Chapter 84 Newcomer
I lived a shameless life in my new home.
Lin Yan's words "I want to let the atmosphere permeate every corner of the new home" were obviously not just talk.
One afternoon, I was carried down from the cold kitchen counter with a sore back. The tingling sensation in my backside still lingered, and I had only one thought in my mind:
Why is this house so big?! It simply provides a vast space for someone's "exploratory spirit" to commit crimes!
However, the days of indulgence are always short-lived.
The life of graduate students is like an invisible net that has quietly tightened.
Thinking about those horror stories about graduate school, the romantic thoughts in my heart were instantly replaced by tension.
I contacted the instructor in advance. His tone was relatively calm. He explained some things to pay attention to on the first day of joining the group and that there would be a meeting for all members in the afternoon.
Looking at Lin Yan who was calm and composed beside him, this guy had been staying in the laboratory since college, and he was probably accustomed to this high-pressure rhythm.
"Lin Yan," I slumped on the sofa, my fingers unconsciously tugging at the tassels of my pillow, my voice muffled, "I don't think I can do anything at all... What if I can't graduate?"
Lin Yan was processing emails on his laptop. He turned around and ruffled my messy hair. "Ruirui, it's always like this when we first start. We're all unsure. Don't scare yourself."
"Oh..." I sighed. "Thinking about writing papers and doing research in the future, I can't just muddle through like I did as an undergraduate. I have to produce something real... The pressure is immense."
He closed his notebook, sat down next to me, and pulled me into his arms. "Didn't you choose this field because you're interested in artificial intelligence? Interest is the best teacher."
"Come on," I said, leaning on his shoulder, self-deprecatingly. "Compared to what I'm trying to do now, the little I learned in college is nothing but kindergarten. I just thought it was novel at the time, but who knew I'd fall into such a deep pit."
"You're not stupid," he rubbed his chin against the top of my head, his voice steady, "If you study slowly, you'll eventually learn. I've taught so many students, and I've seen all kinds of levels. I won't look down on you just because you started low."
"That's right..." I felt a little relieved and nuzzled his neck. "After all, I still have you as my backer."
"Yes," he chuckled and pinched my face, "Ask your husband if you have any questions." After that, a soothing kiss fell on me.
The day to join the group finally arrived.
After accompanying Lin Yan to complete his paperwork, his advisor happened to stop him for a chat. I then headed off alone towards the assigned lab.
The new campus is a jumble of buildings, and the signposts are like hieroglyphics. I was scratching my head trying to find my way through the map on my phone when a clear female voice rang out behind me:
"Excuse me, classmate. Do you know how to get to the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in Building 3, Area A?"
I turned around. A girl with a high ponytail was standing not far away. She had a bright smile on her face and two shallow dimples at the corners of her mouth.
She was not wearing any makeup, but her skin was clean, her eyes were bright, and she exuded a sunny and progressive aura.
"Huh?" I was stunned. "Are you from that lab too? I'm looking for that too!"
"What a coincidence!" Her eyes curved and her smile widened. "That's perfect, let's look for it together?"
"Sure," I nodded. There was no reason to refuse. We both began to study the map and road signs together.
"I thought the guys in our major..." She looked me over as we walked, her tone joking, "were all pretty... casual. I didn't expect there were some like you who are... well, quite spirited."
I held my forehead silently in my heart.
Before? I used to be what she called the epitome of "careless."
The current "respectable appearance" is all thanks to a certain Boss Lin, who has taken care of him from head to toe.
"Haha," I laughed dryly, trying to change the subject, "I thought there weren't any girls in our Buddhist temple program."
She smiled a little embarrassedly and said, "Yes, if nothing unexpected happens, I'm probably the only girl in the group."
Her tone was very natural, but I inexplicably caught a hint of an indescribable... weird feeling?
Like the tiny ripples beneath the calm water, disappearing in a flash.
"That's fine," I replied casually. "It's really boring with all boys here."
She lowered her head and smiled, her ponytail swaying slightly. "Well, when I was in college, I was surrounded by boys, so I'm used to it. But..."
She paused, her tone tinged with self-mockery, "I'm still single."
What does this mean?
My instinct made me put up a defense immediately.
"Oh," I replied calmly, "You are quite good-looking and have a good personality. I'm sure many people like you."
This is purely a polite remark.
She burst out laughing and looked at me with bright eyes: "Oh? Then why don't you fight for yourself?"
I stopped in my tracks, alarm bells ringing in my heart!
This directionality is too obvious!
Without any hesitation, I spoke immediately, my voice clear and direct: "Um... I'm sorry, I already have a partner."
The smile on her face froze for a moment, and a trace of surprise and embarrassment flashed across her eyes, but she quickly concealed it and replaced it with a light-hearted and teasing tone: "Oh, I was just joking! Don't be nervous!"
He just casually brushed the matter aside.
When we arrived at the laboratory, several people were already there.
Sure enough, looking around, most of the people are wearing classic science and engineering outfits: glasses, striped shirts or sweatshirts, and hair that is either messy or greasy.
In comparison, my casual outfit, carefully matched by Lin Yan, and the low-key watch someone forced on me on my wrist, really looked out of place, like a fashion editor who had strayed into the IT department.
The instructor arrived and everyone took turns introducing themselves.
