The next day, we woke up early and went to the library to start our project — the one our professor dumped on us yesterday.
We took some reference books, found a quiet bench, and began scribbling away, still bitter about everything.
Just as we were deep into research, a group of girls passed by, giggling.
"We finally got the concert tickets!" one of them squealed.
Xuanye and I lifted our heads in shock. I swear, it felt like we were about to cry on the spot.
I clenched my pen tightly and muttered,
"If the professor hadn't caught us... we would've gotten the tickets too. We could've met SEVENTEEN."
Xuanye was still staring at those girls as if they had stolen her soul.
I waved my hand in front of her face.
"Hello? Earth to Xuanye."
She blinked and looked at me.
"Huh?"
I sighed.
"We have to go to that concert, Xuanye. Even if we don't have tickets."
Xuanye nodded like a determined puppy.
"But first... we need to finish this project. Otherwise, our professor will assign us a sequel."
I chuckled and took her hand.
"Seriously, I'm so thankful to have a friend like you."
"Aww~" she said. "Since when did you become the emotional one?"
"I mean it!" I said, raising a brow.
She smacked my hand and rolled her eyes.
"Alright, stop being weird. Let's finish this before you turn into a drama heroine."
---
Three Days Later
We finally completed the project. Together, we walked to our professor's office, both of us nervously standing in front of the door.
"You knock."
"No, you knock."
As we silently argued with hand gestures, our professor suddenly appeared behind us like a horror movie villain.
"What are you two doing here?" he said in a deep, suspicious voice.
We jumped and slowly turned around.
"P-Professor... we came to submit our project," I stammered.
Xuanye nodded rapidly.
"Then why were you playing statue outside my door?"
We looked at each other, speechless.
He sighed, unlocked his door, and walked in.
"Stop blinking at each other and come in."
---
Inside, we handed him our project and nervously began explaining it. He listened quietly, arms folded.
Then, suddenly, he said,
"Stop."
We froze, thinking he was about to scold us again.
But instead, he nodded.
"I'm impressed. Your project is well-done and unique. I'll forgive you this time... but don't let it happen again."
He pointed directly at Xuanye.
"And you — stop fooling around."
I burst out laughing.
He raised a brow at me.
"You're talented, but wasting your time on useless things."
We both bowed quickly.
"We'll improve, sir! We really regret our mistakes!" I said.
Then, under her breath, Xuanye mumbled,
"Still... it's because of you we missed the tickets..."
I elbowed her, eyes wide.
The professor laughed.
"You better close that mouth, Xuanye, or I'll give you another project."
"No, sir! We're leaving now!" she said in panic, dragging me out of the room.
As we walked away, I looked at her in disbelief.
The professor shook his head and muttered to himself,
"They'll never change."