31. Are you smelling my clothes?

Thanks to Zhong Ling’s influence, the conservative Professor Qin quickly grasped Qin Zhaoyi’s meaning.

There was a long silence on the phone, and Qin Zhaoyi didn’t say much either.

She had been sternly taught since childhood but lived freely. Professor Qin had tried countless times to intervene in her life, but her mother always stopped him. So, Qin Zhaoyi chose her own school, her own job, and now, she would choose her own marriage.

It was only because Professor Qin seemed genuinely concerned about this matter that Qin Zhaoyi mentioned it. Otherwise, she would have kept it a secret for a long time, simply finding it troublesome.

Suddenly, the call was disconnected, and a beeping sound echoed.

Qin Zhaoyi looked at the screen, ready to shut down, but Professor Qin’s call came in again.

Answering the call, Qin Zhaoyi took the lead, “Nothing is confirmed yet, don’t rush me.”

Professor Qin cleared his throat and explained, “My phone ran out of battery just now.”

“You forgot to charge it again.” Qin Zhaoyi complained, “Did you skip breakfast again?”

“Let’s have lunch together.” Professor Qin suggested.

Qin Zhaoyi was about to remind him not to neglect his health when Professor Qin took the initiative to tease her, “You’re the one to talk. I’m sure you overslept again and skipped breakfast.”

Qin Zhaoyi: “…”

“Back to the point.” Qin Zhaoyi said, “Do you have any instructions for me?”

Starting with a bit of teasing, she had already lightened up.

After all, Professor Qin and others’ attitudes couldn’t determine her life.

“You and…” Professor Qin hesitated, and Qin Zhaoyi instantly understood, denying, “It’s not Zhong Ling.”

Professor Qin was surprised, “Then who is it?”

Qin Zhaoyi chuckled, “There are plenty of women in this world. It’s not like Zhong Ling is the only one coming out.”

“Are there so many people like you in this field?” Professor Qin’s tone was quite naive, making Qin Zhaoyi burst into laughter. “What field? It’s not a job.”

“Then what is it?” Professor Qin had never encountered such matters before. He had only heard a bit about Zhong Ling’s situation, and he was usually immersed in books and the laboratory. Besides, with graduation season approaching, the students’ theses were still in their infancy. He barely had time to focus on these things.

Qin Zhaoyi’s situation was something he heard students discussing after class today, prompting him to hastily call her.

Qin Zhaoyi didn’t know how to explain to her rigid father, and such in-depth conversations rarely occurred in their family.

The family atmosphere couldn’t be considered warm, but it was passably harmonious.

After a pause, Qin Zhaoyi said, “Maybe I just like someone.”

“Where is she from? How old is she? What’s her education level? Is she a good person?” Professor Qin bombarded her with rapid-fire questions.

Qin Zhaoyi: “…”

Helplessly, Qin Zhaoyi chuckled and said, “I haven’t even given you any details, why ask so much?”

“I’m just afraid you might be deceived.” Professor Qin’s tone turned serious. “Even if it’s a girl, you should still be cautious. Don’t fall into some criminal organization’s trap.”

Qin Zhaoyi: “…”

After a while, Qin Zhaoyi belatedly realized, “You don’t oppose me liking girls?”

Professor Qin asked back, “Does my opposition matter?”

Qin Zhaoyi was straightforward, “It doesn’t.”

“That’s settled then.” Professor Qin softened his tone but still sounded awkward. “Stop playing around outside for a while and come home. Don’t be like your grandmother.”

“Isn’t my grandmother fine?” Qin Zhaoyi joked rarely, “Carefree as the wind.”

“Nonsense.” Professor Qin was irritated, using a coarse word and immediately being seized by Qin Zhaoyi, who said, “Hey, what’s a university professor saying?”

Professor Qin fell silent instantly.

Qin Zhaoyi quickly added, “Be careful, I might report you to grandma.”

Professor Qin took a deep breath but couldn’t calm down.

Before Qin Zhaoyi could say more, he hung up the phone.

Qin Zhaoyi looked at her phone on the main screen for a moment, a bit amused by Professor Qin’s childish behavior.

She sent a WeChat message to her mom: [Your husband’s temper is getting worse.]

Mrs. Liang: [Did you two have a fight again?]

Qin Zhaoyi: [He hung up on me.]

Mrs. Liang speechless: […sweating.jpg]

Qin Zhaoyi, nonchalant and powerful: [I just came out to him.]

Mrs. Liang: [???!!!]

Qin Zhaoyi casually dropped a bombshell and didn’t intend to say more, only replying: [I’m shutting down for vacation. We’ll talk when I get back.]

In fact, Qin Zhaoyi didn’t expect Professor Qin to react this way. She thought she would have a quarrel with the rigid Professor Qin, preparing for the tension, but unexpectedly, things calmed down smoothly.

Qin Zhaoyi’s head was still a bit heavy, but she needed to pack. There wasn’t much dust, unlike the day she first entered. Someone must have cleaned up before her.

