Chapter 066 Sea King – “Is the teacher instructing him to go to Kalandi to find Xiaoge and study together?” (12/20)
Shi Jingge remained silent for quite a while until his smart bracelet beeped again.
He had put Ye Mingxu down as a “special contact,” so as soon as he heard the notification, he knew it was a message from Ye Mingxu.
Shi Jingge looked down and saw that Ye Mingxu had sent him an emoji. It was a shy little bunny, but Shi Jingge could still sense Ye Mingxu’s anticipation.
Never mind.
Shi Jingge let out a long sigh. Receiving a gift was always a heartwarming thing.
After all, Ye Mingxu had carefully handpicked this gift from countless options. It was a token of his heartfelt sentiment.
So, after psychological preparation, Shi Jingge opened the smallest package. In an instant, two dove-shaped plush toys popped out; they seemed to have strings tied to them. The doves fluttered around for a moment, then used the strings to form a heart in midair.
At that moment, Shi Jingge felt a chill run down his spine.
The next second, the doves started shaking uncontrollably as if they’d gone haywire. Miraculously, the heart formed by the strings remained completely still.
Shi Jingge raised his hand to pinch his temples as a way to keep calm.
While the doves trembled, red petals shook loose, creating a miniature shower of flowers—both romantic and beautiful.
Shi Jingge took a deep breath and looked at the petals on the ground; they looked remarkably like real rose petals. They just seemed a bit more artificial, not quite like real ones.
Shi Jingge covered his face with both hands.
Just then, the dove puppets began to perform a song.
“Where is spring? Where is spring~,” the dove on the left sang. “Spring is in your heart~”
Shi Jingge: ……
The dove on the right smoothly continued, “Do you know what you’re missing right now? You’re missing me.”
Shi Jingge: ……
Shi Jingge remained silent for three long seconds. Before the dove on the left could start singing again, he raised his hand, shoved both mechanical toys back into the package, and sealed it efficiently.
The toys persisted in performing from inside, nearly bursting out.
Shi Jingge took a deep breath and shoved the package into the empty drawer beneath the sofa. Then he turned his gaze to the other packages, now even less eager to open them.
Maybe it was just a fluke.
Shi Jingge took another deep breath, convincing himself to give these packages one more chance.
This time, he was much more cautious.
He ruled out all the packages that were too large or too small, then agonized over the three medium-sized ones for quite a while before finally covering his eyes and choosing one purely by feel.
When he unwrapped a package, he found a perfectly square box. Shi Jingge sighed in relief; just as a faint smile began to appear on his face, the box opened on its own.
Shi Jingge’s heart skipped a beat, and a wave of foreboding surged to the top of his head.
The inside was entirely red, with two little figures standing in the center. At that very moment, a mechanical voice suddenly rang out, “Esteemed Mr. Shi Jingge and Mr. Ye Mingxu, I shall officiate your wedding ceremony.”
Shi Jingge: ???
This was a goddamn fake wedding ceremony!
The two figures were meant to represent Shi Jingge and Ye Mingxu, and this box simulated the wedding venue. That mechanical voice played the role of the wedding officiant.
Shi Jingge felt a bit lightheaded.
Was there not enough oxygen in the room? He really wanted to pass out.
Fortunately, the wedding ceremony remained simple, and Shi Jingge only felt like he was suffocating for five minutes.
But what Shi Jingge hadn’t expected was that this damn thing even came with emotional analysis and post-ceremony counseling!
A soothing, magnetic voice rang out, “Although this ceremony is fake, his love is real; and his desire to build a family with you and spend the rest of his life by your side is even more genuine! May Mr. Shi Jingge and Mr. Ye Mingxu enjoy a long and happy life, grow old together, and remain as deeply in love as they are today.”
The box closed shut.
Shi Jingge pinched his temples in helpless frustration, then tossed the box and all the other unopened gifts inside the drawer underneath the couch.
He didn’t want to push his sanity any further.
Just then, a message from Ye Mingxu popped up.
Shi Jingge’s hand was shaking as he tapped his smart bracelet.
Ye Mingxu: [Do you… like it?]
Shi Jingge: ……
How was he supposed to reply to this? Honestly, this was like trying to put him on the spot!
Ye Mingxu waited intently for Shi Jingge’s reply, and while waiting, he selected two more gifts with sky-high ratings and added them to his shopping cart.
The next second, Ye Mingxu received a message from Shi Jingge and eagerly switched screens to read it.
Shi Jingge: [Thanks for the gifts.]
