Lend Me Your Shoulder - Chapter 2
Chapter 2: Borrow Twice
When Lu Yanbai turned and walked to the podium, he left his back facing Xu Yeyu and Xiang Wei.
Xiang Wei analyzed quietly, “The professor saw us but didn’t let us in and turned away… Does that mean he’s refusing us?”
“Maybe,” Xu Yeyu replied.
Holding her sharp mechanical pencil, Xu Yeyu was still caught up in Lu Yanbai’s demeanor and couldn’t help but feel something strange, almost like he was reacting to her presence.
Xu Yeyu muttered, “Did I secretly drink his water last night or something?”
Xiang Wei raised an eyebrow, “What water?”
Xu Yeyu glanced at her, “Not the kind you’re thinking.”
“Oh, what did I think then?” Xiang Wei shrugged. “I’m a law-abiding citizen.”
Xu Yeyu nodded seriously, “Except maybe when I’m in bed at night… I like to act cute then.”
Xiang Wei covered her mouth to stop herself and quickly changed the topic, “Since the professor isn’t ready to let us in, let’s just leave for now and come back earlier next time.”
Xu Yeyu was still pondering if there was some connection between her and Lu Yanbai, but Xiang Wei dragged her away from the classroom.
After a quick mental search, Xu Yeyu confirmed that Lu Yanbai was a well-known author she had never met before, so maybe what she felt was just a trick of her imagination.
Snapping back to reality, she found herself pulled toward a fruit stand.
Xiang Wei, regretting not having eaten an apple the day before, bought a bag today.
The vendor sliced the apples, placed them in a plastic box with two forks, and handed them over.
They started to leave, but the campus layout was complicated, and after circling around, they ended up back in front of Lu Yanbai’s classroom.
Peeking inside, Xu Yeyu saw him lecturing by the projector, his face shadowed deeply, making his nose bridge appear higher and his brows more pronounced.
This sight made her freeze.
She hadn’t gotten a good look at his face before, but now, just a quick glance left her fingertips curling with a strange feeling stirring in her chest.
It was like the heat of summer being sipped in the shade under green leaves, with two minty ice cubes dropped into an empty white porcelain bowl.
The sound of ice clinking echoed softly.
Inside, Lu Yanbai felt Xu Yeyu’s gaze and paused, looking up.
“Come in.”
He had noticed them from the start. After gathering his lesson plan and preparing to let students in, they had already left.
Since he had many students and classes, he didn’t memorize faces but used student numbers to identify them, remembering only those who were enthusiastic.
Since they left earlier with regret, they must have thought he wouldn’t let them in.
But now, seeing them return after hesitating, he understood they really wanted to attend.
Xu Yeyu, however, was just stunned by his good looks.
After hearing “come in,” she froze, feeling rebellious. Under the light, the professor’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he spoke — reminding her of the ice cubes she had imagined.
When Xiang Wei tugged her sleeve, she snapped back to focus.
“He’s talking to us, right?”
She blinked and nodded, “Yes, no one else is around.”
“Then why are you still standing?”
Xu Yeyu answered, “Honestly, looking at Professor Lu from this angle is like watching a blockbuster.”
Xiang Wei rolled her eyes.
“Then I’ll go in,” Xu Yeyu said.
They slipped in along the wall, and Xu Yeyu scanned the room for seats, finally finding two empty spots in the last row.
“This is crazy,” she sighed, “This huge lecture hall is almost full except for just two seats?”
Xiang Wei agreed, “Is attendance for this class usually this low, or did we just catch a rare moment?”
A nearby boy explained, “You’re lucky. Usually, it’s packed. Those two empty seats belong to students who asked for leave because their roommates have gastroenteritis.”
“Is psychology class that popular?”
“No, Professor Lu is.”
“Wow, if my college teachers looked like him, I’d definitely be top of my class,” Xu Yeyu joked, “He’s like a walking power source. Hope the university presidents notice.”
Xiang Wei teased, “Then why don’t you generate some electricity yourself?”
Xu Yeyu blinked flirtatiously, “Thanks, but I prefer men.”
Xiang Wei sighed.
Looking around, many boys blushed just from her presence.
They were lucky to get two student cards from Xiang Wei, who explained that Professor Lu’s actual students weren’t in class, so she lent them the cards.
They had to return the cards if the real students showed up.
Xu Yeyu noticed the student number on her card was “1012,” which matched today’s date.
Suddenly, Lu Yanbai’s voice called out: “Student number 1012, answer this question.”
The official student numbers for this class range from 1000 to 1300.
Xu Yeyu froze, and Xiang Wei tried not to laugh.
Luckily, Lu Yanbai’s question was similar to one he’d just explained, so Xu Yeyu stood and answered confidently on behalf of 1012.