Apart from Luo Yue, nothing goes as she wishes.

Even so, cleaning up this home still took quite some effort.

Qin Zhaoyi sweated a lot, so she decided to take a shower.

After bathing, she wrapped herself in a towel and stepped out of the bathroom, only to see an unexpected visitor on the sofa.

She didn’t know when Luo Yue arrived, but when she heard a noise and turned around, they happened to lock eyes.

The skin, just washed, was white with a hint of pink. Her face was plain, and her delicate features emitted an aura of “don’t come near me.”

Luo Yue casually glanced over Qin Zhaoyi from head to toe, then turned her head to look elsewhere, seemingly avoiding suspicion.

Qin Zhaoyi: “…”

She nonchalantly tugged the towel down a bit, exposing some skin to the breeze. Seeing Luo Yue’s avoiding posture, she stood there for a few seconds, pondering.

Only to hear that gentle voice calmly say, “Not cold?”

“Okay.” Qin Zhaoyi shivered after finishing her sentence, still maintaining a cold expression. “What’s the matter?”

Using Luo Yue’s tone as a comeback, she tried not to be at a disadvantage.

“I brought you food,” Luo Yue said. “I’ll leave now.”

After saying that, she got up and left.

Qin Zhaoyi suddenly panicked, “Hey…”

Luo Yue stopped in her tracks, looking back, “Hmm?”

Qin Zhaoyi: “…”

She actually caught the person, but didn’t know what to say. She could only stare straight at Luo Yue for a moment before reluctantly coming up with a question, “Why did you bring me food?”

Luo Yue paused, “You’re sick.”

Qin Zhaoyi: “So many people are sick. Why did you choose to bring me food?”

Luo Yue frowned slightly, but when she looked at Qin Zhaoyi, she smiled faintly with that familiar tone, “What do you think?”

Qin Zhaoyi: “…”

“I think you like me,” Qin Zhaoyi said somewhat defiantly.

Clearly, she disliked hearing Luo Yue speak in this tone.

Expecting a rebuttal from Luo Yue, Qin Zhaoyi was surprised when Luo Yue just pondered for a moment and then smiled, “If understanding it this way makes you feel more comfortable, then go ahead.”

Qin Zhaoyi: “…”

Once again, she effortlessly redirected the conversation. Qin Zhaoyi realized she was getting a bit anxious. Remembering the online tutorials and Zhong Ling’s advice, she hesitated, “Well, I really can’t think of any other answer.”

Luo Yue chuckled and looked at her, “For example, that I’m kind?”

Qin Zhaoyi: “…”

For a moment, the house fell into a silent stillness.

After a while, the corners of Luo Yue’s mouth curved upward, and it was evident that she was genuinely amused. “Just kidding,” she said, and Qin Zhaoyi remained silent, lips pressed together.

A gust of wind blew in from outside through the window’s cracks, causing Qin Zhaoyi’s skin to form a layer of fine goosebumps.

Luo Yue turned towards her, took off her jacket, and draped it over Qin Zhaoyi’s shoulders. “Your grandmother was quite kind to me before,” Luo Yue remarked, “returning the favor.”

Qin Zhaoyi immediately frowned, adding a touch of hostility to her tone, “So, saving me before was because of my grandmother?”

Luo Yue was momentarily taken aback but responded matter-of-factly, “I saved you because you were about to die.”

Qin Zhaoyi: “…”

Luo Yue couldn’t help but bring up the incident, saying, “If you plan to stay by the seaside often, you might want to learn how to swim. It’ll prevent you from accidentally falling into the sea.”

Luo Yue continued, “There won’t always be good luck.”

Qin Zhaoyi retorted, “Then I won’t come to the seaside. That way, I won’t fall in, right?”

Luo Yue pondered for a moment, “That makes sense.”

“But…” Luo Yue pulled up the jacket draped over Qin Zhaoyi’s shoulder, making it snug, and her hand gently dropped onto Qin Zhaoyi’s shoulder. She casually gave her a light poke and said, “Not being in a relationship means you won’t experience the pain of a breakup. But can people really avoid love altogether?”

Qin Zhaoyi always felt that she was being hinted at by Luo Yue, but she didn’t understand the hidden meaning and was too lazy to conceal her own intentions.

Since she had already been straightforward before, she decided to be even more direct, “So, are you saying you want to date me?”

Luo Yue took a step back, creating a safe distance between them, and casually said, “That’s not what I mean.”

“What do you mean then?” Qin Zhaoyi asked, “Luo Yue, I don’t understand.”

“Let’s eat.” Luo Yue had no intention of explaining and changed the subject, “It will get cold if we don’t eat now.”

However, Qin Zhaoyi wasn’t ready to let her off. She reached out and grabbed Luo Yue’s wrist, “I want to know.”

