Chapter 104: All Head, No Tail Part 2

Idis hesitated a bit, like he was facing those university students again who couldn’t answer questions or solve problems… Maybe he should refuse this guidance until his blood pressure settled.

As Idis wavered, the black-haired little guest propped his hands on the upper level of the workbench, his very hair tips radiating expectation.

Idis: “…”

The wheelchair retreated half a step. He turned his face away in refusal: “Take your hands off my workbench.”

Xie Jianxun, puzzled: “Oh, okay?”

“…” The mech engineer closed his eyes, then opened them, compromising subtly. “The workbench is full of metal shavings. Remember to wash your hands. Let’s go to the study.”

Xie Jianxun washed his hands while chuckling: “Didn’t Professor Idis say people in this line of work don’t have cleanliness obsessions?”

Idis said calmly: “I’m afraid you do.”

Fortunately, Xie Jianxun wasn’t one of those obedient but stupid university students under him.

As the Little Adventurer hunched over the table beside him, meticulously studying the new design diagrams, he finally felt like he was teaching a student who could “understand human speech.”

Something occurred to him temporarily. Idis pulled up a light screen and tapped at the air.

Xie Jianxun looked up and muttered: “Just looking at design diagrams doesn’t really show much. It’d be better to have actual parts to fiddle with for understanding. Idis, do you have any scrap parts at home or something?”

Idis’s tapping finger paused.

He turned back to meet Xie Jianxun’s gaze, right into those beautiful golden pupils and enthusiastic smile—like a little trumpet flower in full bloom.

“No parts is fine too. I can go to a nearby flea market later to scavenge some… By the way, does Silver Watchtower have a flea market? You know, a second-hand market for recycling unused stuff.”

A ding interrupted him.

The sound came from Idis’s Light Brain. Xie Jianxun restrained his curiosity and didn’t pry into someone else’s privacy.

Instead, Idis revealed it himself.

“I bought you a Bionic Parts Beginner Kit.”

The Advanced Mech Engineer’s face was hidden behind the light screen, expression unreadable. “Didn’t you say you wanted to learn bionic person repairs?”

…

Early the next morning, Xie Jianxun packed his things and tidied himself up neatly.

He grabbed his hair into a ponytail and tucked the heavy textbook preciously in his arms. Skipping the elevator, he bounded downstairs with thumping steps, startling one electronic eye from the mechanical arm on the sofa cushion.

The mechanical female voice was groggy with sleep: “Morning, Xunxun… It’s only a little past seven. Why are you up already?”

Xie Jianxun replied energetically: “I’m going to my eight a.m. class!”

Yiwen let out a puzzled nasal hum, finally waking up fully. She shook her head to look at him: “…Eight a.m.?”

Xie Jianxun happily trotted over and picked up the mechanical arm.

Yiwen adapted well, hooking her tail onto his arm proactively. One person and one arm rushed into the kitchen to scrounge for potential breakfast ingredients.

The night before, when Idis had said he could teach him, he was already thrilled.

But the bigger surprise came after. Seeing how weak his foundations were, the Advanced Mech Engineer asked if he wanted to attend his classes as an auditor.

Idis’s exact words were: “I’m not a teacher for basic professional courses, but if you need it, I can slow down and explain some foundational concepts.” It would also teach those poor university students with vacant stares.

Xie Jianxun felt struck by immense happiness.

He had barely slept that night, tossing and turning on the guest room’s small bed, wondering if he could finally experience university life too?

Even if just a short “trial version” for a few days?

He happily explained to Yiwen: “Professor Idis allowed me to audit his classes. I get to go to school!”

Yiwen worried a bit: “Professor Idis’s classes aren’t that easy, Xunxun. Can you keep up?”

Xie Jianxun didn’t mind: “If I can’t, I’ll just study more at night when I get back.”

The kitchen had been thoroughly ransacked, but there were no suitable ingredients for breakfast—not even a frozen loaf of sliced bread. Xie Jianxun had no choice but to abandon the idea of eating at home and decided to grab something outside instead.

With a ding, the elevator arrived, and Idis appeared inside.

He asked Yiwen for a glass of cold water, downed it in one gulp, and set the glass on the liquor cabinet. He gestured for Xie Jianxun to come along.

Yiwen called out, “Idis! Jianxun hasn’t had breakfast yet!”

