Chapter 7: Senior Brother

Bai Chen’s brows curved slightly, and he smiled in a way that was somewhat meaningful.

Zhu Yu’s eyes locked onto Bai Chen’s, his tone filled with surprise: “Bai Chen, how could it be you!”

Bai Chen explained, “I didn’t know the person the professor wanted to introduce me to was you.”

He was still smiling, and the dimples on his cheeks created ripples like still water disturbed by a breeze.

Since both professors were present, they communicated in English.

This was Zhu Yu’s first time hearing Bai Chen speak English. His voice seemed even more magnetic than usual, like it had been soaked in clear spring water—mesmerizing. Zhu Yu’s ears unconsciously twitched.

“If you two already know each other, I don’t need to introduce you much,” Professor Mayra said, her brows curving with satisfaction, the crow’s feet at the corners of her eyes crinkling. She seemed much more relaxed.

Bai Chen looked at them both and said earnestly, “Thank you, professors.”

“You’ve both been worrying about your students’ issues,” he added.

“It’s alright,” Professor Vera said as he took a sip of his coffee. “We just hope you can identify and solve the real problems that are troubling you. I think you came abroad to solve this problem, didn’t you?”

Bai Chen didn’t speak.

Professor Mayra picked up the conversation, “Actually, Bai Chen, your problem is quite obvious.”

“You need to be bold enough to try breaking out of the confined, formulaic designs that limit you and take that courageous step forward.”

She paused briefly, then looked at Zhu Yu. “Maybe Yu, who is one of my favorite students, can help you.”

Zhu Yu blinked, looking at Bai Chen in confusion because he had no idea how he could help Bai Chen.

Bai Chen lowered his eyelids, his long lashes casting a shadow beneath his eyes. Zhu Yu thought he seemed like someone who had many secrets.

“The student understands, and I won’t disappoint you,” Bai Chen replied.

“Bai Chen, you shouldn’t say that,” Professor Vera, who had been silent for a while, suddenly became serious. He corrected him, “The effort you make isn’t for Mayra and me, but for yourself.”

Bai Chen paused, then raised his gaze to respond, “Okay.”

“Since you two know each other, you must understand each other well, right? It seems I don’t need to worry at all,” Mayra said, leaning against her partner’s shoulder, looking at them with a satisfied expression.

Zhu Yu weakly spoke up, “Actually, we don’t know each other that well. We’ve only known each other for two days.”

“Only two days? From how you two interact, I thought you’d known each other for a long time,” the nearly fifty-year-old woman said, her tone and expression almost as if she were enjoying some big gossip.

Her smile carried a hint of meaning.

Then she continued, “Anyway, the fact that you’ve met is already a great start.”

“I think your relationship will continue to improve from here on out.”

“By the way, Bai Chen should be your senior brother, since he took a two-year break from school before…” Professor Vera was about to continue Mayra’s words, but his phone suddenly rang.

He glanced at his phone, apologized with a gesture to the group, and then answered the call.

A few minutes later, he hung up the phone and whispered something in Mayra’s ear. Both of them stood up. “Bai Chen, Yu, we are very sorry, but something urgent has come up, and we have to leave,” they said.

Zhu Yu immediately understood the implication behind their words, “It’s fine! I know Bai Chen, we’re fine, you don’t have to worry about us!”

He naturally placed Bai Chen in the role of his senior brother.

Bai Chen didn’t notice Zhu Yu’s use of the term “senior brother,” and continued with his reply, “Right, you don’t need to worry.”

So, the two professors left the café together. Zhu Yu watched them get into a taxi through the window, then turned back to look at Bai Chen.

“Senior brother, hello!” Zhu Yu smiled and greeted him, showing a pair of white, porcelain-like tiger teeth. His eyes sparkled, and the energy he radiated was enough to melt anyone.

Bai Chen was taken aback, then he realized what Zhu Yu had just called him. He asked absentmindedly, “What?”

