Lend Me Your Shoulder - Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Lu Yanbai saw her send a message and then withdraw it. After this little self-directed drama, by the time she was “done with her busy work,” the video call automatically hung up because no one answered.
Xu Yeyu didn’t know that Lu Yanbai had witnessed her entire message withdrawal process.
“Done withdrawing?” Xiang Wei asked anxiously from the side.
“Done withdrawing…” Xu Yeyu felt a bit scared, “He probably didn’t see it… right?”
“I don’t know if he saw it or not, I’m not at his place,” Xiang Wei shrugged. “But you were fast enough withdrawing, and he didn’t answer the video call, so he probably didn’t see it.”
“I’m telling you, why do you always send messages without thinking?” Xiang Wei scolded her. “Don’t you feel nervous every time you have to withdraw a message?”
Xu Yeyu took a deep breath. “I was just too excited, you know how it is in our line of work. Once you get a feeling, your hands are quicker than your brain.”
“You can delete stuff in documents, but can you delete messages?”
“Well, I withdrew them,” she wrinkled her nose and mumbled.
She had been writing a post and got stuck at one point, unsure how to phrase something. She wanted to ask Lu Yanbai, so she looked at the time—perfect timing—and immediately grabbed her phone to send him a message.
At that moment, she was in a daze, her brain overloaded. She hardly remembered what she sent. The next second, Xiang Wei slapped her hand and said, “What did you send, Xu Yeyu? Hurry up and withdraw it!”
She looked down and realized the message crossed the line of being appropriate for a student. With Xiang Wei’s shout, she immediately withdrew it.
She didn’t know if Lu Yanbai saw it or not.
She was staring blankly at the chatbox with no reply and murmured, “Xiang Wei, do you think Professor Lu has a nightlife?”
Xiang Wei was silent.
Xu Yeyu suddenly turned to her and held her shoulder, “Say something, Xiang Wei.”
“What should I say?” Xiang Wei shrugged. “He’s not answering your calls. What if he really does?”
Xu Yeyu said nothing and sat there for a while. Then she suddenly stood up, went to the mirror to touch up her makeup, and brought over a desk lamp to improve the lighting.
After fixing her hair, she asked Xiang Wei, “How do I look? Do I have that kind of effortless beauty now?”
Xiang Wei: “…”
Xu Yeyu was persistent: “I’ll call again. Even if the professor has a nightlife, I want to win with overwhelming momentum and beauty.”
She made another video call.
This time, the other side responded a bit faster.
Beep — the call was dropped, showing poor network, unsuitable for calls.
Xu Yeyu was shocked and sent: “You don’t have a nightlife?”
Withdrew it, then sent: “No, are you still awake?”
He replied: “Getting ready to sleep.”
Xu Yeyu: “Then can you look at my post? I got stuck halfway and wanted to ask you something. If you want to sleep, it’s fine.”
Lu Yanbai was brief: “I can.”
Quick as a flash, she dialed a video call.
Lu Yanbai: …
“Send me the text version; I can understand that.”
Xu Yeyu spoke slowly and cautiously: “I prefer video calls. It’s more intuitive and faster than texting. I’ll hang up right after I talk, I promise.”
Actually, she just wanted to send a video, no other reason—just to see what he was doing over there.
Besides… if he, usually so aloof, answered a video call, wouldn’t that be a break from his usual behavior?
Wouldn’t that mean that she’s a little different to him?
Finally, on the third video call she made, he accepted.
Xu Yeyu used the front camera. With the lighting and makeup, she sparkled on screen like a seaside model.
She looked at her own image on the screen, nodded approvingly, then brushed back a stray fringe from her forehead: “Sorry, I’ve been busy all day, so I might not look perfect right now.”
Lu Yanbai: “…”
“Aren’t we supposed to talk about the post?” she snapped back to reality and switched the camera.
Facing her computer, she stopped joking and started speaking seriously.
“Please take a look at these parts—this one, this one, and this one. What do you think?”
Once it was work-related, she was no longer playful—she became precise and methodical.
Lu Yanbai gradually explained. She took notes carefully, then asked, “Okay, anything else?”
“No.”
Seeing the dark blurry shape on the other side of the screen, Xu Yeyu couldn’t help but ask a silly question: “Professor, is your camera broken?”
“No,” he said, “I turned off the lights.”
