Chapter 378
Shi Yao raised an eyebrow. “No matter. Teaching you works too, but I have standards. You all have normal IQs, right?”
Jaylene spoke up immediately. “Don’t worry, Professor Shi. We’re all very smart. We learn fast.”
Shi Yao snorted ambiguously. “Who knows? Alaricka here doesn’t exactly look the part.”
Alaricka smiled coolly. “No one would mistake you for mute if you stayed quiet.”
“Fine.” Shi Yao crossed his arms, leaning back against the cushion, eyebrow arched. “Carry on then. Let’s see your level.”
Nie Guanyu visibly perked up. He grabbed the book, placed it between the four of them, pulled his laptop from its bag, displayed the code he’d prepared earlier, and began explaining it to Alaricka and Jaylene.
Shi Yao listened quietly nearby. Hearing a few points Nie Guanyu made, he frowned in displeasure.
Alaricka listened intently. At one specific point, she raised a question.
Shi Yao’s frown deepened. He cut off Nie Guanyu’s reply. “Alaricka, I stopped asking questions like that at twelve. How are you only covering this now?”
Nie Guanyu and Jaylene exchanged uneasy glances.
Alaricka stared coldly at Shi Yao. “Got any brilliant insights then?”
Shi Yao avoided her gaze, lifting his chin. “Beg me and I’ll teach you.”
Without hesitation, Alaricka raised her hand and slapped Shi Yao’s.
Shi Yao felt his patience snap. He scowled. “Alaricka! You hit me again?!”
Alaricka sneered. “Hit you? Or would you forget what you just promised me?”
Shi Yao’s expression froze momentarily. Reluctantly, he pointed at a specific line of code. “Right here is…”
Shi Yao’s explanations were sharp and concise, his thoughts leaping ahead. Alaricka struggled to keep up, pressing with more questions.
Unlike his earlier impatience, Shi Yao now answered every query thoroughly, however grumpy his face remained. He watched Alaricka’s expression as he spoke, only satisfied when he saw no trace of confusion.
The other two: Nie Guanyu’s eyes sparkled; Jaylene nodded in understanding. All three grasped what he’d just explained.
Shi Yao raised an eyebrow, impressed. “Not bad. Most people can’t follow my train of thought.”
Alaricka rolled her eyes behind Shi Yao’s back, telling Nie Guanyu, “Ignore him. Keep going.”
Nie Guanyu admired Alaricka’s annoyed expression for a moment, satisfied. He tapped the table. “Alright, my turn to teach. Pay attention.”
Nie Guanyu pushed the computer over without hesitation, looking at Shi Yao expectantly.
Shi Yao glanced at Alaricka, who raised her chin, signaling him to explain.
Shi Yao chuckled softly.
As it turned out, the NTG computer science graduate had remarkable mental agility. His profound knowledge surpassed most, with crystal-clear logic and concise yet rigorous explanations. Though he occasionally overlooked basic details, Alaricka would press further, and Shi Yao answered earnestly.
Overall, Shi Yao taught far better than Nie Guanyu, who listened with great interest himself.
Shi Yao grew increasingly fluent, finding Alaricka much more agreeable now.
“Alaricka, you’re actually quite clever.”
Alaricka snorted.
Shi Yao checked the time on the computer desktop and slid it back. “Alright, two hours is enough. It’s dark out—time to head home.”
Alaricka agreed, “Right.”
All three began packing their things and stood up.
Shi Yao walked ahead while Alaricka followed, carrying her belongings.
Jaylene said, “It’s so late and dark already. Professor Shi, why don’t you go back with Alaricka? You live together anyway.”
Shi Yao shook his head. “I’m not going back. Got things to handle—leaving first.”
Without another word, he walked off alone.
Jaylene looked surprised.
Alaricka glanced at Shi Yao’s retreating figure. “Don’t mind him. I’ll go back alone. You two stay safe.”
After days of interaction, Alaricka grew increasingly certain Shi Yao’s background was far from ordinary.