“Just now, Professor Vera said you should be my senior brother,” Zhu Yu turned sideways, resting his elbow on the table, supporting his face with one hand, and tilted his head to smile at Bai Chen.

“You don’t have to call me senior brother, just call me by my name,” Bai Chen said.

Zhu Yu pursed his lips and shook his head. “No. Calling by name feels so distant. ‘Senior brother’? ‘Senior’? It’s much more closer than calling by name, right?”

“And we’ll be spending a lot of time together from now on,” Zhu Yu straightened up and leaned a bit closer to Bai Chen.

It didn’t seem like he was negotiating with Bai Chen.

After all, Zhu Yu knew that whatever he wanted to do or say, no one could interfere.

Bai Chen stared at Zhu Yu, his gaze deep, calm, and mysterious. After a pause, he parted his lips, his tone seeming like compromise, yet also tolerant, “Alright.”

Zhu Yu had thought he would reject him.

He had prepared himself for Bai Chen’s refusal.

“What’s wrong?” Bai Chen asked gently when he saw Zhu Yu looking at him in confusion.

“It’s nothing,” Zhu Yu shook his head, then changed the subject, “Senior brother, according to the professors, you took a two-year break from school. May I ask why?”

“I got a bit sick, and also…” His voice trailed off, then he cleared his throat and added, “But I’m fine now.”

“Sick? Was it serious?” Zhu Yu asked, concerned.

Bai Chen replied, “I’m fine now, it wasn’t serious.”

Obviously, he didn’t want to continue with this topic. Zhu Yu, understanding, didn’t press further.

He shifted the conversation to himself, “The professors said I should help you, but I’m an art student. I’m not sure how much I can help.”

“Ah! I forgot to ask them how I’m supposed to help you.”

Zhu Yu’s voice showed a moment of frustration, but then he quickly placed his hands on his hips, smiled at Bai Chen, and cheerfully added:

“But don’t worry, I’ll do my best to help you. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask me!”

The brief moment of frustration quickly vanished.

Zhu Yu was no longer the person with golden hair from the other day.

There was no golden sunlight shining on him either.

Yet, Bai Chen suddenly felt like there was a radiance coming from him—too bright, too intense.

After a two-second silence, Bai Chen smiled and replied, “Alright.”

“But I don’t know how to help you. The professors left in a hurry, and when I get the chance next time, I’ll ask them.” Zhu Yu then started to worry about not being able to help Bai Chen.

“You don’t need to worry too much,” Bai Chen gently reassured him. “Because perhaps my abilities are just like this, unable to reach that so-called next level.”

Bai Chen’s lips parted and closed as he spoke in a calm tone, as gentle as water. He looked at Zhu Yu and added, “Because the professor has always cared deeply about my situation, I don’t want to reject his kindness.”

“So, if you find you can’t help me, please don’t feel guilty. This isn’t your fault.” Bai Chen emphasized each word, using self-deprecating language to comfort Zhu Yu.

How could someone think so little of themselves?

Zhu Yu couldn’t understand it at all.

“But we haven’t even tried yet. Why are you doubting yourself?” Zhu Yu’s clear eyes were full of confusion, and his beautiful brows were furrowed tightly.

Bai Chen patiently explained, “Because, as I told you last night, no one is perfect. You have to accept the parts of yourself that aren’t perfect.”

It was quite formal, but when Bai Chen said it, it didn’t feel out of place.

Zhu Yu immediately shook his head, his pink fluffy hair following suit, and he directly voiced his disagreement with Bai Chen’s words. “Senior brother, I don’t like it when you say things like that!”

He even said it in an angry tone.

Bai Chen had never met someone like this—so blunt, saying whatever was on their mind without holding back.

He was used to interpreting and guessing the intentions behind others’ words and actions, while Zhu Yu would express his thoughts before Bai Chen even had the chance to analyze them.

In the silence of the next two seconds, Bai Chen felt like he should say something.

But Zhu Yu suddenly grabbed his hand and continued, “I think you should be like me.”

