The Little Brat's Sweet And Sassy Chapter 1244 - Side Story 23: I’ll Help You

1244 Side Story 23: Allow Me to Assist You

Saturday, inside the physics laboratory.

Shen Zhijin was occupied with the final stages of his data analysis. Moments later, Xu Zhe strolled by, casting a glance toward him, his expression one of complete bewilderment.

“Wait, Zhijin, weren’t you planning to tackle this later this afternoon? What’s the rush to finish now?”

!!

Shen Zhijin replied calmly, “It is simply more convenient this way.”

“…”

Xu Zhe stifled the urge to let out a string of curses. There was no point in questioning someone of the boss's status!

“Once I am finished, I will forward the data to you. Provided there are no errors, you may initiate your experiment today,” Shen Zhijin added.

Though their specific fields differed, they functioned within the same research unit and shared several overlapping objectives. Given that Shen Zhijin also oversaw the Fino Laboratory, his role served as that of a mentor. His pace dictated the workflow for everyone else, Xu Zhe included.

“Ugh…”

Xu Zhe, who had already finalized his weekend leisure plans, could not suppress a groan of misery.

Knock, knock.

“Senior Xu Zhe?” A voice piped up from the doorway as Wei Cheng offered a timid knock.

Xu Zhe swiveled around, looking puzzled. “Wei Cheng? What brings you here?”

Since the boy was only a third-year student, he rarely frequented this area. “Do you require assistance with something? Come on in!”

Wei Cheng stepped inside, nodding politely. His eyes immediately darted toward Shen Zhijin, who was still processing data beside Xu Zhe, causing a sudden ripple of nervous energy. It was his first time standing so close to the renowned prodigy! Despite this, Shen Zhijin remained focused on his work, appearing completely oblivious to his presence.

Though slightly deflated, Wei Cheng remembered his objective. “Senior Xu Zhe, our club has organized an outing to Yun Hill tonight for a bit of stargazing.”

Xu Zhe chuckled dryly. “That sounds pleasant. The weather happens to be quite clear today. It is perfect.”

Wei Cheng’s expression turned troubled. “There is a slight complication… Senior, would it be possible for you to join us?”

Xu Zhe heaved a despondent sigh. “I would love to, but that is not feasible. I have a pile of pending tasks here that will likely keep me occupied until very late.” It was all the fault of a certain individual sitting nearby.

Noticing Wei Cheng’s pained look, Xu Zhe asked, “What is the issue? Are you short on equipment?” Procuring sophisticated gear was far simpler for him than for the younger students.

Wei Cheng corrected him, “No, it is actually the opposite. The equipment is far too advanced…” As he recalled the expensive haul of gear, Wei Cheng looked like he was on the brink of tears. “Gu Tingyin managed to scout some sponsors, and Complex Star delivered ten professional telescopes. Regarding the models, let me put it this way: one of them includes a theodolite I could never afford, even if I sold everything I owned!”

“…”

Complex Star was the country’s leading manufacturer of astronomical hardware. Wei Cheng’s knees felt weak at the mere thought of transporting such precious items to Yun Hill. If even a scratch occurred, he would essentially be ruined. Furthermore, the gear required specialized handling. He had hoped for Xu Zhe’s help, but alas, the man was unavailable.

“I had no idea Junior Gu was so capable…” Since he had founded the club himself, he felt a responsibility to assist, yet he could not physically attend. Suddenly, Xu Zhe noticed Shen Zhijin wrapping up his data work, appearing as if he were about to leave. A spark of an idea lit up in his mind.

“Zhijin!”

...

Gu Tingyin sat by the window in the final row of the bus, eyes shut, attempting to catch some rest. Without even needing to look, she could sense the hushed murmurs of the others and knew they were staring at her, likely discussing the ten telescopes.

Abruptly, the bus grew deathly quiet. She didn’t dwell on it, assuming they were prepared to depart, until she heard her name.

...

“Gu Tingyin?”

She fluttered her eyes open. Wei Cheng was calling her, but more tellingly, a tall, striking young man stood at his side. His mere presence had silenced the entire vehicle. Everyone appeared frozen, as if they were hallucinating. Was that… Shen Zhijin? He had actually agreed to come!

Wei Cheng looked ecstatic. He had finally managed to bring the great master along! “Junior, Senior Shen will be joining us for our stargazing session. Since you gathered all the instrumentation, you understand it best. Could you coordinate with Senior Shen regarding the setup later?”

Gu Tingyin, still caught in a fog, simply nodded. She did not fully grasp the reality of the situation until Shen Zhijin approached and settled into the seat next to her, radiating his signature frigid aura.

From this moment until morning broke, he would be right beside her. She instantly tuned out the chatter of the dozens of other club members. Her ears flushed a bright, burning crimson.

She wanted to speak, but the memory of the library incident earlier that week left her tongue-tied. She sat in a complete daze, listening to her own heart race against her ribs. Finally, Shen Zhijin broke the silence.

“Actually, the Sky-E4 model would have been sufficient for this activity.”

Huh?

She turned to look at him, bewildered. It took her several seconds to process his words. She whispered, “Oh, I understand. However, the president and the others didn’t provide specific instructions, so I made the selection based on my own judgment.”

She had been the one to choose. Rare, indeed; many amateur astronomy organizations struggled to even lease gear from Complex Star, let alone university clubs. She hadn’t just secured the items—she had personally curated them.

Shen Zhijin simply replied with a soft “Hmm.” He pressed no further and closed his eyes. Given that the items were already secured, there was no point in debating it.

Gu Tingyin desperately wanted to chat, but witnessing the exhaustion etched into his features, she asked softly, “Shen Zhijin, did you not get enough sleep?”

