Awakening Elementary School System in University
Chapter 35 - 33: You Go Ahead

Chapter 35: Chapter 33: You Go Ahead

The entire study room instantly fell into a strange silence.

Chen Lin was completely petrified. He stared blankly at the drink in Yunqing’s hand, then at her lips, glistening slightly with moisture. His mind went blank.

’That straw... I just used it!’

Shen Yan’s hand, which was holding out a drink, also froze in mid-air. She looked at Yunqing, then at Chen Lin, a clear look of confusion in her eyes.

As for Yunqing, after finishing the drink and letting out a long sigh of relief, she noticed their strange expressions.

She blinked her big, watery eyes, her face still flushed from the spiciness. Looking at the dumbfounded Chen Lin, she raised the cup in her hand and gave a somewhat innocent smile.

"Ah, sorry about that. I was choking so badly, I just grabbed it without thinking."

In her smile, Chen Lin detected a hint of cunning, as if a scheme had just succeeded.

’Was she doing that on purpose?’

Chen Lin wasn’t sure.

But with Shen Yan right there, he couldn’t just ask directly. That would be way too awkward.

’Forget it. Better to let it go.’

So he gave a dry cough and waved his hand at Yunqing. "It’s fine. I’m not that thirsty anymore anyway. You can have the rest."

"Thanks, hehe." Yunqing didn’t stand on ceremony, thanking him graciously. Then, as if nothing had happened, she picked up her chopsticks and went back to slowly nibbling on the spicy rabbit head.

Chen Lin: "..."

Meanwhile, Shen Yan, who was at the side, looked at Yunqing, then at Chen Lin, a contemplative glint in her cool eyes.

After a few seconds, as if she had mustered up some courage, she took the initiative to ask, "Senior, what did you want Chen to help you with tonight?"

This question successfully drew Yunqing’s attention.

"Oh, it’s like this." Yunqing put down the rabbit head, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and explained, "Our school band used to share a rehearsal room with someone else. Last week, the school finally did us a favor and cleared out a new room for us in the College of Arts building, one we can use exclusively. So, today, I was hoping to move some of our instruments, music stands, and other things from the old room over to the new one."

As she spoke, she sighed with some distress. "We only have one guy in our band to begin with, and as it turns out, he’s away from school for two weeks due to a family matter. That’s why I thought of finding a strong guy to help out."

The moment she finished speaking, Shen Yan immediately chimed in, "Senior, let me go and help you later too."

"You’re coming too?" Yunqing looked at her with some surprise.

Shen Yan nodded emphatically, her expression exceptionally serious. "Mhm. I often clean up and move things around by myself in my dorm. I’m pretty strong, so I definitely won’t get in your way."

Yunqing stared at her for a few seconds, then subtly glanced at Chen Lin beside them before smiling. "Okay, you’re more than welcome! It’ll be a great chance for us to chat more."

Chen Lin was starting to get a headache.

He was now basically certain that Yunqing’s interest in him was more than just simple curiosity.

Their constant bickering every time they met had made him overlook the amplifying effect his "Little Love Saint" passive aura had on the opposite sex’s affection.

The thought of potentially being alone with Yunqing tonight made Chen Lin feel like anything could happen.

Now, hearing that Shen Yan was coming along too, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Although he didn’t know Shen Yan’s reason for volunteering, a group of three was much better than him being alone with Yunqing at night.

Otherwise, he really didn’t know if he could handle it—though he wasn’t sure what "it" was he’d have to handle.

...

...

After that, Chen Lin just quietly kept his head down and ate, listening to Yunqing and Shen Yan chat about everything under the sun.

You had to hand it to her; Yunqing was truly a social butterfly. In just half an hour, she and Shen Yan were already hitting it off, chatting about everything from the different schools of Sichuan cuisine to showing Shen Yan interesting short videos she’d been watching, and even complaining about the eccentric professors in their respective majors. The atmosphere was so lively you’d think they were best friends who had known each other for years.

A little over half an hour later, the three of them had cleared all the food from the table.

They efficiently packed up all the take-out containers and trash, took it all downstairs, and threw it into the sorting bins below.

Afterwards, the three went back upstairs to grab their backpacks and laptops, turned off the lights in the study room, and prepared to head to the main building of the College of Arts.

Yannan University’s campus was huge. The small building for the School of Mathematics, where they were, was in the southwestern part of campus, while the College of Arts was in the northern part. This meant they had to cross through the central area of campus, which had the highest foot traffic.

"Let’s go." Yunqing held her bag in one hand and naturally linked her other arm with Shen Yan’s.

When she turned her head, she found only Shen Yan beside her. They exchanged a glance and looked around, only to discover that Chen Lin had, at some point, fallen about ten meters behind them. He was staring down at his phone, completely engrossed.

"Chen," Shen Yan waved at him, a little puzzled. "Let’s walk together."

"Oh, you guys go on ahead," Chen Lin replied without looking up. "I’ll follow behind and browse my phone. It’s a good way to walk a bit slower and digest my food."

Shen Yan’s face was full of confusion, not quite understanding his reasoning.

Yunqing’s eyes darted around. As if she had suddenly thought of something, a mischievous smile crept onto her lips. She leaned close to Shen Yan’s ear and whispered, "Yanyan, have you checked the school forums recently?"

Shen Yan shook her head blankly. "I never go on them. Why?"

"Nothing, it’s just..." Just as Yunqing was about to say something, Chen Lin’s hurried voice came from behind them.

"It’s nothing! It’s all just useless gossip on there. It’s good that you don’t read it!"

Yunqing looked back and saw Chen Lin positioned in Shen Yan’s blind spot, frantically making faces at her with an expression that was both a threat and a plea.

Yunqing let out a "PFFT" and burst out laughing.

’Fine, since he looks so pathetic.’

Yunqing said no more, deciding to let Chen Lin off the hook. She affectionately took Shen Yan’s arm and started walking toward the College of Arts.

Chen Lin followed closely behind them, maintaining a safe distance of about ten meters at all times.

’At this distance,’ he calculated, ’passersby will at most think we’re just walking one after another. There shouldn’t be any risk of us being photographed and posted online.’

On this late-May Sunday evening, there weren’t many pedestrians on campus. But as they neared the area with the central academic building and the sports field, they began to run into more and more students.

Chen Lin sharply noticed that nearly every student who passed them would subconsciously turn their head back for a few more glances at Yunqing and Shen Yan.

Then, once they thought they were a safe distance away, they would start whispering among themselves.

To Chen Lin, whose hearing had been enhanced by "Little Champion," these supposedly safe discussions were crystal clear.

"Hey, look quick, wasn’t that Shen Yan and Yunqing who just passed by?"

"Holy crap, it really was! I can’t believe the two top campus beauties are walking together. What a sight for sore eyes!"

"Looking at them like this, I still think Shen Yan is more my type. That cool, aloof vibe is just incredible. It makes you want to keep looking."

"Get outta here. I prefer Yunqing’s type. Just looking at her makes you happy, and you feel this warmth when you pass by her. Plus, her singing is amazing!"

...

’Great, now they’re picking favorites.’

Chen Lin’s mouth twitched.

Just then, he overheard another group’s conversation.

"But I think I just saw a guy following behind them. Did you notice who it was?"

"Was there? I didn’t notice. I was too busy looking at the beauties. Who has time to look at guys?"

"Yeah, I really didn’t see any guy with them. He was probably just some random passerby. You’re overthinking it."

Chen Lin: "..."

’Good. The process was a bit heartbreaking, but at least I achieved my goal.’