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After the New Year, friends around Zheng Jinyao were either falling in love or getting married.
Zheng Jinyao, this little puppy who had been single for twenty-five years, was predictably urged to marry.
Her holiday break during the New Year was long, and she spent every day with nothing to do, just staying at home.
When she first arrived home, Professor Zheng and Professor Yang warmly welcomed her. Someone dished out her meals, her room was tidied, and she enjoyed delicious food cooked by the two professors morning, noon, and night. Life was so pleasant that she forgot all about home, utterly blissful.
Three days later, Zheng Jinyao started to be disliked.
A week later, Professor Yang questioned her, “Yaoyao, don’t you have any friends?”
Zheng Jinyao was biting an ice pop in the middle of winter, looking very bewildered at her mother, “I have a few friends, don’t you know that?”
“Oh.” Professor Yang said very calmly, “Then why do you stay at home all day?”
She looked in the mirror in Zheng Jinyao’s room, “You don’t even go out to play with friends.”
Zheng Jinyao understood the underlying meaning.
She bit into her ice cream, mumbling, “Mom, are you getting annoyed with me?”
“Not annoyed yet,” Professor Yang said, “It’s just that your father and I have a reunion with old classmates today.”
Zheng Jinyao blinked.
Professor Yang turned to look at her, “Figure out lunch and dinner yourself.”
“...”
Zheng Jinyao swallowed her ice cream, glancing at her, “Is that why you’re urging me to go out and play?”
Professor Yang: “What do you think?”
Zheng Jinyao didn’t want to think; she only felt very hurt.
“Don’t you want your precious daughter anymore?”
“No, we don’t.” Professor Yang answered very decisively, without a moment’s hesitation, “What’s the point of a daughter who stays at home all day? When can you go out and make more friends?”
Zheng Jinyao was about to shut up.
Professor Yang continued, “Do you know that your Aunt Liu’s daughter, the one a year younger than you, is already married and had a baby? Just a few days ago, actually. Your mom will have to go to the full moon celebration soon.”
Zheng Jinyao had nothing to say.
She knew that the conversation would eventually circle back to this.
These past few days, her ears had already become calloused from the nagging.
It all boiled down to her finding a partner.
“Why are you so quiet?” Professor Yang peered at her.
Zheng Jinyao had just finished her ice cream and mumbled, “Mom, love is about fate. I haven’t met anyone I like. You can’t force me to just marry someone randomly, can you?”
She felt wronged, “Or are you and Old Zheng unwilling to support me anymore?”
Professor Yang glared at her, “Who said we’re unwilling to support you?”
She said earnestly, “I’m not forcing you to find a boyfriend; it’s just, aren’t you afraid of getting bored staying cooped up at home all day?”
She wasn’t an unreasonable parent; it was just that Zheng Jinyao was practically glued to the couch at home from morning till night, and she really couldn’t stand it anymore.
“No, I’m not afraid,” Zheng Jinyao answered self-righteously, “I think it’s quite happy.”
Mainly because her good friends were too busy, that’s why she hadn’t gone out.
Professor Yang had nothing to say.
With the conversation at this point, she couldn’t say much more.
“Alright, then you stay at home.”
“Bye-bye, don’t drink too much. If you get drunk, I’ll pick you up.”
“Got it.”
After her parents left, Zheng Jinyao planned to take a nap.
But Bo Ying suddenly called her, saying she was free and asking if she wanted to go shopping.
Zheng Jinyao initially wanted to refuse, but on second thought, she felt that staying at home was indeed a bit too boring.
She readily agreed.
They arranged to meet at a coffee shop.
When Zheng Jinyao arrived, Bo Ying hadn’t come yet due to traffic.
She didn’t mind, ordering a cup of coffee first. She had stayed up too late scrolling on Weibo last night, and she was feeling sleepy now.
After ordering, Zheng Jinyao idly lowered her head to play on her phone.
She didn’t pay much attention to her surroundings, nor to the people around her.
Suddenly, a scent of fir wafted over.
