Chapter Text
Chu Wanning, not once in his life, thought he would hear his own voice would sound shaky and pitchy from pure panic and confusion. Reasons are, one, he never raises his voice, and two, he's always been the type to be not be too dramatically surprised. Usually, he'd pause and raise his eyebrows if he can't conceal his surprise.
"Chu Wan-!" Ah. Chu Wanning wasn't the type of person to cut someone because he has manners, but he can’t stand hearing himself sound... like That.
"Yes, that is you, Chu Wanning."
"R-righ-!"
Again, the real professor cuts in, pinching the bridge of his nose as he exhaled silently, "Please, calm down, do not raise your voice, you're not going to die."
"O-Okay, okay-" To his relief, Mo Ran seems to start toning his voice down, "Okay. Okay. Ch- I mean, Mo Ran," then, the real Mo Ran's voice tones down lower, as if to make sure no passerby will be able to hear him, "what am I supposed to do? The dude with Harry Potter glasses and bowl cut said that it was a surprise meeting, discussing about change of... change of... life plans? lecture thingies? l-"
"Lesson plans. Okay, continue."
"Yeah! That! Squeezed him some details and it's about some... something about how apparently there was... blah blah exams that checked if some are ready to graduate... and like... uh-"
"You don't need to explain any further, I already know what you mean." Just his luck, isn't it? The surprise mini tests that Madam Wang liked to do to test each students' current intelligence every month just happened to fall during the time span where he and Mo Ran exchanged bodies. He considered telling Mo Ran to just say he had an urgent thing to do and will not be able to attend the meeting, but that doesn't feel right at all; What if he missed something important? He knows he could just ask his co-teachers if he missed anything... But he'd rather swallow nails than communicate with the only teacher he's familiar with, nicknamed "Tanlang Elder." by some students. The reason for that? He does not know either.
Chu Wanning paused for a second, unsure of what to instruct Mo Ran. Then, he sighed, "You needn't talk much in the meeting. If you want to be sure, do not hang up the call and connect my bluetooth earphones. It's in the bag's pocket, assuming you brought it with you."
"Yes! Yes! I brought it with me. Then?" The real teacher shuddered, Chu Wanning really can't get used to hearing his own voice sounding so excited.
"I will tell you what to say or what to do if you're addressed. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir!"
"...Please do not forget you're acting as me."
"...Got it!"
He heard shuffling, and he assumes that it's Mo Ran digging in his bag to get the earphones, silently, he listened as Mo Ran sighed out of relief before walking. Chu Wanning flops down on the sofa, guessing his plan with the library will have to wait. He could continue while staying on call with Mo Ran, but he wouldn't be able to focus, thus rendering his actions useless at the end of the day.
After a couple of moments, Mo Ran whispers, as if reading Chu Wanning's mind, "Hey, Chu Wanning? Were you just about to do something?"
"Mm. I can just do it next time."
"Haha, sorry for interrupting your vacation with my body," He heard a nervous chuckle, then rustling, "You know I thought you were a pretty chill guy through your letters, but when I flashed a smile on the class everyone was very surprised at me that I even heard a loud gasp. Are you the cold type, Chu Wanning?"
"...You smiled?"
"Yeah! For some reason, even when I was smiling, everyone was looking at me when I-"
"Professor Chu Wanning!" Ah. Chu Wanning can recognize that voice anywhere; it just has to be Xue Meng, one of his students.
"Mo Ran, that's-"
But before Chu Wanning could even continue, Mo Ran already spoke out, "Xue Meng...?"
"Yes! Professor Chu! I have a question-"
"What are you doing here, Xue Meng?"
Chu Wanning almost forgot; Mo Ran knew Xue Meng. Actually, Mo Ran doesn't just know Xue Meng, you can even say that he's close with the other student. They used to belong to the same trio of friends if the professor remembers correctly. He remembers seeing them hanging out together, sometimes they'd even drag Chu Wanning in if they felt brave enough. Usually, it was Mo Ran who would drag the professor, the other two of the trio would apologetically look at him as if indirectly telling him, "It's okay if you say no, we won't mind."
His thoughts were cut off as he heard Xue Meng through the phone, "Ah! I'm staying late because I'm collecting some documents for a job! Professor, didn't you promise me that you'd guide me on my essay?"
"...R..Right..." Mo Ran taps on the bluetooth earphone, probably hidden with Chu Wanning's hair since Xue Meng doesn't say anything.
"Tell Xue Meng you're unavailable as of the moment, but I will be able to lend a hand tomorrow at 7pm in my table at the office."
"I'm, uh, unavailable at the moment-" Chu Wanning internally cringed at the poor imitation, "-so how about tomorrow at 7?"
Xue Meng seems to not notice that anything was amiss as he cheerfully replied a, "Great! Thank you, professor!" before the student seems to start to walk away. The professor heard footsteps, then a pause, "A-and nice hairstyle, professor! Y-you look great with your hair down!" Then the footsteps came back, only this time it was obvious that Xue Meng was running away.
Nice... Hairstyle... With hair down...
Oh, hell fucking no.
"...Mo Ran."
"Yeah?"
"Do you have my hair down?"
