CHAPTER 30: UNDER THE DESK

He didn’t realize that his shy, hesitant expression only made everyone think he had some difficult past he didn’t want to talk about.

At once, all the older professors looked at him with even more compassion.

Professor Lu took his hand and patted it gently.

Rong Xingyu felt a warmth spread through him. As he looked at the old man, a sudden memory from his past life surfaced.

He thought of the old veteran who ran a secondhand book stall on the corner. The man had lost a leg in an accident and in his old age, he dragged his disabled leg out every day just to make a living.

He had a bad temper. Every time Rong Xingyu’s sweet potato cart accidentally bumped his stall, the old man would curse him harshly.

But whenever books came in that Rong Xingyu might like, the old man would secretly hide them under the pile, pretending to be annoyed as he shoved them at him later.

Rong Xingyu thought that even though his past life had been full of hardship, he had always been lucky, there were always kind people who reached out a hand to help him.

His eyes shone with unshed tears. He looked at Professor Lu sincerely and said, "Thank you."

Professor Lu chuckled, his voice full of good humor. He leaned closer and whispered like a mischievous grandfather, "No need to thank me. It was the third young master of the Ding family who asked me to come. But he was right, you really are a good boy."

He emphasized the word asked with obvious pride, clearly enjoying himself.

Rong Xingyu froze, his eyes widening slightly.

The Ding family...? Could that mean Dr. Ding?

When Rong Xingyu finally walked out of the dean’s office, most of the crowd that had gathered to watch was already gone. Only a few of his classmates remained, looking at each other awkwardly.

Finally, one of them stepped forward and said, "I’m sorry, Rong Xingyu."

That opened the floodgates.

"Yeah, I’m sorry, Rong Xingyu."

"We shouldn’t have believed those rumors without proof."

"I only said what everyone else was saying, I didn’t think—"

"No matter what, we were wrong. We’re really sorry."

Rong Xingyu shook his head gently. "It’s fine."

"...Can we ask you for help with homework next time?" someone asked nervously.

Rong Xingyu looked at their hopeful faces and smiled. "Of course you can."

A small cheer went up among the students, breaking the heavy atmosphere instantly. The tension that had filled the air just moments ago melted away completely.

They surrounded Rong Xingyu excitedly, their voices overlapping one another.

"Xingyu! That was amazing!"

"You’re seriously incredible!"

"Yeah, seriously! Did you see that so-called genius from Class 3? His nose was practically pointing at the sky before and now his face turned green! Hahaha!"

"Totally slapped those top students right in the face, hahaha!"

"Oh! Wait, I just realized something! The number one and number two in the whole grade are both from our class now!"

The second-place student Rong Zhihao who had just stepped out of the office in time to hear that sentence: "..."

Rong Xingyu, however, didn’t notice the sudden dark expression on Rong Zhihao’s face. His mind was completely focused on what Professor Lu had said earlier.

He said it was the third young master fo the Ding family who ask him to come here.

He tightened his grip on his phone and lightly biting his lower lip as his delicate brows furrowed.

Was that... referring to Dr. Ding?

Should he... ask to make sure?

He hesitated, then sent a message.

The reply came quickly.

[ Dr. Ding: Helping you is my’s duty. ]

Why did Dr. Ding always saying something strange and teasing him like that?!

Rong Xingyu held his phone tightly and quietly walking down the empty hallway while counting door numbers under his breath.

"901... 903... 905..."

"907... found it... huh!?"

The door to Room 907 suddenly opened from the inside.

Before he could react, a hand caught his slender wrist. He barely managed to let out a startled sound before he was pulled inside with a firm but gentle force.

Click! The door shut behind him.

Rong Xingyu’s back hit the wall beside the entrance.

Dr. Ding’s arm was braced against the wall above his head and his tall frame leaning in close, trapping Rong Xingyu neatly between his body and the wall in a perfect kabedon.

His other hand rested behind Rong Xingyu’s head, shielding it from bumping the wall.

Rong Xingyu froze completely.

He lifted his head slightly and staring up at Dr. Ding.

He looked different from the last time they met. Today, over his perfectly fitted shirt, he was wearing a white lab coat. His long hair was tied neatly behind his head and a pair of thin gold-rimmed glasses now sat on his straight nose.

Rong Xingyu unconsciously swallowed his saliva and his small Adam’s apple moving slightly.

Because of the height difference, he felt completely surrounded by Dr. Ding’s presence, as if he were trapped in his arms.

For some reason, a faint but undeniable pressure spread through his chest.

His heart began to pound uncontrollably.

Thump, thump, thump...

Dr. Ding lowered his head slightly while gazing down at him. The young man’s eyes were wide and bright with surprise, staring up blankly at him like a startled deer.

A shadow of emotion flickered across Dr. Ding’s eyes. His fingers itched. He reached out and lightly brushed the tips of Rong Xingyu’s long eyelashes.

"Yuyu," he said softly, his voice low and smooth, "come back to your senses."

Rong Xingyu snapped back to his senses and his whole face instantly turned red.

He quickly lowered his head and from where Dr. Ding was standing, he could see even the tips of the young man’s ears glowing crimson through his dark hair.

Dr. Ding couldn’t help but let out a soft, amused laugh.

"Dr. Ding, I—I came to thank you," Rong Xingyu said as he followed behind him.