Zheng Jinyao paused, unconsciously looking up. What met her eyes was the back of someone wearing a light-colored trench coat. The person was very tall, with an upright and broad back. Her gaze uncontrollably scanned him from top to bottom. His attire was good, very tasteful. Moreover, one could tell he had a special aura.
While Zheng Jinyao was observing, the person had already walked out.
She leaned by the window and looked, a bit regretful she hadn’t seen the person’s face. If he were handsome, she might have had the impulse to go up and ask for his contact information.
...
When Bo Ying arrived, she was leaning her head on her hand, looking outside.
“Hey.”
Bo Ying waved her hand in front of her, “Isn’t it time for Miss Zheng to snap out of it? Who are you looking at?”
Zheng Jinyao: “A handsome guy just walked out.”
“Ah?” Bo Ying turned around, “No, I don’t see anyone.”
Zheng Jinyao glanced at her, “A handsome guy whose face I didn’t see.”
Bo Ying chuckled, “What if he’s a ‘back view killer’?”
“...” For some reason, Zheng Jinyao just felt that a man with that height and figure, who also knew how to dress, wouldn’t be too ugly even if he wasn’t handsome.
“I don’t believe it, I think he was handsome.”
“Bet?” Bo Ying raised an eyebrow.
Zheng Jinyao hummed, not wanting to bet with her.
“How can we bet on this? The person’s already gone.”
Bo Ying thought about it, and agreed.
“Then what do we do?” She touched Zheng Jinyao’s chin, joking, “If only I had come a few minutes earlier, maybe I could have helped our Yaoyao find a boyfriend.”
Zheng Jinyao rolled her eyes at her.
“That’s not certain. What if he already has a girlfriend?”
Bo Ying pouted, jokingly saying, “Then I’ll find you a professor.”
“What, does Mr. He have eligible young men now?” Previously, Bo Ying and Zheng Jinyao had a bet: whoever got into a relationship first was a dog. He Jingxiu, wanting Bo Ying to date him and not be a dog, even boasted that he would introduce Zheng Jinyao to someone.
It had been so long since he made that promise, and Zheng Jinyao still hadn’t seen anyone they introduced to her.
Bo Ying cleared her throat, a little embarrassed.
“About that... I’m still looking for you.”
Zheng Jinyao gave her a side-eye.
Bo Ying smiled, “I promise.”
She said, “I’ll definitely get our Yaoyao into a relationship this new year.”
Zheng Jinyao laughed, “Alright, I want someone handsome.”
“And what else?”
“As for profession, no need for a professor anymore,” she mused, “Must be over 1.8 meters.”
“Mhm, mhm.”
“And he has to have a good physique, at least four-pack abs, right?”
She wasn’t even asking for eight-packs now.
Bo Ying nodded, “Of course, a man who doesn’t exercise has no future.”
Zheng Jinyao was amused by her.
“And his education can’t be too bad, right?” Zheng Jinyao tilted her head, thinking, “But if he’s breathtakingly handsome, it’s okay if his education isn’t high, but he must be polite, not overly vulgar.”
“Anything else?”
“And--” Zheng Jinyao smiled, “I have to like him.”
Everything had to be based on her liking him.
After joking around for a while, the two got up to go shopping.
Zheng Jinyao had always believed that her wish wouldn’t come true so quickly. After all, her standards were very high, and when she looked for a partner, it wasn’t just about the demands she made—handsome, good physique, high education, and so on. She relied on her first impression.
Seeing someone at first glance and feeling a liking, that must be true liking.
Someone she slowly developed a good impression of over time was not her true liking.
She was someone who believed in love at first sight.
________________________________________
Soon after the New Year, Zheng Jinyao was busy for several days.
Today was a weekday, but it was also a workday for her father, Professor Zheng. Zheng Jinyao had flexible work hours, so she immediately took time off to go home and celebrate Professor Zheng’s birthday.
Her parents were professors at B University. When they weren’t teaching, they usually lived in their house on the west side of the city. But during teaching periods, they mostly stayed in the school’s faculty dormitory because they were too lazy to commute.
