“I didn’t say that,” Song Xi quickly distanced herself from the statement.

Shang Fuyan: “The idea that archaeology students are all old antiques is still widely circulated.”

Song Xi was surprised, “You knew about that?”

The man glanced at her, “I may be a bit older, but I’m not blind or deaf. I’m not completely cut off from information.”

Song Xi laughed awkwardly, “Sorry, I shouldn’t have joked about it.”

“I’m not blaming you. You were just stating a fact.”

Song Xi felt relieved, realizing that being with him wasn’t as oppressive as she had imagined. Instead, it felt quite relaxed. She could speak her mind freely without any reservations.

After all, he had once been her professor and should be infinitely tolerant of her.

As they spoke, they approached her neighborhood.

Song Xi pointed ahead, “Professor Shang, you can stop by the roadside up ahead. I can walk the rest of the way.”

“Okay.” The man slowed down and parked by the roadside.

Song Xi unbuckled her seatbelt and said, “Thank you for the ride.”

“Song Xi, you don’t need to be so formal with me in the future.”

Song Xi smiled in response, “Alright, drive safely on your way back. Give me a message when you get home.”

“Okay.” The man nodded.

Song Xi waved to him and turned to walk into the neighborhood, keeping an ear out for any sounds around her.

Estimating that the car had driven far enough, she turned back and saw that it was still parked there.

Through the lowered window, she could clearly see the man’s profile, handsome and unparalleled.

The car then slowly started and drove away from the entrance of Zijun Garden.

Song Xi turned her gaze and jogged upstairs, her heart pounding.

Her home was on the eleventh floor, and when she wasn’t in a hurry, Song Xi preferred to take the stairs.

When she reached the living room, she found no one at home, and there seemed to be strange sounds coming from somewhere.

Song Xi took a few steps forward and realized the sounds were coming from the master bedroom. Could it be… she had returned at an inappropriate time?

Unwilling to think further, Song Xi decided to take a walk around the neighborhood to give them some time.

Just as she was about to leave, her father opened the master bedroom door and called out to her, “Come back here!”

Song Xi hesitated to turn around, afraid of seeing an awkward scene, so she stood still.

“Back already? Where were you going?” Her father’s deep, strong voice echoed.

He walked up to her, and Song Xi realized the situation was not as she had imagined. Had she misunderstood something?

“Xiaoxi, come in,” her mother’s voice came from the bedroom.

Song Xi followed her mother’s instructions and walked into the master bedroom.

When she entered, she stopped abruptly, seeing her mother, who was blushing, putting on a nightgown.

Song Xi turned away, not daring to look directly, and stammered, “Mom… Why did you call me?”

“Why did you come back so early? Did you not like the man?”

“I didn’t dislike him. He drove me home.”

Her mother patted the bed, “Come, sit down and tell me more.”

“Wait, let me give you a moment to get ready, and then I’ll come over.”

Her mother looked puzzled, “What do you mean, get ready?”

Song Xi couldn’t bring herself to say it directly and turned around reluctantly.

Only then did she see a set of cupping therapy tools at the foot of the bed.

She realized she had misunderstood, but her mother’s earlier call had been… indescribable.

Her mother, now understanding, playfully scolded, “Full of yellow junk in your head.”

Song Xi felt guilty and quickly stepped forward to massage her mother’s shoulders and neck, “Mom, let me help you.”

“No need, your father already massaged me. Sit down, I have some questions for you.”

Song Xi obediently sat on the edge of the bed and answered her mother’s barrage of questions.

“What do you think of that archaeology professor?”

“Mom, you knew he was in that field?”

Her mother gave her a playful glare, “I not only knew he was a special professor at Lan University, but I also knew his position in the Archaeology Institute was significant.”

“Mom, why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

“I tried to tell you a little, but you got annoyed. Who would dare tell you so much information? You’ll meet him eventually, and you have your own eyes to see.”

Song Xi was used to her mother’s rationality.

“Mom, there’s something you might not know. Shang Fuyan was my professor during my freshman year. I attended many of his lectures.”

She expected her mother to be surprised, but her mother’s reaction was surprisingly calm.

“That’s good. Being familiar with him could help you, and maybe he can help with your spoiled and willful nature.”

“Mom, why are you scolding me? What’s not excellent about your daughter?” Song Xi turned to look at her father, who had entered the room, “Isn’t that right, Dad?”

“Right or not! Don’t upset your mother.”

Song Xi quickly hugged her mother’s neck and shook it playfully, “Mom, control Dad. He’s trying to act like Principal Song and criticize me again.”

Her mother sighed and rubbed her forehead, “Tonight, you two are responsible for cooking.”

One of them happily agreed, while the other lay down on the bed and was eventually dragged to the kitchen.

Song Xi could cook, but her skills were not great.

Among the three of them, her cooking was the worst. As long as it was edible, that was all that mattered. It was impossible to expect a perfect balance of color, aroma, and taste; achieving one aspect was already a stretch.

While she was busy in the kitchen, Song Xi didn’t hear the message notification.

She only noticed it after dinner.

Song Xi sent a cute animal emoji, meaning “okay.”

Not long after, he replied, asking what she was up to.

Song Xi: “Doing hard labor, feeling wronged 😢”

Shang Fuyan: “The landlords have been overthrown. Where are you doing it?”

Song Xi: “At home. My mom made my dad and me cook dinner, requiring two meat dishes, three vegetable dishes, four dishes, and a soup.”

Shang Fuyan: “Next time you’re punished, call me to help.”

Song Xi: “Sounds like you can cook?”

Shang Fuyan: “I can eat, and the taste is okay.”

Song Xi sent a clapping and cheering emoji and told him she was getting ready to wash up.

She had stayed up late the previous night and needed to sleep early to avoid fatigue and hair loss.

After a few more messages, their conversation came to a natural end.

While taking a bath, Song Xi applied a face mask. She closed her eyes, recalling the afternoon’s events, which seemed almost unbelievable.

Who would have thought that her blind date would be the college professor she had long harbored feelings for?

It was truly shocking.

Song Xi initially wanted to post about it on her social media, but then she remembered Shang Fuyan might see it, so she posted her feelings on her Weibo account instead.

Having written for less than three years, she had accumulated over 200,000 followers, a sign of recognition and achievement.

Song Xi had her own little piggy bank, making her a hidden little rich girl, as her writing fees far exceeded her salary.

This was one of the reasons she persisted in writing, but more importantly, it was a way to convey her feelings.

Even if, in a moment, a sentence could lift someone’s spirits or warm their heart, that was the true meaning of her writing.