Side Story 23: I’ll Help You

Saturday, Physics Laboratory.

Shen Zhijin was finishing up some data processing.

Xu Zhe glanced at him as he passed by. He was surprised.

“Eh, Zhijin, didn’t you plan on doing this in the afternoon? Why are you finishing it now?”

!!

Shen Zhijin said, “It’s convenient.”

“…”

Xu Zhe swallowed back the vulgarities he was about to blurt out.

There was no reason to ask the boss this kind of question!

“I’ll send it to you when I’m done. If there’s no problem, you can start your experiment today.”

Shen Zhijin continued.

They were in the same research group, and although their research directions were different, they had many things in common.

As Shen Zhijin was also in charge of the Fino Laboratory, he was practically the equivalent of being a mentor here.

His progress greatly affected the rest, including Xu Zhe.

“Ahh…”

Xu Zhe, who had originally made plans to go out during the weekend, could not help but curse.

Knock, knock.

“Senior Xu Zhe?”

Wei Cheng carefully knocked on the door.

Xu Zhe turned around and asked curiously, “Wei Cheng? What are you doing here?”

He was only in his third year of University this year, so he did not usually come here.

“Is there something you need me for? Come in!”

Wei Cheng nodded and walked in. He accidentally spotted Shen Zhijin, who was processing data next to Xu Zhe, and could not help but feel nervous.

This was the first time he was in such near proximity to the great prodigy!

However, Shen Zhijin was busy and did not seem to notice him.

Wei Cheng was a little disappointed, but he did not forget the purpose of his visit.

“Senior Xu Zhe, our club has arranged an activity to go to Yun Hill to observe the stars tonight.”

Xu Zhe laughed. “That’s good. The weather is good today. It’s just right.”

Wei Cheng’s expression was conflicted.

“There’s a small problem… Senior, could you come with us?”

Xu Zhe sighed softly.

“I’d like to, but I don’t think it’s possible. There’s still an unfinished task here. I’ll probably have to stay up quite late.”

It was all thanks to a certain someone.

Seeing Wei Cheng’s odd expression, Xu Zhe asked, “What’s the problem? Is it because you lack equipment?”

It was much easier for him to borrow some high-end equipment than it was for Wei Cheng and the others.

Wei Cheng said, “No, it’s the opposite. It’s because the equipment this time is too good–”

Thinking of the pile of equipment that exuded the aura of money, Wei Cheng almost cried.

“Gu Tingyin went to look for sponsors, which ended up in Complex Star sending ten astronomy telescopes over. As for the models, let me put it this way. Senior, there’s a theodolite on it that I wouldn’t be able to afford even if I sold myself!

“…”

Complex Star was the largest company in the country that manufactured astronomy equipment.

Wei Cheng’s legs went soft at the thought of bringing these things to Yun Hill.

If anything happened to those things, he would just stay there and never come back.

Besides, this thing needed to be handled by more professional people.

After much thought, he thought that his only option would be to ask Xu Zhe for help.

But who would have known that he was not free?

“I didn’t know that Junior Gu was so powerful…”

After all, this was a club that he had founded. He had to help them, but he could not go. This…

Suddenly, Xu Zhe caught a glimpse of Shen Zhijin, who had finished processing the data and was about to leave. He suddenly had an idea.

“Zhijin!”

…

Gu Tingyin sat in the last row of the bus by the window and closed her eyes to get some rest.

She could vaguely hear some whispered discussions in the bus, and she knew that they were looking at her without even opening her eyes.

They were all talking about the ten astronomical telescopes.

Suddenly, the bus fell silent.

She did not think much of it and thought that it was time for the journey to start, but she suddenly heard her name being called.

...

“Gu Tingyin?”

She opened her eyes.

The one who had called her was Wei Cheng, but more importantly, there was a handsome young man standing beside him.

It was his arrival that had silenced the entire vehicle.

Everyone was shocked, almost thinking that they were seeing things.

Was that… Shen Zhijin?

He had actually come!

Wei Cheng had already expected this situation. In fact, he was still secretly excited… because he had been able to invite this great god in his lifetime!

