After the program recording ended, Ye Qiusuo thought the public would forget her and she could return to normal life, but that wasn't the case.
Because Li Kou had replaced their ads with the ones featuring the two new spokespersons, broadcasting them daily across major platforms.
Li Kou had received several sample tapes from the shoot and, after discussion, unanimously chose the version with skateboarding and music.
It must be said, Professor Ye skateboarding shattered the fixed image many viewers had of her, leaving them utterly astonished.
As soon as the ad aired, people within smaller circles immediately began asking everywhere: was this special effects or real? How did they ever think of having Professor Ye do such a thing?
【Is this Professor Ye?!】
【Wuwu, her legs are so long and straight.】
【Is that skateboarding trick real? Even an aerial flip? Are you sure it's not CGI?】
【A professional here: that's not CGI, she's really skating.】
【？？？Are you even leaving any room for us ordinary people?!】
【With such standard moves, I suspect Professor Ye is a pro.】
【If I drink Li Kou, can I become as skilled as Professor Ye?】
【Mom, I'm unfilial, I think I'm bending...】
【Is this the charm of the top golden talent? Love it, love it.】
【Going downstairs to buy a bottle to support our Suosuozi!】
...
No one could have predicted that a single advertisement could generate such massive discussion and heat. According to insider news, Li Kou sold out in supermarkets and convenience stores that very day, and their official website was overwhelmed, with netizens in the comments urging them to hurry up and release the new packaging.
As for Li Kou having two spokespersons this time, the public completely ignored the other; everyone only had eyes for Ye Qiusuo.
Late that night, Li Kou's headquarters immediately called an emergency meeting, demanding packaging manufacturers start producing the new design right away to capitalize on the peak sales period.
The reason Ye Qiusuo found out about this later was because during the Sunday summary session with her students, all five of them had a bottle of Li Kou drink with her face printed on it placed in front of them.
Ye Qiusuo picked one up to look at it. Seeing her own face on the drink bottle gave her a strangely eerie feeling.
"Professor, you're so cool..." Sun Jiajia whispered from behind, her eyes sparkling like stars.
Ye Qiusuo turned to look at her: "What?"
"Professor, do you really know how to skateboard?" Once Ye Qiusuo looked at her, Sun Jiajia immediately straightened up and changed the topic.
The other students also stared intently at Ye Qiusuo. They were too curious. Their professor, someone engaged in academic research, really didn't seem the type to be into such a trendy sport, let alone be so good at it.
"Yes." Ye Qiusuo put down the drink and nodded.
Lin Lu immediately raised his hand: "Professor, when did you learn?"
"In university."
"Professor, I can skateboard too! Let's go skating together someday!" Lin Lu said excitedly.
"I'll arrange a time with you when I'm free." Ye Qiusuo had been too busy the past couple of years to play much, but it remained her one and only hobby.
"Wow, Professor, can we come watch then?" Sun Jiajia asked, cupping her face.
Professor Ye thought: The students seem to be getting livelier and livelier.
...
Li Kou's advertising strategy had always been an overwhelming, blanket-style promotion: major TV stations, online platforms, LED screens—anywhere ads could be placed, they wouldn't miss it.
Just a few days after the ad aired, Xie Xi saw Ye Qiusuo's commercial on the giant screen of a skyscraper. It was even more stunning than seeing it live on set. The multi-angle camera cuts perfectly captured how she executed the aerial flip with her skateboard, and with the addition of slow motion, it almost had the visual impact of a blockbuster movie.
"This ad has received high praise within the advertising industry. I heard the director's asking price has gone up," Wei Qi remarked casually, noticing Xie Xi watching the ad outside the car window.
Xie Xi, remembering the director's snobbish attitude at the beginning, snorted. "This ad is popular because of Ye Qiusuo."
Wei Qi smiled. "Professor Ye being able to do this is indeed very captivating."
If Professor Ye were a man, she'd probably have millions of girls swooning. But as it is now, it doesn't seem much different; reportedly, the number one spot on the 'most wanted to sleep with' ranking in the lesbian community had already been taken by Professor Ye.
"Why isn't Zhang Dong back yet?"
They were on their way back from a magazine cover shoot when Xie Xi suddenly asked the car to stop, telling Zhang Dong to go fetch something for him from the mall. The car had been idling outside for a while, and Zhang Dong still hadn't returned. Wei Qi looked around and said.
After waiting a few more minutes, Zhang Dong finally emerged, carrying a large box.
Wei Qi squinted to see: A skateboard? And it looked custom-made.
"Brother Xi, got it." Zhang Dong stood outside asking, "Put it in the trunk or?"
"Bring it in." Xie Xi took the box and placed it on his lap.
Wei Qi turned to ask Zhang Dong: "What took so long?"
"It was a bit crowded inside. Lots of people were looking at skateboards," Zhang Dong hadn't expected it to be so packed. "While I was waiting, I overheard people talking. Seems like they want to learn to skateboard like Professor Ye."
It was just like fans chasing stars, wanting to buy the same things as their idol.
Speaking of which... Zhang Dong turned to look at Xie Xi. Why did his Brother Xi order a skateboard?!
After returning, Xie Xi didn't rush to rest. Instead, he opened the box and took out the skateboard. He had ordered it custom after returning from the Dongheng studio last time. The pattern was his own design, using several bright colors, outlined with gold lines around the edges.
He squatted, looking at the skateboard for a long time, then reached out and touched a small corner on the bottom. There was a slightly uneven spot where he had asked the manufacturer to engrave his signature—very small, almost invisible.
