“So exquisite?”
“Without any instructions, he managed to assemble a ship in just forty minutes. Truly worthy of being the top talent in the finance department!”
“Attending class with a genius like him is like being hit with a dimensional downgrade!”
Everyone was discussing animatedly, except for one person who hadn’t looked up.
Shi Yubai glanced in her direction.
In her hands, she was assembling the wing of a butterfly, but the few strands of hair gently falling over her forehead and the dense, fluttering lashes resembled the wings of a real butterfly even more.
“Everyone should learn from Shi Yubai. Is there anyone else who has finished?”
One by one, students began submitting their works. The teacher graded them based on assembly time and completion, and once most were graded, she began assigning homework.
“There’s also a hands-on assignment to be completed in groups after class, and the grades will count toward your credits. Now, I’ll name a few group leaders, and students can freely apply to join.”
The first name the teacher called was Shi Yubai’s. Almost the entire class eagerly wrote their names on slips of paper and handed them to him, applying to join his group.
Fang Yan was no exception.
While writing her name, she glanced at Su Niansheng. Seeing her still engrossed in assembling her model, she didn’t disturb her and simply added her name to the list.
Shi Yubai received the group applications, tossing aside slip after slip until he saw three words on the last one. A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips.
“Phew~”
“All done!”
Su Niansheng had never been particularly skilled at handicrafts. Rushing against the clock, she finally completed her model just before class ended. When she submitted a pink butterfly, the teacher commented, “Very beautiful, just a bit slow. Ninety points.”
“Thank you, teacher!”
As long as she passed and earned the credits, she was satisfied!
“Alright, class dismissed! All the grades have been recorded, and I can’t take all these works with me. Why don’t each of you come up and pick one you like to take home as a souvenir from this class?”
“Great idea!”
As soon as the words were spoken, a crowd surged toward the front.
Shi Yubai walked up to the podium and took the pink butterfly from the corner.
The teacher was surprised. She had expected him to choose one of the outstanding works scoring above 95 points, but instead, he selected such an unremarkable piece in both grade and design.
Looking at the ship model he had been admiring in his hands and then at the girl packing her bag below, the teacher suddenly understood.
Su Niansheng walked up to the podium, and the teacher handed her the ship model. “This is the only perfect-scoring work from today’s class. Since you seem quite interested in model assembly, take it back as a reference.”
Su Niansheng saw the glaring “100 points” and the even more glaring name “Shi Yubai” written on it and immediately refused. “Thank you, teacher, but that’s unnecessary. I don’t have much talent for model assembly…”
But before she could finish, the last piece on the podium was taken.
“If you lack talent, you should study harder. Take it.”
The teacher forced the model into her hands and walked away.
In the classroom, only a few scattered students remained, whispering among themselves and occasionally casting envious glances her way, some even taking out their phones to take pictures.
“She’s so lucky to have gotten Shi Yubai’s work.”
“Yeah, I thought the teacher would keep it as a memento, but I never expected it to be given to her…”
“She likes Shi Yubai so much. Getting a model he built with his own hands will probably make her ecstatic!”
Su Niansheng lowered her gaze slightly, looking at the ship model in her hand, a silent mockery creeping into the corners of her eyes.
If it were in her past life, she would indeed have been overjoyed, treasuring it like a precious gem.
But now…
She walked straight out and tossed it into the trash.
Weekend.
A message popped up in the elective course group chat for “Craftsmanship and Specialized Practice”: “At 10 o’clock, the first group will gather at the school reading room for the assignment. Group leader: Shi Yubai. Group members: Fang Yan, Guo Haitao, Ni Wenshu…”
When Su Niansheng saw her own name, her drowsy eyes snapped wide awake.
Why was she included?
Just as she frowned, Fang Yan sent a message.
[Sheng Sheng, you actually got chosen by Shi Yubai!]
[Amazing! When I submitted the group member application list, I thought he’d cross your name out, especially since so many people wanted to join the first group. I never expected it to go so smoothly. Could your endless, one-sided crush finally be seeing some light?]
So it was her!
Su Niansheng closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. [Who told you to apply for me?]
[Of course, it’s our years of solid friendship as desk mates. How could I not know what’s on your mind? I helped where I could, so no need to thank me too much. Just treat me to that coconut chicken hotpot at the school gate when you have time. I’ve been craving it for ages…]
Seeing Fang Yan lost in her own self-satisfaction, Su Niansheng figured any explanation would only get the same reaction as from her roommate. Annoyed, she sent a voice message: “Since you’re so eager to help, why don’t you handle today’s group assignment for me too—sign in and finish it.”
“No way?” Fang Yan was shocked. “You’re passing up such a great chance to get close to Shi Yubai?”
“I am. Whoever wants it can have it.”
Fang Yan: “…”
She recalled that during the last elective open class, when Shi Yubai showed up and sat in front of her, Su Niansheng had no reaction at all. That was just too strange.
Could it be… she doesn’t like Shi Yubai anymore?
Impossible!
In all their years of school, she’d never seen anyone pursue Shi Yubai as passionately and recklessly as Su Niansheng.
Even if the sky fell, her feelings wouldn’t change.
[Su Niansheng: Three coconut chicken hotpot meals after it’s done.]
[Deal!]
Fang Yan’s curiosity vanished, and she just kept spamming the sticker that read, “With a thunderous roar from the sky, your humble servant makes a dazzling entrance.”
Jing University Reading Room.
In the leisure and discussion area, members of the first group received the group notification and arrived one by one, only to find Shi Yubai already there.
And he looked different from usual.
“Wow, our group leader looks really handsome today!”
“Yeah, it’s like he changed his style. He looks different from usual.”
Normally, he always wore a simple white shirt, which had become his signature look on campus. Today, he had on a sky-blue striped jacket, layered over a shirt with a neatly tied bow tie. He looked both refined and stylish, adding a touch of liveliness to his usually cool demeanor.
“No wonder he’s one of Jing University’s two School Hunks. With just a little effort, he looks even more handsome than a celebrity!”
“What about compared to the other one?”
Shi Yubai spoke up.
The group members froze.
Group leader, was he talking about Shen Shao?
The sun must be rising from the west today. He’s never liked others paying too much attention to his appearance, let alone commenting on it, yet today he actually took the initiative to compare himself with Shen Shao.
Is this the era where male competition is trending instead of female competition?
“That’s not quite the same.”
“What’s the difference?”
Everything is different.
One is the unattainable grass on the high peak, the other is a deity descending to the mortal realm—they simply can’t be compared.
“Let me put it this way.” A boy thought for a few seconds before patting his chest. “If I were a girl, I’d definitely like you!”
Beside him, several girls nodded frantically in agreement.
Because… Shen Shao—they wouldn’t even dare to imagine it!
Hearing this, Shi Yubai seemed to recall something, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips. He looked quite pleased.