Afterwards, she sat back, pleased she’d saved the real 1012 from trouble.
As class went on, Xu Yeyu’s mind wandered to other things.
After the first class ended at eight, there was a ten-minute break.
At that moment, another teacher called Lu Yanbai outside.
He left, neat and composed, like a snow-capped mountain moving gracefully.
Xu Yeyu lowered her head to jot notes and think about her article’s structure.
She noticed Xiang Wei happily munching on her apple.
Coughing, Xu Yeyu said, “Hey, what are you doing?”
Xiang Wei replied, “Eating quickly before it oxidizes.”
Xu Yeyu returned to her work, but the image made her smile despite herself.
When the bell rang for the next class, Xu Yeyu imagined a meme: “According to the novel’s trope, after the professor finds out about you, he’ll scan you with his beautiful eyes, say your name in a deep voice, and then tell you to come to his office tonight.”
Xiang Wei grimaced, “Can you please shut up?”
Xu Yeyu grinned, “I want a bite too.”
Xiang Wei gave her another fork, “The professor’s not here yet. Stop messing around.”
As Xu Yeyu took a bite, she suddenly sensed a shadow behind her.
Turning quickly, she saw Lu Yanbai standing there, deep in thought.
He must have overheard her joking.
His gaze moved over her notebook.
“Xu Yeyu?” he said calmly, his fingers beckoning. “Come to my office tonight.”
Xu Yeyu froze.
Lu Yanbai looked at her quietly. “I’ll explain everything later.”
After he left, Xiang Wei pinched Xu Yeyu’s thigh, grinning like a dog.
Xu Yeyu clenched her teeth, “Is that supposed to be funny?”
Xu Yeyu wanted to sneak away after class, but Lu Yanbai waited at the door for her.
She followed him reluctantly, feeling a little guilty.
In his office, Lu Yanbai handed over some papers. “I checked and found your student number. Are you 1012? You answered the question in class.”
He added, “Good answer.”
Xu Yeyu’s eyelashes trembled. The moment she was proud of earlier had instantly turned into a disaster. She started doubting everything.
Could anything be more embarrassing?
Seeing her nod, Lu Yanbai continued, “You need to organize all your psychological work and submit it to me in a month. Also, there will be an exam later. I’ll notify you.”
It really was happening.
“But don’t worry, I’ll tutor you. If you’re free on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, tutoring will be from four to six. Does that work?”
She whispered, “There’s a problem — a big one. I’m so panicked.”
If she told him the truth — that she wasn’t a student but an author borrowing someone else’s identity — what about the real 1012?
While she was wrestling with this, Lu Yanbai suddenly stood and said, “I have something else to do. We’ll talk more later.”
Communication was cut off abruptly.
Xu Yeyu bowed, “Okay, see you, professor.”
Back at the apartment, she told Xiang Wei everything, who laughed until she almost chirped.
“I’m trying to comfort you.”
Xiang Wei thoughtfully said, “Borrow someone else’s name to go to class one second, get caught the next — you’re really unlucky.”
Xu Yeyu clenched her fists, “Is that your idea of comfort? You owe me a beating.”
Xiang Wei shrugged, “What else to do? Next time just tell him the truth.”
Xu Yeyu hesitated, “If I tell him, I might get punished again, or make it worse for the real 1012… I don’t want to cause trouble for anyone.”
She discussed it with 1012, who was also confused and entrusted Xu Yeyu with the decision.
“If I hadn’t answered that question, maybe none of this would have happened.”
“Then don’t say anything,” Xiang Wei advised.
“But I’m not a student and I still have to take exams — exams I don’t even understand. That’s embarrassing.”
“Then say it.”
“But this all happened because of me. It wouldn’t be right to let someone else take the blame.”
“Then don’t say anything.”
“I just can’t accept all of this.”
Xiang Wei sighed, pointed at the door, “Then maybe you should get out of here and disappear.”
Xu Yeyu laughed, tangled in her thoughts.
The next day, after waking up to an editor’s barrage of messages, she hastily turned on her computer to write, trying to forget about the tutoring session with Lu Yanbai.
Halfway through writing, she asked Xiang Wei, “What flowers usually grow on campus?”
“Heather,” Xiang Wei replied.
“…”
“Do you need it for your story?” Xiang Wei said, “You can find out if you go to L University.”
Xu Yeyu nodded, then set off.
She wanted to write about college life and decided to visit the campus.
While checking the layout of the teaching building, standing in front of room 4201, she suddenly heard a deep familiar voice.
“Xu… Ye Yu?”
Her eyes widened in shock.
Lu Yanbai stood at the office door, the scenery behind him dim, his eyebrows faint in the moonlight.
He stepped forward a few paces and bent his knuckles, “You’re at the wrong place. This is my office.”
Xu Yeyu was speechless.