South of Chutian

The next morning, Tang Heng and Tian Xiaoqin went to the School of Economics to participate in the closing defense.There were originally five people in the project team, apart from the two of them, Zhang Baiyuan, Pan Peng and a girl, but Pan Peng didn't show up until the defense began.

Before taking the stage, Tian Xiaoqin asked blankly, "Where's Pan Peng?"

Tang Heng didn't speak, neither did the other girl, Zhang Baiyuan held the manuscript and said lightly, "He's not feeling well, so he won't be able to come today."

At the beginning of the defense, Zhang Baiyuan was the keynote speaker. When introducing the team division of labor, the PPT that the team members had browsed in advance suddenly had an extra page—it was Li Yuechi.Zhang Baiyuan said calmly: "The initial visit and investigation work was mainly completed by Tang Heng and Tian Xiaoqin led by Li Yuechi."

The four teachers sitting in the audience had already heard their mid-term defense. At that time, no one mentioned Li Yuechi's name from the beginning to the end.However, the four teachers didn't ask or say anything, as if everything was logical.

The defense ended successfully, and Zhang Baiyuan said with a smile: "I treat you, shall we go to the creative city for dinner?"

Tang Heng said: "I still have class in the afternoon, you can eat."

"...I'm not going either," Tian Xiaoqin looked at Tang Heng, "I also have classes in the afternoon."

Zhang Baiyuan happily said: "Okay, then Lily and I will go, let's get together later!"

Tang Heng said, "Okay."

"Call Li Yuechi when the time comes," Zhang Baiyuan still smiled and said meaningfully, "Thanks to having him this time."

Tang Heng didn't answer, just nodded, turned and left.

Tian Xiaoqin followed Tang Heng until the two walked out of the School of Economics and there was no one around, then she asked in a low voice, "Junior Brother, did you add Li Yuechi?"

Tang Heng was in a good mood: "Yes."

"Li Yuechi agrees?"

"Why don't you agree?"

"But……"

Tang Heng took out his cell phone, intending to send a text message to Li Yuechi.He looked at the screen and said casually, "But what?"

"But Li Yuechi has already promised Teacher Tang..."

Tang Heng raised his head: "What do you mean?"

Tian Xiaoqin looked at Tang Heng with a hesitant expression.Perhaps because of nervousness, there were beads of sweat on the tip of her nose.

"Senior Sister," Tang Heng said, "You tell me, it's okay."

"That's right... This semester, he and I are both working as teaching assistants," Tian Xiaoqin avoided Tang Heng's gaze, and tightened the shoulder straps of his backpack with his fingertips. This job is arranged, and there is 600 yuan per month."

Tang Heng was stunned for a moment before saying, "This job is in exchange for Li Yuechi's withdrawal from the project team?"

"It's not an exchange." Tian Xiaoqin shook his head, "Maybe Teacher Tang wanted to comfort him... I don't know why, but I was included."

Tang Heng frowned, and was about to speak, when Tian Xiaoqin said, "Teacher Tang must be kind, Junior Brother, don't think too much about it."

"As a teaching assistant, 600 yuan per month?"

"Ah."

Tang Heng thought to himself, 600 yuan...

"Actually, I think Yuechi really needs the money more than the signature." Tian Xiaoqin smiled, a bit helpless, "He mentioned it to me once before, and said that if he didn't sign it, he wouldn't sign it. That's good. of."

"When did this happen?"

"It was last week."

"What he said was, this is good?"

"Hey... 600 yuan," Tian Xiaoqin paused for a moment, then said, "It's a lot for him."

Tang Heng left Tian Xiaoqin and went home alone.Originally, he wanted to send a text message to ask Li Yuechi if he wanted to have lunch together, but there was a new shop on Guangba Road, and An Yun said it was delicious.However, at this moment, this very simple question suddenly became impossible to ask.

He didn't know how much a copy of red oil chaoshou cost, and he never thought about such issues.Just like he never thought that Li Yuechi would willingly give up his signature because of a job as a teaching assistant, no, more precisely, because of the 600 yuan per month.No wonder Li Yuechi said "Don't do this next time" - it turned out that he had already made an appointment with his uncle.

How many bowls of red oil chaoshou can you buy for 600 yuan?

My heart is in a mess, like a piece of paper that has just been smoothed out, crumpled again.

Tang Heng suddenly remembered that at Baotong Temple that day, Li Yuechi said "send text messages casually", and then Tang Heng really never saw him smoking again.Is it true that the money for buying cigarettes is used to recharge the phone bill?But even so, his mobile phone was still in arrears last night. Tang Heng thought, could it be because they made too many calls and sent too many text messages?

Whatever came to mind, the phone vibrated, and Li Yuechi asked, "Have you finished your defense?"

Tang Heng picked up the phone, first typed "just finished", thought for a while, and then typed "where are you eating at noon", pursed his lips and pondered for a moment, and added "are you free tonight".

After 5 minutes, the content of the text message filled the entire screen.

just ended.

Where do you have lunch?Can I come to you?

By the way, are you free tonight?Do you want to go to "Long Love" to listen to music?There is an event today, and you can get in for free if you wear a white shirt.But it’s fine if you’re not free, I’m fine anyway, it depends on your time.

Senior, can I top up your phone bill?

Tang Heng sent the text message, and after a while, Li Yuechi called.

There was a lot of noise on his side, as if in a teaching building between classes.Tang Heng asked him: "Have you finished class?"

Li Yuechi smiled, and then said: "Well, there will be a section on how to write a thesis later. How about your defense?"

"It's okay...it's going well."

"That's good."

"Added your name."

"Oh——" Li Yuechi's voice was very loose, like the soft sunshine in the autumn morning, "Thank you, junior."

"Where do you have lunch?"

"It's all right, it depends on what you want to eat," Li Yuechi smiled again, and continued, "There is a tutor in the evening, and it ends at 09:30, and I'm free after that. It's okay to go to 'Changai' to listen to music, but it's too late, anyway. It’s fine if you’re here. And——I’ll charge the phone bill myself.”

Tang Heng said in a daze, "Then, that's fine."

"Any other questions?"

"...It's gone for now."

"Then I'm in the classroom."

"and many more!"

"Ok?"

Tang Heng was silent for a few seconds, and asked nervously, "Can you still be a teaching assistant?"

There was no sound on the other end of the phone.

Tang Heng found that his palms were covered with sweat. He didn't know whether it was because the phone was too hot or because he was nervous. 600 yuan, he really wants to say, isn’t it just 600 yuan a month? I’ll give you whatever you want, I just don’t want to see you being wronged.But he knew that he couldn't say it.Li Yuechi didn't even ask him to charge the phone bill.

After a long while, Li Yuechi said in a relaxed tone: "I went to the teaching secretary in the morning, and I won't do it."

Tang Heng suddenly wanted to give himself a punch. Why was he so impulsive, so taken for granted, and so out of his mind?

The next second, Li Yuechi lowered his voice: "It's my own problem."

"not me--"

"You know," Li Yuechi snorted, a little slyly, "teaching assistants can't fall in love with students in the class."

"..."

"But I can't help it."