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It's 10am and it's way too early for professor Du's cyber security class. To be fair, it is always too early for those. Lixin is going to admit that they are super informative and even though professor Du looks like he'll kill you for the slightest mistake, he's actually pretty patient with explaining the material again for those who didn't get it the first time around. But he expects nothing but the best out of his students and he will make you do extra if he thinks you're not catching up with the class. And he'll make you do extra if he sees potential in you. And he will keep your best interests at heart as he shoves lines of code down your throat that is too complex for ten in the effing morning...
Their usual teacher, Du Ruhui, announced that he was going to be working on some super secret project and his son will be the one taking over the classes. Which, fine. He can't be bad at what he does if he's prof Du's son.
The first class proved that. And that in this world there exists a scarier person than prof Du. And that is his son.
The whole point of online classes was not having to get dressed and having snacks with your mic on mute. And it's not like the younger professor Du said anything about a dress code... But... After the first time the prof glared at A-Su for eating a bun during class, everybody kind of got in with the program. Cameras - on, clothes - decent, food - banned.
Didn't mean the group chat stayed silent during.
*Ppduster*
Damn is it hot today or is it just me
*Molochssgrbb*
Ikr is this a new suit?
*Lilgolddigger*
Shut the fuck up. Some of us are trying to study.
And he's fucking ugly.
Weirdos.
*Ppduster*
Screenshotting this rn
I own you Jin
*Lilgolddigger*
I'm ignoring u
You're not worth my time
*Molochssgrbb*
U know what is worth my time? The glasses are 👌sinful👌
And that's how it is in the groupchat. For the most part Lixin tries to not get into it. He once said prof Du just wasn't his type and he's still getting reminded about it, as his opinion is no longer considered in anything from where to go after class, to what pizza toppings to get. He's smarter now. No matter how much he wants to - he will not write anything in the chat. Nothing. Ever. Because they're all crazy. He applauds Jin Ling for his stance though.
It's half an hour into the class and the chat is now mainly just screenshots of code and crying, when IT happens.
The door behind professor Du slams open and a gorgeous girl in a Tang dynasty hanfu bounces in, hugging the professor from behind, head leaning on his shoulder.
"Hao Du! Everything's ready! You said you'd-"
The literal ray of sunshine freezes as she notices the screen, filled up by slack jawed faces. The professor's eyes though, they're on the girl. Not leaving her face since she's entered his line of sight. It's like he forgot about the lecture altogether.
"Hao Du!" She pouts and professor Du, for real, actually, no, like, actually, smiles up at her with the most tender expression on his usually gloomy face.
She smiles awkwardly, only making his adoring gaze get 10 times as strong.
"I forgot about the lecture..."
Professor Hao Du chuckles. Or, at least that's what that must've been. Lixin didn't know he was capable of that.
The chuckle also signals the start of the chaos in the group chat with Xiao Chun's "WHAT. THE. FUCK!!!!!.??"
The angel that seems to be on good terms with prof Du (Lixin is not thinking about him having a girlfriend. And not one as cute as that!) points a finger at the camera.
"You guys should listen to Hao Du and ask him lots and lots of questions. He's really smart. You should use the opportunity while you have it!"
Professor Du fucking slow blinks at her. The chat is on fire. One notifications coming after another.
"Also, don't you dare bully him. I know how you kids are with young teachers."
The beauty from the Tang dynasty turns to professor Du, placing her tiny palms on his shoulder. Her face is now out of frame, but the professor's face is still as sickeningly lovestruck as before.
"I'll leave you to it. Sorry for interrupting class."
"It's fine." he says in the softest voice, and watches her leave until the door shuts closed.
There's a moment of silence where he just stares at the door, the notifications in the chat still going off non-stop.
When the professor turns around, his face is back to the normal "I could kill you with my pinky" expression. But it's too late. Lixin can't unsee what happened. Nobody can, judging by the amount of "what the fuck"s, "noooo whyyyyy my husbandooo"s and "how TF did he get HER to date him"s.
"Alright, we have lost three minutes, we're going to add them to the end so you can keep up with the curriculum."
And that's it from him. No explanation. No anything. It's like it didn't even happen, but no. It did! The lesson's being recorded! The hanfu-wearing cutie does exist. And the scary professor Du WAS making heart eyes at her. Everyone saw. It couldn't have been a group hallucination.
The rest of the class has to go on as usual, but they will not forget.
~
That evening A-Su sends a link to a douyin in the group chat. Lixin thinks he'll check it out later or whatever. Only after the link is sent, it is followed by an explosion of messages, most of which just contain minds being blown, the blushing shocked face and lots of exclamation marks. Lixin has to see it after this.
He... Isn't disappointed. He... Doesn't know what he is, but disappointed isn't the word to describe it.
On the screen of his phone is the girl from today. The one from professor Du's class. And she's doing a cute dance, wearing a colorful hanfu. It's nice. Cute. Only... There's professor Du. Right next to her. Doing the same dance. Wearing freaking clothes from the Tang dynasty, silly hat and all. Dancing. To a popular song. On douyin. With, apparently, his wife. Because the caption on the video calls him "husband". Husband. Professor Du has a WIFE. A gorgeous smiley wife with whom he does dancing routines.
And because Lixin can't leave it at that, he goes to see more. There's dances, there's the girl, LeYan, doing some of them solo, there's them doing a synchronized dance in wedding robes, to announce their wedding, apparently. There's also them doing trendy memes and cute couply shit. They have a cat that they picked up from a shelter.
Lixin's mind is broken. Irreparably. His world shifted on it's axis and he'll never be the same.
That evening he doesn't do any studying. Couldn't have even if he wanted to.
The chat doesn't die down for another three weeks.