The male student had dark skin and wore a bright yellow shirt with a black line around the round collar, and below it was a pattern of four little people. He leaned back naturally in his chair, his elbows resting on the edge of the desk, still displaying a casual demeanor, and when he smiled, his eyes lit up.
He was the same person Lin Xi Chi had seen during the interview a few days ago, Ye Shao Wen.
Lin Xi Chi stared at him in surprise, her impression of him still intact, but she hadn’t expected to see him here. She raised her hand and awkwardly greeted him with a clenched fist.
Ye Shao Wen raised an eyebrow and affectionately winked at her with his left eye before turning away without saying a word.
Lin Xi Chi didn’t dwell on it and lowered her head to open her College English I textbook, writing her name on the title page.
The classroom wasn’t particularly quiet.
The teacher’s monotonous voice echoed from the podium, an old fan above creaked, and distant music could be faintly heard.
Lin Xi Chi attentively listened to the lecture.
Suddenly, she heard a soft hum from her left, and she turned her head to look.
At this moment, Xu Fang sat with his head down, wearing a gloomy expression. He held his pen loosely in his hand, looking agitated as he scribbled haphazardly in his book.
Lin Xi Chi couldn’t figure out what was going on but felt compelled to pay attention. When Xu Fang was in a bad mood, his presence seemed to fill the room like an invisible cloud of frustration.
So, Lin Xi Chi’s attention kept drifting back to him.
She was just considering whether to pass a note to him when their teacher, Yan Zhi Bin, suddenly slapped his desk and shouted, “The boy in the middle of the second row in black clothes, stand up and answer a question.”
Hearing “second row,” Lin Xi Chi’s breath caught, and she instinctively looked at her own clothes. Then, she turned to gaze at Xu Fang.
Xu Fang put down his pen, lazily stood up.
Yan Zhi Bin scowled and said, “What did I just say? Repeat it in English.”
The class had just begun, and Yan Zhi Bin hadn’t started teaching the content in the textbook yet. He had been explaining the rules of his class and the curriculum for the semester.
Lin Xi Chi had been completely focused on Xu Fang, not paying any attention to what the teacher was saying. She felt a bit anxious and turned to look at Xin Zi Dan, asking in a hushed voice, “What did the teacher say?”
Xin Zi Dan bit her lip and shook her head, saying, “I didn’t catch it either.”
Lin Xi Chi didn’t know what to do. She was about to ask Xu Fang to admit that he hadn’t been paying attention when Xu Fang spoke up. His voice was clear and composed, and he smoothly delivered a lengthy response in English.
Yan Zhi Bin’s expression changed from displeasure to satisfaction. He nodded in approval and told Xu Fang to sit down.
Xu Fang nodded slightly and resumed his seat, his expression returning to its previous gloom as he continued to doodle.
Lin Xi Chi was left puzzled.
As the class neared its end, Lin Xi Chi noticed that Xu Fang had finally stopped doodling. Her curiosity peaked, and without moving her head, she surreptitiously glanced over at him.
Xu Fang swiftly closed his textbook and put it in his bag.
Lin Xi Chi shot him a look and was about to say something when she realized the pattern on his shirt.
A black line and four little figures.
Lin Xi Chi remained silent.
Not long after, the two of them arrived at the interview room.
The room’s layout and structure were similar to the classroom where they had just attended the English class. Inside, there were only three people, two seated in the front row, talking to someone in the second row.
Lin Xi Chi squinted and noticed that the two individuals were the senior students who had interviewed her that day, the chubby senior and the baby-faced senior.
Standing next to her, Ye Shao Wen froze for a moment and muttered a curse under his breath.
Soon, more people arrived for the second round of interviews.
The chubby senior and the baby-faced senior returned to the front of the room and briefly introduced themselves. The chubby senior’s name was Yu Ze, and he was the head of the sports department, while the baby-faced senior was the deputy head, named Wen Jing Jing.
Yu Ze stood on the podium, counting the number of people, and furrowed his brow. “Why does it seem like we’re missing two?”