He didn’t reopen his eyes, his voice steady. “I am fine.” He had burned the midnight oil until three in the morning just to finish the data, then resumed at dawn. He had managed less than four hours of rest.

Gu Tingyin lowered her voice even further. “I see. Since it is a two-hour drive to Yun Hill, you should take a nap.”

Shen Zhijin offered no retort. She fell silent as well. The bus rattled forward. Initially, people cast intermittent glances their way, but as they traveled further, everyone’s gaze shifted toward the passing scenery. It was a mild autumn afternoon, soaked in golden light.

Gu Tingyin drew the curtains, casting their corner into shadows. She looked at him again. He seemed to have drifted off; his dark hair brushed against his forehead, softening his sharp, handsome features. As she studied him, a slight, involuntary smile tugged at her lips.

Eventually, sleep claimed most of the passengers. Gu Tingyin had intended to seize the rare opportunity to watch him, but the swaying of the bus and the warmth of the sun proved too much. She drifted off as well.

When the bus hit an uneven patch of road, her body tilted until her head was inches from the window. Suddenly, a long, elegant hand appeared, shielding her forehead from the glass. She did not wake. As he gently guided her head to the other side, she subconsciously shifted, seeking a comfortable spot as if napping against a pillow, and drifted deeper into sleep.

...

They arrived at Yun Hill by four o’clock. The bustling noise of the arriving group finally stirred Gu Tingyin awake. Everyone else had already disembarked and exited the bus. Shen Zhijin had risen from his seat, prepared to depart. She let out a small, disappointed ‘Ah’.

“Is something wrong?” Shen Zhijin turned, his brow slightly furrowed.

She felt miserable. “Why did I fall asleep? I promised myself I would look at you for longer…” She caught herself before saying the final words aloud.

It felt so unfair. If she squandered this chance, who knew how long she would have to wait for another?

“Senior Shen?” Wei Cheng shouted from outside. “ Everything is assembled, but we need your expertise for the final debugging.”

Shen Zhijin gave a swift, affirmative nod.

...

Venus and the moon would not be visible for another thirty minutes, providing plenty of time for setting up tents and optics. The thirty-member club was well-equipped, boasting ten high-end telescopes and several binoculars. Once Shen Zhijin completed the initial configurations, the members scrambled to follow his lead, eager to learn under his tutelage, terrified of making a mistake that might draw his ire.

Sometimes, however, sheer effort isn't enough. Gu Tingyin stood before the equipment, feeling utterly lost. Where was she supposed to start?

“You are welcome to use the one that is already calibrated.”

His calm, low voice drifted from behind her. She turned around to see Shen Zhijin. She glanced at the scope; most members weren’t granted their own, and she only had one because she had been the one to secure the rental. However, she quickly realized she lacked his deep intuition for the hardware. With a bright smile, she decided to abandon the struggle and stick by his side.

“Alright!”

No one had ever dared request such a thing of him before, but because he had extended the offer, it was acceptable. The surrounding group cast curious looks their way, but Gu Tingyin was too buoyed by excitement to notice. Shen Zhijin noticed the stares, but cared little.

“Look toward the southwest horizon. The moon and the sun will appear simultaneously, keeping the two celestial bodies within five degrees of one another,” he explained.

Gu Tingyin had been fiddling with the camera, but his words made her eyes widen. “Five degrees? Just how far is that?”

“Extend your arm,” Shen Zhijin commanded. He waited as she complied, her arm stretched out straight. Then, he gently brushed her fingertips, positioning his hand against her index and ring fingers. “It is this distance.”

As he touched her, her heart hammered against her chest with such ferocity she feared he might hear it. She could barely focus on her telescope.

A crescent moon slowly ascended into the darkening blue. Nearby, a brilliant star mirrored its progress. “Did you see it?” he asked.

‘How far away is that? It’s just like this proximity between you and me.’

He paused, and when she didn't reply, he began to ask if she needed help viewing it. Then, she looked up suddenly. “I saw it.”

The evening draft ruffled her hair. She gathered her courage, her mind made up. “Shen Zhijin, actually, I can explain those two drawings from that day!”

He looked surprised, yet his voice remained steady. “I was never angry.”

She persisted, as if she couldn't rest until it was settled. “I promise I won’t drag you into some dark room and trap you… I swear!” She held up a finger, her eyes wide with a desperate, charming anxiety. “How could I ever bring myself to do such a thing to you?”

The words Shen Zhijin had intended to utter dissolved into static. The world narrowed down to naught but her voice. How was it possible that someone could be this unguarded, this ferociously honest about their feelings? She didn't just walk into his life; she occupied every facet of his perception, his hearing, his very soul. Her world was colliding with his, overwhelming everything.

She looked mortified, a faint flush still coloring her cheeks in the moonlight. “And… the first drawing was just… I knew you were returning, but I didn't know your flight schedule, and I had no idea when I would get to see you again…” She hung her head, a note of genuine hurt creeping into her sweet voice. “You were away for two full weeks. I was just…” Her voice trailed off, carried away by the night air. “I missed you so much.”

She had only imagined hijacking a plane because she wanted him home. Silence stretched between them. After a long while, Shen Zhijin asked, “Can you see Andromeda?”

She looked up, bewildered. “Huh?”

He stepped closer. “It is quite easy to locate.”

She remained rooted, staring blankly. Why was he changing the subject to Andromeda? Did he dislike what she confessed? She lowered her eyes, her lashes trembling, as the mountain chill seeped through her clothes.

“Didn't you want a crash course?” Shen Zhijin leaned down, pursing his lips for a moment. “Allow me to assist you.”

After a brief hesitation, he added, “I’ll help you.”