Chapter 2024 — Followed Again

"You... that idea of yours is downright heaven-defying!" Wei Zhao had heard Han Jingyi mention before that she wanted to devise a method of alchemy blending the modern with the ancient, but only after her detailed explanation did he realize just how astonishing and outrageous her ideas truly were.

This business of refining pills by scientific means—likely not only Wei Zhao, but even the ancient sects had never so much as dreamed of it, had they? Yet Han Jingyi had, with remarkable ingenuity, begun researching exactly this. Never mind whether she could succeed; the idea alone put her far above everyone else.

"Brother Wei Zhao, are you praising me?" Han Jingyi looked delighted, but then her spirits sank again. "Jingjing is actually quite dull. I've studied this for so long and still haven't figured out how to condense alchemical fire. It's not online either, and I can't even buy a book on it..."

"Condensing alchemical fire... let me think of something for you." Wei Zhao hesitated a moment before speaking. He did not come right out and say he possessed the mental method and oral formulas for condensing alchemical fire; that would have seemed too false, as though the moment Han Jingyi showed him her alchemy notes, he had produced the method in exchange, which would have smacked of calculation.

So Wei Zhao decided to wait a while before telling Han Jingyi, so that it would not seem so abrupt.

"All right, thank you, Brother Wei Zhao..." Han Jingyi, by the look of her, had not the slightest suspicion, and she walked into the classroom together with Wei Zhao.

Inside the classroom, Wei Zhao sat down beside Wang Xinyan, while Han Jingyi obediently took a seat at the back, not competing to sit next to Wei Zhao.

"Brother Lin, you're here? The results of the freshman gala are out—our class took first place, first prize in the singing category!" Bai Weituo said excitedly the moment he saw Wei Zhao.

"Results already?" Wei Zhao was a little surprised.

"They actually came out last night; they just weren't announced until this morning," Bai Weituo said. "First place! In the history of our medical specialty, this is the first time we've ever won an award. And we kept silent until we could amaze everyone with a single cry!"

"Ha, but Zhang Duopan is sure to try to weasel out of it. There's nothing to be done about that," Wei Zhao said.

"Yeah, that guy is really rotten. He was the one who hired the star in the first place, and then he actually said those things. Truly nasty!" Bai Weituo said helplessly. "Still, it's just as well. Let He Meiyue see him for what he really is, and keep her distance from him from now on!"

"Ahem, quiet down, class is starting!" Leader Bai rapped on the doorframe, then strode into the classroom, and the once noisy room fell silent at once.

Bai Weituo, startled, hurried back to his own seat.

Leader Bai was quite satisfied with everyone's behavior; he nodded and stepped up to the podium. "At yesterday's freshman gala, you all performed well, and I commend you! Our biology department's medical specialty has not won an award at the freshman gala in many years. Even at the arts festival and the sports meet, our class never had anything to do with the prizes before. But a miracle has appeared here with you, and I hope this is a good beginning. From now on, I want you to keep up the effort and strive to place in other events as well, and win some face for me, Leader Bai!"

"Oh, how could we? This time it was only because that big star was there..."

"Yeah, without that big star's help, our class would never have made it..."

"Quiet, everyone. Your enthusiasm doesn't seem very high. But there is one thing I forgot to tell you: since you took first place in the singing category at the freshman gala, I intend to reward each of you with two credits! In the future, whenever you place in an event, I'll reward credits according to your ranking as appropriate! If you'd rather not keep receiving rewards, then pretend I said nothing." Leader Bai narrowed his eyes and spoke mildly.

"Ah! Of course we want them! Why wouldn't we?"

"Next time we'll definitely win again!"

"Exactly—under the class monitor's leadership, we have to win!"

"Two credits! Once you've accumulated enough credits, you can graduate early..."

Even You Panhu, who usually showed no expression at all, was secretly delighted at the mention of two credits. If he could graduate from Leader Bai's hands ahead of schedule, that would be an honor too, and it would be a weighty line in his record when he later entered the family council of elders.

He felt somewhat fortunate that he had taken part in this freshman gala. If he had not gone on stage, he feared Leader Bai would have left him out when handing out the credit rewards.

"All right, enough of that. Now let's continue the lesson. In this class we'll go on to discuss the pharmacology of some common medicinal herbs..." Leader Bai said, then opened his textbook and began to teach.

Han Jingyi, who had been writing and sketching all along, now also set down her tablet and listened to Leader Bai's lecture with full attention...

The morning flew by in a blink. When class was dismissed, Leader Bai signaled to Wei Zhao. "Wei Zhao, come with me a moment!"

"All right." Wei Zhao nodded, not particularly surprised. Leader Bai had said before that once the freshman gala was over, Wei Zhao should come find him, for he had some unexpected knowledge to impart.

You Panhu shot Wei Zhao a glance full of envy and resentment. Though he did not know what Leader Bai wanted with Wei Zhao, this sort of affair, so obviously meant to draw private friendship closer, made You Panhu wish he could trade places with Wei Zhao.

He had been looking for a chance to curry favor with Leader Bai, but no suitable opportunity had ever arisen. At the thought, You Panhu rose and followed Wei Zhao and Leader Bai out of the classroom. Sometimes opportunity must be created by oneself, so You Panhu decided to go and try his luck.

Wei Zhao followed Leader Bai out of the classroom and headed toward the biology department's faculty building. But just as they left the teaching building, Wei Zhao sensed that someone was following behind him. It was an intuition, having nothing to do with the jade pendant, for the follower bore no ill intent, and the pendant gave no warning.

You Panhu? Wei Zhao frowned, and in the crowd he spotted that the one following him was indeed You Panhu.

"Leader Bai, someone is following us. It's You Panhu," Wei Zhao said.

"Oh? You Panhu?" Leader Bai glanced back, then said, "Pay him no mind."

"Oh..." Since Leader Bai said to pay him no mind, Wei Zhao naturally would not stir up trouble, and he followed Leader Bai into the biology department's faculty building...