"Yeah..."
It wasn't time for class yet, and the students below watched the retreating figure as she left the classroom, muttering amongst themselves.
"..."
Yan Baitao listened to their words and found himself momentarily speechless.
"Ahem~"
"What, you freshmen actually recognize your seniors from the fourth year?" Yan Baitao joked.
"Teacher Yan, who are you looking down on!"
"Sister Qiu Xi is in the same major as us, we're direct juniors!"
"Exactly~"
When they first enrolled, they indeed knew nothing. But after being lectured by various teachers from time to time, and seeing her photos posted on the department's bulletin board, coupled with her astonishing multiple achievements, it was impossible for them not to know about her. If she were just a very capable person, it would be one thing. But she was not only capable, she was also beautiful, and most importantly, she was young. When all these things converged on one person, they became interested.
Seeing the students getting excited below, Yan Baitao also smiled along.
"What a shame~ If you had come just a little earlier, you might have been able to chat with her for a bit~"
"Teacher Yan!"
Looking at the smiling teacher, those below wanted to speak but dared not, which was a bit infuriating.
"Alright!"
"It's time to start class."
"When there's time, I'll have her chat with you all."
"Okay~"
"Teacher Yan, you said it yourself, we've all noted it down."
"Alright, alright!"
"Get ready for class!"
Hearing the bell for class, Yan Baitao didn't delay any further. If he had said a few more words, today's early class might have been extended.
...
Qiu Xi, who had already walked far away, never expected that after she left, so many "little fans" would gather in that classroom. She was currently on her way back to the dormitory. Since there was nothing else to do, she planned to pack her things and go home. Ni Xue and Hua Linglong were waiting for her to leave together to find Tang Siran.
Dormitory -
"Xiao Xi, are you going back?"
The three of them looked at Qiu Xi packing her things and asked uncertainly.
Qiu Xi nodded, "Yes, I happen to have some free time next, and I'm planning to go abroad with Ni Xue and the others to visit friends."
"Is that so... Then when will we schedule our graduation trip?"
"After I get back is fine," Qiu Xi replied casually. "I went to see Old Yan this morning, and it's confirmed that I have nothing else to do afterward."
"So we can set off together in early May, travel for ten days to half a month, and then come back to prepare for our thesis defense."
It just so happened that after this, she would travel with Ah Hua. The plan was quite reasonable. It was just that if she kept going out for these two or three months, she wasn't sure if she would get too tired...
"That sounds great!" Song Daiyao exclaimed, jumping up.
"This way, we can travel all over from to Nan, and then circle back to Chongxi City." It would be a mini-version of traveling across the country, and to fulfill such a small ideal by the time they graduated from university would be considered complete.
"I think that's a good idea!"
Shen Yan, who was extremely fond of poetry and books, was even more pleased. Previously, there was no one to accompany her. Now that she had companions, traveling this way would also fulfill her wish.
"Mhm, I have no objections," Liang Yunfei immediately shook her head as the other three looked at her. She didn't have high demands regarding these matters. As long as she was with her sisters, she had no other opinions.
"Alright, then let's leave it like this for now. We can discuss the specifics later."
Once the general direction was decided, Song Daiyao had nothing else to say. She planned to get a map and study it carefully to plan their travel route in advance.
...
The next morning, Qiu Xi pulled her packed suitcase.
"Sisters, I'm heading home now. See you in May~"
"Mm, okay."
With that said, Qiu Xi was already pulling her suitcase out of the dormitory door. Outside the dormitory building, Nan Hua was already waiting.
"Ah Hua, I'm here."
"Give it to me. Go up and sit first." As soon as he saw her, Nan Hua habitually took the suitcase from the girl's hand.
"Okay."
Not long after, the two of them drove to the Qiu family's house.
"Xiao Xi, why didn't you tell us you were coming back!"
"And you brought Hua小子 too, really!"
As she watched the two of them walk into the house, Mom Qiu chided Qiu Xi a couple of times.
"Your dad hasn't come back yet, ask him to buy some more groceries."
"Aunt Qiu, there's no need. I'm not a guest anymore," Nan Hua smiled and greeted Mom Qiu.
"Aunt Qiu knows, but it's only right to have a good meal when you return."
