Make-up classes
Chapter 5: Make-up Lessons
The physics proficiency test at the end of the semester was a nightmare for Bai Ke, who was in the liberal arts class.
As she was scratching her head over the last circuit diagram in the exam room, the science class next door was holding the school's physics competition selection. She had no idea that at that moment, Chen Yiyu had quickly solved all the questions and handed in his paper half an hour early and left the exam room.
On the day the test results were announced, Bai Ke stood alone in front of the bulletin board, looking at the glaring "C" grade and gently biting her lower lip. She had always been a good student in the eyes of her teachers, so such a result was undoubtedly a blow to her.
"What's wrong?" A familiar voice sounded behind him.
Bai Ke turned around suddenly and saw Chen Yiyu standing behind her. He was wearing a school uniform jacket, zipped up to the collar meticulously, with a concerned look in his eyes.
"Physics results." Bai Ke pointed to the bulletin board and forced a smile. "A common problem among liberal arts students."
Chen Yiyu's eyes swept across the list and quickly found her name. "Do you need help?" he asked softly. "There's still a month left before the make-up exam. I can help you with tutoring."
Bai Ke was stunned. Did she hear correctly? Chen Yiyu, the top student in his grade, was going to tutor her, a liberal arts student, in physics?
"Aren't you...preparing for the physics competition?"
"The preliminary round is over." Chen Yiyu said calmly, "The rematch will be next semester, there's still plenty of time."
In this way, every Tuesday and Thursday after school, Bai Ke and Chen Yiyu would meet in a corner of the library for an hour of physics tutoring.
During her first tutoring session, she arrived at the appointed location fifteen minutes early, carrying a thick physics textbook and exercise book. Unexpectedly, Chen Yiyu arrived even earlier, already spread out his notebook.
"Let's start with mechanics." Chen Yiyu opened the textbook and said in a gentle voice, "This part is the foundation and the focus of the exam."
Bai Ke nodded and sat down opposite him.
During the tutoring session, Bai Ke discovered that Chen Yiyu was an extremely patient teacher. He explained the questions with clear logic and always found the most accessible method. If Bai Ke didn't understand the first time, he would patiently repeat the explanation in a different way, never once showing any impatience.
Once, Bai Ke was puzzled by a problem about oblique projectile motion. Chen Yiyu thought for a moment, took out a pen from his pencil case, and gently tossed it into the air.
"Look, the trajectory of this pen is a parabola." He caught the falling pen, his eyes focused. "The magnitude and direction of its initial velocity determine how high and how far it can fly."
Bai Ke was lost in thought as he looked at his serious profile.
"I understand." She said softly. In fact, she was distracted for a moment and didn't hear his explanation clearly.
Chen Yiyu seemed to notice her absent-mindedness, and the corners of his mouth rose: "Do you want me to say it again?"
Bai Ke's face turned red instantly.
Between tutoring sessions, they occasionally chatted about other topics. Bai Ke discovered that Chen Yiyu wasn't the bookworm she'd imagined. He loved science fiction movies, knew a lot about astronomy, and could even name a few popular anime.
"I didn't expect you also watch anime." During a break, Bai Ke couldn't help but sigh.
Chen Yiyu smiled and said, "What do you think I usually do?"
"Do competition questions, or read some advanced physics books." Bai Ke answered honestly.
"That's Qiu Luodi's imagination of me, not reality." Chen Yiyu's tone suddenly became weaker.
This was the first time he had mentioned Qiu Luodi since their tutoring session. Bai Ke was keenly aware that every time this name was mentioned, Chen Yiyu's mood would change subtly.
The change was explained in Thursday's tutorial.
That day, Bai Ke was delayed for ten minutes by class matters. When she hurried to the library, she saw Chen Yiyu and Qiu Luodi standing in the hallway, seemingly arguing. Qiu Luodi's eyes were red, and she clutched Chen Yiyu's sleeve tightly. Chen Yiyu's back was turned to Bai Ke, so her expression was unclear.
Bai Ke subconsciously hid behind a row of bookshelves.
