Chapter 11: Yaoxing Academy 11 Part 1

The organizer of the Physics Competition was the nation’s top engineering university. The competition was divided into junior high, high school, and university groups. It was said that the gold medal winner in each group would receive an internal recommendation for exemption from entrance exams, allowing direct admission to the university’s main campus after graduation. Compared to the affiliated high school or graduate institute, entering the main undergraduate campus was far more appealing. As a result, the high school group was particularly fierce every year.

Lu Zhou was first called to the principal’s office for pre-competition mobilization and encouragement. Though he could sense that the school leaders held little hope for him winning an award, he patiently listened through the lengthy speeches, cooperated for a few photos, and smoothly obtained the competition funds.

Back in the classroom, Luo Xunan nagged at him like an old mother. Luo Xunan clearly didn’t expect him to win anything either and simply told him to do his best. He worried more about it being Lu Zhou’s first time traveling far alone. The competition venue was several provinces away from Yaoxing Academy, so Lu Zhou had to take a plane.

Finally, it was time for school to end. As he left the school gates, Yan Feng and the others blocked him and mocked him sarcastically. Ever since Xun Ji had warned them, they no longer dared to lay hands on Lu Zhou and could only verbally deflate his ego.

This time, Lu Zhou had no patience to listen to them finish. He tossed out, “Don’t block the way, Young Master Xun is still waiting for me,” and strode off, leaving Yan Feng seething impotently on the spot, his face twisted in rage.

Xun Ji was indeed waiting for him.

Back at the villa, Xun Ji hadn’t even changed out of his uniform before calling Lu Zhou over.

“For problems related to Kepler’s laws, prioritize this solution method depending on the situation,” Xun Ji scribbled on the paper. “Competition problems later on are all about the art of solving them—not just getting the right answer, but doing it elegantly…”

Yaoxing Academy’s uniform was a starry hue between gray and blue. The spring and summer version was suit fabric, while the autumn and winter one was woolen. Xun Ji wore a gray-blue sweater under his jacket, with a Klein blue knit scarf around his neck. Half of his golden head was buried in the scarf.

The golden-orange sunlight of the sunset poured through the window, enveloping him in a layer of glow.

“Look at the problems, not at me.” Xun Ji discontentedly poked Lu Zhou’s cheek lightly with his pen.

Though his initial intentions hadn’t been pure, after tutoring Lu Zhou for so long, he now felt a coach’s mix of gratification and tension as he sent his “athlete” off to the field.

Lu Zhou’s eyelashes trembled slightly. “You explained this last night.”

“Did I?” Xun Ji thought for a moment. “Then, is there anything else you don’t understand?”

“No.” Lu Zhou looked into his eyes. “Everything you’ve taught me, I’ve learned.”

Xun Ji nodded, feeling he’d been making a fuss over nothing. It was just a Physics Competition—nothing for the Protagonist.

“There will be a bunch of media interviews after you win the award. Bring your uniform.” This was from Xun Ji’s experience.

A hint of amusement flashed in Lu Zhou’s eyes. “You’re so sure I’ll win?”

“Of course.” Xun Ji didn’t hesitate. “Right, remember to call me every day while you’re out there.” Xun Ji added as a final reminder.

Lu Zhou froze, a faint pink creeping uncontrollably onto his ears. He said softly, “Okay, then I’ll note down your mobile phone number and call you from a phone booth later.”

Only then did Xun Ji remember that Lu Zhou didn’t seem to have a mobile phone.

“Wait a sec.”

Xun Ji opened a cabinet and picked a box from a pile of unopened gifts, handing it to Lu Zhou.

He received new products from major brands every few days. He couldn’t use them all himself, so he let Brother Wang and Uncle Li take what was useful, leaving the rest piled in the corner unopened.

What he handed to Lu Zhou was a new model mobile phone from a well-known brand.

“Keep it on you from now on. It’ll be easier for me to reach you,” Xun Ji said.

Yaoxing Academy never banned students from carrying mobile phones; it only prohibited using them in class.

Xun Ji thought Lu Zhou’s pride would make him refuse or insist on keeping a tab, but unexpectedly, Lu Zhou didn’t.

He took the mobile phone, looked at it for a while, then said to Xun Ji, “Thank you.”

This was the second thing Xun Ji had given him. The first, that beautiful watch, he’d pawned. This time, he would cherish it properly.

“The flight is early tomorrow morning. I’ll be quieter when I leave so I don’t wake you,” Lu Zhou said.

Xun Ji nodded, but noticed the other still standing there unmoving.

“Something else?”

“Could you…” Lu Zhou clenched his fist, the pink from his ear roots gradually spreading across his face. “Could you say ‘good luck in the competition’ to me?”

The Protagonist was pretending to be calm, but he was nervous inside too. Xun Ji found it novel; he’d never seen Lu Zhou like this.

He recalled how coaches on TV hyped up athletes before they went on, stretched out his arms, clapped Lu Zhou hard on the shoulders, then pulled him into a bear hug.

“Lu Zhou contestant, good luck in the competition.”

The sunset’s afterglow lingered on the earth, reluctant to fade. The room was half-lit, shadows shifting.

He must have heard it.

Lu Zhou went rigid all over, his mind fixated on one thought. His heartbeat thundered so painfully in his chest—Xun Ji must have heard it.

What to do. He should let go.

He should pull away from this person, from this embrace immediately.

…But he couldn’t bear to.

Lu Zhou buried his face in Xun Ji’s neck and reached around to hug him back.

“Mm.”

*

With Lu Zhou away from home, Xun Ji was freed from the tutoring tasks. With no one watching Xiao Ting either, the big and little one grew restless, hit it off, and immediately headed to the city’s largest amusement park to unwind.