"Mom, you two chat, I'll go upstairs to put my luggage away first," Qiu Xi said, seeing the two of them chatting happily.
"Mhm, go ahead."
"If the luggage is heavy, just put it there..."
As Mom Qiu was speaking, Nan Hua came over and picked up the suitcase he had put down earlier when he greeted her.
"Aunt Qiu, you sit first. I'll go up with Xiao Xi first and come down to chat with you later."
"Okay~" Seeing Nan Hua like this, Mom Qiu's smile brought out the wrinkles on her face.
Qiu Xi smiled and shook her head, "Then Mom, you carry on, we'll go up to put something away and be right back down."
"Okay, go ahead, go ahead~" Mom Qiu waved her hand happily. As soon as they went upstairs, she immediately called her husband, told him that Qiu Xi had brought Nan Hua back, and asked him to prepare more.
...
Dad Qiu had just returned, and it was still a long time before lunch. Ni Xue, who was sleeping upstairs, had not yet woken up. Finally, Qiu Xi left Dad Qiu and her boyfriend in the kitchen and went to find her master.
"Master, I'm back~"
As expected, if she wanted to find her master upon returning, she just needed to come to the backyard.
"Mhm, why did you only come back today?" Du Bin smiled and asked the little girl who ran over.
"Your Teacher Ding also came by yesterday and told me about your participation in the international exchange conference. You performed well."
"How was it? What are your own feelings about this exchange conference?"
Getting straight to the point, Du Bin directly inquired about her thoughts.
"Master, you're still so direct!" Qiu Xi smiled and nodded.
"Mhm, it indeed felt quite good."
As she spoke, Qiu Xi walked forward, found a seat, and sat down, then began to talk to her master.
"The biggest gains from this trip, besides meeting a few peers, were meeting that old gentleman You Nai..."
"Mhm, you have quite a bit of courage, girl!"
Although Old Ding had already mentioned it, hearing it from his beloved disciple's own mouth felt different. Du Bin was very proud! He only had this one disciple in his life, and she was talented. What he couldn't finish in his life, with Xiao Xi doing it, it should be no problem. He thought that in the future, when people mentioned Xiao Xi, it would be enough that she had achieved it through her own efforts. He wouldn't interfere with the future she chose for herself, but he still hoped her future would be bright.
"Master!" Qiu Xi waved her hand in front of Du Bin's eyes. "Master, what are you spacing out about?"
After speaking, Qiu Xi noticed her master seemed lost in thought and was a bit curious.
"Nothing..." Du Bin shook his head. "I was just thinking that after all this time, you've learned almost everything from me. I might have to consider going back to continue my retirement~"
As he said this, Du Bin's eyes held a gentle smile, and he looked at Qiu Xi with great ease. Since she started learning other languages from him last year, she had, through her own efforts, learned almost everything by now. The remaining parts would require her to immerse herself more after she went to graduate school to truly master them. They say, read a hundred times, and the meaning will become clear. However, some things ultimately require walking ten thousand miles on foot to truly grasp.
Hearing this, Qiu Xi's eyes immediately widened.
"Master, what are you saying!"
"Stay here where it's nice, you and Grandma Li should stay here and keep me company."
Although if her master insisted, she couldn't do anything about it. But since he hadn't said it forcefully yet, Qiu Xi hoped they would stay together. If nothing else, staying together meant she could take good care of them.
"Hahahahaha~" Du Bin laughed heartily.
"Okay~"
"From now on, your Grandma Li and I will just leech off you~"
To be able to have this kind of life at the end of his life was already enough! He had his wife, and now he had such a junior disciple. He was content.
"Good!" Qiu Xi nodded with satisfaction. "Then it's settled!"
Fearing that the elder might go back on his word with his next sentence, Qiu Xi quickly followed up.
"Alright, but I'm afraid that when we get really old, you young folks will find us bothersome..."
Looking at her master's weathered face, Qiu Xi stepped forward, linked her arm through his, and said softly, "Never!"
"Once a master, always a master!"
"I will always be with you, Master!"
The elder's eyes turned slightly red. Du Bin's hand, full of age spots, gently stroked the young girl's head.
"Good..."
Life, at this point, was complete!
...