He laughed and said, “Junior, Senior Shen is going star-gazing with us today. Since you borrowed those instruments, you should know them best. Can you communicate with Senior Shen about them later? ”

Gu Tingyin was still in a daze and nodded.

It was not until Shen Zhijin walked over and sat down next to her exuding the cold aura that belonged only to him, that she finally realized what had happened.

...

From this moment on until tomorrow morning, he would be with her.

She automatically ignored the other dozens of people in the group.

Her ears instantly turned red.

She wanted to say something, but the incident at the library the other day was still vivid in her mind. She was unable to say a word and could only sit there in a daze, listening to her own heartbeat that was beating faster and faster.

It was Shen Zhijin who took the initiative to speak first.

“Actually, the Sky-E4 model is enough for this stargazing activity.”

Huh?

Gu Tingyin turned to look at him, a little confused.

It took her a few seconds to understand what he was talking about. She said in a low voice, “Oh, I see. However, the president and the others didn’t give me any instructions in advance, so I chose this model.”

She had chosen.

It went without saying that even many of the well-known associations for amateur astronomers in the country, much less university clubs, might not even be able to borrow the instruments from Complex Star.

Not only had she borrowed them, but she had also even chosen them.

Shen Zhijin replied with a “hmm”. He did not ask any further questions and closed his eyes.

Since she had already borrowed them, there was no point in saying anything else.

Gu Tingyin actually wanted to talk to him, but seeing the fatigue in his eyes, she asked softly, “Shen Zhijin, did you not sleep well last night?”

His eyes were still closed, and his voice was calm as he answered.

“I’m fine.”

In order to complete the data processing in advance, he had stayed up until three in the morning and continued later that morning.

He had only slept for less than four hours.

Gu Tingyin lowered her voice even more.

“Oh, I see. It’s a two-hour drive from here to Yun Hill, so you can take a nap first.”

Shen Zhijin did not say anything else.

She quieted down.

The bus quickly started up.

At first, there were still people who looked back at them from time to time, but as the bus left the school area, everyone’s attention gradually focused on the scenery outside.

It was an early autumn afternoon, and the sun was warm.

Gu Tingyin pulled the curtains shut, and the light in her corner suddenly dimmed.

She turned to look at him again.

He seemed to have fallen asleep. His black hair fell over his forehead, showing off his clear, handsome eyes.

As she looked at him, the corners of her lips curved up slightly.

After a while, many people on the bus fell asleep.

Gu Tingyin had wanted to take advantage of this rare opportunity to look at him some more, but the car was swaying and the sun was warm. She could not resist it and eventually fell asleep.

The bus drove along a bumpy road.

Gu Tingyin’s body tilted until her head was about to hit the window.

A long and fair hand was placed on her forehead.

She did not wake up.

Then, her head was turned to the other side.

She had a vague feeling that she had found a pillow. Subconsciously, she rubbed against it, found a comfortable angle, and fell asleep again.

…

It was four o ‘clock in the afternoon when they arrived at Yun Hill.

Gu Tingyin was woken up by some noise. When she opened her eyes, she saw that everyone had already gotten out of the car.

Shen Zhijin had also stood up and was ready to leave.

She let out a soft ‘Ah’.

“What’s the matter?” Shen Zhijin turned around.

She looked upset.

“Why did I fall asleep? I even said I could take a longer look–” ‘at you’.

She swallowed the last two words.

But she still felt that it was unfair.

If she missed such an opportunity this time, who knew when she would have to wait for the next one?

“Senior Shen?”

Wei Cheng shouted from the door of the bus.

“We’ve moved everything out, but we still need your help with the assembly and debugging.”

Shen Zhijin responded affirmatively.

…

Venus and the moon would appear half an hour after sundown. Everyone took advantage of this time to set up their tents and equipment.

The Astronomy Society had sent thirty people this time. Other than the ten high-end astronomical telescopes, there were also several handheld binoculars.

All in all, the equipment was very sufficient.

After Shen Zhijin was done with the adjustments, everyone dispersed and followed his instructions.