It wasn’t big, but it was just right for the two of them.
Of course, adding Zheng Jinyao wasn’t a big problem either.
They were old professors, and the faculty dormitory had been assigned to them very early on.
In the morning, after Zheng Jinyao got up, she went to the cake shop.
She had ordered a cake in advance and picked it up.
Just as she arrived at her parents’ residence, Professor Zheng called her, saying he had forgotten to bring some documents and asked her to deliver them to his classroom.
Zheng Jinyao had been to B University many times and had grown up there, so she was exceptionally familiar with where each teaching building was.
But the distance was quite far, so she simply rode a bicycle over.
Rushing to the teaching building, as Zheng Jinyao hurried upstairs, her elbow accidentally bumped the handrail.
She winced in pain, and a comforting voice, like a clear spring, came from one side, “Careful.”
A deep, resonant voice.
Zheng Jinyao froze slightly, unconsciously looking up. What met her eyes was a man standing beside her. She froze.
While being amazed, she also had an indescribable sense of familiarity.
Before Zheng Jinyao could figure it out, Professor Zheng, who was waiting for her at the stairwell, called out, “Yaoyao.”
Zheng Jinyao: “...”
“Hey.”
She replied, “Isn’t class still not started?”
She muttered softly, “What’s the hurry, Old Zheng?”
The father and daughter’s conversation fell into Shen Su’s ears.
He walked up the stairs with Zheng Jinyao. When they reached Professor Zheng, Shen Su greeted him, “Professor Zheng.”
Old Zheng looked at him and said with a smile, “Which class are you teaching this morning?”
“Next door to yours.”
Shen Su replied.
Professor Zheng smiled, and said softly, “I heard that after you came, there aren’t enough seats in the classrooms.” He teased, “One of these days, Professor Zheng will also come to listen to your lecture.”
Shen Su was speechless, “Professor Zheng, you flatter me.”
After they greeted each other, Shen Su lifted his foot and walked to the classroom on the other side.
Old Zheng looked at Zheng Jinyao, who was still standing dazedly not far away, and his brow twitched, “Yaoyao, where’s the stuff?”
“...”
Zheng Jinyao handed it to him, asking around, “Dad, was that the new professor at the school just now?”
Professor Zheng glanced at her, “I remember your mom and I mentioned it to you, that the school hired two new professors this year.” He tapped her head, “See? When your mom and I talk to you, you don’t listen.”
“...Oh.”
Zheng Jinyao mumbled inwardly, You didn’t say he was that handsome.
“Is that professor from around here?”
“Why?”
Professor Zheng peered at her, “Interested in him?”
Zheng Jinyao choked on Professor Zheng’s words, blinking and saying, “Guess.”
She was extremely curious, “Old Zheng.”
“Speak.”
Professor Zheng checked the time, “I have class in one minute.”
Zheng Jinyao linked her arm with his, and asked coquettishly, “Do you want to hold a grandchild this year?”
Professor Zheng choked on her words.
He was speechless for a long time. Facing Zheng Jinyao’s shameless face, Professor Zheng, exasperated, hit her head with the documents in his hand: “What kind of talk is that for a young lady?”
Zheng Jinyao pouted.
Professor Zheng didn’t take her words to heart, “Go back and rest, I’m going to class.”
Zheng Jinyao said “Oh,” “I don’t want to go back. I’m going to wait for you to finish class and then we can go back together. It’s your birthday today, I want to spend the whole day with you.”
“No need.” Old Zheng didn’t give her any face, “Your mom is enough to keep me company.”
Zheng Jinyao: “...”
________________________________________
Five minutes later, Zheng Jinyao secretly slipped into the classroom next door where Professor Zheng was teaching.
No exaggeration, the classroom was packed.
Zheng Jinyao stood at the back door, stunned for a moment, scanning around but seeing no empty seats.
Just as she was about to give up and leave, Shen Su, who was on the podium, suddenly lowered his eyes and looked at her.
That glance, how should one put it.
Zheng Jinyao suddenly felt that even if she stood at this back door all day and listened to the lecture, it would be worth it.
