Chapter 18: Thank You, Teacher

Silas was purely trying to tease Ming Ying.

But hearing this tone, Ming Ying subconsciously felt a wave of apprehension for no apparent reason.

Just looking at the text, he couldn’t imagine it coming from such a beautiful girl. Instead, it felt more like one of the eccentric male professors or bosses at school.

Ming Ying could practically picture it: a scowling foreigner in a suit and leather shoes, standing in front of him, demanding answers.

Ugh. What was he thinking!

Ming Ying shook his head and hurriedly replied.

Mingo: How could you think that! [Laughing crying]

Mingo: I really went back because of the ball…

Mingo: [Puppy spinning in circles.jpg]

XI: Mm.

XI: Didn’t get lost this time?

Pfft. Ming Ying was truly impressed.

Mingo: Teacher, do I really look that silly? [Laughing crying]

Ming Ying propped his chin on his hand. The reply came back fairly quickly.

XI: Currently unable to determine.

Huh?

Ming Ying blinked. What did that mean?

XI: Need more photos for analysis, judgment, and final confirmation.

Ming Ying: “…”

You’re a real smooth talker, man. Ming Ying grinned happily.

Although he had these inner complaints, he felt even more smug and excited. At the very least, it meant XI wanted to meet him… and liked him.

So, for the next few days, Ming Ying truly racked his brains to “update” two more chapters of his “thesis outline” for XI.

One chapter was of him lying in his own bed, another was in the bathroom shower… (details not suitable for elaboration here).

In short, once Ming Ying cast aside his shame, he and XI were like two rogues who saw eye-to-eye, a state of meeting a true soulmate amidst the high mountains and flowing streams.

Though sometimes, XI could still terrify him.

For instance, while in bed, Ming Ying struck a very bold pose, so bold he was glad WhatsApp wasn’t a domestic app, otherwise it would definitely have been blocked.

But then XI said: Ming, this pose is a repeat.

Ming Ying jumped in fright and quickly scrolled through their chat history. Amongst a slew of explicit photos, he indeed found he’d used the same pose before in the bathroom!

Utterly terrifying. Had he memorized every single one of his photos?

Ming Ying wanted to ask him, but didn’t dare.

It was quite embarrassing.

So these past few days, compared to XI urging him to update his “thesis,” his actual schoolwork felt rather light.

However, Ming Ying still encountered an unexpected surprise.

It started one day after class. Ming Ying was about to head back to his apartment when he heard someone call out from behind him: “Hey.”

That voice sounded so familiar… but honestly, what acquaintance calls someone “Hey”?

Ming Ying turned around and saw Alan standing not far away.

Fine, he’d spoken too soon. There really was such a person.

Ming Ying frowned and asked, “What is it?”

Alan also looked impatient and said, “Haven’t you paid your textbook fee yet? Marty’s been asking about it.”

What? Textbook fee?

Ming Ying froze for a moment.

Alan, however, couldn’t be bothered to explain, acting as if he’d just delivered the message, and left.

Ming Ying immediately called Mark.

Mark was shocked that he didn’t know: “Ming, did you really not know you had to pay this fee?”

Ming Ying said, “I had no idea. Can’t you just buy textbooks on the secondhand market? Why pay this money?”

When he did his undergrad in Shanghai, all his books were secondhand, thirdhand, even fourthhand, costing him less than 100 RMB total.

Mark let out a “Heh” upon hearing this: “My dear Ming, where do you think you are? If you don’t pay this money, you won’t get your textbooks. Without the new digital code from the textbook, how will you take your exams?”

“…”

Ming Ying frowned. “How much did you pay, roughly?”

“We’re in different majors.” Mark hesitated for a moment. “I paid about a thousand dollars.”

WTF…

Inwardly, Ming Ying cursed this trash capitalist nation inside and out. They’d stop at nothing to squeeze money out of you.

That night, Ming Ying checked the website and was tragically shocked to find that as a science major, he had to pay even more than Mark!

This thousand-plus dollars, though not enough to leave him homeless, was still a massive expense. The main issue was, he had absolutely no preparation for it.

Although his family’s financial situation was decent, this unexpected expense stirred up a sense of insecurity in Ming Ying.

And whenever insecurity arose, Ming Ying had to do something about it.

Besides… XI was going to meet him in person soon! He couldn’t let the girl pay for everything.

So Ming Ying thought it over, called Mark, and asked, “Mark, are there any part-time jobs I can do on campus?”

He’d seen plenty of seniors on the forums working part-time at places like cafes and McDonald’s for some extra cash.

Mark looked a bit shocked. “Ming, have you run into some difficulty?”

Ming Ying rubbed his forehead. “I need to save up some money.”

If this kept up, he’d probably be completely broke by the time he met XI.

Upon hearing this, Mark uttered an “Oh,” and, being very enthusiastic, said: “We can go ask around together tomorrow. It shouldn’t be too hard to find something. But Ming, can you handle it with your coursework?”

Ming Ying thought to himself, That’s an understatement, he had someone else to deal with now, too.

After Mark left, Ming Ying habitually reached for his phone. His chat history with XI had stopped from the night before.

Mingo: Teacher, good night~

XI: Good night.

Ever since the two of them started fooling around, exchanging good nights had become routine.

Today was Monday. Ming Ying checked the time: 8 p.m.

This time yesterday, he had been fooling around online with XI.

Why was there no movement today?

Ming Ying rested his chin on his hand and sent a sticker. Unsurprisingly, the other party read it five minutes later.

XI: Not studying?

Seriously… why bring up such a buzzkill right away.

Mingo: Teacher, do I have to be studying all the time…

Buzz. Ming Ying looked down.

XI: No.

XI: Just assumed, if you weren’t coming to me at this hour, you were studying.

Ming Ying couldn’t help but laugh at that reply.

Mingo: Not necessarily. What if I was chatting with someone else?

XI: Also doing what we do?

Ming Ying laughed out loud.

He actually wanted to ask When are you coming back?, but the other had only said “next week,” not which specific day. Would asking make him seem too eager?

So Ming Ying changed the subject instead.

Mingo: Teacher, actually I wanted to tell you, I’m thinking of getting a part-time job, so…

Mingo: So I might not reply to your messages that promptly.

Mingo: [Puppy burying head in corner.jpg]

Really, he meant he might not be able to update those kinds of photos as quickly. He hadn’t quite figured out how to phrase it properly yet when a message popped up from the other side.

XI: A part-time job?

Ming Ying’s fingers paused. He sent another sticker.

Mingo: [Mm mm]

XI: Already found one?

Mingo: Not yet, plan to look tomorrow.

XI seemed to be busy; it was half an hour before he replied.

XI: Can you tutor Chinese?

Ming Ying’s eyes widened. Was XI… offering to set him up with something?

Mingo: Is there a need with you?

Mingo: Aren’t you going to ask why I’m looking for a part-time job?

Message read. Ming Ying waited a little longer. Suddenly, XI sent him a string of numbers.

XI: [123456789]

Ming Ying: ?

XI: Contact her.

XI: If you want to do it, do it.

Ming Ying froze for a second before realizing the “If you want to do it, do it” was answering his previous question.

Ming Ying cradled his face in his hands, letting out a happy chuckle.

He didn’t even feel like asking about the pay; something introduced by XI was sure to be fine.

Mingo: Okay! Thank you, Teacher!

He sent the message and was about to exit the chat to make the call, but his phone buzzed with another message.

XI: How will you thank me?

…Whoa.

Truly, three words that were terrifying and blush-inducing!