Chapter 2174 - 705: So Good! Bus Route 31 (Slice of Life)

Just as the printer started buzzing, the door to the laboratory was pushed open again.

Qian Lele walked in.

Wearing a down jacket, her hair in a bun, with a sweet smile on her face.

"Good afternoon, Teacher Jiang."

"Lele, are you here?" Jiang Yourong was a bit surprised, "So soon?"

Qian Lele took off the backpack from her back and placed it on the chair next to her, "Mm-hmm, I don’t have classes this afternoon. I was planning to come to the lab to continue with data annotation, and I just saw your meeting notification."

Jiang Yourong looked at her diligent and spirited student, couldn’t help but reach out and fondly pat her on the head, "So hardworking."

Qian Lele’s face instantly turned red, and she lowered her head a bit shyly.

The two chatted briefly.

Jiang Yourong said seriously, "Lele, there’s something I need to tell you. For a considerable length of time ahead, I might not be able to be in the lab often."

"Ah?" Qian Lele was taken aback upon hearing this, her beautiful phoenix eyes filled with confusion and concern, "Teacher Jiang... why is that? Did something happen?"

In her mind, Teacher Jiang is not only her mentor, but the most caring elder she has encountered since entering university.

Her part-time job at Glimmer Coffee, her current laboratory work, even her acquaintance with her brother, all because of Teacher Jiang.

Jiang Yourong looked at her tense expression, chuckled softly and shook her head.

A smile appeared on her face, both gratifying and a bit mysterious, "It’s good news. Next, I’ll be dedicating myself entirely to the Xuanji Light Realm project. This project is crucial for our country’s future in the next-generation human-machine interaction technology field, highly significant. So the school has specially approved me to temporarily leave my duties to fully engage in this project."

She paused, then added, "But don’t worry, the lab work won’t stop. I’ll arrange for the seniors to guide you. You can start with some peripheral research projects of Xuanji Light Realm, and in the future, if there’s a chance, I’ll take you to intern at this company, to personally experience what cutting-edge AI research really looks like."

She was aware of the relationship between Qian Lele and Tang Song, so she was very confident in this.

Also deliberately chose to keep her beloved student close and foster her development.

After hearing this, Qian Lele first sighed in relief, then felt immense pride and admiration.

"Thank you, Teacher Jiang, you’re amazing."

She looked at this always gentle and smiling, slightly "Buddhist" Teacher Jiang, and for the first time, felt a sacred aura of a "scientist" emanating from her.

Jiang Yourong smiled, full of spirit.

At that moment, her nose twitched unconsciously.

Immediately after, she saw Qian Lele open her backpack and take out a large takeaway bag printed with a milk tea shop’s logo.

"Teacher Jiang, this is an afternoon tea that my friend Yaoyao just brought me, there’s too much, I can’t finish it, please join me and have some!"

Soon.

Chilled fruit tea, warm pearl milk tea, and a delicately packaged transparent box with two pieces of tempting golden durian mille crepe.

It was her favorite kind.

Jiang Yourong’s eyes widened instantly, her body stiffened, throat gulping.

Lele! You’re... you’re tormenting your teacher!

Qian Lele seemed unaware, thoughtfully placing a piece of cake and a cup of milk tea in front of Jiang Yourong.

The rich durian aroma, mixed with the creamy sweetness, assaulted her senses and willpower irresistibly.

"Grrr—" her stomach growled.

Jiang Yourong swallowed with difficulty, whispered, "Then... then I’ll have just a little, one bite of cake is enough, I’m currently dieting."

"Mm-hmm, got it!" Qian Lele nodded vigorously, thoughtfully inserted the straw.

Jiang Yourong took a big sip of the warm and sweet pearl milk tea, then used a small fork to scoop a large piece of cool, silky durian mille crepe into her mouth.

Her eyes immediately squinted happily.

[Delicious!]

[To hell with dieting! Let me enjoy first!]

(ﾒ｀ﾛ´)/-

In the end, both pieces of durian mille crepe ended up in Professor Jiang’s stomach.

...

Qian Lele returned to her work station and seriously did some data annotation.

The light from the screen shone on her face, making her look extra focused.

But this focus didn’t last long.

A few minutes later, she couldn’t resist reaching into her backpack’s pocket for a soft item.

It was a scarf she knitted herself.

Made with the finest pure white cashmere yarn, it’s woven with the most complex "double seed stitch" pattern.

The weather is getting colder, soon it will snow, it’s also a good time to give a scarf.

Plus, the day after tomorrow is the weekend.

She plans to first return to her hometown in Han City, but before that, she must complete this small "task" she set for herself: to give away the scarf.

After hesitating for quite a while, she finally picked up her phone.

Her fingertips paused on the screen for a moment, her heart was beating a bit fast.

In the past few months, she’s had this impulse countless times.

Pickled kimchi, did crafts, bought snacks, every time wanting to find a reason to visit.

To see him, to see where he lives, like before in the teachers’ apartments, sitting together and chatting.

Listening to him talk about principles, technology, those things she never tires of hearing.

But every time, she backed out at the last minute.

Probably due to internal feelings of inferiority and timidity.

Now it’s different.

She’s capable of living on her own, can also take care of her family.

She wants him to know she’s truly changed a lot, become more accomplished and independent.

Thinking of the scenes at the teachers’ apartments before.

Qian Lele took a deep breath.

Opened the chat box, quickly typed a line: "Brother, tomorrow is Friday. What time will you be home in the evening? I want to come by to give you something, is that okay?"

Clicked send.

Her heart tightened suddenly.

Almost instinctively, she clutched her phone tightly.

"Buzz buzz buzz—"

[Brother: "Of course, I finish work at 6. Just come over directly."]

[Brother: Yanjing Sky City District.map (location)]

Qian Lele instantly beamed, quickly replied: "Okay, see you tomorrow!"

Opened that familiar location, switched to the map software.

The route unfolded clearly.

Bus 31, from the South Gate of Yan City Normal University to Yanjing Sky City District, a total of 13 stops.

If during rush hour, it takes approximately forty minutes.

She slid along the route bit by bit.

Every place name seemed to gently strum her heartstrings.

Forty minutes, and she can see him.