He Siyu nodded slightly at Liu Chen's words, her shy smile still on her face.
However, this time, when the petrified freshmen saw this smile, their hearts no longer cried out with girlish excitement, but screamed in muffled despair.
Heaven! What have they been doing these past few days!
"S-Senior Sister, goodbye!"
One of the bolder ones, after saying this, with a flushed face, quickly got up and ran away.
Liu Chen looked at these few female classmates, still somewhat confused. Just a few days ago, when she was getting food, she saw them chatting and laughing with Sister Siyu, and they seemed to be getting along well. Why did they suddenly change today?
However, she didn't have time to ponder these things now, her entire heart was focused on He Siyu, and on the senior sister sitting beside her.
"Senior Sister, do you know Sister Siyu?"
Qi Xun nodded, "Don't call me Senior Sister, it sounds too cloying. My name is Qi Xun, a second-year graduate student. I originally wanted to do experiments under Professor He Long, and that's how I met Senior Sister Siyu."
Liu Chen nodded upon hearing this, understanding that this senior sister named Qi Xun was a straightforward person. She plainly stated that she had specifically looked at Siyu's profile for her postgraduate studies and thus recognized her.
Qi Xun observed He Siyu's dependence on Liu Chen, her expression complex. After all, she had intended to approach Professor He Long through Senior Sister Siyu to be accepted as his student.
However, she had not even met him, and Professor He Long and his wife kept He Siyu very well protected, picking her up and dropping her off like a kindergarten child for school and after school, eating at home, or in Professor He Long's office.
"Senior Sister Siyu's major is landscape planning. The landscape planning in the dormitory area of our school has Siyu Senior Sister's participation."
This was also one of the reasons why Qi Xun gave up on approaching He Siyu. Although she had autism, the fact that she could pursue her major to a doctoral level indicated that she was clear-minded.
Her little schemes might be seen through at a glance.
Liu Chen also understood what Senior Sister Qi Xun meant by saying this: that although He Siyu had autism, her intellectual development was normal, and possibly even superior to that of ordinary people, so she should not harbor any ulterior motives.
"Then Sister Qi Xun is also in the food science major?" Otherwise, she wouldn't have considered doing experiments under He Long.
Qi Xun nodded helplessly, "My undergraduate major was history. It was difficult to find a job after graduation. I thought about pursuing a master's degree and changing direction. To avoid repeating the same mistake, I specifically chose this major. However, it's only slightly better than my undergraduate major. I've had a few internships, and they all sent me to raise pigs in the deep mountains and old forests."
"Pfft!" Liu Chen couldn't help but laugh. It was mainly because this Senior Sister Qi Xun was also quite a character. An ordinary matter, when spoken by Senior Sister Qi Xun, had a peculiar sense of humor.
However, she also understood why Senior Sister Qi Xun, having just met her, was divulging so much personal information.
It wasn't that Qi Xun really didn't care about privacy, but rather that she was sending out applications.
"Sister Qi Xun, if you're willing, my new factory will be completed and operational during the summer vacation. Let's add each other on QQ, and you can remind me then."
Liu Chen wasn't extending an olive branch just because Qi Xun was amusing. It was because Qi Xun was her senior.
The graduate students from Shuimu University were truly capable. Talking about raising pigs was just a joke.
Upon hearing this, Qi Xun understood that this junior student Liu Chen was a sensible person who understood her intentions. She touched the back of her head, feeling a bit embarrassed. However, despite her embarrassment, she quickly added Liu Chen on QQ.
Before Qi Xun left, she looked at Liu Chen's back and the harmonious scene of He Siyu eating. She opened her mouth, but did not say what she had intended to say.
"If He Siyu can be brought to Liu Chen's new factory, then the additive patent held by Professor He Long might fall into her factory's hands. Even if it's just contract manufacturing, it would definitely be a stable and profitable career."
But…
Qi Xun glanced at He Siyu, who was sitting there, and then at Liu Chen's retreating figure.
Did Liu Chen not know all of this?
If she said it, it might not be beneficial. It was better to let this junior student Liu Chen figure it out herself.
-
As the end of the semester approached, Shuimu University was about to begin its winter break, with fifteen days left until the deadline for the task.
Whether it was Liu Chen's illusion or not, through fifteen days of interaction, Liu Chen found that He Siyu's autism symptoms had greatly improved. If nothing else, she would occasionally take the initiative to speak to her recently.
Although what she said was often unfiltered, like speaking her mind, it was still much better than before.
The two of them had just finished eating grilled fish at a grilled fish restaurant outside the school. Liu Chen proactively said:
"The school will be on vacation this weekend. Do you want to come with me to C City to play? I'll also take you to see my factory area. With your guidance, I can save some money on landscaping."
Upon hearing this, He Siyu's eyes lit up. Without Liu Chen having to ask further, she immediately replied:
"Okay."
After they finished speaking, it started snowing heavily outside. Liu Chen, holding an umbrella, hugged He Siyu and helped her into the passenger seat before walking around to the driver's side to get in the car and drive.
When they arrived, Liu Chen still held an umbrella to help He Siyu out of the car. Usually, she would escort her to the entrance of the unit and wait outside. This time, just as she was about to turn and leave, her hand was held by He Siyu.
"T-together."
Hearing He Siyu's主动 invitation, Liu Chen raised an eyebrow. She did not refuse and followed her upstairs. They went to the second floor and rang the doorbell of the west-side unit. Zhen Yu, responding with a sound, came to open the door quickly in her slippers.
Upon seeing Liu Chen standing beside her Siyu, she was surprised for a moment. Then, she quickly moved aside, making room for them to enter, and called out towards the inner room:
"Old He! Your student is here!"
In reality, she had only managed to get a spot to help out in He Long's laboratory, so she couldn't be considered a student. However, her mistress's words immediately solidified the teacher-student relationship.
How strong He Long's reputation was could be seen from the fact that Qi Xun had tried every means to get into his laboratory back then.
He Long, hearing his wife say that a student had arrived, thought it was one of his doctoral students who had come. He was puzzled because, with the successful completion of the additive experiment project, he had already told everyone to rest for the semester.
Who would come to find him at the end of the university semester?
When he came out of his study, he saw Liu Chen sitting on the sofa, holding a cup of hot tea.
Before He Long could figure things out, he heard his precious daughter say to him with great sincerity:
"I want to go to C City with Liu Chen."
"What?!"