Chapter 29: Saving the Gentle Senior 05

With ten minutes left before class, Jin Chen and Lin Yu chatted idly, but they kept an eye on Shen Qingci sitting in front.

The lecture hall's air-conditioning was blasting cold, so many people would bring a jacket to class.

Shen Qingci, however, wore only a plain white short-sleeve; feeling a chill, he rubbed his arm.

Jin Chen happened to catch that motion.

He spun the pen in his hand once and poked Shen Qingci's back.

"Senior, could you do me a favor?"

The roughhousing Lin Yu and Ma Bing froze instantly, eyes shining as they watched the scene.

It's started, it's started—Yaoer has begun chasing someone!

Shen Qingci turned around, "What's up?"

Jin Chen took off his shirt jacket, his deep peach-blossom eyes smiling charmingly, "Senior, could you hold onto my jacket for me? It's really hot."

Without waiting for Shen Qingci to refuse, taking advantage of their face-to-face stance, he draped the jacket directly over him.

Shen Qingci instinctively grabbed the slipping collar, froze for a moment, and locked eyes with Jin Chen's light brown pupils.

He glanced at the air-conditioning not far behind Jin Chen, "Are you really hot?"

Jin Chen, as if fearing he wouldn't believe, pressed the back of his hand to Shen Qingci's face, "How about that? Hot, right?"

The moment the warm touch landed, Shen Qingci's heart inexplicably fluttered; he quickly turned his face away, not daring to meet his eyes.

"All right, remember to take it back after class."

He turned his body back; the cheek Jin Chen had touched flushed red, the warmth seemingly still lingering on his skin, his heart thumping with joy.

He had thought that if he avoided looking at Jin Chen, the strange feeling would fade, but Shen Qingci caught a faint whiff of sandalwood mixed with soap, a clean and distinctive scent.

He lowered his head and sniffed, confirming it was the scent of Jin Chen's shirt.

He had tried to ignore it, but instead felt addicted, the scent wrapping around him like a junkie, constantly lowering his head to inhale lightly.

After doing that several times, he finally realized what he was doing.

Shen Qingci's ears reddened, somewhat flustered, he released the collar he had been gripping tightly and faced the old professor who had just entered the classroom.

He wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he seemed to hear a soft laugh from behind.

He didn't ask about it, but the heat on his face rose a few degrees more.

His mind was filled with chaotic thoughts, causing him to zone out during this class; the knowledge he heard never entered his brain.

Soon came the question-and-answer segment that all students dreaded.

It was the professor's hallmark: his questions were related to the course but never about the textbook material covered in lecture, instead extending beyond it.

"The male student in the second-to-last row, please answer this question."

The old professor tapped the table, gesturing to Shen Qingci.

Shen Qingci's heart tightened; he slowly rose to his feet.

"Who is the creator of the St. Theresa's Altar statue?"

He let out a breath of relief; it happened to be a question he knew a little about.

"Gian Lorenzo Bernini."

The old professor nodded and asked, "What emotion does this statue express?"

The hall erupted in murmurs; they were discussing quietly, this extended knowledge was completely beyond their grasp.

Shen Qingci opened his mouth, then shook his head: "Sorry, professor, I don't know."

The professor also showed understanding; this question could indeed be answered only by specialized students.

He didn't tell Shen Qingci to sit down, but shifted his gaze to other students; this elective also had many Western art aesthetics students.

"Which student will answer for him?"

But the classroom suddenly fell into silence.

Not a single person raised their hand to answer.

Some genuinely didn't know; others, seeing it was Shen Qingci, thought of the earlier rumors and photos, and didn't want to raise their hand.

Shen Qingci's hands hanging at his sides clenched tightly, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

"I will."

A familiar voice sounded from behind, and Shen Qingci's brow relaxed ever so slightly.

Jin Chen raised his hand, and after receiving the professor's permission, he stood up.

"This sculpture depicts the scene of Theresa seeing God in a vision, expressing her longing for God's love; Bernini carved Theresa's frail state from hard marble, showing the softest inner heart of a person yearning for love and desire."

"It is a collision of pain and love—pain eternal, love eternal—thus the enduring eternity constructs this split feeling."

His voice was somewhat low, and while speaking he deliberately slowed his pace, like a veil of lazy magnetism, neither hurried nor slow.

Many were drawn by his voice, turning their heads to look, then immediately captivated by the face carved like a god's, they couldn't help but take a deep breath.

"Who is that person? Is he from the arts department?"

"No, no, he's a newly transferred sophomore in finance, said to be of Anglo-Chinese descent, with a mysterious background."

"He's so handsome!! I love him!"

After Jin Chen finished speaking, the previously quiet classroom began to murmur, the words clearly reaching Shen Qingci's ears as he stood.

He lowered his gaze, listening to people praise Jin Chen, feeling a bit happy yet inexplicably uncomfortable; it seemed that whenever he encountered Jin Chen, his heart always harbored some strange emotion.

The old professor nodded satisfactorily, "Well answered! You added your own understanding and have researched artistic emotion deeply; after class, leave me your contact."

Jin Chen gave a proper smile, "All right, professor, it's my honor."

Only then did the two sit down.

Lin Yu gave Jin Chen a thumbs-up, his tone admiring.

"Really impressive, Yaoer—you spoke thoroughly, and it had to be you."

Ma Bing poked Lin Yu with her elbow, "You don't understand anything, Yaoer this is called new era hero saves the beauty!"

Jin Chen looked at Shen Qingci's ears reddening a bit more, let out a low laugh twice, "What are you talking about, hurry up and listen to class."

The time for two classes passed quickly, after Jin Chen added the old professor's contact details, he slowly walked back to his seat.

"Yaoer, let's eat the cafeteria's stewed chicken later! I've been craving it for ages!"

Ma Bing packed her books, talking to Jin Chen while putting her arm on Lin Yu's shoulder, "Dage is coming too!"

Jin Chen nodded, glanced out the window, turned his head to meet Shen Qingci, who was about to take off her coat.

"It's going to rain soon, senior, you'd better keep it on, don't catch a cold from the wind."

Shen Qingci's motion paused, she looked out at the bright sunshine outside the window, and blinked her eyes doubtfully.

Amused by his expression, Jin Chen couldn't help but ruffle Shen Qingci's soft hair, "I'm serious, senior, do you want to have dinner together with me?"

Shen Qingci thought about it, but still refused the invitation.

"Sorry, I still have to go to the Dance Room tonight, you guys go eat."

He handed the notebook from his backpack to Jin Chen, "These are my sophomore year advanced math notes, Go Back and See first, ask me if you don't understand."

Jin Chen took it, looking extremely happy, his tone even carried a wavy line, "Thanks, senior, you've worked hard."

Ma Bing's Eyeball rolled, and she started stirring up trouble.

"Yaoer is the lucky one, Shen senior is really good to him."

Not far away, Qi Ze and Lin Le heard everything clearly.