The man’s gaze didn’t linger on her for long before quickly moving away.
Zheng Jinyao subconsciously touched her left chest; good, it was pounding.
She pursed her lips and looked at the boy sitting in the back row playing on his phone, whispering, “Student, can I squeeze in and sit here?”
The boy was playing on his phone. Hearing the voice, he looked up, and his eyes lit up, “Of course, you can.”
He enthusiastically squeezed closer with the student next to him, making space for Zheng Jinyao.
“Thank you.”
Zheng Jinyao smiled.
The boy looked at her and asked softly, “Which class are you from, student?”
Zheng Jinyao blinked, “Professor Zheng’s class.”
“Ah. You finished roll call and secretly came to listen to Professor Shen, right?” The boy said, unperturbed, “Aren’t you afraid of Professor Zheng getting angry?”
Zheng Jinyao was slightly embarrassed.
She touched the tip of her nose and probed, “It’s my first time. Did many other students sneak over before?”
The boy replied, “Yeah, ever since Professor Shen arrived, the number of female students in our Department of Physics at the College of Science has increased.”
Zheng Jinyao raised an eyebrow.
Teaching physics, huh? She was even more interested.
Zheng Jinyao silently curved her lips and looked at the person on the podium.
Shen Su was wearing a dark trench coat today. He had broad shoulders, which perfectly suited this long coat, making him look exceptionally tasteful.
Because he was lecturing, his sleeves were rolled up, revealing a small portion of his forearms. From her angle, she could vaguely see the smooth lines of his forearm muscles.
At this moment, Zheng Jinyao suddenly felt lucky to have a pair of decent eyes.
The man’s features were sharp and handsome, his facial contours strong. The morning sunlight streamed in through the window, subtly outlining his face.
He leaned forward, one hand resting on the podium, his slightly bent posture looking exceptionally good.
It was... clearly not a special movement, yet you just found it beautiful.
Zheng Jinyao stared intently at Shen Su for a while before reluctantly retracting her gaze.
She inquired with the boy next to her.
Soon, she extracted useful information.
For example, Shen Su was recruited back to China by B University with a high salary. He was a physics Ph.D. from a well-known foreign university, had published several influential papers, and was very strong in physics research, and so on.
He was now an associate professor at B University.
On his first day teaching in China, he boosted the enthusiasm of female students in the College of Engineering, even making them fall in love with attending classes and no longer skipping or leaving early.
Of course, more importantly, it was rumored that this professor was single.
As for how everyone knew this, it was because on Professor Shen’s third day of teaching, a brave female student asked him this question.
Shen Su replied that he was single.
...
Being single makes things easier.
Zheng Jinyao looked at Shen Su with sparkling eyes.
On the podium, Shen Su was not unaware of the gazes from below.
But he was already used to these gazes and didn’t feel much.
However, the students’ gazes would usually be a bit more restrained. Even if they had feelings, they wouldn’t express them too directly, but today was different.
He lowered his eyelids and glanced at the person in the back row, resting her chin on her hand, looking at him.
Shen Su paused slightly. He remembered she was Professor Zheng’s daughter next door. Shen Su had an impression of Zheng Jinyao. A few days ago, several teachers from the College of Engineering were eating in the cafeteria, and someone even teased Professor Zheng, saying, “Your Yaoyao doesn’t have a boyfriend yet, right? Let me introduce her to someone. How can such a beautiful girl not have a boyfriend?”
What did Professor Zheng say then?
Professor Zheng sighed deeply and said, “Don’t bother yourself. She’s very picky.”
Everyone laughed.
Those familiar with Zheng Jinyao also knew her personality.
Another professor even asked if Old Zheng wanted to find a son-in-law for his daughter at school, and Shen Su became the target on the spot.
He didn’t take it seriously, and the other professors’ words were just jokes.
However, Shen Su hadn’t expected to meet the person whom the old professors kept mentioning as being particularly unique so quickly.
________________________________________
A class ended.
Shen Su left the classroom.