Shi Jingge: [I appreciate the thought.]
Shi Jingge: [Don’t waste your credit points.]
Shi Jingge: [Kitty bowing in gratitude.jpg]
How could buying a gift for Xiao Ge be a waste of credit points?
Ye Mingxu sent back a shy little bunny emoji, promptly paid for the gifts in his cart, and then returned to browsing through SkyNet. Ever since he learned how to shop, Ye Mingxu had found a new source of joy.
Meanwhile, Shi Jingge had no idea that Ye Mingxu hadn’t given up on the idea. He brewed himself a cup of rose tea and decided to head to the library to clear his head.
Shi Jingge channeled his pain and frustration into motivation and began outlining his thesis. He was actually in good form today; ideas flowed freely through his mind, and the writing went smoothly.
By the time he finished organizing the outline, three hours had already passed. If all went according to plan, he’d be able to start writing the main body tomorrow!
Shi Jingge felt a deep sense of satisfaction. Sure enough, only the library could bring him joy.
He rubbed his neck and checked the time; there was less than a half an hour left before closing. The library, which had been packed earlier, was now nearly empty with only a handful of people remaining.
Shi Jingge packed up his things and prepared to leave.
Ying Changyuan was standing not far behind Shi Jingge. He felt incredibly lucky today—it was a rare occasion for him to visit the library, and he’d actually run into Senior Shi! Now that he saw Shi Jingge getting ready to leave, Ying Changyuan hurriedly gathered his things and followed closely behind, walking briskly out of the library.
As soon as he stepped out the doors, Shi Jingge paused and looked back.
Ying Changyuan instinctively stopped in his tracks, feeling like a child caught doing something wrong by an adult, mixed with the excitement and nervousness of standing before an idol. For a moment, he didn’t know how to respond.
Then Ying Changyuan saw Shi Jingge give him a gentle smile, a smile so tender it felt like a gentle breeze brushing his face, easing most of his nervousness.
He instinctively broke into a light jog and called out, “Senior Shi! I—I’m Ying Changyuan, a first-year student in the Intermediate Division of the Pharmacy Department. I–It’s a pleasure to meet you…”
As soon as those last words left his mouth, Ying Changyuan almost bit his tongue. What on earth was he saying?
A look of realization flashed across Shi Jingge’s eyes. He smiled. “Junior Ying.”
Ying Changyuan’s eyes lit up. “Senior Shi, have you heard of me?”
Shi Jingge nodded. “Junior Qiu mentioned you.”
Qiu Yuanjiu mentioned him? Ying Changyuan instantly felt a bit nervous.
Shi Jingge seemed to sense Ying Changyuan’s anxiety and chuckled softly. “He said you have a good temperament and easy to get along with, yet principled; you’re diligent and organized. A great roommate.”
Ying Changyuan was stunned. Was this really the description of him that Qiu Yuanjiu had given?
Qiu Yuanjiu’s exact words weren’t quite like that, of course, but the gist was the same. Shi Jingge had simply filtered out all the awkwardness and rephrased them in his own words.
“R–Really?” Ying Changyuan blushed slightly.
“Why would I lie?” Shi Jingge said with a chuckle. “I’ve never interacted with you before, so I wouldn’t know what you’re like.”
That was true.
Ying Changyuan scratched the back of his head and gave Shi Jingge an embarrassed smile.
It was actually a bit nerve-wracking.
Ying Changyuan, who was usually eloquent and a master of social skills, stood before Shi Jingge like a toddler who’d just learned to speak; he didn’t even know how to bring up a topic. After barely two sentences, his face was already flushed.
He stammered for quite a while, even forgetting about the rose tea. In the end, it was Shi Jingge who brought it up first.
“Speaking of which, Junior Qiu went out of his way to bring some flower tea to share with you all. What do you think of the taste? Is there anything that could be improved?” Shi Jingge said with a smile.
“No!” Ying Changyuan’s eyes lit up. “I’ve never tasted anything this good! It feels amazing. I used to have trouble sleeping, and I’d wake up in the morning feeling sluggish, but ever since I started drinking the tea, I haven’t had that problem at all!”
“Oh, right.” Ying Changyuan scratched the back of his head. “Actually, I have a favor to ask. That day, we were all ready to purchase ten minutes early. We really tried to be fast. Our whole dorm tried to buy some together, but we didn’t manage to get a single one. Do you have any left? We’d like to buy some.” He looked extremely embarrassed. “We’ll even pay extra, whatever it takes!”
