Chapter 41: Before Class

The Electives Department had its own mess hall wherein the teachers and students ate in separate areas. The food was rather good well, according to your average teacher at any rate.

Lan Jue carried his tray to a nearby corner and sat, having only picked a plate of steamed vegetables and a bowl of rice.

You eat so little, Mr. Lan! Jin Yan fair voice reached him as she placed her tray across from him and sat.

Lan Jue smiled. Im not very hungry.

But youre so tall and strong, she replied with a smile of her own. Surely that isnt enough nutrition there.

Lan Jue only laughed.

So accustomed to fine cuisine, Lan Jue had lost his taste for the more conventional fare, but still he finished everything on his plate. Not a grain of rice went to waste. If the food wasnt to your liking you could eat less, but you absolutely must not waste.

Lan Jue made no effort to press the conversation further, so Jin Yan ate in silence.

After hed finished Lan Jue made no motion to leave, instead sitting quietly until Jin Yan had cleaned her plate. But he was sure not to stare after all, staring at young women was not polite.

Even still, Jin Yans pretty face still grew slightly flushed. It had been somewhat abrupt, she felt, to sit beside him in the mess hall. But for reasons she didnt quite understand Lan Jues every word and deed made her feel at ease, and not the slightest bit awkward.

All done. Finishing off her last bite she glanced at Lan Jues cleaned plate. She smiled in appreciation. No wasting, thats a good habit.

His only response was to smile. He waited until Jin Yan had risen, and followed taking his own tray to the drop-off counter.

So this afternoon is your first class, Mr. Lan. Would you mind if I sat in? Shed known him for only a very short while, but Jin Yans interest in Lan Jue had grown considerably. This young gentleman with his noble demeanor and sharp clothing seemed almost perfect to her. It was the first time she had felt this way.

Of course! It would be my pleasure, he said with an amicable nod.

Jin Tao ran a hand through his peach-colored hair, making them gather together in the center of his head all the more. A cigarette hung from the corner of his mouth, the smoke curling around him as he sauntered towards the alumnis section. He hadnt any friends lately, but it hardly bothered him. He entertained himself.

The following is an announcement, a melodious female voice called.

Jin Tao in turn paused, listening. It appeared to be a school-wide broadcast, so he was curious what it had to say.

Announcing a new Elective Course: Etiquette and Lifestyle Training. The first class will commence at two oclock this afternoon. Instructor Lan Jue leading. Any students with time and interest are invited to attend.

The broadcast repeated three times, echoing throughout every nook and cranny of the campus.

Jin Taos lips curled in contempt. The hell is that? Etiquette? Pfft. As he spoke he stuck in middle finger up to the sky in defiance.

Just at that moment he spotted a couple figures in the distance making their way towards him. His eyes lit up and he darted out of sight.

Two women in school uniform were walking his way. The first woman was wearing the formal dress of a university lady. White shirt, a black skirt stopping at the knee, white stockings and a black suit constituted her outfit. Her black hair hung loose, free to flow down her back, and her glimmering blue eyes seemed like they could look right through you in to your soul. Her beauty was breathtaking.

The second young lady stood at her side and was wearing a tight-fitting mecha-pilot flight suit. These flight suits were excellent at protecting the body, but it also served to perfectly outline the figure of this long-legged beauty. She had a hair full of blond hair and deep, penetrating green eyes that shone like quartz. The uncommon length of her legs might have been somewhat off-putting, but her posture and well-built figure exuded a tameless, alluring beauty.

The normally fearless Dumb-mutt Jin had a reason for hiding away. Upon seeing the black-haired vixen he had been immediately smitten. However, that blond Amazon filled him with an odd sense of fear.

She was a name among the Mecha department. The NEU had but a few Special Grade pilots, and this was one Special Grade second rank. But rumor said, she was just a hairs breadth away from Special first rank. And whats more, a Sophomore National Scholar like the black haired beauty she accompanied.

Jin Tao had managed to earn a Third Rank in piloting with no small amount of effort, still the lowest rank to be found in the school. In front of this beautiful maverick he wouldnt dare act arrogant.

Whats more, both were top of the charts for the most beautiful girls on campus. At at the very top? Black Beauty. Some students might not even know who the Dean was but the Blue-Eyed Goddess Zhou Qianlin, not a soul was unfamiliar.

So what do you think, Qianlin. Why do you want to check out this Etiquette class? Could it be you have some lifestyle defect? I really dont know what the university was thinking, suddenly opening this class, Tang Mi said querulously.

Zhou Qianlin walked beside her textbook clutched to her chest, and said in resignation, Im not forcing you to go with me. Its you who really wants to tag along.

Tang Mi snorted. Hmph, you still really dont understand public sentiment do you! Who do you think are the people with nothing better to do than attend electives? Problem students. You rush over there and they start to harass you, what then? I get the worst of it, thats what!

What are you talking about, Qianlin muttered quizzically.

Tang Mi giggled in response. Dont you remember? You said if I were a man, youd have married me. Youre my woman!

Zhou Qianlin stuck her tongue out at her friend. Big breasts and no brains.

Nonsense, Tang Mi blurted out, Mine clearly arent as big as yours! Her voice had risen markedly. Hidden behind a nearby tree, the racy visions surging through Dumb-mutt Jins head threatened to send him spiraling in to a coma.

Fine. Long legs and no brains, hows that, Qianlin grumbled.

After the two beauties passed, Jin Tao remained hidden, dizzy from what he assumed must have been a sudden lack of blood. The two campus belles were going to join the Etiquette class eh? Awesome, a chance to see these gorgeous ladies up close and personal!

This was a secret he definitely wasnt going to share!

Off he went with that thought still ringing in his head, directly to his dorm room to change clothes. If he wanted to make a good impression on those girls he needed to look his best!

At the same moment Lan Jue had already arrived in the first classroom hed use as a teacher.

The classroom theyd assigned him wasnt large. It looked capable of holding only maybe fifty students. There was no fancy teaching equipment. Just a blackboard, a podium, and the chairs which would hold his charges.