"Yup! Your hair is too soft and nice to tie up. It's so nice, I had to look at what your shampoo and conditioner was."
"..."
"Didn't know you were the type to have a lot of skin, body, and hair care products. I was half surprised half not, considering with how good your skin it is. You like the haitang scent most, am I correct?"
"...Please, shut up."
"Ah, are you the type to get easily embarrassed too? Don't you know tha-"
Then, Tanlang Elder's voice boomed through the earphone, "Professor Wanning, you're finally here!"
Oh dear.
...
The... Meeting went fine. Or at least, nothing too bad happened except for the occasional second-hand embarrassment Chu Wanning can feel through the phone. As always, Mo Ran absolutely does not know how to shut up.
"How about giving them extra Sunday classes? What? Everyone's unavailable? Then make yourselves available!"
"Why's the staffs getting shortened? Just hire more!"
"Hm? I change schedules in the middle of the semester? Why? I'm pretty sure that-"
"Mo Ran," Chu Wanning hissed,
"Oh, I bet the medicine faculty will be able to help! Ah, they're too busy? Then-"
"Mo RAN,"
"Hm... I'm not sure about having to add more hours for my class because most of the students are failing. Can't the students who fail just-"
"MO RAN!"
"..." Mo Ran trailed off, to which the other staff members seem to take as him realizing what a bad idea he was just about to say, so the others continued on.
"If you don't instantly shut up right now, I will end the call and leave you with no clue on what to do."
And so, the rest of the meeting finally continued quietly without 'Chu Wanning's' side comments. Oh god, Chu Wanning felt a migraine coming as he think about his pride, his face... his poor, poor pride...
It was when everyone was finally dismissed that Mo Ran started to talk again; The model went straight to the rest room for a sense of privacy. "Chu Wanning! Chu Wanning!" He said, half whisper, "The meeting's over, thank you for your help!"
"..."
"Are you still there, Chu Wanning?"
"..."
"Hel-"
"I am thinking of where did I miss a warning when I've clearly written out, 'please do not embarrass me' in my note for you."
A small chuckle from the phone, "Ahh, don't be like that! I'm just participating!" Then, a small pause, as if Mo Ran was thinking of something, "So I'm correct, then?"
"...Correct with?"
"You're the icy cold type!"
"..."
"Chu Wanning?"
"..."
"Chu-"
Beep. Beep. Beep.
...
Monday finally ended, and Tuesday came. Chu Wanning did not know whether to hide and run, afraid of the comments with how he acted yesterday, or to act like nothing happened. Left with no choice but to get up and attend his classes (he’d feel too guilty knowing that he skipped teaching just because he was shy), he ultimately decided to choose the latter option. Remembering Mo Ran’s stupidly written note saying, “I am so sorry again!! Pls:( give me another chance? Also I just found out ure ambidextrous !??!?! im writing with my left hand ??!?!? – mo ran” Chu Wanning exhaled deeply as he tries to calm the creeping redness threatening to spread all over his cheeks.
He could feel almost everyone glancing at least once at him when he passed by the corridor, wishing to the gods and heavens above to let the ground before him swallow him and never let his face be shown to the world again. He just simply avoided it, of course, making it seem like he’s too focused on looking forward. He could feel his scalp stinging a bit, making sure his hair is still in a pony tail while trying to not imagine the image of having to go outside with his hair down… It wasn’t that he hates his hair down, no, not at all; It’s just that he doesn’t like the idea of customizing himself too much. Is it because of his insecurity, or is it because of something else? That, Chu Wanning can’t clarify.
Time passed by, and thankfully no one approached him to talk about his actions yesterday. He was grading his papers when the doors to the faculty office creaked open, revealing a certain enthusiastic student poking his head in.
“Professor Chu! You’re available now, right?” Xue Meng’s eyes seemed to sparkle as he talked. Chu Wanning couldn’t help but faintly smile at that; He always had a soft spot for this student. The professor nodded, and motioned for the student to take a seat on the available chair next to his spot at the table. Xue Meng brought out his folder filled with portfolios and such; Xue Meng has been preparing to get into a robotics company he liked, and with as much courage as the phoenix could muster, he’d asked Chu Wanning for help in composing a portfolio and some requirements from the company. The older didn’t mind it at all, he was even touched that Xue Meng trusted him enough to ask for his advices.
And so, Chu Wanning helped Xue Meng composing three essays: a personal essay, an academic background essay, and then a hypothetical “what if you are working in our company?” type of essay. 7pm turned to 8pm, and it was time for the phoenix to head out.
“I’m really happy you agreed to help me professor…” Xue Meng sheepishly said, smiling nervously as he stood up and rubbed the back of his neck as he started walking to the door. “Thank you again, professor Chu! See you tomorrow!”
Chu Wanning simply nodded at that, “Mm. No need. Take care and stay safe when going home.”
The teacher was getting in a good mood anyway, almost forgetting that yesterday didn’t even exist-
Xue Meng stopped, pausing as if hesitating, then yelled out before dashing for his life, “A-and I’m sad to see you don’t have your hair down again! Not that hair up doesn’t fit you too, I just think! P-Professor Chu with hair down is a good! Thank you have-a-nice-day-please-don’t-murder-me!”
For fuck’s sake.