HRMCF Chapter 17

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🍋‍🟩 Completed Chapter

Originally, Shen Yan thought the discussion about Liang Keqing's suspension would pass after a while. Unexpectedly, perhaps because everyone was too bored recently, or because Liang Keqing was so hated before, the rumors about him never stopped.

Shen Yan was worried about Zhu Ningbo's impulsiveness and would occasionally advise him. Zhu Ningbo assured him that he wouldn't get into any more conflicts with others over this matter.

The college temporarily assigned other teachers to cover the classes. Zhu Ningbo was finally no longer the bottom-ranked student who was frequently called upon in class only to be unable to answer. The professors would finish their lectures and leave, not bothering to ask questions or remember names.

After a few days of such classes, Zhu Ningbo visibly became more depressed and lost weight.

Shen Yan propped his chin up with his hand and slowly shook his head. "Look at him, his soul has flown away."

Zhao Linsu put down the food he had gotten and turned his head to look at the line of people.

Zhu Ningbo, being tall and large, was naturally very conspicuous in the line. He was hunched over, looking very dispirited.

Zhu Ningbo had been like this for the past two days, spacing out in class and dazed after class. Several times, if Shen Yan hadn't called him, he wouldn't have known class was over.

"Zhu Ningbo—"

Shen Yan stood up.

Zhu Ningbo bumped headfirst into the person getting food, and his T-shirt was thoroughly splattered with shredded pork with garlic sauce.

"Sorry, are you alright?"

"It's okay, it's okay..."

Zhu Ningbo was bumped, but he still didn't react much, like a wandering ghost pulling out his card. "I'll pay you back, I'll get you another serving."

"Uh, classmate, this is a bus card."

"Oh... how much..."

Shen Yan went over and took the bus card from Zhu Ningbo's hand, saying to the other student, "Sorry, classmate, he's not feeling well. I'll get you a new serving."

"No need, I'll go myself."

"I'm really sorry."

Shen Yan apologized and saw the person off, then pulled Zhu Ningbo back to their table.

Zhu Ningbo sat down and only then realized his hands were empty. He looked blankly at Shen Yan. "Where's my meal card?"

Shen Yan wordlessly handed him back the bus card.

Zhu Ningbo: "This is a bus card."

Shen Yan: Duh, he still knows it's a bus card!

"I'll go get him food," Shen Yan said to Zhao Linsu. "You keep an eye on him."

"I'll go myself..."

Zhu Ningbo was about to stand up, but Zhao Linsu stopped him with a gesture. "Sit down."

Shen Yan quickly returned with the food. "Two meat dishes and one vegetable, just make do."

Zhu Ningbo thanked him, picked up his chopsticks, and started counting rice grains with a vacant look.

Shen Yan frowned as he watched from the side.

"Get him a doctor's appointment," Zhao Linsu said faintly, taking a sip of soup with his head down.

Shen Yan asked, "Which department?"

"International Finance."

Zhu Ningbo, who had been spacing out the whole time, snapped back to attention, his eyes fixed on Zhao Linsu.

Zhao Linsu ate without looking up, while Shen Yan lowered his head and shook it as he ate.

To say that he just wanted to be Liang Keqing's postgraduate student would be a blatant lie.

"Zhao Linsu..."

Zhu Ningbo's voice was pitiful.

"Eat your food."

Zhu Ningbo turned his head again. "Shen Yan..."

"Eat your vegetables."

The three of them went back to Zhu Ningbo's dorm together. Zhu Ningbo's roommates weren't back yet. Shen Yan and Zhao Linsu stood by the window, each in a corner.

Shen Yan crossed his arms and looked down at Zhu Ningbo, who was slumped in his chair, listless.

"Zhu Ningbo, you..." Shen Yan chose his words carefully, "Actually, you really admire Liang Keqing, don't you?"

Zhu Ningbo nodded slowly.

"Liang Keqing is suspended, and you're very upset."

Nod, nod.

"No matter how upset you are, you still have to live your life."

No reaction.

Shen Yan looked at Zhao Linsu, who raised an eyebrow at him.