It was rare to be able to walk with this great god, so everyone was very serious about learning, afraid that they would be despised by this great god if they did something wrong.

But sometimes, this was not something you could learn just by being serious.

Gu Tingyin stood in front of a pile of equipment and started to worry.

Which part should she start with?

“You can use the one that has already been adjusted.”

A calm voice suddenly came from behind her.

Gu Tingyin turned around.

“Shen Zhijin?”

She glanced at the instrument.

Not everyone could get their own instrument. Shen Zhijin had one because he had been invited as a consultant and she was the only one because she had borrowed all of these.

However, it was obvious that she did not have Shen Zhijin’s ability.

Therefore, she immediately chose to give up and happily followed him.

“Alright!”

Before this, no one had ever dared to make such a request to Shen Zhijin. Wasn’t that the equivalent of having the God Shen serve them?

However, this was different because he had taken the initiative to help her.

The people around them looked over.

However, Gu Tingyin was full of curiosity and excitement at the moment, so she did not notice at all.

Shen Zhijin noticed it, but he did not care.

“On the horizon in the southwest, the moon will appear at the same time as the sun. The two celestial bodies are only five degrees apart.”

He said.

Initially, Gu Tingyin had been looking at the camera, but when she heard this, she raised her eyes in surprise.

“Five degrees? How far apart is that?”

Shen Zhijin suddenly said, “Straighten your right arm.”

She did as she was told, raising her arm and stretching it out.

In the next moment, a warm touch landed on her fingertips.

“Look here.”

Subconsciously, she looked over and saw him reach out his hand to compare it with her index and ring fingers.

“It’s this far.”

As his hand touched hers, her fingers separated.

Her violent heartbeat could not calm down for a long time, and it reverberated in her chest.

She almost could not remember how she looked at the telescope again.

A new moon slowly rose in the dark blue night.

Not far away, an exceptionally bright star appeared at the same time.

“Did you see that?”

Shen Zhijin asked.

‘How far away is that?

‘It’s the close touch between him and me.’

Shen Zhijin waited for a while but did not hear her speak. Just as he was thinking if he should help her take a look, he saw her suddenly look up.

“I saw it.”

The gentle breeze ruffled her long hair. She took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind.

“Shen Zhijin. Actually, I can explain the two drawings on that day!”

Shen Zhijin was momentarily stunned, but his voice was calm.

“I’m not angry.”

This was the truth, but she still seemed to be brooding over this matter and wanted to make it clear to him.

“I promise I won’t drag you into a little dark room alone… Really!”

She raised her finger with a serious expression on her face. There was a hint of anxiety in her eyes, as if she was afraid that he would not believe her.

“How can I possibly bear to do that?”

The words that Shen Zhijin was about to say suddenly stopped. In an instant, all the sound in his ears disappeared.

All that was left was her sentence.

How could there be such a person who was so unrestrained, so passionately offering anything that he like and confessing all her feelings?

It did not leave any room for himself and forcefully occupied his vision, hearing, and all his senses.

Her world overlapped with his, and it seemed to invade everything.

She was a little embarrassed, and her crimson face could still be seen vaguely in the night.

“And… And the first drawing was also… I only knew that you would be back on that day, but I didn’t know when your flight would be, and I didn’t know when I could see you again…”

She lowered her head slightly, and there was a rare trace of grievance in her usually sweet and soft voice.

“You’ve been gone for two weeks. I… I was just…”

Her voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible, dissipating in the night wind.

“I… missed you so much.”

Hence, she had imagined hijacking the plane and taking him away.

The surroundings were silent.

After what seemed like a long time, Shen Zhijin asked, “Can you see Andromeda?”

She looked up blankly.

“Huh?”

Shen Zhijin walked over.

“It’s easy to find.”

She was still in a daze and continued to stare at him.

Why had he… suddenly talked about Andromeda?

Did he not like what she had just said?

She lowered her eyes, her eyelashes quivering, and her fingers hanging by her side.

The cool night wind in the mountains seemed to blow into her heart.

“Didn’t you want a crash course?”

Shen Zhijin looked down at her, pursed his lips, and paused.

“I’ll help you.”