nine

The students of Hainan University are very enthusiastic, raising their hands one after another

With a hint of playful sarcasm, Si Chen felt a bit more relaxed. She did not respond further, a smile gracing her lips as she silently gazed at the stage. Meanwhile, Xu Boyuan remained serious, facing forward, listening intently.

Now, we invite Mr. Xu Boyuan, the president of DAB, to jointly launch the "Cultural Dunhuang" research fund project with Mr. Qian. Mr. Xu, it is truly not easy to see you here twice within a month.

The students in the audience laughed heartily, all in agreement. Mr. Qian expressed his gratitude several times.

Ah? Si Chen said somewhat bewilderedly, "Teacher Qian just returned yesterday and didn't mention it."

Xu Boyuan was also present and listened to the entire lecture. It is worth noting that even during the presentation on that day, Xu Boyuan's appearance lasted only a brief ten minutes.

You ask me whether I feel lonely; I believe that this question is better answered by my student—who can also be considered your senior.

The person in the front row lowered their head for a moment, seemingly checking a message. After a while, Sicen's phone vibrated: "Where are you?"

Is it time for the anniversary celebration? After searching in my mind for a long time, I remembered that Fei Yiping has been extremely busy lately, seemingly because of this matter. The next moment, as if we were in sync, Fei Yiping called.

Let me begin with a quote from Mr. Chen Yinke: "Dunhuang is the heart-wrenching history of our country's scholarship." Mr. Qian spoke in his somewhat non-standard Mandarin, with a low and hoarse voice. I thought to myself, that must be the weariness that only those who have witnessed that era would carry

Approaching the door, Si Chen glanced back and noticed a few students beside her recognizing her, beginning to whisper quietly among themselves

Dunhuang is in China, while Dunhuang studies are recognized worldwide. This statement is somewhat understated. To put it bluntly, it is akin to saying that the Forbidden City is in Beijing, yet the treasures within it are now in Taipei

Si Chen detected a subtle yet caring tone in his voice, and she couldn't help but look up, unexpectedly discovering that he was wearing a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. This made him appear more refined, tempering the rare and difficult-to-approach aura he usually exuded, and he seemed even more elegant, as if he were a young associate professor on campus

Thanks to the lighting and angle, Si Chen happened to be seated in the blind spot of his line of sight, allowing her to sit openly and clearly see the man shift his shoulders and casually glance around.

No one took this statement seriously, and the students began to chatter and discuss among themselves. In the noisy scene, it seemed that only one person caught the deep-seated melancholy hidden in her eyes. Xu Bo was somewhat lost in thought as he looked at her, yet in his heart, he was speculating about how much truth and how much falsehood lay behind her words.

I know you are the honorary president of the Dunhuang Research Academy, and you spend more than half of the year there. I would like to ask, since your youth, do you ever feel regret?" The student paused and added, "Do you feel lonely?

His first words were an apology, perhaps because he was in a hurry, his breath slightly unsteady. As he drew closer, it brushed against Si Chen's ear, warm and somewhat ticklish

Si Chen looked at Xu Boyuan's upright figure and replied to him: "Shh, focus on the lecture."

"Are you... looking to chat with me?" she asked slowly, her fingertips unconsciously twirling around her hair. "Thank you, but there's no need."

Mr. Qian Zhihuan on the stage coughed and began his opening remarks: "So many people?" He then turned to the teacher from the Youth League Committee beside him and asked, "You didn't set a task quota for how many people each department should send, did you?"

What is the cost of this

The Woman Who Loves Absinthe. Tang Sicheng recalled that famous painting and couldn't help but smile as well

They were walking down the stairs together, and Xu Boyuan, being quite the gentleman, gently supported her waist and then let go appropriately. He chose his words carefully and said softly: "Sichen, I want you to know that I do not need you to be polite or perfunctory with me—those are all apparent to me. Please do not be guarded in front of me, alright? You can cry or laugh, either is fine."

The old man made a contemplative gesture and then said, "Let me tell a story first"

The lights dimmed slightly, and a simple sentence appeared on the enormous projection screen beside it

She glanced down and could almost sense that the person texting was starting to become a bit impatient—"Where are you sitting?"

Unbiasedly meeting those eyes, slightly cool, filled with a hint of laughter

Ultimately, Xu Boyuan stood on the stage, took the microphone, and first gave a slight nod to Qian Zhihuan before saying: "Today they said that you should say a few words on stage, and I hesitated for a long time."

He continued to gaze at her, his eyes clear yet profound, as if he could sense the pressure she was feeling at that moment. Xu Boyuan slowly shifted his gaze away and smiled as he said: "So, please do not refuse, alright?"

"My apologies, beautiful."

"Let's take a walk together?" he said, "Isn't it said that Hainan University is a famous garden university? I haven't had the chance to explore it properly yet"

Si Chen suddenly felt that hiding emotions in front of this person was futile. He did not need to speak, yet he naturally knew what you were thinking

Tang Sicen could not help but look up, as the starry sky scattered in the man's pair of clear and intelligent eyes—he etched a seemingly oath-like incantation clearly and melodiously into her heart, naturally and without the slightest hesitation

Students in this era appreciate those who are willing to engage in self-deprecation. Amidst the laughter around her, Sicheng was unsure if it was her imagination, but she felt that Xu Boyuan had knowingly winked at her.

"It's nothing," Si Chen said understandingly. "My dormitory is not far from here; I will go and get the clothes from last time to return them to you."

The host must also be a fan of Xu Boyuan, and this statement has sparked a second wave of excitement in the venue

The school seems to have learned from the lessons of the last DAB presentation, and this time the organization is very orderly. Shichen looked around, and except for the main speaker and the distinguished guests who had not yet arrived, the entire auditorium was already filled to capacity.

