu Daoxing's face was flushed red, "Little Qin! Tomorrow, after I pay off my debt, your Aunt Yang and I are going away for a month. Help me ask Principal Zhao for leave."
"Why do I have to ask for you?"
Lu Daoxing chuckled and nudged Qin Siyang's shoulder, "I'm afraid he won't agree. Aren't you and him as close as two people wearing the same pair of pants? It'll be easier if you ask."