Chapter 25 - I’ve got this Scholar’s back (7)
Chapter 25: I’ve Got this Scholar’s back
Contrary to his wish, after the first class, the young botany professor didn’t assign any excessive homework for a long time.
Seeing Gu Chuanbai the teaching assistant, running over to the professor’s office more and more frequently, often staying all night, his roommates began to believe that he was being a valiant martyr for homework. Not only did they express profound praise for his dedication, but also generously took over the task of faking his attendance on his behalf for all classes except Botany.
Only Lu Deng knew that they had fewer and fewer homework because Gu Chuanbai was getting busier and busier.
Diligent, active, inexperienced, and with no clear plan for their future; in the eyes of some extremely selfish tutors, first- and second-year graduate students were always the most obedient and useful labor force.
Tidying up the laboratory, helping to organize and translate the data, watching over the expensive cultures all night, and running errands for the instructor; With more than 50 hours of work a week, Zhan Pei’s graduate students have almost no energy to attend regular classes.
The weather changed from hot to cold and the greater part of the semester had passed. Fatigue from overwork began to gradually appear between Gu Chuanbai’s brows.
The core project of the Lu Deng’s laboratory has also finally begun to show progress.
*
“That’s it for today. Class is over.”
He closed the textbook, which they’ve already covered more than half of. The young professor on the podium signaled the end of the class and methodically began to gathered up the teaching aids scattered on the table.
While the students left the classroom, Gu Chuanbai quickly walked over and handed to him the prepared glass. He put his hand over the back of his slightly damp shirt. “You voice is hoarse. Does your throat hurt?”
The weather has turned cooler. The contents of the thermos changed from refreshing iced drinks to healthy red dates and white fungus tea.
Worried that Lu Jingmo might not want to drink it, Gu Chuanbai even put in rock sugar for him to make it sweet. If he was unbearably hungry, he could even fish out the chubby red dates to allay his hunger.
After wiping the chalk dust off his hands, Lu Jingmo took two sips from his glass. He gave him an eye smile and shook his head. He turned over his clenched hand and opened it. A piece of coffee-flavored milk candy sat in the palm of his hand.
Meeting the gentle concern in his eyes, Gu Chuanbai smiled thinly. He raised his hand and covered his, taking that piece of candy, peeling it and putting it in his mouth.
He had spent the entire night before watching over a culture in the lab. He had only been able to catch a few hours of sleep early that morning. He then rushed over to attend classes all day. It would be a lie to say that he wasn’t tired.
As the sweetness of the coffee aroma flowed down his throat, Gu Chuanbai took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, easing somewhat the stifling pain in his chest.
Botany was a big lecture class but people walked quickly and after a burst of noise, the classroom quickly quieted down.
Gu Chuanbai packed up his things and when he saw that there was no one in the classroom. He felt at ease as he picked up the jacket and put it on for Lu Jingmo. He leaned over and carefully zipped it up. “Jingmo, actually I still like doing homework…”
The time for a class was fixed. Without classwork to fill up the time, it will be harder to fill the time of a class than before.
Although it was clear that Lu Jingmo was thoughtfully setting aside time for him to sleep in class, Teaching Assistant Gu, who loves learning, still would not allow himself to sleep in class.
Not to mention that this was Lu Jingmo’s class.
He still remembered the clear, bright, excited and crafty light in Lu Jingmo’s eyes when he assigned homework during his first class.
Although afterwards, he was almost delirious from checking over their homework assignments, Lu Jingmo still insisted on writing the corrections and comments on his own. Gu Chuanbai was not allowed to intervene to help. Obviously, he liked this kind of activity that caused the students to endlessly howl in grief.
His young professor was exceptionally talented, gave detailed and lively lectures, was meticulous and patient with his students and has a good temper. He just delighted in assigning homework so why shouldn’t he be allowed to enjoy himself?
“It’s because I don’t want to correct homework. I’m tired of correcting homework.”
Looking at the eye bags under Gu Chuanbai’s eyes, Lu Jingmo shook his head earnestly and held his wrist. “I need someone to help organize the experiment records. Do you have time today?”
Lu Jingmo’s laboratory has already established their initial scope. They’ve also done a few small experiments to test the waters. Although he himself didn’t need to go there every day, he still wanted to oversee the entire experiment process. Each data that comes out must be personally checked by him.
Unlike the boring and numbing mechanical work in Zhan Pei’s laboratory, those experiment records were ones that had been initially sorted out by Lu Jingmo. The key points had also been carefully annotated, and the train of thought and processes were all clear at a glance.
Those experiments seemed like steeds soaring across the skies, but they are all meticulously and elaborately designed. Even simple sorting work was very beneficial for whomever did it. No matter how busy Gu Chuanbai was, as long as he has the time, he will definitely go there and give a hand.