Shen Yan: Here we go again, playing it cool? I can raise my eyebrows too.

The two of them raised their eyebrows at each other.

Shen Yan crooked his finger.

Zhao Linsu raised his eyebrow again.

Shen Yan: "..."

Impatient with this game, Shen Yan directly reached out and hooked his shoulder, pulled him over, turned him towards the window, and lowered his voice. "Look at his symptoms, will he get better in a couple of days?"

"Hard to say."

"Then what do we do?"

Zhao Linsu turned his face to look at him.

Shen Yan calmly looked back.

Heh, he was no longer the same person he was a month ago.

Evolved, not flustered.

Isn't it just a brother's face up close? It's just not as handsome as his.

"I should have a way to find out Liang Keqing's address."

"Where does Teacher Liang live?"

This wasn't Shen Yan asking.

Zhu Ningbo had unknowingly leaned over them, his fluffy head squeezed between the two of them. The light in his eyes had finally returned, making Shen Yan inwardly exclaim at this medical miracle.

"Isn't this a bit inappropriate? It's quite intrusive to Teacher Liang's privacy, isn't it?"

The light went out again.

"It's okay, many professors' addresses are public anyway. Students often go to their homes to ask for guidance."

The light came back on.

"But Teacher Liang has already been suspended."

Shen Yan watched Zhu Ningbo's eyes flicker on and off like a short-circuited light bulb. He found it both amusing and pitiful, deciding not to tease him anymore.

"Zhu Ningbo, do you really want to see Teacher Liang again?"

Zhu Ningbo nodded vigorously, sincerely. "I really admire Teacher Liang. Even if he's not teaching us anymore, I want to properly say goodbye to him."

"Then get off the two of us first."

Zhu Ningbo hurriedly moved away. Only then did Shen Yan release his arm from Zhao Linsu's shoulder.

Zhu Ningbo had been leaning on them too heavily. Shen Yan had been loosely holding Zhao Linsu, but with Zhu Ningbo's weight, his entire arm had pressed tightly against Zhao Linsu's shoulder.

In that instant, Zhao Linsu tensed up.

Shen Yan clearly felt the muscles under his arm stiffen and bulge for a moment before relaxing.

Zhu Ningbo's head was between them. Shen Yan subconsciously turned his head but didn't see Zhao Linsu's expression, only the long sweep of his eyebrows under his messy fringe, the ends slightly raised.

Shen Yan put his hands back in his pockets. "What do you say, Brother Su?"

"This weekend then."

"Did you hear that?" Shen Yan said to Zhu Ningbo. "Feeling relieved now?"

Zhu Ningbo nodded vigorously, his face flushed. "Thank you!"

The two of them left Zhu Ningbo's dorm together. Shen Yan asked Zhao Linsu, "Can you really find out?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Knew I could count on you."

Zhao Linsu glanced at him. "Admire me too?"

Shen Yan's lips twitched. "Yeah, yeah, admire, admire so much."

For the remaining two days of the week, Zhu Ningbo was incredibly excited, a complete extreme compared to his previous listless state.

"Shen Yan, help me take a look."

Zhu Ningbo turned his notebook around and placed it in front of Shen Yan.

Shen Yan's eyes scanned it.

"Dear Professor Liang: Hello, I am..."

Shen Yan: "..."

"I wrote a letter to Teacher Liang. Can you help me take a look? I'm not very good at expressing myself. This is a draft. See if there's anything that needs to be changed. If it's okay, I'll copy it onto letter paper."

Shen Yan's brain froze for a few seconds, then he calmly said, "Sure, no problem, I'll take a look."

"You've come to the right person," Zhao Linsu said beside him. "He's best at writing letters."

Shen Yan glared at him.

Warning.

"Is that so? I think so too. Shen Yan's expressive ability is particularly strong."

Shen Yan ignored the two of them and read Zhu Ningbo's letter from beginning to end. He found that Zhu Ningbo's letter was quite positive, expressing gratitude for the teacher's kindness and past teachings, showing appreciation, and wishing him well for the future, perfectly reflecting the mindset of a student who admired his teacher.