Looking at the blurry shape, she guessed it was probably a blanket.
Oh well, no “post-bath” view, but at least she saw his blanket. Close enough; that means she’s also someone who has “lain beside him,” roughly speaking.
The video call made them feel infinitely close, as if she were lying right beside him, hearing the scent and lighting of his bedroom and his breathing.
Xu Yeyu couldn’t help but meddle: “If you’re playing on your phone, it’s better to have a small lamp on—that’s better for your eyes.”
He paused but still agreed, his voice lazy and sleepy: “Mm.”
“I’m hanging up,” she whispered, “wish you a pleasant night.”
Her voice was soft like a feather: “Good night.”
The call ended, leaving a beep sound that faded into the vast night.
After sitting for a while, Lu Yanbai took off his earphones and placed the phone face down on the bedside table.
The next morning, Xu Yeyu opened her phone and suddenly found an unread message from Lu Yanbai.
She had taken a shower right after the call, dried her hair, read a few pages leaning on the bed, thought about the outline of her article, and then fell asleep without touching her phone.
She missed the professor’s message.
She grumbled, stretching her hand to grab the phone. With sleepy eyes not fully open, reading Lu Yanbai’s message was almost a crime.
The next second, she read clearly what he sent: “Remember to organize and print the previous class notes and assignments for me. If you feel your previous work wasn’t good enough, you can redo it.”
Xu Yeyu closed her eyes.
Not a crime anymore. Now she hated herself for not being blind.
That way, she wouldn’t have to see this message.
Previously, Lu Yanbai had mentioned random checks including assignments and exams, but she had selectively forgotten, thinking that as long as she didn’t bring it up, he wouldn’t remember.
She was taking the class for student ID 1012, who had surely submitted assignments before, but… stuck in a dilemma, to keep up appearances, she had to redo the assignments herself. If there were any flaws that Lu Yanbai found, it would be bad.
She sighed and found a guy who had been helping her reserve seats in the “substitute seat” group.
Since the first chat and after Xiang Wei added him to the group, this guy named Huang Xian had taken on the task of saving seats for them, sending her photos of the seats each time.
As a thank you, Xu Yeyu often bought him milk tea because he wouldn’t accept red packets, only food and drinks.
She poked Huang Xian, who immediately messaged: “What’s up?”
Xu Yeyu: “Do you have all the previous assignments and class notes?”
Huang Xian: “I do, want them?”
Xu Yeyu: “Yes, I want to organize them again. When are you free to give them to me?”
Huang Xian: “I’m free anytime!” with an emoji.
Xu Yeyu: “How long will it take to organize? Can I get them in an hour?”
Huang Xian: “Sure.”
Xu Yeyu: “Thanks, let’s meet somewhere. I can wait downstairs your dorm, it’s more convenient.”
Huang Xian: “Too many mosquitoes downstairs. Let’s meet at the coffee shop near the transfer building ^^”
After agreeing, Xu Yeyu felt a strange unease she couldn’t explain.
Soon Huang Xian messaged again: “Professor Lu’s assignments are all electronic. There are requirements inside. Do you want electronic versions?”
Xu Yeyu: “You have them?”
Huang Xian: “I’ll organize a set for you. Bring your computer ^^ My assignments are done with my own materials; you can use them as reference. Don’t copy directly though, Professor Lu will fail you ^^”
Xu Yeyu was very grateful: “Thanks, you’re a good person. Coffee’s on me later.”
Xiang Wei, passing by and seeing the message, stopped: “Who are you giving a good person card to again?”
Xu Yeyu: ?
Arriving at the coffee shop around 3 pm, Xu Yeyu saw Huang Xian waving at her from the door.
She sat down and found a pile of assignments Huang Xian brought on the table.
She breathed a sigh of relief, “Thankfully, it’s not too much.”
Huang Xian said, “It looks like not much, but it’s all brain work. You need to follow the requirements. After finishing, you have to print it.”
Xu Yeyu’s headache showed on her face.
Huang Xian asked, “Why suddenly ask me for these? Are you a psychology major?”
Xu Yeyu nodded, “Yes.”
“Then why don’t you even know the assignment requirements?”
“…“
“I got it! Your assignments were done by someone else, right?”
