Chapter 9: Professor Qin, Are You Allergic to Romance?

Evening.

Mingxian Conservatory of Music Faculty Apartments.

Room 401 in Building 2.

The apartment was decorated very simply.

White walls, light gray sofa, and wooden dining table and chairs.

Qin Ling returned home after a day of teaching, placing her briefcase and warm dinner on the floor temporarily while she bent down to grab a pair of black slippers from the entryway.

Once she changed her shoes, she walked over and sat at the dining table.

Almost as soon as she sat down, there was a knock on the door.

She turned back to open it.

It was Lin Yao.

“Slippers are in the entryway; remember to change them when you come in,” Qin Ling said before turning away.

“Wait a minute, Lingling, I have a surprise for you!” Lin Yao said, her face full of mystery.

Qin Ling turned back with a puzzled look, glancing at her.

“Close your eyes,” Lin Yao instructed.

Instead of closing her eyes, Qin Ling walked to the dining table and sat down, reminding her, “Don’t forget to change shoes.”

“No!” Lin Yao exclaimed, looking frustrated. “I’m telling you, Professor Qin, I finally understand why you’ve been single for so many years. Are you allergic to romance or something?”

Qin Ling seemed to be in another world. “I only have a bowl of razor clam noodles. If you haven’t eaten, just order takeout.”

Lin Yao felt defeated. Truly, she was something else.

She figured Qin Ling was destined to be alone for life.

Lin Yao stepped into the apartment, found a pair of white slippers, and changed into them. Then she turned sideways and reached for a bouquet of lilies hidden against the wall.

Qin Ling, with her back turned, didn’t notice at first.

But a moment later, when the familiar bouquet of white lilies was placed in front of her, she was momentarily stunned.

This flower, this packaging, and the familiar card on top…

Wasn’t this the bouquet Jiang Yichen had given her earlier, which she had then given to the cleaning lady?

“Hey, your favorite white lilies,” Lin Yao said, somewhat disappointed. She had hoped to surprise Qin Ling, but it seemed to have fallen flat…

“Where did you get these flowers?” Qin Ling asked.

“They were given to me by Aunt Wang at school. Oh right, you probably don’t know Aunt Wang; she has worked at our school for many years, and I have a good relationship with her,” Lin Yao explained.

Upon hearing this, Qin Ling pushed the flowers toward Lin Yao. “You should take them back.”

“Why?” Lin Yao asked, puzzled. “These are your favorite white lilies! Didn’t you love them back in school?”

“…….” Qin Ling didn’t know how to explain. She truly hadn’t expected the flowers to come back to her like this.

“These flowers belong to someone else. I don’t want them,” Qin Ling said.

Lin Yao immediately disagreed, “How can they belong to someone else? Their current owner is me, and if I give them to you, then they’re yours.”

“Didn’t you see the card on top? It’s for someone confessing their feelings.”

“Ah…” Lin Yao pulled out the card and, in front of Qin Ling, tore it up and tossed it into the trash. “There, now it’s not for confessing anymore. But it’s funny; I didn’t expect the card would also say ‘Ms. Qin.’”

“Don’t bother explaining. Just take the flowers with you when you leave,” Qin Ling said, not wanting to elaborate further.

Lin Yao seemed to not hear her, standing up without even warming the chair. “I don’t even like white lilies; they’re of no use to me. Anyway, I just came to check on you on my way home. If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave.”

Their teacher apartments were quite close, right across the hall.

Lin Yao didn’t even bother leaving the slippers behind; she took her shoes and opened the door to head home. Just before closing the door, she called back to Qin Ling, “Lingling, I’m taking your slippers with me.”

“Wait.”

Qin Ling stood up, walking to the door with the bouquet of lilies, and without hesitation, shoved the flowers into Lin Yao’s arms. “Take care.”

Bang—The door closed behind her.

“Tsk, tsk,” Lin Yao shook her head. “Old woman, destined to be alone.”

After dinner,

Qin Ling cleaned up the trash in her apartment, putting it in a black trash bag and placing it by the door.

Glancing at the time, it was 7:30.

She walked into her bedroom and grabbed a black trench coat to wear.

After changing her shoes, she went outside to throw away the trash, then headed to the campus parking lot.

As night fell,

A Porsche Cayenne caught the attention of many on campus.

At the north gate of the campus,

Jiang Suihua was waiting for a ride with her three roommates.

Suddenly, the Porsche waiting for the security guard to open the gate attracted several gazes.

“Wow, is that Professor Qin? Oh my, she’s beautiful and has such an elegant presence.”

“Driving a Porsche… she’s really rich and gorgeous…”

“……”

Jiang Suihua also looked over.

This was her second encounter with Professor Qin. Even though she had seen her once before, she couldn’t help but marvel… Professor Qin was truly a perfect woman.

Knowledgeable, beautiful, and now appearing very wealthy…

Jiang Suihua felt curious about what kind of man could possibly be worthy of her.

“I wonder if Xiao Yi apologized to Professor Qin.”

At this moment, Jiang Suihua realized she hadn’t yet asked Jiang Yichen about the outcome.

She knew he intended to apologize in class today.

Thinking of this, Jiang Suihua picked up her phone and sent a message: 【How did it go? Did you apologize to Professor Qin?】

“Wow, Huahuan, look! It’s Professor Qin! Oh my god, I feel like I’m being swayed.”

“She’s looking over here!”

“Did Professor Qin just glance this way?”

“…….”

Jiang Suihua’s roommates were all fawning over the beautiful, wealthy Professor Qin, wishing to be in her presence.

Even Jiang Suihua herself aspired to be like that someday…

……

In the Boys’ Dormitory.

Jiang Yichen was fully immersed in his gaming world, passionately typing insults at the opponents’ parents and ancestors on the computer screen.

“Competing hand speed with a pianist?”

Jiang Yichen scoffed, his slender fingers flying across the mechanical keyboard, creating a blur of motion.

His antics naturally drew the attention of his three roommates.

Zhang Wei asked in confusion, “Lao Jiang, what’s the point of that? Isn’t there voice chat in the game now? You could just talk smack directly!”

Zheng Mingcheng added, “No way, Lao Jiang, your typing speed is still too slow.”

Shen An chimed in, “Not bad, not bad. Xiao Yichen, I really appreciate your attacking skills.”

Jiang Yichen rolled his eyes. “Sister Shen, doesn’t that sound a bit strange?”

Shen An lightly placed her hand on Jiang Yichen’s shoulder. “Don’t like me calling you that? To be honest, I’ve always had a crush on you…”

“What the…”

Jiang Yichen felt a sudden chill.

Could he change dorms now?

This Boys’ Dormitory was too weird.

“Hahaha!” Shen An laughed mischievously. “Don’t be mad; I’m just joking! Look at how tense you are!”