Shen Yan couldn't help but look at Zhu Ningbo again.

Zhu Ningbo was still waiting for his guidance, his face honest and simple.

Couldn't figure it out.

If he respected his teacher so much, why would he fantasize about him?

Shen Yan shuddered. He still couldn't understand. "It's written quite well. The most important thing is the sincerity. No need to change it."

Patting Zhu Ningbo's shoulder, Shen Yan thought to himself, buddy, I hope you consciously turn over a new leaf after this. Amen.

Zhu Ningbo took back his notebook, happily muttering to himself, "Really? I wrote it well? Can Teacher Liang really understand my feelings?"

Shen Yan: "..."

If Liang Keqing really understood Zhu Ningbo's feelings, he thought Zhu Ningbo would probably die a spectacular death.

That weekend, the three of them met at the school gate. Zhao Linsu drove, and Shen Yan came in Zhao Linsu's car. As soon as they parked, they saw Zhu Ningbo standing at the school gate with a fruit basket, wearing a shirt, trousers, and small leather shoes. He only needed a tie to go sell insurance.

Shen Yan's mouth slightly opened. Zhu Ningbo trotted over and stood outside the car window, a little shyly pulling at his shirt. "Shen Yan, is this outfit okay?"

Shen Yan: "...Very formal."

"Yes, I'm going to see Teacher Liang, so I should be a bit more formal," Zhu Ningbo said, touching his shirt collar bashfully. "It's a pity I don't have a tie."

Shen Yan: "..."

"It's enough, this is enough, get in the car," Shen Yan said with a forced smile.

Zhu Ningbo was clearly very nervous. He kept fidgeting with his clothes in the back seat, holding the fruit basket and breathing heavily.

"Don't be too nervous," Shen Yan advised. "Strictly speaking, he's not our teacher anymore."

"Mm-hmm."

Shen Yan asked Zhao Linsu, "Where exactly does Teacher Liang live? You can tell me now, right?"

He had asked Zhao Linsu two days ago, but Zhao Linsu had been secretive and refused to say, only saying that he had found out. Shen Yan, to reward his contribution to the "iron triangle," brought him breakfast every morning and ordered takeout for him at night. Zhao Linsu accepted these rewards with a smile, replying to Shen Yan's offerings with—"[Son: Not bad, very filial.]"

Shen Yan dismissed it with a smile, thinking that he wouldn't stoop to the level of this perverted sex maniac.

"You'll know when we get there."

When they arrived, Shen Yan indeed knew.

Damn it, Liang Keqing actually lived in the same residential complex as Zhao Linsu!

Shen Yan couldn't help but grit his teeth. "When did you find out that Liang Keqing lives here too?"

"The first day I moved into this complex."

"..."

Shen Yan got out of the car. Zhu Ningbo was already trembling with excitement, grabbing Shen Yan's arm. "Shen Yan, does Teacher Liang really live here?"

Shen Yan didn't answer, letting out a soft sigh towards the sky.

"What's wrong?" Zhu Ningbo asked worriedly, seeing Shen Yan's strange expression.

Shen Yan murmured, "I have the will to kill the enemy, but lack the strength to turn the tide..."

Zhu Ningbo: "..."

"Let's go in," Zhao Linsu came over and tapped the back of Shen Yan's head. Shen Yan held his head and retaliated with a kick at Zhao Linsu, who dodged nimbly. "Crossing the river and demolishing the bridge?"

Shen Yan said, "Stop talking nonsense and spit out my food."

The two of them "fought" their way into the elevator. Zhu Ningbo followed them with the fruit basket, feeling envious.

Shen Yan and Zhao Linsu had a really good relationship, the kind of close friends who could joke around and trust each other. Zhu Ningbo didn't have any such friends. Even with Shen Yan, Zhu Ningbo was well aware that compared to Zhao Linsu, he was more like a younger brother being taken care of.

"What a coincidence? Teacher Liang lives right next door to you?"

Shen Yan changed his shoes at the entrance.