Once the crowd finished laughing, the old man said: "If there are indeed those who were coerced into coming, then I would feel embarrassed to waste time, so let us get to the point."

Where are you

Tang Tang, where are you? Aren't you coming to help with your boss's lecture?

This man knows how to present himself appropriately in various situations, leaving no room for criticism

"Don't rush to leave," he laughed from over there, "I'll be there soon"

... ...

The first girl in the front row to stand up

Finally, it was time to disperse, and Sicheng slowly moved forward with the crowd. The phone lit up directly, the name "Xu Boyuan" flashing on the screen, indicating that the person had finally grown tired of texting.

uproarious laughter

I can be considered as Mr. Qian's close disciple, which is a great honor. As for the compliments from my teacher, I do not dare to accept them. Shichen forced himself to concentrate and answer the question until his emotions calmed down, "When you like something, how can you feel lonely? Even if... it requires you to pay a certain price, it is still worth it.

Si Chen chuckled and said: "You have worked hard, I will head back to rest now. I look forward to attending the lecture tomorrow, please remember to reserve a ticket for me."

Xu Boyuan was half a head taller than her, easily looking down at her, observing her expression, and then smiled: "No need to hurry"

The phone is vibrating again

Because speaking after Mr. Qian makes me feel somewhat like a nouveau riche

Wow, the senior sister is really beautiful. The girl who asked the question expressed the admiration of her classmates on site, followed by a burst of laughter

The lecture lasted for one hour, during which the old man only paused to take a sip of water. In the end, he said: "Regarding the content of contemporary Dunhuang studies, I will conclude my talk here. From now on, the spotlight should be on the young people."

The phone in Si Chen's palm vibrated silently again

The lecture is scheduled for the following evening at 7:00 PM. Upon entering the grand auditorium, Sicheng discovered that his ticket was in an excellent location, right behind the VIP seats.

Uh, as the teacher said, my boyfriend originally said, let's get married when I come back. But in the end, we broke up. " Shichen said with a half-smile, half-jokingly.

At 6:58, a sprightly old gentleman, dressed charmingly in a cap, walked out from one side, receiving a warm round of applause from the audience

As evening approached, when Sicheng finally reached the school gate, he noticed that the entrance of Hainan University had been adorned anew. Various potted plants surrounded and highlighted the number "150".

It is tomorrow! The Hai University Lecture Hall, only top-tier talents can attend. The first lecture for the anniversary celebration is given by your boss, and we are currently setting up the grand auditorium

Dunhuang is in China, while Dunhuang studies are recognized worldwide

Later, Xu Boyuan said something else, but Sicen did not remember it very clearly; he only knew that Xu spoke exceptionally briefly. Brevity is not necessarily a bad thing; it does not make one feel overshadowed, but rather highlights the sincerity of strong support.

She knew that when she spoke her last sentence, her lips trembled slightly, but she concealed it well, the corners of her eyes curving into two delicate crescents, as if smiling

Tang Sichen sat in her seat, feeling countless gazes directed at her, as if all the blood had surged into her mind in an instant, leaving her feeling bewildered. She also thought it was an old man's joke to throw such a hot potato her way

Fortunately, the second student began to ask questions again, and Shichen sat down as if relieved from a heavy burden, suddenly thinking... Xu Bo should have noticed himself, and hurriedly turned his head to take a glance.

Hi! Si Chen looked around again, confirming that no one was present, before waving at him, "Over here!"

Hello, Mr. Qian. I am a third-year student at the School of Arts. First of all, I would like to say that you and your lecture are very popular. You are indeed overthinking the allocation of quotas for the assigned targets; for instance, my ticket was obtained through a lottery in our class, and it was quite difficult to get it.

"Then are you asking me to wait for you..." Sichen asked hesitantly

As the guests began to take their seats one after another, Si Chen looked up and caught sight of a figure, momentarily stunned and unable to regain her composure. After a moment's thought, she took out her phone and typed a message: "Are you attending a lecture at Hainan University?" She added several question marks at the end before sending it.

The host took the microphone and said, "The question-and-answer session will last for half an hour, and finally, we will hold a brief ceremony to inaugurate the Dunhuang Studies Research Fund here."

I am not young anymore, and everyone knows that. Originally, the school said that at this age, one should not take on students, as it would mislead them. I thought about it, and it made sense; it has been about five or six years since I last taught. Later, I went to Dunhuang and met a young girl there. She was very young, just graduated from university. I asked her if she planned to stay here, and she said yes. At that moment, I thought to myself, the words of such a beautiful girl should not be taken seriously. In a remote place where even birds do not defecate, when her boyfriend tells her to come back and get married, of course, she would leave, so I just smiled and moved on. I thought to myself again, the words of such a beautiful girl should not be taken seriously. In a remote place where even birds do not defecate, when her boyfriend tells her to come back and get married, of course, she would leave, so I just smiled and moved on. However, the following year, she was still there. I was surprised and asked her, and it turned out she was also an alumnus. I then asked her if she would like to be my student, and she said yes. As a result, I gained a closed-door disciple.

Ah, Sicheng, you come and answer this junior sister's question. The old man's eyesight is exceptionally good; he quickly located the disciple and gestured for the microphone to be handed to her

Si Chen began to understand Xu Bo's intentions here

Perhaps it was due to the unavoidable pleasantries and social engagements over there that Xu Boyuan did not come over "immediately". Shichen waited alone at the entrance of the auditorium for a while longer, and it was only after about a quarter of an hour that he hurried in from the side door.

The auditorium quickly fell silent