The girl named Fang Qing was indeed very popular. She was graceful, witty and humorous, and had a very high emotional intelligence. She could liven up the atmosphere with just a few words.
When it was my turn to choose a seat, I picked the most cornered and inconspicuous place without hesitation, just wanting to be a background quietly.
However, Fang Qing glanced around, pointed with her slender finger, and chose the seat next to me without hesitation.
I:"……"
The strange feeling in my heart instantly magnified.
No, I have made it clear that I have a partner. What does she mean by this?
Logically speaking, shouldn't you change your target and try to get close to other single male classmates?
Although it may seem a bit presumptuous to think so, her deliberate and tentative approach made me feel uncomfortable, as if I were entangled in something sticky.
Next, Fang Qing felt like a fish in water and quickly became friends with the other boys in the group.
As for me, I adhere to the principle of "silence is golden", shrinking into the corner and trying to reduce my presence as much as possible.
But Fang Qing obviously didn't want me to have my way. Whenever we talked about something, she would always "inadvertently" bring the topic back to me.
"Hey, guys, can you guys learn from Chen Rui?" She smiled and pointed at my clothes. "Look at his clothes, so clean and fresh!"
Everyone's eyes focused on him, filled with curiosity and a hint of envy.
My scalp tingled, and I quickly clarified, "Ah... no, no, this... was all bought for me by my boyfriend."
At this time, Boss Lin must be brought out to take the blame.
"Oh~~~" A tacit burst of cheering rang out.
Only Fang Qing's smile froze for a moment. Although she quickly covered it up with an even brighter smile, I still caught the subtle change.
"Your partner is so thoughtful!" Her tone remained cheerful, with a hint of curiosity. "Are you two... from different places?"
"No," I shook my head, determined to completely extinguish any possible fantasy. "He's in the lab next door, in the same school as me."
"Ah?" Fang Qing couldn't control herself this time and blurted out a short cry of surprise.
She immediately realized her mistake and smoothed her hair to cover it up.
I put on an incredibly sincere (and somewhat boastful) smile of happiness: "Yes, he was admitted to this school through the postgraduate program. I worked hard to get in for him."
This is half true and half false, but the effect is outstanding.
“Wow!!!”
"Fuck! This academic couple is a dog-eat-dog relationship!"
"I didn't apply to my dream school just to eat your dog food!"
"Awesome! Awesome!"
The lab was suddenly filled with the wailing and good-natured teasing of single people.
Fang Qing also smiled, but the smile seemed a little forced: "Is that so... That's really... That's good." Her voice was light and airy.
After the meeting, I felt as if I had been pardoned. I was the first one to rush out of the laboratory and wait for Lin Yan at the corner of the corridor.
When I saw his familiar figure appear, I immediately went to meet him. He naturally put his arm around my waist and kissed me on the forehead.
"How long have you been waiting, wife?" His voice was relaxed after work.
"Not long," I put my arms around his neck, "Do you want to go for a walk around the school? I should be fine today."
"Okay," he took my hand, interlocking our fingers, "I'll take you to try some good Sichuan cuisine nearby."
The two held hands and walked towards the stairs, talking and laughing.
As soon as I turned the corner, I ran into Fang Qing who was coming down the stairs.
"Chen Rui?" Fang Qing saw our hands holding together, her gaze lingered on the clasped hands for a moment, her face showing obvious surprise and... disbelief?
She looked at me, then at Lin Yan, and her expression control completely failed.
"Yes," I nodded calmly and introduced generously, "Fang Qing, this is my boyfriend, Lin Yan."
I pronounced the word "boyfriend" very clearly.
"...boyfriend?" Fang Qing's gaze swept across Lin Yan's handsome and calm face, and then fell back on our tightly clasped hands. Her eyes were complicated, with a hint of indescribable...loss in her shock?
"Yes." I said affirmatively.
The air froze for a few seconds. Fang Qing forced a smile, but it looked stiff and forced. "...Okay. Then... I wish you happiness!"
She said this almost hastily, then turned around quickly and walked downstairs as if she was escaping.
Lin Yan didn't say anything, just quietly watching Fang Qing's disappearing back, his eyes deep, with a hint of imperceptible scrutiny and...coldness.
"Why do I feel... this girl is a little weird?" He withdrew his gaze and looked down at me with a calm tone, but he held my hand a little tighter.
The urge to complain that I had been holding back for the entire afternoon finally found an outlet, and I immediately poured out everything, from the chance encounter when I was lost, to choosing a seat in the lab, to her "jokes" and her deliberate cues to me.
Lin Yan listened quietly, his eyes becoming increasingly gloomy.
After I finished speaking, he narrowed his eyes, raised the corners of his lips in a cold arc, raised his hand and pinched my face: "Tsk, I didn't expect our Ruirui to be so popular with women."
My heart tightened, and I quickly expressed my loyalty: "God knows what I am! Boss Lin! I revealed my identity right away! I have a partner! I emphasized that!"
"Well," Lin Yan nodded thoughtfully, his eyes drifting towards the stairs again, his voice lowered a bit, "But... she doesn't know that your partner is a man."
He withdrew his gaze, lowered his head and kissed me on the lips, with a soothing and absolute possessive look: "But, she knows now."
He held my hand tightly and strode forward. His tone returned to his usual relaxed tone, but with unquestionable strength, "Let's go, let's go eat. From now on... stay away from her."
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