“Yes, I happened to be free today.”
Meeting his gaze, Gu Chuanbai smiled and nodded without hesitation.
After keeping watch in the laboratory all night, the next day was usually a bye. Today was a rare time of rest. It came just in time to let him work with Lu Jingmo.
With this plan in mind, Gu Chuanbai accompanied him back to the office. But before he could take on his new task, Lu Jingmo pushed him into the shower room, allowing no room for protests.
His chest was aching from tiredness. A shower would be very refreshing.
It has become a habit to stay overnight in the office. He guessed that Lu Jingmo was planning to stay overnight today. Gu Chuanbai yawned and turned on the shower. However, he didn’t know if there was a problem with the water heater, even after adjusting it several times, the temperature was just the right side of hot.
Shaking away the numbness in his head, Gu Chuanbai hesitated for a moment, but decided to make the best of it and stood under the steaming shower.
Cold water would have refreshed him a bit but the hot water felt so nice that it made him sleepier. It was difficult to even keep his eyes open.
Gu Chuanbai rubbed his face vigorously. He changed into his clothes and walked out of the shower room. Before he could return to the office, he was intercepted by Lu Jingmo in time and directly pressed down on the bed.
“Jingmo…”
Only then did he realized that Lu Jingmo had used this trick on him again. Gu Chuanbai laughed helplessly. He raised his spirits and looked up at him. He said softly, “I’m not tired. I’ll work with you, OK?”
It was impossible for him not to be tired. But these days he was rushing between the laboratory and the lectures. Time was getting tighter and tighter. Apart from going to and from class, it’s been a long time since he’s had more contact with Lu Jingmo. On several occasions, he was even forcibly called away from the class to the laboratory. The little professor even had to take his things back to the office.
Naturally, he wanted to rest, but he also wants to spend time with Lu Jingmo. He wanted to learn more about his work and to be more engaged in his life.
As long as he had their agreement regarding his doctoral as motivation, he wouldn’t go so far as to become completely numb from the unavoidable busyness. He can squeeze some small bit of time from his exceedingly cramped life to find a way to take one step closer towards his desired future.
One more step closer.
Facing those gentle black eyes that were clearly bloodshot, Lu Jingmo shook his head. He opened his arms and settled him on the bed. “I’ll work. You have a good rest.”
The body covering his chest was warm. Sticking so close that there wasn’t any space between them, the fresh breath of greenery wrapped his whole body. He almost felt the slight vibration of his chest when he spoke.
Having been unable to sleep well for a few days, Gu Chuanbai’s thoughts were already a bit sluggish. He subconsciously raised his gaze towards that delicate face.
Lu Jingmo was shorter than him. Holding him down like this was obviously already a bit strenuous for him. The light in his pure black eyes was as always firm to the point of stubbornness.
Happy warmth surged in his heart. Gu Chuanbai smiled helplessly. He opened his mouth to speak but his eyes were covered by a hand, covering his vision in gentle darkness.
With his sight blocked his remaining senses become more sensitive.
Gu Chuanbai blinked under his palm。 He felt a gentle flow of air across his cheek. Lu Jingmo seemed to hesitate. He paused for a moment in front of him and then a gentle touch suddenly landed on his forehead.
A touch and it was gone.
The clear voice sounded in his ear. With a tinge of comfort, he said, gently and softly, “Go to sleep.”
…
Before realizing what it was, a bright and distinct current had flowed all the way down his spine.
Gu Chuanbai suddenly held his breath. He couldn’t help but let out a choked cough because he was much too excited. He raised his hand, intending to pull off that hand that was blocking his vision.
Lu Jingmo was unexpectedly strong. His other empty hand held Gu Chuanbai’s shoulder and firmly pressed him down on the bed. His tone couldn’t help sounding faint. “Sleep…”
The last world was obviously easy to use.
The development of their feelings had gone smoothly using their kept-man contract as a foundation. Lu Deng hasn’t experienced doing things in a normal sequence of processes. Only until this step, did he suddenly feel a sense of bewilderment that he couldn’t handle.
The system was still preoccupied with the water heater. It didn’t have enough time to figure out why the other party’s reaction was so big this time. Lu Deng was a little nervous. He pursed his lips tightly, looking at him, wondering whether he should withdraw his hand.
Keenly catching the uneasiness in his voice, Gu Chuanbai, who was being held down by him, gradually calmed down. He tried his best to adjust his rapid breathing, but his heart was still slamming against his chest.
In the darkness, Gu Chuanbai accurately fumbled for Lu Jingmo’s hand. He wrapped it with his hot palm. He said in a low and muffled voice. “I can’t sleep anymore.”
His little professor secretly kissed him.