"Why do you always avoid me?" Qiu Luodi's voice was filled with tears. "Is it because of her? That girl from the liberal arts class?"
Chen Yiyu was silent for a while before he whispered, "Luo Di, don't involve others in our affairs."
"My father has done so much for your family, and you treat me like this?"
"I'm grateful for Uncle Qiu's help, but that's not a reason for you to blackmail me."
Bai Ke's heart sank. She remembered what Li Meng had said—that Chen Yiyu's family and Qiu Luodi's family had a business partnership, perhaps even a marriage. She quietly took a few steps back and turned to leave the library.
That night, Bai Ke didn't reply to Chen Yiyu's message. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling a mixture of emotions.
During the break the next day, Qiu Luodi actually came to the door of the liberal arts class.
"Bai Ke, come out for a moment." Her voice was not loud, but it was loud enough for half of the class to hear.
Bai Ke put down his pen and walked out calmly. What is meant to come will come.
"Stay away from Chen Yiyu." Qiu Luodi said bluntly, "He is not someone you can get close to."
Bai Ke pursed her lips: "We are just ordinary classmates."
"An ordinary classmate?" Qiu Luodi sneered, "Then why did he give you extra lessons? Do you know how many important things he turned down to give you extra lessons?"
Bai Ke was a little surprised. She had never thought that Chen Yiyu would make such a sacrifice in order to tutor her.
"I don't know..." she said softly.
"Now you know." Qiu Luodi stepped forward and lowered his voice, "Chen Yiyu's family now relies entirely on my family's support. Sooner or later, we will be together. You'd better recognize your position."
"Luo Di." Chen Yiyu's voice suddenly came from behind him. His face was ugly and his eyes were cold. "Apologize to Bai Ke."
Qiu Luodi obviously did not expect Chen Yiyu to appear suddenly, and was speechless for a moment.
"I'll say it again, I apologize." Chen Yiyu's tone was unquestionable.
Qiu Luodi bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes: "You treat me like this for her?"
"This has nothing to do with Bai Ke. It's your words and actions that are inappropriate."
At this moment, Bai Ke suddenly said, "No need." She looked at Chen Yiyu and said calmly, "She's right, we are indeed from two different worlds. Let's cancel the tutoring in the future."
After saying that, she turned around and went back to the classroom, leaving Chen Yiyu there.
After school that day, Bai Ke walked slowly home alone. She remembered Chen Yiyu's patient explanations during tutoring, his gentle smile when he joked, and the small encouraging patterns he'd secretly drawn on her physics textbook...
Maybe all the beauty is just her illusion.
When she reached the gate of the community, she unexpectedly saw Chen Yiyu standing under the sycamore tree, holding a notebook.
"I'm waiting for you." He said, his voice a little hoarse.
Bai Ke stopped and said nothing.
Chen Yiyu walked forward and handed her the notebook: "This is the key points I sorted out. It should be helpful for your make-up exam."
Bai Ke took the notebook and found that it not only summarized all the test points in detail, but also had diagrams drawn at the end of each chapter, with notes written in neat handwriting next to them.
"Don't take Qiu Luodi's words to heart." Chen Yiyu said softly, "The relationship between her and me is not what she said."
Bai Ke looked up at him: "What does that look like?"
Chen Yiyu was silent for a moment before he said, "Some things are hard to explain to you. But please believe me, I'm not tutoring you out of sympathy or anything else."
"What's the reason?" Bai Ke mustered up the courage to ask.
Chen Yiyu's eyes fell on her face, gentle and deep: "Because I want to see you."
The evening breeze blew, and the leaves rustled, as if accompanying this moment.
"Do we need tutoring tomorrow?" Chen Yiyu asked, with a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
Bai Ke clenched the notebook in her hand, feeling the ice in her heart gradually melting. She nodded gently: "Yes."
Chen Yiyu smiled, and that smile was particularly warm under the setting sun.
Looking at his departing back, Bai Ke turned to the last page of the notebook and found an umbrella drawn in pencil, with two little people standing side by side under the umbrella.
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