He had been to Zhao Linsu's apartment before, in the first few days after Zhao Linsu moved out, when he came to "warm the house."

Having a clingy older brother, he had never stayed overnight at Zhao Linsu's place, nor had he noticed that Teacher Liang lived next door.

"Quite a few professors from school live here."

"Make yourself comfortable," Zhao Linsu said to Zhu Ningbo.

Zhu Ningbo was much more reserved than Shen Yan, holding the fruit basket, unsure whether to hold it or put it down. "Okay, is Teacher Liang not home right now?"

"He should be back in the evening."

Zhu Ningbo made an "oh" sound and sat down on the sofa with the fruit basket.

Shen Yan was familiar with the place and went to the bathroom first to use the toilet.

It had been a while since he had been to Zhao Linsu's place.

Zhao Linsu had been abroad for two months, and this was Shen Yan's first time visiting since Zhao Linsu returned, making it over three months in total.

Quite a long time.

Shen Yan zipped up his fly and naturally glanced around the bathroom.

Zhao Linsu's bathroom wasn't big but was very clean and tidy. This person, who had been so slovenly in his childhood, had become quite fond of cleanliness in adulthood. The towels were snow-white, and there wasn't a speck of water stain on the sink, comparable to how Shen Shen, the homemaker, kept things.

"Men's facial cleanser..."

Shen Yan surveyed the few items placed on the counter.

Cleanser, shaving cream, electric shaver, electric toothbrush, toothpaste.

That was it.

This person lived even more roughly than he did. He at least had a toner.

Shen Yan quietly peeked into the shower room as well.

Body wash, shampoo.

That was it.

Shen Yan nodded with satisfaction.

Judging from this, the suspicion of this person being gay was still relatively low.

"Bo'er, relax a bit," Shen Yan sat cross-legged on the sofa, skillfully grabbing the remote and selecting a newly released comedy movie. "It's still early."

"Oh, okay."

Zhu Ningbo said, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

"Soda."

Shen Yan didn't even look, reaching out to catch the tossed soda.

Zhao Linsu said to Zhu Ningbo, "What about you?"

"Just water, I'll pour it myself."

Zhu Ningbo put down the fruit basket and stood up. Zhao Linsu had already poured the water and handed it to him.

"Warm water."

"Thank you, thank you."

Shen Yan opened his soda and took a sip, gesturing with his knee to the left. "Have you seen this movie?"

"No," Zhao Linsu sat down beside him, also opening a soda. "Just released, hasn't had time to watch it yet."

"The reviews are pretty good."

Shen Yan gestured in the air, giving Zhao Linsu a "Bro, you know what's up" look.

Zhao Linsu said, "Get it yourself."

Shen Yan made a "tch" sound, got up, and went to rummage through the snack cabinet in the kitchen.

Zhu Ningbo held his cup of warm water, watching Shen Yan's back in the kitchen with some envy. He said to Zhao Linsu, "You guys have a really good relationship."

Zhao Linsu held a bottle of peach soda, his wrist drooping slightly as he swayed it gently. The pink soda swirled in the glass bottle. He also looked towards the kitchen, his eyes slightly narrowed.

His relationship with Shen Yan...

Was very good.

Shen Yan returned with a large pile of snacks. "Little Zhao, not that I'm criticizing you, but buying so much food, some of it is almost expired. Don't you know about thrift? Come on, Bo'er, let's do a good deed together and help Little Zhao clear out his inventory."

"No need, I can't eat," Zhu Ningbo said nervously, not even taking a sip of his water.

Shen Yan shook his head and opened a bag of potato chips himself, offering it to Zhao Linsu. "Boss first."

Zhao Linsu took two chips and waved his hand. Shen Yan ate the chips while saying, "You really need to change this habit. You only eat a little bit every time, it's such a waste."

Shen Yan and Zhao Linsu were quite calm, but Zhu Ningbo was not. No matter how Shen Yan joked around, he seemed unable to react, occasionally glancing at the door to see if the elevator was coming up.

"The elevator seems to be coming up—