Zheng Jinyao followed him out. When she reached the doorway of the classroom next door, she happened to run into Old Zheng.
“You’re not back yet?”
Old Zheng was shocked. Zheng Jinyao hummed, “Didn’t I say I’d wait for you?”
Old Zheng looked at her suspiciously, “Then where did you go just now?”
“I went next door to listen to a class,” Zheng Jinyao said, “Professor Shen’s class was quite good.”
Old Zheng: “...”
“Mine isn’t good?” He said sourly, “Why don’t you come listen to my class?”
Zheng Jinyao was exasperated, “How many of your classes have I already listened to?”
She said, “Can’t you let me listen to someone else’s?”
“Fine,” Professor Zheng hummed, “Let’s go, time to go home and eat.”
“Alrighty.”
Downstairs, Old Zheng said, “Wait for your mom, it’ll take some time for her to come from the other teaching building.”
Zheng Jinyao was speechless.
Feeling that she shouldn’t be a third wheel, “Then I’ll ride my bike back. I’ll start cooking first.”
“Go ahead.”
Zheng Jinyao slowly rode her bicycle back.
After locking her bike downstairs, she sharply noticed a man walking towards her from not far away. His strides were large, and he walked with a strong presence.
Seeing him, Zheng Jinyao stopped moving.
Shen Su only noticed Zheng Jinyao there as he approached.
The two exchanged glances. Shen Su, with a calm expression, lifted his foot and walked towards the stairwell. The faculty dormitory was old and had no elevator.
Zheng Jinyao’s parents lived on the third floor, and from Shen Su’s posture, it looked like he lived there too.
Thinking of this, Zheng Jinyao’s eyes darted around, then she called out, “Professor Shen.”
Shen Su’s steps paused slightly, and he turned to look at her.
“You live here?”
Zheng Jinyao asked.
Shen Su nodded.
Zheng Jinyao saw that he still recognized her, and without batting an eyelid, lied, “Then can I come to your place for a bit? My parents won’t be back that quickly, and I forgot my key.”
She paused, then added, “It’s a bit cold outside.”
Shen Su didn’t agree immediately.
He scrutinized Zheng Jinyao for a moment, then said, “If you don’t mind.”
“Not at all, not at all!” Zheng Jinyao said hastily.
She followed Shen Su upstairs.
Zheng Jinyao found that he lived on the fifth floor; climbing the stairs would be exhausting. The school’s faculty dormitory only went up to the fifth floor.
Above that was the rooftop.
They reached the door of Shen Su’s home.
Zheng Jinyao looked at him; he didn’t move.
“How’s the wind here?” Shen Su suddenly asked.
Zheng Jinyao blinked, “Alright?”
She said, “It’s not as cold here as downstairs.”
Shen Su hummed in response, leaned against the wall, pulled out his phone, and said softly, “Then wait here.”
Hearing that, a huge question mark popped up in Zheng Jinyao’s mind.
What the heck?
Wait at the doorstep?
She blinked, suspiciously, “You didn’t bring your key either?”
“I did,” Shen Su said concisely, “It’s not convenient.”
It was very inconvenient for two people who had just met, a man and a woman, to be in the same room.
Zheng Jinyao was exasperated.
She rubbed her nose, not feeling any embarrassment. She looked around, then gestured, “Do you mind if I sit on the stairs?”
Shen Su glanced at her, then handed her the document bag he was holding.
Zheng Jinyao was puzzled.
“To sit on,” Shen Su said calmly.
Zheng Jinyao raised an eyebrow, her eyes brightened, and she smiled, “Thank you, Professor Shen.”
She spoke the last three words exceptionally clearly.
Her voice was very pleasant, soft and sweet, somewhat unlike her usual personality.
Sitting on the stairs, Zheng Jinyao pulled out her phone to message Old Zheng, asking where they were.
Old Zheng: [Ran into a professor on the way and chatted for a couple of minutes. Still about ten minutes away. What’s wrong? Can’t cook anymore?]
Zheng Jinyao: [...No, I forgot my key.]
Old Zheng: [Then wait there.]
