The figure arrived in impeccably clean, dark clothing, scrupulously arranged by its wearer.
Thanks to her keen vision from the front row, Tang Shu could see the meticulous stitching in detail.
It was a garment that truly showcased the artisanal craftsmanship of its maker.
Of course, what surprised her the most was not the attire of the newcomer but the face that was elderly yet somewhat familiar.
"Is this the legendary... Professor Yu?" she whispered to Cheng Ranran, nibbling her ear.
"That's right, it's him! There are photos of Professor Yu on the forums."
Tang Shu paused, her thoughts inadvertently drifting back to ten minutes earlier—
In the Medicinal Garden, after a dusty old man carefully uprooted the Snow Soul Grass and transplanted it into a pot, he extended her an invitation.
"Student, I see you're quite familiar with this Snow Soul Grass; why don't you join me for some research after class? By the way, I still don't know its effects."
"Okay," Tang Shu agreed without much thought.
The reason was simple, the roots, leaves, and flowers of the Snow Soul Grass each had very different toxicities, making them applicable to many drugs, and now that she had found it, she wouldn't have to go through the trouble of looking elsewhere.
Moreover, as the old man put it, these few Snow Soul Grass specimens were quite rare.
"I'm Tang Shu, how should I address you?"
The old man glanced at Tang Shu, "My surname is Yu."
The latter caught on, "Master Yu."
"..."
Okay then, Master Yu it is.
—Back in the classroom, Master Yu stepped up to the lectern and glanced around, the first thing he saw was Tang Shu sitting in the front row, and a smile couldn't help but shine through his eyes as he winked at her.
"Class, we are going to start now."
It turned out Professor Yu could be even more devilish, never teaching in the order prescribed by the textbook, and his extracurricular extensions were endless. By the end of class, all the freshmen had eyes like scent hounds—bewildered and oblivious.
Every freshman seated had been forewarned of Yu the Devil's reputation, and they all furiously took notes with an earnestness that mimicked Cheng Ranran's unflagging determination.
Tang Shu felt that even the high school exams in June hadn't elicited such strenuous effort from her.
"Alright, let's stop here for the first lesson. Make sure you review well after class. Herbology is a profound field, and I hope you'll grasp it thoroughly."
Judging from his appearance, Professor Yu, who looked to be around seventy, exuded wisdom from his eyes. He glanced at all the students serenely, calmly picking up his textbook to leave the classroom and leaving behind an incomparable silhouette for the freshmen.
Cheng Ranran set down her pen, exhaling deeply.
"Ahh, I'm exhausted to death!"
"Darn it, Shushu! What's up with you?!"
The cute girl caught a glimpse and noticed that her deskmate's textbook was brand new, without a single word written.
"Have you already given up on treatment? No, no, as your good buddy, everything should be done neatly and in order!"
Tang Shu twitched the corner of her mouth, "You, you can ask me if there's anything you don't understand."
Just because you helped me fight off the trolls.
Cheng Ranran gave an awkward smile, one uglier than crying.
"It's over, it's over, Shushu! Your mind must have been thrown into chaos by Yu the Devil, you even forgot to take notes!"
But... since she's going down the entertainment path anyway, as a good friend, I should help her out more.
"Never mind, when I have time, I'll organize my notes and print out a copy for you to keep."
The cute girl made a grandiose sweeping gesture as if to set her verdict in stone.
Tang Shu: "..."
Okay then.
***
The first-year curriculum was somewhat intensive, particularly for Medical University students.
As soon as the National Day holiday was over, the flood of classes hit them, exhausting the students who'd been having fun for four months straight.
At 5 p.m., as the bell for the last class rang, Cheng Ranran, depleted, thunked her chin on the wooden desk in the lecture hall, feeling utterly defeated.
"Ah~~~~ so tired, I'm dying!"
Tang Shu took a small glass bottle from her backpack and threw it to her, "Apply it to your forehead, it's an Energizing Potion."
"You're the best, Shushu~~~~"
Cheng Ranran maneuvered her plump hand to open the bottle cap, and a pleasing scent wafted out. She felt immediately refreshed.
"Hey? Isn't this Essential Balm? Why does it smell so nice!"
Swirling the green liquid in the small bottle, her large, round eyes brimmed with curiosity.
Tang Shu recalled the uses of "Essential Balm" and, after a moment's thought, said, "Think of it as a revised Essential Balm, the scent is more soothing than the original."
"Let me try, let me try!"
Cheng Ranran couldn't wait, dabbing a drop on her forehead. The fragrance was refreshing, with a pleasant scent that made it very appealing.
As the vibration of a phone broke the silence, Tang Shu glanced at the caller ID and stood up to leave the classroom.
"Hello, Sister Luo."
"Tang Shu, has your school started?"
"Yes, just tell me what you need, Sister Luo."
"Here's the thing, I've gotten you a spot on an outdoor adventure reality show. It's near Yun Province, and with travel and shooting, it will take at least a week. Should I ask for leave from your school?"
"No need, just let me know the dates, and I'll talk to the counselor."
"That works too, contact me if you run into any issues. And about your Weibo... never mind, it's up to you."
On the other end of the line, Sister Luo considered the increasingly positive comments under her Weibo posts and swallowed back her advice.
The mindsets of young people, she was finding them more and more incomprehensible.
Tang Shu uttered an "Mhm," hung up the call, and planned to grab her backpack and head to the cafeteria.
Inside the classroom.
As a gossip aficionado who always followed the drama, Cheng Ranran, reinvigorated by the Energizing Potion, took out her phone and idly scrolled through messages.
But the next second, a cry of surprise echoed in the empty classroom.
"Shushu! You're trending on the campus forums!!!"