Chapter 159 —Professor And Cutie

He had tracked her to the suburbs of City C, but it was like she vanished soon afterwards. No one knew her, no cameras captured her, nothing.

It was like she had disappeared from the face of the earth.

His mind kept repeating that day like a movie, trying to see if there was any clue he had missed. Nothing came to mind.

He increased the pace of the treadmill and ran till he was breathing in short gasps, his dark hair sticking to his forehead. Drops of sweat emerged on his face and melded together before pouring down like rain.

It was as if he was punishing himself for what happened today.

He decided he would keep monitoring City C and its suburbs, in case she showed up suddenly. He would also go over all the CCTV footages the security team could lay their hands on.

Even if it was a rat, he would smoke it out and not let it go, much less a person.

*****

*Ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring ring*

The recorded tune of a ringing bell blared out of the speakers, signalling break time.

All the students of Anping First Middle School collectively let out a smile in happiness. Time for some food!

It couldn't be helped. The school really worked people hard. The classes were interesting but tough, and between mini tests every week and assessment tests monthly, they were forced to study seriously.

Though the school didn't rank them according to grades alone, the students were usually very conscious about their grades, especially those who loved their current class and didn't want to leave.

This was the case for the students of the elite class. The reason wasn't far fetched.

"Look, Professor and Cutie are about to leave. Let's go!" One girl said as she dragged her friend to stuff chocolate and gifts into their desks.

Yes, more than a month had passed, but the females were more insistent than ever on giving Han Yichen and Li Yuchen gifts and letters. Even some males had resorted to writing letters and gifts to express their thanks and admiration.

After Li Yuchen stated that he didn't like sweet things, they changed it to things like savory pastries and juice. He also started getting non-edibles like stationeries, cards and table games.

Li Yuchen expressed that what could he do? It wasn't his fault that he was just too popular!

Within the month, both boys had firmly imprinted their different personalities on the hearts of the students.

Every student of the school knew that two handsome and intelligent boys had joined their school, who were as apart in personalities as they were close in relationship.

Han Yichen was the popular yet taciturn guy. He would not talk much, but just his presence alone was enough to make the girls swoon. He could always be found either reading a book or writing.

No one doubted it at all when rumors of him being the only one to pass that insanely difficult scholarship exam circulated throughout the school.

They understood that if anyone could pass it, it would be this reticently handsome boy. He was the typical "that family's son" that parents used to scold and motivate their own children. Thus, he earned the nickname "Professor Chen".

Li Yuchen on the other hand, was the cute handsome brother everyone wanted to be friends with. Once he turned his smile on anyone, they would melt like butter.

If he trained his baby blue globes on someone, they would subconsciously think that he could do no wrong. Even guys that were usually jealous of the attention girls would give them couldn't get jealous of him. He was just so approachable. Hence, his nickname was "Cutie Chen."

Towards this nickname, Li Yuchen expressed his immense dislike. What kind of name was "Cutie"?!

The only thing everyone agreed on was that his tongue could be very toxic. Just a sentence could make an adult shed tears.

But it was no secret that the person who usually suffered the most was Jiu Renxin, and since he didn't do well in the first monthly assessment, he wasn't in the elite class anymore, so Li Yuchen hadn't used his "speaking skills" at all in the last week.

In short, Han Yichen looked like he would grow up to be a cold CEO or at least an aloof scholar, while Li Yuchen looked like he was definitely going to go the "Playboy/Casanova" route, the ladies' man.

After the sumptuous lunch, Li Yuchen leaned against the table and said to Han Yichen, "The heart is indeed a way to a man's stomach. The more meals I eat in this school, the more I fall in love. Everything is just so delicious."

Han Yichen, who was reading a book, paused for a moment to say, "Wrong. "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." That's how the saying goes."

"Whatever. That's why I have you, Literature Professor Chen." Li Yuchen stuck his tongue out at him.

Han Yichen shook his head. "This is why Teacher Dan always calls you out in class."

Li Yuchen's face crumpled immediately Teacher Dan's name was mentioned. "He always picks on me for no reason. Not everyone can be like his favorite student, knowing every single quote and idiom."

He felt very bitter. Since the first test they wrote on that first day, Teacher Dan had been "picking" on him. He said it was obvious Li Yuchen was intelligent, since his answers were well thought-out and rational.

The only problem was his idioms and expressions. It was either that he didn't use the right idiom, or that he turned it upside down and erased the meaning.

So, Teacher Dan felt he was a good seedling and only needed some guidance. The result? Li Yuchen always had extra assignments in literature and was almost always standing beside Teacher Dan during class.

Even the subject representative —Han Yichen— had it easier than Li Yuchen in literature.

Everytime he misquoted an idiom, Teacher Dan will sigh and say, "Student Li Yuchen, I believe you can become better. Keep trying and don't give up." Li Yuchen was so tired.

Han Yichen tried to suppress his grin, but Li Yuchen still saw it. "Laugh, just laugh at me all you want. But I've invited the Broadcasting Club to our place this evening, so prepare to entertain them."

It was Han Yichen's turn to frown. The head of their school's Broadcasting Club was the literature teacher for the third year students, Teacher Chu. He was walking by one day when he heard Han Yichen speak. According to him, his calm voice was one their club lacked.

Since then, he had determined that Han Yichen had to join the Broadcasting Club and become one of their regular announcers. But Han Yichen wasn't interested. He preferred reading quietly on his own and writing. So he had been dodging people from the club.

"Since you invited them, you do the entertaining." Han Yichen said and continued reading. If they truly came, he would go to the bathroom and not come out!

"Ha!" Li Yuchen exclaimed, full of gloating. He had won this round.

Still, when he realized that the next class after the break was literature, he really wanted to cry.

Should he negotiate with Teacher Long? Since another programming competition was coming up, he could participate in exchange for Teacher Long rescuing him from Teacher Dan's clutches.

The first competition had taken place some days ago, and although the results were not out, Li Yuchen was confident that he aced it. Knowing how much Teacher Long valued his talents, he might actually be willing.

As they went back to class, he was still thinking about the feasibility of his plans.

"Hey you, stop there." An immature voice infused with bravado sounded.

Li Yuchen wasn't paying attention, so naturally he didn't know he was the one being addressed.

"Are you deaf? I said you should stop."

This time, Li Yuchen stopped. Turning to the side, he looked at the incoming disturbance from head to toe before saying,

"How come something that barks is allowed to roam about freely in our school? Shush. Go off to the side and stop being a nuisance here."

He was already very depressed about his upcoming class, so Jiu Renxin just came at the wrong time.

"You—" As usual, Jiu Renxin lost before round one even began.

"You what? A good dog does not block the way, so move." Li Yuchen said as he went back to class, leaving Jiu Renxin fuming.

The two boys that flanked him tried to pacify him. "Don't mind him Brother Xin, he doesn't know the immensity of the sky." They were very impressed with Jiu Renxin because he came from the Capital, and he usually enjoyed the admiration he saw in their eyes.

Jiu Renxin narrowed his eyes as he looked at the elite class, which was just ahead. He had made up his mind.

He was going to work hard and return in glory!

*****