As soon as those words left his mouth, Ying Changyuan wished he could shake his head to see if it was filled with straw!
What kind of person was Senior Shi? Offering to pay extra was practically a desecration of his honor!
“No, no, no, wait, that’s not what I meant.” Ying Changyuan fidgeted anxiously, trying his hardest to explain to Shi Jingge. “What I meant was, the rose tea is seriously amazing. We all have some sleep issues to varying degrees—we’ve never slept soundly—but since we started drinking the tea, we’ve actually been able to sleep well for the first time in a long while. We really, really love it.
“It’s totally normal to miss out if you’re too slow. After all, so many people were scrambling for it. We just wanted to buy a little bit; it’s fine if we can’t get any. Whatever we can do is fine; we can offer spirit flowers, spirit herbs, or other potion ingredients in exchange! A trade would work too!”
Ying Changyuan felt his explanation getting weirder the more he talked, and he grew increasingly flustered.
Shi Jingge gently patted his shoulder and smiled. “I get it.”
Ying Changyuan froze for a moment. When he looked up at Shi Jingge, he felt as if his whole being had been soothed; under Shi Jingge’s gentle gaze, most of his tension and restlessness had melted away.
Ying Changyuan rubbed his nose and murmured, “I used to… not be like this…”
“I know,” Shi Jingge said with a smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes. “You’re a great student, Junior Ying.”
“N–No, not really,” Ying Changyuan said, lowering his head. How could he possibly say he was great with Senior Shi right in front of him?
Senior Shi was the greatest of all!
“I still have a few bottles left over. I’ll just sell them to you at the regular price,” Shi Jingge said.
“T–T–That’s unacceptable!” Ying Changyuan said. “You’ve been so kind to help us; we can’t possibly…”
…We can’t let Shi Jingge lose money on this!
“Can’t what?” Shi Jingge asked, amused. “I set the price myself. How could I possibly be losing anything?”
”It’s not the same,” Ying Changyuan said softly.
Those leftover bottles were surely meant for Senior Shi himself. By giving them away, he’d have that much less to drink—and the value of that wasn’t something that could be easily measured.
Besides, considering Senior Shi’s circumstances, how could he possibly be short on money?
Senior Shi wasn’t lacking funds, whereas they were in need of rose tea. Under these circumstances, it was clearly Senior Shi who was at a loss.
“Who told you I’m not short on money?” Shi Jingge’s amused voice rang out, and only then did Ying Changyuan realize he’d actually said that out loud.
“I–I–I–” Ying Changyuan’s face turned so red it was about to explode.
“I’m actually very short on money.” Shi Jingge sighed. “Don’t doubt it. Would I be researching rose tea and opening an online store?”
Ying Changyuan furrowed his brow slightly; it actually made sense.
“I’m curious. How do you see me as a person?” Shi Jingge asked with genuine curiosity.
Ying Changyuan replied somewhat sheepishly, “Exceptionally talented, of the highest moral character, gentle in nature, and elegant in manner. You’re probably what people envision as a young master born into a reclusive family, someone to look up to.”
Shi Jingge couldn’t help but burst out laughing. His laughter was clear and hearty, causing Ying Changyuan to unintentionally chuckle along, sheepishly.
“That’s a bit off the mark.” Shi Jingge laughed. “I come from an utterly ordinary background. Have you ever heard of the planet Dequn?”
Ying Changyuan thought hard for a moment. “It’s a small remote planet, isn’t it?”
“Right.” Shi Jingge nodded. “That’s where I was born.”
Ying Changyuan’s eyes widened in astonishment. “But you don’t go back to visit! You’ve been staying here this whole time!”
“Do you know how many credit points it costs to go back?” Shi Jingge shrugged. “It’s basically two months of my living expenses. A round trip would wipe out four months’ worth. My family already has a heavy financial burden. How could I possibly add to it?”
Ying Changyuan stared at him, somewhat incredulous.
“So”–Shi Jingge smiled–“you need rose tea, and I need money. This is a normal business transaction. There’s no question of who’s losing out or who’s gaining, got it?”
Ying Changyuan nodded obediently, finding the Shi Jingge standing before him surprisingly gentle and warm.
Ying Changyuan followed Shi Jingge to get the rose tea. When he transferred the money, he’d originally wanted to give a little extra, but seeing Shi Jingge’s straight, upright posture, he felt that doing so would truly be disrespectful.
Finally, Ying Changyuan thanked Shi Jingge.
Shi Jingge walked him back and said with a smile, “In that case, Junior Ying, could you do me a favor?”