Xie Xi wanted to give this skateboard to Ye Qiusuo.
However, Professor Ye had already sternly stated before that she would not accept any more gifts from him.
Mood instantly soured, the big star Xie Xi hugged the skateboard and sat on the sofa, not even interested in playing games anymore.
"No, how come you don't understand when I tell you to substitute 2 into the equation?" Zhang Dong, on the other end of the living room, was about to be driven mad by his little nephew. "What did you even listen to in class? You just learned this formula a few days ago."
Xie Xi slowly turned his head to stare at Zhang Dong, suddenly struck by an idea.
As soon as Zhang Dong hung up the phone, he felt a chill run down his spine. He looked up to see Xie Xi staring at him and asked awkwardly, "Brother Xi, was I disturbing you? My little nephew, just started middle school, just can't seem to grasp math."
"Are there any more problems?" Xie Xi suddenly asked.
"?"
"Help me find a page of math problems. The harder, the better." Xie Xi stood up, increasingly convinced this was a brilliant idea. Seeing his assistant still looking at him, he added, "They need to be middle school level problems.
...
The next day, Ye Qiusuo received a PDF file sent by Xie Xi. She opened it to find a page full of middle school math problems.
Just as she thought Xie Xi had sent it to the wrong person, he sent several voice messages.
"Teacher, my little nephew sent me all these math problems, saying he doesn't know how to do them and wants me to teach him."
"Teacher, you know my situation—I get dizzy just looking at words."
"Could you help write out the answers, preferably with the reasoning process?"
Xie Xi deliberately made the request very detailed, making it seem to an outsider like he was intentionally being difficult.
For Ye Qiusuo, doing these problems was equivalent to writing one plus one equals two—completely without difficulty.
"When do you need it? Is tonight okay?" Professor Ye asked.
"Okay." Xie Xi deliberately crafted the impression that he was coming to her for help. After saying this, he didn't say anything else.
During the day, Ye Qiusuo had work to do. She differed from the average young professor—her academic achievements were notable, she led major projects, some of which had already been commercialized and had been on the market for years. In terms of connections within the circle, she was no less established than other professors in the department; she just didn't show it off normally.
The only similarity, perhaps, was that like other young professors, she wasn't very familiar with the political factions within the university, nor was she interested in knowing.
"Professor Li mentioned today that according to past practice, the knowledge and skills competition includes a segment on operating experimental equipment. Pay extra attention to that," Ye Qiusuo said after consolidating the materials needed for several projects in her office, finally coming to the lab to check on her students.
"Professor, we heard Tianqiu Tech has a newly built wind tunnel lab," several students exchanged glances before Lin Lu was pushed forward as the spokesperson.
"Yes, it's underground," Ye Qiusuo looked at her students. "Do you want to go?"
All five students nodded immediately.
"I'll find a time to take you there." Ye Qiusuo had a project experiment scheduled there anyway, so it was perfect to bring the students along.
"Thank you, Professor!" the students chorused.
Ye Qiusuo waved a hand dismissively. "Have you encountered any problems these past few days?"
The students brought up their questions one by one. Ding Hong had the most, even producing a notebook filled with his queries.
Ye Qiusuo took his notebook, flipped through it, and then began answering each question in detail.
It wasn't until 5 PM that Ye Qiusuo left the lab. She walked to the first-floor vending machine, originally intending to buy water, but spotted the newly packaged Likou beverage inside.
A strange feeling, hard to define as either awkward or pleased.
Professor Ye stood in front of the machine for a moment, then finally bought a bottle of water and the Likou drink.
In the evening, Ye Qiusuo spent half an hour completing the problems Xie Xi had sent over. She wrote out various solution methods for each problem, using clear logic and explanations for easier understanding.
The moment she sent it back, Xie Xi saw it immediately.
What was originally one page came back as seven.
The densely packed text made Xie Xi's head ache just from a glance.
Not knowing how much effort she had put into it, the superstar Xie felt a twinge of guilt.
But with the fabricated nephew already in play and the problems solved, Xie Xi could only press on.
"My little nephew says he can understand it."
"That's good if he can understand." Ye Qiusuo had already tried her best to avoid using knowledge beyond middle school level to solve the problems.
Xie Xi mentally prepared himself, then held down the voice message button: "Teacher, my little nephew asked me to thank you on his behalf."
Ye Qiusuo: "Mhm."
Sending a gift now still seemed too abrupt. Xie Xi thought about it and decided to send the gift out in a couple of days.
This incident didn't leave a deep impression on Ye Qiusuo. She carried on as usual with her projects and guiding students.
On Sunday, Ye Qiusuo went to Xie Xi's residence for his tutoring session, or more precisely, to continue the visual cognition tests.
The moment Xie Xi heard the rhythmic three-doorbell chime, he knew it was Ye Qiusuo.
He turned off the game projected on the TV, stuffed the messy blankets on the sofa directly underneath it, then quickly walked to the foyer. Before opening the door, he took a quick glance at himself in the foyer mirror.
"Teacher," Xie Xi now said the word naturally and smoothly.
"A few more tests and we'll be done," Ye Qiusuo said as she entered.
She walked in and immediately laid out the test cards on the coffee table in front of the sofa, arranging them in a row.
When she turned around, she saw Xie Xi standing behind her holding a skateboard.
"This..." Xie Xi's eyes darted around as he handed the skateboard over. "My little nephew saw your commercial on TV and insisted on giving you a skateboard as a gift for teaching him the problems."
Ye Qiusuo lowered her gaze to look at the skateboard in his hands. It was beautiful and solidly built.