Xu Yeyu thought it over, that seemed the most plausible. She said, “Yes, before this I always paid someone to attend classes, do assignments, and take notes for me. I just randomly decided to attend one class. Then I got checked, so I have to do this one myself. After all, the stuff I submit can’t be sloppy.”
“I heard you got randomly checked,” Huang Xian said, “didn’t expect you have to make up classes and do assignments too. Poor you.”
Xu Yeyu flipped through the menu, nodded: “Yeah, that’s why I’m troubling you. What do you want to drink? I’ll treat.”
“No way, girls can’t order. I’ll order for you.”
After a few refusals, Xu Yeyu gave in and ordered two coffees, a plate of waffles, and fried chicken, quickly paid.
Huang Xian was embarrassed and said, “As a reward, I’ll help you with the assignments. Ask me if you get stuck.”
Seeing he intended to stay, and feeling bad to kick him out after ordering food, she sat down and slowly started working on Lu Yanbai’s assignments.
She thought she’d do as much as she could. If finished, Huang Xian could take the assignments back, and she wouldn’t have to return them later.
They worked until dusk fell around six.
Only at eight did Xu Yeyu finish the assignments and notes.
She hinted many times he could leave early. She was fine with it and would return the assignments later. But he blocked her with a sentence: “It’s fine, I have nothing to do when I get back. Sitting here is good.”
After copying all the materials, Xu Yeyu picked up her laptop and was about to thank Huang Xian when she heard a lazy voice behind her.
“Xu Yeyu.”
She thought she heard wrong, confused and half-disbelieving, she turned around.
It was really Lu Yanbai.
She instinctively glanced at the table to make sure her and Huang Xian’s assignments were put away, then breathed a sigh of relief.
“Why are you here?”
“I tried calling you just now. Why didn’t you answer?”
“Ah?”
She took out her phone and saw many missed calls from him on WeChat.
“I… didn’t hear it. What’s the matter?”
Lu Yanbai nodded, “Are you free? The post must be finished and revised before tomorrow, then we’ll schedule the release.”
“You still have work? Then you go ahead, I’m leaving.” Huang Xian packed his bag and ran off, leaving Xu Yeyu alone to face the “judgment.”
“Is it due tonight?”
“Yes. I’ll stay with you, try to revise it while you finish writing, then send it out.”
She blew her fringe out of her face, “Then let’s find a private room.”
Sitting down in the private room, Xu Yeyu worked on the post non-stop, finishing the remaining half she didn’t complete last night. It was already 10:30 pm when she finished.
“I’m done. Please have a look.”
She pushed the laptop to Lu Yanbai, then moved a bit closer for easier communication.
As soon as she pushed the laptop over, her stomach gave an untimely growl.
Lu Yanbai looked at her, “Haven’t eaten?”
“No…” she answered honestly.
She had just eaten some waffles but her brain had consumed a lot of energy, so she felt a bit hungry now.
Lu Yanbai sighed low and asked, “What do you want to eat?”
Not wanting to trouble him, she directly ordered pasta from the café menu.
As she ate, he read through her post.
After finishing, he circled a few spots to correct. She brainstormed and edited quickly, then pushed the laptop back.
Back and forth, the two gradually sat closer.
Xu Yeyu leaned against the sofa, feeling a bit drowsy after eating. She decided to nap a little, planning to get up when he spoke.
Lu Yanbai was just reading the last sentence when he suddenly felt weight on his shoulder.
Looking down, she was resting her small, wobbling head on his shoulder, already asleep, her eyelids twitching slightly.
She made a little smacking sound, maybe savoring the food or just out of habit, her tongue curling slightly.
At this moment, he should have woken her.
But she looked so tired.
Lu Yanbai stared at her hair whorl for a moment, then sighed quietly, shook his head, and took his coat from the side where he had taken it off.
He gently lifted her, saying softly, “You’re tired. I’ll take you back to rest.”
Xu Yeyu was half-asleep, her arms dangling down lazily, “Thanks, Professor…”
Lu Yanbai carried her outside. It was night and quiet. They got to the dormitory and he put her down gently.
She leaned her back against the door, supporting herself with one hand on the doorframe.
She looked at him and said softly, “Borrow twenty times… I want to borrow your patience twenty times.”
He looked at her for a long time.
Xu Yeyu’s face blushed deeply, and she hurriedly pushed the door open to go in.
Lu Yanbai watched her walk inside.
The night was peaceful.