Ying Changyuan replied eagerly, “No problem! I promise I’ll get it done!”
“You don’t need to take it so seriously,” Shi Jingge said with an amused chuckle. “I just need you to keep an eye on Junior Qiu. His physical fitness test is next month, so he can’t slack off on his training. Also, his homework’s been a bit sloppy these past couple of days.”
Ying Changyuan readily agreed, but felt a twinge of envy deep down.
It was truly enviable that Senior Shi cared so much about Qiu Yuanjiu.
“Senior, you don’t need to send me all the way. I can make my way back on my own.”
“No way!” Shi Jingge shook his head. “How could I let a junior go home alone?”
Ying Changyuan: !!!
Senior—how can Senior be this kind?
Ying Changyuan used to think Senior Shi was like a pure flower on a high mountain, perfect from head to toe, someone to look up to and admire; but after actually getting to know him, he realized Senior Shi was a hundred times, no, a thousand times better than he’d imagined; not the kind of elegance meant only to be admired from afar, but the warmth, gentleness, and determination that made him approachable.
Like the moon, yet not the moon; like the sun, yet not the sun.
But there was no denying that Shi Jingge’s image in Ying Changyuan’s heart had grown even more towering.
At that moment, Ying Changyuan suddenly understood why fans were willing to set up fan clubs and support sites for their idols; because right now, he really wanted to start a fan club for Shi Jingge, too!
Waaah, Senior Shi is worth it! He’s worth it!!
Back in the dorm, Ying Changyuan threw himself at his roommate and said earnestly, “You’re my treasure.”
“Hm?”
“Senior Shi is so great. How can he be so great? I’m falling in love with him, waaah!”
“Calm down,” his roommate said, poking Ying Changyuan on the head. “Who doesn’t know Senior Shi is great? Wait, did you run into him?”
Ying Changyuan nodded.
“Then… the rose tea?” another roommate chimed in.
Ying Changyuan instinctively shielded his pocket.
“Split it with me!”
“Are we still best friends or not?”
“Give me some, give me some!”
“We agreed to share the tea!”
Just then, Qiu Yuanjiu walked over silently. “Didn’t you guys forget that I was the one who brought you the very first bottle? So”—Qiu Yuanjiu paused—“this time, shouldn’t you guys let me have some too? Give me a little?”
Ying Changyuan whipped out the rose tea at lightning speed, shoved it under his shirt, then flung himself face-down on the couch. He shouted at the top of his lungs, “No sharing! Definitely not sharing! Senior Shi gave this to me!”
But how could that possibly keep anyone at bay? It was all just an act.
Qiu Yuanjiu joined the battlefield and, together with his other roommates, went after Ying Changyuan.
At first, all three of them felt a little awkward, but amid Ying Changyuan’s shouts and tantrums, they quickly got into the spirit of things.
This might have been the best the dorm’s internal relationships had ever been since they’d been assigned together.
Even Qiu Yuanjiu couldn’t hold back the smile in his eyes.
And just like that, Shi Jingge’s rose tea gradually became all the rage on campus, but because supplies were limited, many people couldn’t get their hands on it.
So Shi Jingge approached Lin Yiwen, intending to sell him the recipe.
Lin Yiwen was sipping his tea at the time; upon hearing this, he nearly spit it out and had to struggle to swallow that mouthful. “What did you say?” he asked.
Shi Jingge repeated himself.
Lin Yiwen: !!!
“Do you realize what you’re saying?” Lin Yiwen said sternly. “Do you know how valuable that is? To put it bluntly, no one will be able to crack your recipe anytime soon, so it’s a goldmine in your hands.”
“I know,” Shi Jingge replied with a smile that crinkled his eyes. His carefree demeanor made even the usually composed Lin Yiwen grow impatient; he practically wanted to grab him by the collar and shake him a couple of times to see if water had gotten into his head! “And yet you’re still doing this!” Lin Yiwen glared at Shi Jingge. If the person in front of him weren’t his student, he would have forced Shi Jingge to sign a contract the moment he brought up the idea without wasting a single second.
Who wouldn’t want to make more money? Being a pharmacist is an expensive hobby, you know!
“But I think there are a lot of students who need rose tea, and my supply is limited right now. I’m still young, and there are so many things worth researching—things worth devoting all my energy to. If I get bogged down by rose petals, wouldn’t that be like picking up a sesame seed and losing a watermelon?”