Although it was only on his forehead and although he still had his eyes covered, he was certain that it was definitely not just agar that touched his skin.
Of course, he liked Lu Jingmo. He liked him at first sight.
He hadn’t made any moves until now because Lu Jingmo was so absorbed in in academics that he didn’t understand human matters; he was so utterly defenseless as he drew closer to others. Gu Chuanbai didn’t want to scare Lu Jingmo and just make off with him while he was just so utterly confused.
He was actually kissed first.
He really must have been too busy lately; he hadn’t realized when his little professor has learned this much by himself.
Gu Chuanbai smiled silently. He pulled the other towards his bosom. Lu Jingmo was uneasy. He hesitantly let go of his strength and was pulled into the other’s arms.
“Professor……”
The mattress under his body seemed to have been specially changed. It was so soft cozy that once someone lay down on it, they wouldn’t feel like moving anymore. The palm covering his eyes was warm, firm but careful, spreading a peaceful warmth to his chest.
Gu Chuanbai let him cover his eyes, changing his form of address in deadly earnest. When the little professor leaned slightly towards the side because his heart was beating a little too fast, Gu Chuanbai precisely pressed against the forehead of the person in his arms and rubbed it gently.
“I’ve learned it.”
The body in his arms faintly stiffened, revealing a bit of nervousness from belatedly realizing that he’d been found out.
Gu Chuanbai curled his lips, but did not rush to kiss him. He just wrapped the person in his arms and stuck against his warm cheek. “Wait for me, wait for me…”
How could he be unhappy?
It’s just that he still had a pleasant surprise that he was waiting for the right time to show to Lu Jingmo.
Wait, just wait.
Give him some more time and he will be able to show off a surprise to his little professor.
The body in his arms moved. He raised both his arms and wrapped him around him. He agreed softly.
He hugged the warm body peacefully in his arms. The mellow breath brushed against his cheeks. Because of the hot shower his consciousness had already completely relaxed. Gu Chuanbai took Lu Jingmo’s other hand, grasped it lightly and finally closed his eyes obediently.
He was so tired that he fell into a deep sleep almost as soon as he closed his eyes.
*
He kept watch as the breathing of the person on the bed gradually became calmer and more drawn out. Lu Deng finally got up, his eyes darkened slightly.
In the original plot, Gu Chuanbai met his accident during his second year of research. But Lu Jingmo didn’t know why he was already this busy now. If he didn’t think up of ways to let him rest, he might have an accident due to excessive fatigue.
He could stop assigning him homework but Gu Chuanbai had other classes as well. Plus he had that documentation task assigned by Zhan Pei. As before, his workload hadn’t lessened.
After carefully covering the sleeping Gu Chuanbai with a quilt, Lu Deng stood there pondering for a moment. He walked out of the office and took Gu Chuanbai’s schoolbag.
He traded a promise not to do roll call one time and obtained his homework list from Gu Chuanbai’s roommate. If necessary, he could still help the other party share some of the workload.
“Ho-ho-host——!”
Just as he touched the school bag, the system came back from the water heater and uttered this in horror in his mind. Lu Deng stopped his movements, wondering and he replied, “What’s the matter?”
Just when the mission target finally no longer forces the host to do the homework, now, the host intends to take the initiative to do it for him.
Graduate student courses weren’t at all easy. The system was frightened. It ran through its database frantically, desperately looking for reasons to dissuade him from this course of action. “Homework is an opportunity for the mission target to improve himself. The host should not deprive him of this learning process…”
His system seemed to have stalled. He’ll have to do maintenance on it when they go back.
Lu Deng stopped his movements and pondered for a moment. In the end, he withdrew his hand and put the schoolbag as it was.
The system was right. He wanted to make Gu Chuanbai less busy, but he forgot that his first year as a research student was an important stage for him to accumulate knowledge and experience. Many general education courses were only offered once. Zhan Pei asked his graduate students to work in the laboratory at any time. Gu Chuanbai couldn’t’ attend a lot of his classes. Homework was the only way for him to learn.
But there was still something he could do.
Lu Deng sat back at his desk and gave Zhan Pei’s task of consulting translated documents to the system. He turned on his computer and called up the finalized project.
This type of search and retrieval work was not difficult for the system. The mechanical sound turns from grief to happiness. It happily set about this task. Lu Deng focused on browsing the content on the screen, occasionally quickly tapping out one or two lines of notes then continuing on to refine and enrich the rest.
Looking at the shut door of the break room, Lu Deng put one hand in his pocket and held the little bell, turning it gently between his fingers. The corners of his lips quickly ticked up.
If everything goes according to plan, he’ll be eligible to recruit graduate students by next semester.
Until then, Gu Chuanbai must absolutely be protected.