Chapter 3: Oh No, She Heard!

“No, sis, look at your schedule again,” Jiang Yichen said, snapping back to attention and reaching out.

As soon as he spoke, he sensed something was wrong.

Why did his sister keep glancing at his left side?

And why did he smell a faint sandalwood scent? It seemed to be coming from his right.

He turned his head…

Ah… wasn’t this the back-view killer he’d seen at the milk tea shop?

“You are…?” Jiang Yichen asked curiously.

“Teacher Lin brought this professor to share our table. Xiao Yi, what’s wrong with you today? You seem off,” Jiang Suihua said, looking at her brother with concern.

“Nothing, sis, I just didn’t sleep well last night,” Jiang Yichen casually explained, then politely greeted the beautiful woman beside him. “Professor, hello.”

Qin Ling tilted her head slightly, giving Jiang Yichen a cold glance.

“?” Jiang Yichen was baffled by her cold stare…

“Professor, what do you teach?” Jiang Suihua curiously asked.

Qin Ling: “Piano.”

The beautiful woman’s voice was incredibly pleasant, a low-pitched, mature woman’s voice. Jiang Yichen couldn’t help but think of his roommate, who every night used a breathy, childlike voice to talk on the phone with his girlfriend…

It gave him goosebumps every time.

Both voices were low-pitched, but one was heaven, the other earth.

His roommate’s was affected, while this beautiful woman’s was naturally low and magnetic, like the strings of a cello, captivating…

“Professor, may I ask your name? I’m a freshman piano student this year; you might be my professor,”

Jiang Yichen’s mind immediately became active.  Judging by the woman’s appearance, if she was his professor, he guaranteed he wouldn’t be late or skip a single class for four years! He would actively review, strive to study hard, and make constant progress.

Qin Ling’s lips curved into an enigmatic smile.  She stared at Jiang Yichen for a moment, then said her name in a low voice: “Qin Ling.”

“Oh~ so it’s Professor Qin,” Jiang Yichen replied with a smile, but his smile froze…

“Um… sorry, Professor, what did you say your name was?”

Qin Ling observed his changing expression, repeating each word clearly: “Qin Ling.”

Jiang Yichen swallowed, immediately asking, “Which Qin? Which Ling?”

“…” Qin Ling didn’t answer this time.

Just then, Lin Yao returned with their food, noticing their conversation. “What are you talking about?”

Jiang Suihua looked puzzled. “Xiao Yi is asking Professor Qin’s name, which Qin, which Ling.”

“The ‘Qin’ with the three lines of grain, and ‘Ling’ with the three dots of water and the ‘ling’ character,” Lin Yao explained.

Screech—

The chair scraped against the tiled floor, a harsh sound. Jiang Yichen abruptly stood up, taking a few steps backward.

What the…?

“Xiao Yi? What’s wrong?” Jiang Suihua looked strange.  Her brother had clearly pulled an all-nighter last night, making him act so strangely today.

Jiang Yichen forced a pained smile, carefully pulling his chair back to sit down.

“Nothing, sis, let’s eat. The food will get cold…”

Jiang Yichen picked up his chopsticks and ate a mouthful of rice.

No, no…

The Qin Ling beside him had said she taught piano.

Maybe they shared the same name?

Jiang Yichen tried to comfort himself, but seeing Lin Yao, he suddenly remembered that in the original novel, Lin Yao and Qin Ling were close friends…

“Um… Teacher Lin,” Jiang Yichen looked at Lin Yao across from him; he didn’t dare look to his right…

“What is it?”

“How old is Professor Qin?” Jiang Yichen asked.

Lin Yao replied, “Twenty-seven this year, twenty-eight by lunar age. Professor Qin was recruited from overseas by our academy with a high salary.”

Jiang Yichen thought for a moment, then said, “Professor Qin’s birthday wouldn’t be January 23rd, would it?”

This date was quite unique.

Before knowing she was Qin Ling, he had hoped to become a student of this beautiful professor.

But after knowing she was Qin Ling… he was genuinely afraid she’d dislike him and hurt him.

The Qin Ling in the original novel was like that—cold and aloof, disdainful of anyone.

Max combat power, the top fighter in the novel, having studied inner family boxing since childhood.

Despite her high martial arts skills, at sixteen, she was drugged by her stepmother, taken to a basement and beaten for two weeks, injected with strange drugs. Qin Ling’s crazy second personality was born during this period of abuse.

“Oh? How did you know? Did you secretly investigate?” Lin Yao said, staring at Jiang Yichen. “Jiang Yichen, I have a feeling you’re very curious about Professor Qin. You wouldn’t be…”

“Hey, hey, Teacher Lin, don’t misunderstand, don’t misunderstand at all!” Jiang Yichen quickly interrupted.

Dating this woman beside him? That was like touching the head of a tiger, courting death.

Now that her birthday was confirmed, Jiang Yichen’s mood sank further.

Only one thing remained—her measurements… but he couldn’t possibly ask that; he’d probably get killed if he did…

By now, he was basically certain that the Qin Ling sitting beside him was the other protagonist.

But… the same question remained: why was Qin Ling a piano professor? The original novel clearly stated she was in the vocal music and opera department!

Had he time-traveled? Butterfly effect?

Jiang Yichen pondered, seemingly only this explanation made sense.

Jiang Suihua ate quietly, watching her brother while subtly glancing at Qin Ling.

She felt Jiang Yichen was acting very strange today…

“Oh, right, Jiang Yichen, I remember you’re in the piano department, right?” Lin Yao smiled meaningfully. “If I remember correctly, Professor Qin is one of your professors this year… you might be her student.”

Screech—

Jiang Yichen stood up again in agitation.

No, don’t do this!

“What’s your reaction?” Lin Yao teased.

“He… he…” Jiang Yichen chuckled awkwardly, then sat down. “No, no, Teacher Lin, I’m just… overjoyed at the thought that Professor Qin might be my professor.”

“Xiao Yi, you’re so strange today. Should I take you to the infirmary later?” Jiang Suihua suggested.

“No, no,” Jiang Yichen replied, mustering his courage to glance to his right, meeting Qin Ling’s phoenix eyes…

Oh, man!

Judging by the situation, without a doubt, she’d heard what he said about her at the milk tea shop.