Shi Jingge spoke with absolute conviction. Lin Yiwen had been about to try to talk him out of it, but then he suddenly thought of the nectar from the Three-Star Flower.
In that moment, he sensed a different undertone in Shi Jingge’s words.
Simply put, he would discover so much more in the future. What did a little rose tea matter anyway?
Was this the confidence and arrogance of a true genius?
At that moment, Lin Yiwen felt a twinge of envy.
After all, there is a difference between talent and true genius.
“I get it,” Lin Yiwen said, glancing sideways at Shi Jingge. “I also know why you chose me—it’s because of that alchemy furnace, isn’t it? You geniuses are always afraid of owing anyone a favor.”
Shi Jingge smiled slightly, but said nothing more.
“Since you’re thinking of me—and since you’re my student—I won’t take too much advantage of you. I know the effects of this tea; the rest of us have studied it too, but we haven’t figured anything out. No one’s likely to crack this formula anytime soon.” Lin Yiwen paused. “So, I’ll give you 500,000 credit points up front, and then I’ll give you 20 percent of the profits. How does that sound?”
Shi Jingge looked intently at Lin Yiwen and thanked him.
Lin Yiwen snorted derisively. “Don’t be so formal. Besides, if we’re talking about thanks, who knows who should actually be thanking whom?”
Shi Jingge smiled faintly.
They signed the agreement, had it notarized, and then Lin Yiwen transferred the credit points to Shi Jingge, who finally felt a sense of security.
Lin Yiwen glanced at him from the corner of his eye. “If you need any help, just say the word.”
Shi Jingge smiled sheepishly. “Actually, there is something. I’d like to rent a place. It doesn’t have to be in a busy area, just somewhere safe, with plenty of green space and fresh air. It’d be even better if there’s a hospital nearby; ideally, a place suitable for seniors to retire.”
Lin Yiwen furrowed his brow; this didn’t sound like the kind of request Shi Jingge would make if he were just looking to rent a place for himself.
Shi Jingge looked up and said softly, “I want to bring my parents over here. They definitely wouldn’t be able to adjust to a place that’s too crowded. A place suitable for retirement would be best.”
Lin Yiwen’s gaze softened slightly. “Leave it to me.”
“Thank you, sir!” Shi Jingge said hurriedly.
“Do you have any requirements for the rent?” Lin Yiwen asked.
Shi Jingge shook his head. “As long as I can rent it for a year with 500,000 credit points, that’s fine. Ideally, a three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment. It’d be even better if it had a yard.”
Lin Yiwen rolled his eyes. With 500,000 credit points for a year’s rent, where couldn’t he find a place?
“Alright, I’ll send you a message in the next couple of days,” Lin Yiwen said.
That evening, Lin Yiwen posted another update on his social media and tagged Zhao Jiangcheng again.
Zhao Jiangcheng: ……
How come that little pest Lin Yiwen hasn’t been beaten to death yet? Also, I heard Ye Mingxu bought him a gift. Where is it?
Ye Mingxu felt that Zhao Jiangcheng had been acting a bit strange these past few days. Why was he always looking at him with that kind of expression?
Finally, one day, Ye Mingxu couldn’t help but ask, “Professor?”
Zhao Jiangcheng’s breath caught in his throat.
What could he possibly say? Was he supposed to ask, “Where’s the gift you were supposed to get for your professor?”
Saying that would sound exactly like he was demanding the gift!
He, Zhao Jiangcheng, still had some dignity left!
Zhao Jiangcheng replied coldly, “Did you write the paper I assigned you?”
Ye Mingxu pursed his lips.
“Just look at you!” Zhao Jiangcheng said in exasperation. “That Shi Jingge from Kalandi not only developed rose tea but also shared it with his teacher. Now he’s focusing on writing a paper about Three-Star Flower nectar—he’s about to outshine you!”
Ye Mingxu froze for a moment, then said slowly, “Professor, are you telling me to…learn from him?”
Zhao Jiangcheng replied with absolute certainty, “Of course!”
You’d better learn how he shows such devotion to his teacher. You’ve got to let me go out and brag about you, too!
Learning from Shi Jingge is the same as studying alongside Shi Jingge.
Was the teacher telling him to go to Kalandi to study with Xiao Ge?
Ye Mingxu’s eyes lit up, and he said solemnly, “I understand. I…will.”
——————
Author’s Note:
Ye Mingxu: I’ll follow the teacher’s orders to the letter and head to Kalandi tomorrow.
Zhao Jiangcheng: ????????
Edit: Krone
Proofread: Choux_choux
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