Zheng Jinyao: [Okay.]
After messaging Old Zheng, she secretly glanced at Shen Su, who was also looking down at his phone beside her, and furiously pinged Bo Ying.
Zheng Jinyao: [Yingyingyingying!!]
Bo Ying: [I’m here, I’m here.]
Zheng Jinyao: [I met a super handsome guy today.]
Bo Ying: [??? Does he have a girlfriend?]
Zheng Jinyao: [Can’t you wish me well? No girlfriend, but he’s a bit cool.]
Bo Ying: [How so?]
Zheng Jinyao directly told Bo Ying about Shen Su’s behavior towards her.
After she sent it, Bo Ying sent four lines of “hahahaha.”
Zheng Jinyao: [Very funny?]
Bo Ying: [Kind of interesting.]
Zheng Jinyao: [Hmph. He’s making me sit in the stairwell in the cold now. I’ll make him sleep at the door later.]
Bo Ying: [?? Sister, already thinking that far ahead?]
Zheng Jinyao: [Of course, I’ve already thought of our children’s names.]
Bo Ying was exasperated.
But she knew Zheng Jinyao was joking.
However, jokes aside, given the situation, Bo Ying guessed that Zheng Jinyao had truly met someone she fell in love with at first sight.
As someone who had experienced it herself, she was no stranger to such things.
The two chatted for a while.
When Zheng Jinyao looked at Shen Su again, he had put away his phone and was reading another document he had in his hand. The man’s brows and eyes were calm, like a jar of aged wine that needed to be savored slowly.
He was unhurried, calm, and composed, quietly drawing attention.
Suddenly, Zheng Jinyao’s gaze was caught.
Shen Su lifted his eyelids, looking down at her through his eyelashes.
Soon, his gaze shifted away.
He lowered his head and checked his wristwatch. His voice was deep: “Professor Zheng and them aren’t back yet?”
“Hmm.” Zheng Jinyao pursed her lips, “Still a while.”
Shen Su nodded, and said nothing more.
Ten minutes passed.
Professor Zheng called her, asking where she was, and Zheng Jinyao scurried down.
Seeing the girl run off, Shen Su’s eyebrow slightly raised. He stepped closer to the stairs, bent down, and picked up the document she had forgotten to return to him.
________________________________________
“Where did you go?”
After entering the house, Professor Zheng looked at her.
Zheng Jinyao lied without batting an eyelid, “Just went up to the rooftop for some fresh air to cool down.”
“Is that so?” Professor Zheng frowned and looked at Professor Yang, “Isn’t the rooftop door locked?”
Zheng Jinyao: “...”
“Quick, quick, let’s cook!” she said in a panic, “Dad, I’m starving to death!”
Professor Zheng: “Whose birthday is it today?”
“Yours!”
“Then why should Dad cook?”
Zheng Jinyao: “Because I’m Dad’s little cotton jacket, and Dad can’t bear to make me cook.”
Professor Zheng choked on her words, unable to find a retort for a long time.
Despite her words, when Old Zheng went into the kitchen to cook, Zheng Jinyao still played assistant, somewhat getting in the way.
Finally, because she was too clumsy, Old Zheng shooed her out of the kitchen.
Before leaving, she casually snatched a small piece of cucumber.
“Mom.”
Zheng Jinyao nestled beside Professor Yang on the sofa, her face fawning.
“No money?”
Zheng Jinyao cleared her throat, “Of course not.”
She hummed and hawed, “Do I look like someone who’s short on money?”
Professor Yang: “Just say what you want.”
“That Professor Shen, why does he live upstairs from you?” Zheng Jinyao wasn’t shy and asked directly.
Generally, new professors wouldn’t be assigned faculty dormitories.
Hearing this, Professor Yang’s eyes widened, and she scrutinized her for a moment.
That look made Zheng Jinyao’s heart race.
“Mom.”
Professor Yang glanced at her, “Were you just chatting with Professor Shen?”
Zheng Jinyao: “???”
This is why they say the older ginger is spicier.
