Fancy Me, Professor!

[Chapter dedications for the month of May and for June celebrants is now over~! If you want to participate for the chapter dedications for the month of June on July, do check out the Reward System found in the auxiliary chapter~! Also, if you're a June celebrant, do lemme know in comments section! While it's still June, I'll give you a chapter dedication! :D]

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Shu Xian had left the house earlier than Pan An. With Pan An fixing the papers that he brought home for checking, Shu Xian already went after giving Wan Wan her morning walk, hanging out in the university ground's bench alone.

She texted Shi Lian that she is already at the university, however, who came first whom she even didn't text sat beside her, making her slightly widen her eyes when he greeted her early in the morning.

"Yo, good morning!"

It was Zhang Ren.

Zhang Ren put his bag down on the spare space on the bench they were sitting on, stretching his arms.

"You're so early," he commented, Shi Lian, smiling at him as she greeted him as well.

"Good morning," she said, also commenting the same. "I could say the same. You're early, too!"

With the both of them going silent as they listened to the birds chirping above them, it was a very calm morning, making Shu Xian close her eyes, relaxing.

"I like the mornings," she said in an attempt to small talk, Zhang Ren, agreeing to what she said.

"Yeah, true. I also like mornings. I'm a morning person."

With that said, both of them looked at each other, Zhang Ren, further surprising Shu Xian with what he said.

"Wanna go to class and wait for Shi Lian there instead? It's gonna get chilly."

"You know I was waiting for Shi Lian?" Shu Xian asked, Zhang Ren, rolling his eyes at her playfully.

"Oh, Shu Xian. Both of you are best friends. Of course, I know this much. Also, I know that you probably have talked about me during the weekend, yeah?"

What he said next made Shu Xian widen her eyes. With Zhang Ren grinning ear to ear, it was already enough for him to know the answer to his question.

"See? Not that I'm angry about it. I may not know you two guys much… but I know that I could trust the both of you."

"Hmm…"

Shu Xian couldn't help but cross her arms in front of her chest. With this now said, she saw it fit to no longer feign ignorance, already getting to the point as she talked to Zhang Ren.

"Since you said that you could trust the both of us, why aren't you not telling us anything about who you are? The black card. You working as a student assistant. It just doesn't add up!"

"Hush…"

With Zhang Ren putting his index finger in front of Shu Xian's mouth to silence her, he nodded slowly, further talking to her.

"I will tell you two in due time," he added, already getting his finger away from her, making Shu Xian roll her eyes at him.

"Geez… a way to prolong our curiosity."

"Can't help it," Zhang Ren said with a chuckle, "I may trust you guys, but I have to be careful talking about this in the open. Since… some people may be watching me without me even knowing."

With a wink, he then stood up, already getting his bag from the bench. Shu Xian then stood up, Zhang Ren giving her another suggestion.

"Come on, it's getting chilly outside. Wanna head inside the classroom for our first class? Shi Lian will understand if we wait for her there."

"Alright," Shu Xian said, already getting her phone to do a quick text.

After she sent Shi Lian that they will be waiting for her in the classroom, both of them walked to the university classroom, the morning indeed a bit chilly for it sent shivers down their spine the moment the morning breeze blew on them, kissing their skin.

The moment they arrived in the Teacher Education building, they used the elevator to reach the floor where their classroom is located. Since it is early in the morning, only a few people were seen, mostly the janitorial student assistants present.

After a few seconds of silence in the elevator, the doors already opened, revealing the floor for their class. They then stepped outside, Zhang Ren, yawning as they both walked towards the classroom.

"I'm so sleepy," he said in between yawns, Shu Xian, letting out a soft chuckle and made a comment.

"I thought you're a morning person?"

"Yeah, I am," Zhang Ren said, both of them going to their usual seat behind the classroom. "It's just that I slept rather late last night—doing homework."

"Oh, yes. Have you done the homework for this class?"

"Of course!" Zhang Ren got his notebook from his bag and placed it on the table. "Ready for submission!"

"Good!"

At the same moment, Shi Lian already arrived in the classroom, clapping her hands to get their attention.

"Hey, you guys! You two are pretty early!"

"I could say so myself," Shu Xian shouted her reply, Zhang Ren's eyes on her.

The moment the man's eyes landed on her, he was taken aback to see her prettier now compared to the days that they first met.

Shi Lian's hair was in a half-tie. She had a light red tint on her lips and a natural blush on her face. She was wearing a simple day dress, paired with a pink knitted sweater on her. She was also wearing black flats, making her look simple, but at the same time cute.

Cocking her head to the side, Shi Lian sat beside Zhang Ren, asking him a question.

"Is everything alright?"

Zhang Ren snapped himself from his thoughts. With a smile tugging the corner of his lips, he nodded and answered Shi Lian's question that made her heart race in her chest.

"To be honest, you're cuter right now compared to when you are wearing jeans. I mean… not that you're always pretty, but you're just cuter right now. I like it."

With him being honest, Shi Lian just subtly hit his shoulder, making Zhang Ren laugh as Shu Xian watched them with a smile on her face.

Now Shu Xian wonders what kind of style Pan An likes if this style makes Zhang Ren appreciate Shi Lian.

She guessed that Pan An has his specific style on women that he prefers, no? If yes, then...

What could it be?