After three tedious days of specialized courses, even Gu Xiaoer couldn't sit still anymore. The professor reviewed four years' worth of knowledge points with them, yet they never mentioned the graduation project, really keeping everyone on tenterhooks.
The students who thought they would be free to wander once they got their assignments felt utterly duped.
As a result, with each class, fewer students attended, until of the original five hundred in the architecture design department, less than a hundred remained.
"Class, that's it for today,"
The crowd sighed, packing up their textbooks, ready to leave as usual.
After waiting a moment, the potbellied Professor Liu suddenly pushed his glasses up and, not so subtly, sucked in his stomach, becoming secretive: "This afternoon is the exhibition, please bring your representative works to the exhibition hall to gather. As for those who didn't come to class today... you can pretend you don't know about this."
With that, the professor left.
The students were bewildered yet delighted. Was the professor finally going to share something substantial?
Back at the dormitory at noon, Gu Xiaoer sprawled lazily on her bed. Among the four people in the dormitory, aside from Ai Le, the other two sisters hardly ever stayed there.
"Xiao Er, let's go eat at the small restaurant, I'm craving barbecue," Ai Le smacked her lips, unsatisfied with the greasiness of the cafeteria food.
Gu Xiaoer shook her head and thumped the bed: "No, no, I still have debts to save up and pay off!"
"Debts? What debts are you paying off?" Ai Le, with her keen senses, caught the keyword and squeezed her head next to Gu Xiaoer's bedside.
Realizing her slip, Gu Xiaoer hastily played it off, "Ah, haha, you forgot? I still have a part of my tuition fees unpaid. Keep an eye out for me, okay? See if there are any short-term, quick ways to make money."
"Quick ways to make money? In your dreams. Jobs like that only have two possibilities: either find a rich second-generation boyfriend or work in a high-class club where you are paid by the session." Having said that, Ai Le gave Gu Xiaoer a once-over from head to toe: "You have the looks, just lacking a little bit of meat upfront... won't fetch a high price!"
"…" What a painful realization!
Ai Le pointed at Gu Xiaoer: "Looking at how strapped for cash you are, one might think you're keeping a younger man on the side."
Gu Xiaoer felt as if her secrets had been exposed, she widened her eyes and scooted back. Was it her too quick admission or did Ai Le possess mind-reading abilities?
Quickly regaining composure, Gu Xiaoer shook Ai Le's arm: "I need to earn money fast. Otherwise, if I can't find a job after graduation, can you imagine the pressure of living? What do you think, Lele?"
Ai Le nodded solemnly but felt something was off. In the past few days, her friend seemed strange; although attending class, she could tell that Xiao Er was distracted, sometimes laughing for no reason and then immediately frowning afterward.
Could it be that the issue with Lin Kexin and Lu Tianze was still bothering her?
What a silly girl!
Forget it. Since she wants to make money, being busy for a while might be good for her, keeping her from overthinking things.
Gu Xiaoer lay on the not so comfortable single bed in the dorm, her eyelids heavy, drifting towards sleep.
These past few days, she had been staying at school and hadn't gone home.
In truth, that apartment was left to her by her mother. Since her mother's death, she didn't like staying alone at home. Ever since that man barged in, she was even less willing to go back. She wondered if he had looked for her these past few days, but assuming she was not there, he should have left.
If he couldn't find her for several days in a row, he probably wouldn't bother her anymore...