Wen Jing Jing also counted and then took out the list, circling the names of the two missing individuals. She said, “I’ll go check and see what’s going on.”
Lin Xi Chi waited idly.
The room wasn’t crowded, and apart from the department head at the front, there were only eleven people. Although Lin Xi Chi didn’t know the others, they engaged in casual conversations, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
Lin Xi Chi rested her chin on her hand and looked around casually. She suddenly noticed Ye Shao Wen sitting upright, looking more serious than during class. She found it somewhat amusing.
Lin Xi Chi glanced at He Ru Liang’s position.
He was bowing his head, holding his phone, and playing games.
She shifted her gaze back and lowered her head, noticing a message from Xu Fang on WeChat, asking her to let him know after the interview. She quickly replied with a “okay.”
When she looked up again, she saw that Ye Shao Wen and He Ru Liang had become quite friendly, chatting and laughing together.
Lin Xi Chi thought, This guy is a real social butterfly.
Just then, Wen Jing Jing returned from outside and whispered something in Yu Ze’s ear.
Yu Ze nodded solemnly and then loudly announced, “Everyone, please be quiet. The interview is about to begin.”
The room fell silent instantly.
Yu Ze opened a PowerPoint presentation on the computer and began explaining the sports department’s activities and responsibilities in great detail, taking about half an hour.
When he reached the last slide, Yu Ze looked up and asked, “Did you understand everything?”
Most people nodded.
He continued, “Any questions?”
Ye Shao Wen replied loudly, “None!”
“Good,” Yu Ze nodded in satisfaction, raised his hands high, and made a cheering gesture. “Congratulations, you’ve all passed the second round of interviews!”
Wen Jing Jing clapped her hands beside him. “Congratulations, congratulations!”
Silence.
“Time’s getting late,” Yu Ze checked his watch. “You can all leave now. We’ll arrange the next meeting, which will be our first official one. Remember to attend.”
Wen Jing Jing added, “If you can’t make it, it’s okay. We have materials here, and you can come by to get them personally.”
Lin Xi Chi thought, What kind of department is this?
After exchanging WeChat contacts, everyone quickly left the room.
Lin Xi Chi sent a message to Xu Fang, saying she was heading back to the dorm, but he hadn’t replied yet.
Puzzled, she began walking on a small path leading to the dormitory while typing on her phone: “I’m heading back to the dorm now. What are you up to?”
After a few steps, Lin Xi Chi noticed Xu Fang standing under a tree not far away.
She tilted her head in confusion and walked over without hesitation, bouncing up to him.
“What are you doing here?”
Xu Fang looked up, his face bathed in the faint yellow light of the streetlamp. His eyes were calm and lacked their usual brilliance. He put his phone back in his pocket and walked toward her dormitory without a word, lost in thought.
Lin Xi Chi followed behind him, her mood also becoming somewhat somber.
“Are you in a bad mood?” She asked, thinking of the drawing he had done earlier. “Do you know that guy, Ye Shao Wen? Do you dislike him?”
Xu Fang paused and replied calmly, “No.”
“Oh.”
They reached the dormitory building.
Xu Fang’s mood was visibly at its lowest, something Lin Xi Chi had rarely seen before. She hesitated and said, “I’ll go up then?”
He nodded with a deep “mhmm.”
Lin Xi Chi turned to leave, but after a couple of steps, Xu Fang grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.
She saw Xu Fang lowering his head, his features drawing nearer to hers. His eyes were filled with emotions, as if he had completely lost control. He tightened his grip on her wrist, and his dark eyes locked onto hers.
Xu Fang gently called her name, “Lin Xi Chi.”
“Yes?” Lin Xi Chi looked at him obediently.
Her eyes were clear and pure, filled only with curiosity, trust in him, and a touch of confusion.
Suddenly, Xu Fang’s frustration seemed to subside, and he let go of her wrist, licking his lips and smiling.
“It’s nothing.”
After a few seconds, he took a few steps back.
“Go back now.”
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