Best Friend

Fortunately, Qi Chuan only made a fuss out of habit.

Seeing that he could not reach and also worrying about accidentally knocking over the coffee, he quickly sat back down properly.

However, as he looked at the coffee in front of him, he made a miserable face again.

He was not exactly incapable of consuming bitter things, but he did not like them either.

He did, however, have one habit: he never wasted anything.

So, despite looking distressed at the sight of the charcoal-roasted coffee, Qi Chuan eventually began to drink it slowly.

Meanwhile, Su Mian also felt that his drink was tasteless.

The milk coffee he usually enjoyed now felt as though it had lost all flavor.

After only a small sip, the smooth milk felt like sand clogging his throat.

Having no other choice, he forced himself to swallow that mouthful, put down his coffee cup, and looked up at the person across from him.

“So why exactly did you ask me out?”

“Does it have something to do with the professor?”

“It is indeed somewhat related to the professor.”

Qi Chuan nodded quickly, but since his mouth was still full of coffee, his words were muffled.

Su Mian spoke again.

“Do you want to go pay our respects to the professor’s remains?”

“Pfft!”

The youth with the gender-neutral appearance almost spat out his coffee.

He coughed several times, wiped his mouth with a tissue, and looked up with an exasperated expression.

“What kind of nonsense are you saying!”

“The professor’s remains are still in the police morgue.”

“Even if there is to be a farewell ceremony, it is not happening right now!”

“So what exactly is the trouble?”

“Actually, I want you to go with me to the professor’s residence…”

As Qi Chuan drank his coffee, he explained the specific reason why he had called Su Mian out.

The matter was quite simple.

Last night, he had handed a document to the professor for review.

The professor had taken it home and agreed to return it today, but then that unexpected accident occurred this morning.

Because the document was relatively important, he wanted Su Mian to go to the professor’s residence with him to retrieve it.

Su Mian merely raised an eyebrow.

“Can you not just go by yourself for something like this?”

“Did you really need to make an appointment to bring me along?”

“Oh, the professor’s house is still sealed off by the police while they look for clues.”

“You know my personality; I am a bit timid and I get nervous and speechless around a lot of people!”

“You are different, you are thick-skinned…”

“What?”

“Ahem!”

Seeing Su Mian’s unfriendly expression, Qi Chuan immediately corrected himself and pleaded.

“In any case, please help me out.”

“Just come with me this once.”

“That document is truly important to me!”

Seeing that the person across from him remained unmoved, he bit his lip.

“How about this? Haven’t you always wanted to see my dad’s collection room?”

“I will find a time to take you there afterward!”

Upon hearing this, Su Mian finally showed a look of interest, but then he frowned.

“But won’t that disturb the scene?”

“You said it is cordoned off. Can we even get in?”

“We are not going inside the house.”

“We will find a police officer nearby and ask for help.”

“They shouldn’t mind such a small matter, right?”

“Hard to say.”

Su Mian shook his head, making Qi Chuan feel a bit nervous.

“But that document is really important to me!”

“It has to be submitted within the next few days, or I will miss the qualification exam.”

“If I cannot get my certificate, I won’t be able to appraise antiques for others.”

“If I cannot appraise antiques, I won’t have money.”

“If I have no money, I will starve to death…”

The youth’s words became increasingly dramatic, as if he were scaring himself.

He leaned back in his chair, holding his coffee cup with a pale face.

In response, he only earned a roll of the eyes from Su Mian.

“When you were helping people secretly appraise Fifth Epoch antiques in middle school, I didn’t see you worrying about any certificates!”

“Heh heh.”

Seeing that his act was not working, Qi Chuan quickly regained his composure and said with a smile.

“Times have changed.”

“Having a license is always better than not having one.”

“Just come with me! It will be quick!”

“…Fine.”

Su Mian finally agreed.

After they finished their coffee and Qi Chuan rushed to pay the bill, they stood up and walked outside.

Out on the street, the human scent in the air seemed even more intense.

Fortunately, Su Mian’s condition was much better than yesterday, so he was able to endure it.

He waited for Qi Chuan to drive the car over, only to find that the black Jeep he usually drove had been replaced by a streamlined pure white sedan.

Qi Chuan opened the passenger seat, but Su Mian pulled open the back door instead.

“Why are you going to the back?”

The youth was somewhat confused, but Su Mian did not answer the question.

He sat in the car, adjusted his posture on the comfortable leather seat, and asked with feigned curiosity.

“Why did you change cars?”

“It is not mine, it is my mom’s.”

“My dad’s car broke down, so he took mine to handle some business, but he got into a crash halfway.”

“I have to use my mom’s for now.”

“…”

Su Mian was somewhat speechless and did not know what to say for a moment.

He waited for the car to start before changing the subject.

“Speaking of which, having Professor Zhou review the materials for your exam in advance—is that not considered cheating?”

“What are you saying!”

Although he could not see the expression of his friend in the front seat, Su Mian could guess he was rolling his eyes.

An annoyed voice followed.

“I typed every single word of those documents myself.”

“I was just unsure about the wording in some places.”

“I only asked the professor to review it for the sake of perfection!”

“Haha, I believe you.”

Su Mian clearly indicated that he did not believe it at all.

Qi Chuan’s family was in the antique business, and his parents were quite influential in the antique circles.

Professor Zhou was an expert in archaeology and antique appreciation.

The circle was small, so they clearly knew each other and likely had a good relationship.

Otherwise, why would a freshman like Qi Chuan be handpicked by the professor and even accompany him to appraise a batch of special cultural relics?

Was it because he looked like a girl?

It could only be said that he was a classic case of using connections.