“Pretty much,” Professor Yang replied, not asking further questions.
“He just returned to the country not long ago, hasn’t found suitable housing near the school, and he’s your Grandpa Shen’s grandson.”
“Grandpa Shen?”
Zheng Jinyao was startled, then remembered an elderly professor who used to buy her snacks when she lived at the school with her parents.
“Ah. But wasn’t Grandpa Shen’s grandson much older than me?”
She had seen him.
“This is the younger one.”
“Oh.”
No wonder.
So, Zheng Jinyao solved the mystery: that was where Grandpa Shen used to live, and it was perfectly reasonable for Shen Su to live there.
Professor Yang glanced at her, “What, are you interested in Shen Su?”
“Yes, I am,” Zheng Jinyao said, smiling, “Do you approve?”
“If you like him, I approve.” Despite saying that, Professor Yang still didn’t take Zheng Jinyao’s words seriously.
For no other reason than that Zheng Jinyao would loudly declare she wanted to be in a relationship, but when introductions were made, she would refuse, saying she was happier alone.
Professor Yang had seen through her and no longer struggled to get her to find a partner. If she liked someone, she’d pursue it; if not, being alone was fine.
After lunch, Zheng Jinyao collapsed onto the sofa to rest.
Professor Zheng’s cooking was excellent, and she had eaten until she was stuffed.
In the afternoon, Professor Yang had two more classes.
Zheng Jinyao had nothing to do, so she could only stare blankly at Old Zheng, who also had no classes.
In the evening, Zheng Jinyao and Professor Yang cooked to celebrate the birthday boy.
When cutting the cake, Zheng Jinyao whispered, “Dad, shouldn’t we share some cake with the neighbors?”
Professor Zheng: “Who do you want to share it with?”
“Professor Shen,” Zheng Jinyao pursed her lips, “What do you think?”
Professor Zheng had nothing to say, “If you want to share, go ahead.”
“Then I’ll go after I eat with you.”
Zheng Jinyao was a woman of her word.
After eating with Old Zheng, she really did carry a piece of cake upstairs.
Fortunately, Shen Su was indeed home.
Seeing her, Shen Su’s eyes seemed to show no surprise.
“Something?”
Zheng Jinyao nodded, “Professor Shen, it’s my dad’s birthday, and he asked me to bring you a slice of cake.” She smiled, “Professor Shen, you wouldn’t refuse this, would you?”
Shen Su paused slightly, lowering his gaze to the small cake she was holding.
It was strawberry flavored.
A small, bright red strawberry adorned the top of the cream, looking very appealing.
He paused for a moment, then didn’t refuse.
“Thank you.”
Zheng Jinyao handed it to him, her eyes curving into a smile, “Professor Shen, are you staying here tonight?”
Shen Su glanced at her, “More or less.”
Zheng Jinyao raised an eyebrow.
“Is what you told the students true?” She went straight to the point.
Shen Su’s hand holding the cake paused, and he lowered his eyes, “What did I say?”
“That you don’t have a girlfriend,” Zheng Jinyao’s eyebrows were raised, and she said with a smile, “If you don’t have a girlfriend, I’m going to pursue you.”
To be honest, at Shen Su’s age, he had encountered many people pursuing him, and even some more direct, frank, and bolder than Zheng Jinyao. So, when Zheng Jinyao said this, he wasn’t surprised.
Just.
He had never seen someone smile so happily while declaring they were going to pursue someone.
He remained silent for a moment, then asked, “What if I do have a girlfriend?”
“You don’t,” Zheng Jinyao’s eyes sparkled, “You already gave me the answer, didn’t you?”
Shen Su was speechless.
Zheng Jinyao looked at him, “If you don’t say anything, I’ll take that as a yes.”
Afraid of being rejected, she turned and walked towards the stairwell. After a couple of steps, Zheng Jinyao looked back at him, “Professor Shen.”
Shen Su looked up.
Zheng Jinyao pursed her lips, then said softly, “Next time, if you forget your key, I’ll definitely let you into my home.”
Shen Su: “...”
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