Luo Yue’s wrist was a bit cold, and Qin Zhaoyi’s fingertips gently stroked it. The bath towel wrapped around her body loosened a bit due to Qin Zhaoyi’s slightly forceful movement, but Qin Zhaoyi didn’t have the heart to let go of Luo Yue’s wrist.

Thinking about the events of the previous night, Qin Zhaoyi became even more eager to know the answer.

“What do you mean?” Qin Zhaoyi said, “Give me a straightforward answer.”

Seemingly not expecting such a direct question, Luo Yue paused as if in thought and answered after a moment, “What I mean is that people won’t avoid being in a relationship just because they fear a breakup. Similarly, you shouldn’t stay away from the seaside just because you’re afraid of falling into the sea.”

Not getting the answer she wanted, Qin Zhaoyi felt somewhat disappointed and let go of Luo Yue’s hand.

Luo Yue, with a triumphant attitude, looked at her while sipping on her smile. “Little friend, I’m educating you.”

Hearing this nickname, Qin Zhaoyi frowned and threatened, “Luo Yue.”

Luo Yue stood there in a triumphant and lazy manner, wearing a gentle smile on her face. She raised her hand, smoothly tucking Qin Zhaoyi’s bath towel inside. Her nails lightly touched Qin Zhaoyi’s skin on the chest, causing Qin Zhaoyi to shiver, and she questioned, “What are you doing?”

“Don’t be like this,” Luo Yue poked her on the clavicle, “No need to be so reserved.”

Qin Zhaoyi: “…”

“Just finished taking a shower.” Qin Zhaoyi felt firmly caught in a bind, wanting to retaliate but not finding a way to do so. She retorted with a bit of stubbornness, “Isn’t it good enough that I didn’t come out naked?”

“Oh,” Luo Yue elongated her voice, somewhat teasing, “My eyes don’t mind.”

Qin Zhaoyi: “?”

Not pretending anymore huh?

However, for some reason, when Qin Zhaoyi heard Luo Yue approaching with a smile and speaking softly, the warmth was exhaled near her ear. Luo Yue also considerately closed the coat, lowering her voice, “But I’m afraid you’ll feel cold, Princess.”

Qin Zhaoyi: “…”

“Fuck,” Qin Zhaoyi almost gritted her teeth as she uttered the word.

But Luo Yue quickly withdrew, as if she hadn’t said anything. She calmly said, “Do you want to exchange WeChat?”

Qin Zhaoyi: “…?”

“You paid me quite a bit before, I’ll return it to you.” Luo Yue said.

Qin Zhaoyi remained stubborn, “You can scan the payment code.”

After all, that’s what Luo Yue did before.

Luo Yue paused for a moment, “If you get sick later, you can contact me.”

Qin Zhaoyi was still in a retaliatory mood, “How can someone be sick every day?”

“But you’ve been sick since you came.” Luo Yue’s voice was soft and gentle, with a hint of teasing in her smile, “If you don’t want to add me, it’s fine. Just give me your payment code.”

Qin Zhaoyi: “?”

Is it over?

Qin Zhaoyi went back to her room in silence, picked up her phone, turned it on again, closed all notifications for apps, and then opened WeChat.

She handed her phone to Luo Yue, saying, “Here.”

Luo Yue scanned it while saying, “My things aren’t worth much money. Just consider it a small gift.”

After scanning, she realized it was a personal business card with a simple online alias, a letter abbreviation: QX.

She didn’t know what it meant.

Luo Yue raised an eyebrow at her, “Do you want to add me?”

Qin Zhaoyi, feeling a bit begrudging, replied, “Yes.”

“Alright.” Luo Yue smiled, a smile that looked triumphant no matter how you looked at it.

After adding her, Luo Yue said, “I’ll go now, and I’ll transfer the money to you later.”

She added, “Tonight, Shijing Ge will come to give you a day’s worth of intravenous drips. I need to write a lesson plan and prepare teaching materials for an open class. I have to go out tomorrow, so don’t be wilful.”

Qin Zhaoyi frowned, “Am I really wilful?”

Luo Yue was taken aback for a moment, then smiled like coaxing a child, “No, you’re very obedient.”

Qin Zhaoyi: “…”

It felt even stranger.

After Luo Yue left, Qin Zhaoyi realized why it felt strange.

Luo Yue was teasing and coaxing her, handling everything with ease.

So annoying.

But yet she was unconsciously drawn to her.

Qin Zhaoyi angrily took off Luo Yue’s coat but then caught a whiff of a pleasant fragrance, a faint and captivating scent that was completely different from Luo Yue’s previous scent.

Her phone vibrated just right then, and Luo Yue had transferred 9,479 yuan.

A somewhat awkward amount, with both odd and even numbers.

However, Qin Zhaoyi didn’t pay much attention to that. She was just curious and asked, [What fragrance is on your clothes? It smells really good.]

After sending the message, she felt like a pervert and immediately retracted it.

But Luo Yue saw it.

After a minute, she replied with two consecutive messages.

[Princess Qin.]

[Are you smelling my clothes?]