“Senior brother, let me tell you, when I first arrived in the UK, I tried cooking for myself. Back then, I didn’t know that the smoke from cooking could trigger the smoke alarm, so my first time cooking ended with me having to pay a fine for the fire department responding.”

“Later, I still made a mess whenever I cooked, just like last night.”

“Although I was upset last night and told you I didn’t have a talent for cooking, I was just saying it. I never really thought that I couldn’t do it,” Zhu Yu said seriously, sharing his own experience with Bai Chen.

“So, you should never think that you can’t do it!” Whether it was influenced by his family environment or not, Zhu Yu had always been taught to be confident and never give up.

Just as he firmly believed he could live well on his own in the UK, even though things were a bit rough at the moment.

Zhu Yu usually didn’t speak in grand terms because when he did, it tended to make people laugh.

But this time, he sounded like an elder, sharing these “grand principles.” He couldn’t help but feel a bit proud of himself after saying it.

Before Bai Chen could say anything, Zhu Yu, almost belatedly, realized that he didn’t know when he had grabbed Bai Chen’s hand.

Bai Chen’s hands were large, with distinct knuckles and calloused fingertips. There was a mole on one of his fingers, placed so perfectly that it immediately caught the eye.

Compared to Zhu Yu’s delicate, pampered hands, Bai Chen’s hands looked wide and strong.

Zhu Yu quickly released Bai Chen’s hand.

Bai Chen’s gaze was calmly focused on Zhu Yu’s serious face, and the clear smile in his eyes gradually gathered in his pupils.

It seemed as though he understood the small sense of pride in Zhu Yu’s eyes, and he cooperatively replied, “Alright, I understand.”

“Thank you for sharing so much with me,” Bai Chen said gently, always smiling, the corners of his lips always slightly upturned, as if he never got angry.

Zhu Yu immediately placed his hands on his hips, proudly tilting his head, “No need to thank me. After all, you’ve helped me so much too.”

“After all, if it weren’t for you, Liu Bo and I would’ve starved the night before last.” Zhu Yu then pretended to cover his face, making sobbing noises.

He was so full of energy, and his exaggerated acting didn’t seem forced at all. Instead, it just made him appear even more adorable.

Bai Chen let out a light laugh. At that moment, Zhu Yu lowered his hand and looked at the time on his watch. In the next second, he suddenly looked up, his round eyes focused on Bai Chen, “Ah!”

His tone was slightly anxious.

“What’s wrong?” Bai Chen immediately asked with a serious expression.

Zhu Yu quickly stood up, “I only asked the boss for a two-hour break!”

“It’s almost time!”

Bai Chen stood up as well, stepping aside to make way for Zhu Yu.

Zhu Yu walked past him, leaving behind a subtle fragrance that resembled camellias. As Bai Chen caught the scent, he instinctively took a half-step back to give Zhu Yu more space.

Zhu Yu stood by the table and finished the remaining half cup of coffee in one go. Then, he slung his bag over his shoulder, “Goodbye, senior, we’ll chat later.”

He grabbed a napkin and wiped the coffee stain off his lips, “I’ve already paid for the coffee, remember to finish it, don’t waste it!”

Zhu Yu was still quite mindful of money. A regular cup of coffee here cost over sixty yuan, which he converted into RMB, and yesterday’s earnings didn’t even cover today’s expenses. The two professors had left in a hurry, leaving behind most of their coffee unfinished.

But since Bai Chen hadn’t left yet, he reminded him not to waste the coffee before walking out.

“Alright, I got it.” Bai Chen responded with a smile.

Zhu Yu then rushed out of the café with his bag.

After watching Zhu Yu leave the café, Bai Chen returned to his seat.

The fragrance Zhu Yu left behind still lingered in the air, not yet dissipated.

Mixed with the bitterness of the coffee, Bai Chen took a sip.

Hmm, the coffee seemed to have gotten sweeter.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

Suddenly, the transparent glass window next to him was knocked.