South of Chutian

"Okay, Tang Heng, take your senior brother to the teaching and research office," Professor Tang said, and smiled at Li Yuechi, "It's too hot today, you can go get some drinks."

Li Yuechi still lowered his eyes, looking a little at a loss.Tang Heng still had that smirk expression on his face. He opened the drawer of Professor Tang's desk, grabbed the key of the teaching and research section, and took out two bottles of Coke from the small refrigerator in the office.Then he walked out without saying a word, and Li Yuechi followed silently.

After entering the teaching and research room, Tang Heng put the Coke on the table, sat down on the only leather sofa, stretched his long legs, and said, "Go and turn on the air conditioner."

Li Yuechi walked to the air conditioner at the front door and pressed the switch twice, but the air conditioner did not respond.He went around behind the air conditioner, squatted down, pulled out the plug and plugged it back in, but the air conditioner still didn't respond.Finally, he stood in front of the air conditioner with his arms down, and looked at the control panel a little awkwardly-as if there was no way out.Tang Heng thought, this person is delaying time, right?So you don't want to talk to him?

"Can't you see? That's broken. Go to the back, 24 degrees."

Without saying a word, Li Yuechi got up and turned on the air conditioner.Then he sat down on one side of the conference table. There were only the two of them in the teaching and research room, separated by four chairs, which seemed alienated and empty.Tang Heng changed to a more casual sitting position - he had been sitting on this sofa for four years. In high school, he and An Yun often did their homework in this teaching and research room.

The two sat without speaking.After a while, Li Yuechi finally raised his eyes, with no expression on his face: "Junior brother," his voice was also very calm, "I'm sorry."

——Why is he so bad at apologizing?

"There's nothing I'm sorry about," Tang Heng said briskly, "You're right, I'm just here for a place, so it's—to steal the fruits of your labor? To sit back and enjoy it?"

Li Yuechi was silent for two seconds: "Okay."

What a fart.Tang Heng unscrewed the Coke, threw another bottle to him, and said coldly, "Then you start talking."

Li Yuechi took out a folder from his schoolbag, which looked very thick.He opened the folder, and actually started to talk: "The scope of our investigation is Hongshan District and Qingshan District. We adopt a combination of interviews and questionnaires. The interviews are the main part, and the questionnaires are supplemented..." His voice was neither urgent nor slow , like endorsement.Tang Heng crossed his arms, crossed his long legs, and sank into the sofa, with nothing on the table in front of him.It's not that he asked Li Yuechi for advice on the project, but it seemed that Li Yuechi was reporting to him.Tang Heng narrowed his eyes lazily, and suddenly felt a little hot.

"Stop," Tang Heng said, "turn down the air conditioner by one degree."

Li Yuechi stood up quickly, without any dissatisfaction on his face.Soon he returned to his seat and continued to explain like a robot.

Tang Heng thought it was quite interesting, so Li Yuechi also had such a tolerant side?But it's normal to think about it. He is just a helpless student in Wuhan, and he finally managed to get to Han University with his hard work—but he offended his tutor's nephew before the school started.

Did he already feel like he was done?Tang Heng thought again, it shouldn't be.

Tang Heng didn't interrupt him again, but he didn't listen either.In fact, Li Yuechi didn't need to talk about these things at all, he would understand after reading the project proposal, besides, he had done similar projects in his sophomore year.However, this time, Li Yuechi finally couldn't avoid him, let alone drive him away politely like last night.

The phone vibrated twice, and Tang Heng quickly hung up.A few minutes later, Jiang Ya sent a text message: What are you doing?Aren't we rehearsing in the afternoon?

Tang Heng: I'm going to be late for a while.

Jiang Ya:? ? ? ? ? ?What happened? ?

Tang Heng: Let's meet again

Jiang Ya: Don't scare me!What's the matter? ?Do you want me to come and help? ?

Tang Heng directly muted the phone and turned it upside down on the table.They rented a rehearsal room near the Hanyang Conservatory of Music. During rehearsals, Tang Heng or An Yun always arrive first, and Jiang Ya last.This guy has reasons every time, whether it's a traffic jam or an argument with his girlfriend, and Tang Heng is always on time.

But today, Tang Heng felt that it didn't matter if it was a little later, he wanted to spend more time here.

"Junior brother, here is the questionnaire." Li Yuechi walked up to Tang Heng and handed over a thin piece of paper, "You can take a look."

That's all for now?Tang Heng took the paper and said in a low voice, "Don't call me 'junior brother'."

"……why?"

"Because I'm not from your teacher's school, and I'm not Teacher Tang's student," Tang Heng paused, "We don't know each other well."

Li Yuechi remained silent, and there was still no expression on his face.It seemed that no matter what Tang Heng said, he would not refute, so he just acquiesced.As for?So afraid of him?Are you so afraid that he will retaliate against him?Tang Heng suddenly felt dull, what was he competing with Li Yuechi, was there anything Li Yuechi couldn't compare to him?no.

Tang Heng glanced down at the questionnaire and said, "Are you working in Hongshan District now?"

"Well, it's almost done."

"Survey on poor population," Tang Heng smiled, "Then do you want to fill out this questionnaire too?"

The teaching and research room was as silent as a wilderness, and all sounds disappeared.

one second.

two seconds.

Three seconds—

At the fourth second of silent reading, he heard Li Yuechi's calm voice: "No, I don't have a Wuhan hukou."

Tang Heng folded the questionnaire a few times and stuffed it into his trouser pocket.

"Let's stop here," he said, "I still have something to do, so I'm leaving first." He quickly put his phone in his pocket and strode towards the door.I couldn't tell why, but I suddenly regretted it. Maybe the question just now was really too much.Although Li Yuechi didn't get angry as he expected, he still regretted it.He decided not to provoke Li Yuechi anymore. He said he was an idiot, he said he was a poor person, so it was evened out, right?I will not provoke Li Yuechi in the future.

"Tang Heng!"

After a pause, he didn't look back: "...Is there anything else?"

Li Yuechi's voice came from behind: "I didn't know it was you just now."

"Oh." But what's the difference?

"You are not an idiot, sorry."

"Forget it," Tang Heng said, "I really can't take the first place in the mathematics department."

The people behind did not speak.

"Chi——" was the sound of unscrewing the cap of the Coke bottle. Tang Heng turned his head and saw countless tiny bubbles rushing towards the mouth of the bottle. He seemed to be able to hear the popping sound of those bubbles.

Holding the bottle of Coke, Li Yuechi said seriously: "First, second, and third in the test, there is no essential difference, but I am luckier."

"..." Is this person still humble?Tang Heng thought about it seriously, and felt that if he was in the mathematics department, he probably wouldn't be able to pass the No. 3 exam.

"But you..." The surface of the Coke bottle was wet, and Li Yuechi's palms were also wet.

Tang Heng asked: "What am I?"

Li Yuechi said softly, "You sing better than all of them."