Xie Jianxun waved it off. “It’s fine, I’m not that hungry…”

“There’s a cafeteria at school. He can eat when he gets there,” Idis said, glancing at the time. “The air sedan will get us there with plenty of time to spare.”

Before they left, Yiwen somehow dug out a low-key black shoulder bag and told Xie Jianxun to put his books and stationery inside.

Xie Jianxun was puzzled for only a second before it clicked. “Ordinary students carry backpacks!”

Yiwen carefully instructed him, “Exactly! Jianxun, taking a bag to school will help you blend in with the classmates better than just using the space optical brain. Idis will probably order takeout for lunch, but if you don’t plan to come back, you can eat at the cafeteria. I hear they have tons of delicious stuff.”

Xie Jianxun’s heart stirred at the thought, and he nodded vigorously. “Got it!”

He tied his slightly long hair into a small ponytail, neatly secured at the back of his head. Dressed in a thick black jacket with orange patterns and now with a backpack, he looked completely like a student.

Idis motioned for him from ahead, and Xie Jianxun turned back to say goodbye to Yiwen. “I’m off! See you tonight, Yiwen!”

As always, a driver piloted the vehicle, with Xie Jianxun and Idis seated in the back.

Xie Jianxun gazed at the scenery outside the window and casually asked, “By the way, where’s Ela? I don’t think I saw much of him yesterday either.”

He didn’t get an immediate reply and turned back in confusion.

“…”

Idis paused before saying, “He has other errands to handle.”

Xie Jianxun sighed. “Working stiffs are always so busy. The ones getting paid are never idle.”

The air sedan glided over the mostly empty morning skyways and slowly descended into the faculty parking area at Silver University.

Xie Jianxun grabbed his backpack and got out, breathing in the fresh campus air. It felt like his entire life had been purified.

He proactively pushed Idis’s wheelchair and smiled. “Professor Idis, are you heading to your office or straight to the classroom?”

Idis seemed scorched by his enthusiasm and paused weirdly for several seconds before responding, “Go eat breakfast. I can handle myself.”

He pointed in a direction and watched the little Golden Eyes sparrow happily fly off toward the cafeteria.

Idis stayed put for several minutes before maneuvering his wheelchair toward the office.

Xie Jianxun wasn’t shy around strangers. On the way, he boldly approached unfamiliar students, greeted them openly, and asked for directions to the cafeteria. He smoothly arrived at the First Canteen—rumor had it that Silver University had a full six cafeterias, each with completely different offerings!

He could already hear the growing chatter nearby. When he spotted the cafeteria entrance, Xie Jianxun’s eyes widened.

So many people!

They were all university students heading to their early morning classes, crowding together and lining up at the cafeteria windows to order.

Xie Jianxun first checked that he could pay with his light brain, then leisurely joined the queue.

Soon, he had a bowl of porridge, a meat bun, and a boiled egg on his tray, which he carried around while scanning for a spot.

Buying breakfast was one thing, but with so many people, he couldn’t find a single empty seat!

He wandered back and forth for a good while. If he hadn’t felt weird about squeezing into a four-person table already occupied by three, he probably would have done it.

Fortunately, a voice called out to save him.

“Xie Jianxun?”

Xie Jianxun whipped around sharply, his eyes lighting up. “Gu Xuning!”

The other guy was eating breakfast with two companions, likely his roommates, and they seemed welcoming when they saw him approaching with his tray.

One of them laughed. “Gu Xuning, where’d you meet this one?”

Gu Xuning introduced him. “We met during the Mecha League. This is Xie Jianxun. These two are my roommates.”

Xie Jianxun greeted them enthusiastically. “Good morning!”

Gu Xuning asked, “Didn’t expect to see you at Silver University, let alone in the cafeteria. What’s the important business?”

Xie Jianxun admitted frankly, “I’m auditing Professor Idis’s class for a bit. Acting as a visiting student.”

Gu Xuning: “…”

The other two roommates: “…Holy shit! Someone’s actually coming here to die on purpose?!”

They exchanged glances and asked awkwardly, “Y-you’re serious?”

“You probably don’t know—Professor Idis’s classes, uh, have an insanely high failure rate.”

One roommate tried to explain it simply to convey just how deadly the choice was. “Even we majors struggle with it. Drop a pen, and you’ll lose the thread. What major are you in to have the guts to take his class?”