CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43: GOOD, VERY SPIRITED

"A person experiences three deaths in their lifetime. I’ve skipped biological death and fast-forwarded to sociological death. Lin Li, if I jump right now and you see my eyes wide open, not closed, what would you think?"

Zhou Baowei leaned against the window, gazing outside at the ground, which increasingly resembled a cozy bed that he wished he could lie on immediately.

"I’d think about whether I should watch the latest movie ’Bureau 947’ this afternoon."

"Aren’t we having class this afternoon?" Zhou Baowei was puzzled.

"If you jump, there’s no class for you," Bai Bufan chimed in, questioning in a tone that suggested Zhou had asked a stupid question, and then looked at Lin Li, "Let’s go to the cinema then. But I want to watch ’Undersea Fortress’."

"Is it really set underwater? If it is, I have to watch it too."

"You guys, you guys..." Zhou Baowei was so moved by his friends that he was speechless.

They were indeed good friends. He hadn’t even jumped yet, and they were already planning his last rites—if those rites were for him, Zhou would be even more touched.

Zhou Baowei returned to his seat, listless and a bit desperate.

Thinking about his completely tarnished image in the class monitor’s eyes, which might spread to every girl’s ears in the class through late-night dorm chats, left Zhou Baowei utterly hopeless.

He hoped that the girls’ dorm chats would, like the boys’, eventually drift toward world affairs and national worries, instead of fixating on him.

"My reputation is ruined."

"Relax, maybe the class monitor didn’t even remember a minor character like you. To her, it was just a joke that went in one ear and out the other," Bai Bufan consoled.

"..."

That seemed even worse than having his reputation ruined.

"I’m done with being abstract; no one gets my humor, but some really think I’m a fool who cries ’boohoo’..." Zhou Baowei decisively resolved.

"What about Genshin?" Hearing this, Lin Li reclined, looking over Bai Bufan with concern.

"ACTIVATE!!!!" Zhou Baowei reflexively sat up, using all his strength to draw out the words.

Lin Li sighed in relief.

Thank goodness, he almost got this kid onto the right track in life. After all, people who don’t indulge in the abstract have figured it out for life; it seems Zhou Baowei was just talking.

The abstract isn’t easy to quit; addicts long for another hit every moment.

Lin Li glanced at the progress bar of task five; it was still moving since he did talk to the class monitor a bit, though minimally, it was negligible.

"Lin Li, how’s it going?" Bai Bufan asked when there were only the two of them left.

"What do you mean?"

"The plan to sabotage the Gentle Harbor of Single Men in Xiling Town."

"Oh, that. It’s at zero progress."

"How can you be so useless? I thought you had connections. I’ve got some leads on my side," Bai Bufan said disdainfully.

"You? If you have connections, I’ll write my name backwards from today," Lin Li sneered.

"Can you write it backwards?"

"No, what’s right is right," Lin Li shook his head.

"I really do. Last night, I tried scrolling through short videos in the local section, and I messaged those whose stylistic accounts looked off. Many replied. Could they be our targets?" Bai Bufan spoke while sipping soup.

Lin Li raised his eyebrows; he hadn’t thought of Bai Bufan’s approach.

But he soon thought of the issue.

The task described required dismantling the Hehuan Demon’s stronghold.

Even if these influencers are in that business, perhaps they’re freelancers? Loose cultivators who haven’t joined a sect but stole the Hehuan Technique?

This might not complete the task.

But maybe there’s a madam among them.

He could trace it back to their stronghold?

With that in mind, Lin Li nodded, "Maybe, but I need to see the specifics."

"All right, but I didn’t bring my phone. Can you come to our dorm at noon to check? I can’t wait to fish for law enforcement," Bai Bufan nodded.

Having had the potential of a fishing enthusiast since childhood, this life was set; if it succeeds, Lin Li would gift him a pair of Air Force 1s, well, the Putian version.

"Okay." Lin Li nodded. Although he had tutoring with Chen Yu Ying at noon, it was actually during the official lunch break, and he didn’t have a spot in the dorm, so as soon as the lunch break bell rang, he could return to the classroom and find the class monitor.

...

The bell for the end of the fifth class rang.

People flitted outside the window, running fast as if they’d miss a meal if they were late.

—Indeed.

Though they wouldn’t miss a meal, waiting in line might take more than ten minutes.

Prompted by someone to share twenty minutes of his college stories, the English teacher had many class topics yet to cover during this session.

Yet, facing the eager looks out the window and their implied prompting when looking back at him, the young and soft-hearted Koukou reluctantly put down the textbook and waved his hand, "Class dismissed."

It was like a scene of monkeys scattering when the tree fell.

"Goodbye, Mr. Koukou." Being a distinguished off-campus student today, Lin Li naturally didn’t need to rush like others and leisurely headed towards the main entrance, greeting Koukou as he left.

"Lin Li, I’m glad you absorbed the teacher’s words. Very diligent today," Koukou said upon seeing Lin Li.

Lin Li finally seemed spirited today.

"Teacher, it’s what I should do."

Due to today’s repaired Spiritual Qi Chapter, Lin Li was in high spirits and not at all drowsy.

Too bad he could only keep this up for another two days, or rather one, as he’d only have one spirit stone left the day after tomorrow, and could only practice the normal Body Refining Eighth Rank Technique for half an hour thereafter.

"I wasn’t done speaking." Koukou laughed.

"Please continue praising." Seeing Koukou smile, Lin Li also smiled, as comfortable as a spring breeze.

"But can you apply this diligence to the English course instead of just the teacher’s stories?" Koukou’s smile was of exasperation.

This darn kid.

Was he attentive when she was teaching course content?

Yes.

But.

Previously, he sat lethargically with Bai Bufan during class, sniggering.

Today, he was engaged and sniggering with Bai Bufan during class.

—So he he’d laughed even louder.

So there was that, at least after she scolded him, he genuinely paid attention.

But he was somewhat distracted.

Yet whenever she began discussing things outside the textbook, her experiences or stories, he immediately became the perfect comedic partner, never letting her words falter, fully valuing her emotional guidance, with eyes that sparkled.

And every time her story neared its end, this kid would astutely ask a question, often one she also wanted to share with others, extending the extracurricular segment.

Befuddling her into talking much longer.

Half a lesson, a whole half a lesson.

Usually, she’d only indulge in five minutes of personal anecdotes!

If only this kid could use these conversational skills during her normal teaching, how fulfilling a lesson it would be!

Hearing this, Lin Li blinked in honest surprise.

"Are you this attentive in other classes too? Don’t they say you accurately answer teaching questions?" Koukou couldn’t help but ask.

"...Yes."

"I’ll ask other teachers once I’m back in the office."

"In that case, no."

Koukou: "..."

Turns out what she longed for was the daily affair of other teachers.

"Why... why... why..."

Your friend "Koukou (Resigned Spirit Exclusive)" has come online again.