Junior year

THIS term Sophie was not so lucky. She failed to select her favorite classes, and she was not very fond of the class she must have everyday. She most regretted having selected Professor Chen’ s class: American Culture and Values. There were only three students in his class. Mr. Chen’ s opinions always struck Sophie as odd. He only appreciated American values, and he thought anything in the western world was better off than Chinese products. Every time Sophie stick to some common ideas, he would address them as typical Chinese opinions and criticized her for a long time. It was hard for Sophie to persuade him. She grew weary at last and then she gave up his class. 

Having no class to enjoy, Sophie felt ill at ease. Meanwhile, Chu Chu sang high for Yue Qun’ s Eloquence Class. She said every time she was very inspired. Sophie wanted to have his classes very much, but Chu Chu said Professor Yue never allowed any auditor. 

Sophie had to give up. But how poor she was to stay alone in the dorm every invaluable night! At last, on a Thursday night, she checked the room number of the Eloquence Class and ran to the main building to attend the wonderful class. 

She pushed the door open and poked out her head to examine the situation. What a chance! The professor had not arrived yet, and the seats in the back row were all empty. She sat quietly at the corner in the last row. 

Yue Qun entered. He was still the same, as handsome as he was in the Military Theory Class, except that a bit thinner. In this class, the professor asked the students to come to the front and talk about their views on NOO Incident, while the professor sat among them and gave scores, not making any comments orally on various kinds of strange opinions. Sophie appreciated this kind of openness and wanted to put up her hand too. But she feared that the professor might discover her, so she could do nothing but keep silent.