Even through her broken glasses, Shen Zhengying could sense Hu Lai's desire to play dead. Hu Lai put on an abandoned expression, "Back then, you kept looking at my sleeping face over and over again. Now, just after the National Day holiday, you want to turn your back on me. Professor Shen, you can't just use and discard me like that, can you?"

Shen Zhengying took a sharp breath, unable to utter a single word in rebuttal.

If she said she hadn't looked at the sleeping face, it was because Hu Lai had fallen asleep in class. If she said she hadn't "used" her, it might refer to driving her home. And "eating" was definitely that hotpot meal.

Do young girls nowadays, with nothing better to do, not date or play games but instead enjoy teasing their elders?

Seeing students leaving class in small groups, Shen Zhengying knew the downstairs area wasn't a good place to talk. If anyone overheard Hu Lai's words, she could jump into the Liwa River and still not wash herself clean.

"Why are you here?" Shen Zhengying asked, her steps not stopping as she led Hu Lai outside.

Hu Lai was happy to follow, "I came out for some exercise. I haven't seen you in a while, and you haven't responded to my messages, so I thought I'd come see you."

Unable to think of anything about herself worth seeing, Shen Zhengying didn't want to continue the conversation. "What happened just now?"

"Oh, some idiot whistled at me. People who know might think he's a student from H University, but those who don't would think he's some wandering hooligan. He even wanted to add me on WeChat. As if my WeChat is so easy to get. When I refused, he accused me of only adding professors to get better grades. The students at H University have such filthy minds. What kind of motherless idiot is he? He should take a piss and look at himself in the mirror."

The usually sweet and delicate girl turned into a fierce scolder when angry.

As a teacher at H University and a mother with a son, Shen Zhengying's position was somewhat delicate, but at that moment, she found it amusing. Honestly, few people would curse so fluently in front of her.

"As long as you didn't get the short end of the stick." Shen Zhengying said, not believing that boys nowadays had any manners.

"Hmph, I can handle anything, but I won't take any losses."

Hu Lai fell silent, and Shen Zhengying had nothing more to say.

She had thought about asking the girl why she kept coming to see her, but Hu Lai had already said it was for exercise. Shen Zhengying didn't believe a word of it. But if the real answer was something earth-shattering, she wasn't sure she could handle it.

It's better not to ask, and keep things peaceful.

"Professor Shen, aren't you curious why I didn't come to class today?"

"You didn't need to come to class in the first place."

"Then aren't you curious why I didn't come to audit your class today?"

Curious? A little.

After the hotpot meal, Hu Lai had messaged her a few times on WeChat, but Shen Zhengying hadn't responded. Gradually, the messages became fewer. Today, not seeing her, Shen Zhengying thought Hu Lai had given up and wouldn't appear. But she did. It was hard to describe the feeling when she heard that voice—it was both unexpected and expected.

"Did your insomnia get better?" Actually, more than why she didn't come, Shen Zhengying was more curious about why she did.

"Oh, Professor Shen, how can you say that about yourself? The first few times I really came to audit your class, but I found the professor much more interesting than the class." Hu Lai walked with her hands behind her back, bouncing along, showing no sign of frustration or helplessness in dealing with Shen Zhengying.

Starting from scratch to pursue someone is too hard, especially when it's someone of the same se.x.

You can't just say, "I like you, can you pay more attention to me?" Nor can you directly seduce them.

It could only rely on the slow erosion of time, but they weren't students who could take advantage of proximity—there simply wasn't the time or opportunity for such erosion. Moreover, Shen Zhengying was like a reinforced concrete wall, unmoved no matter which way the wind blew.

If she had even a fraction of Jiang Yuming's flirtatiousness, it wouldn't have been so difficult.

If it were anyone else, upon hearing someone say they were interesting, they'd at least respond with a modest "Oh, not really," or even humbly claim they were boring. Or, they might directly ask if the other person was interested in them. But not Shen Zhengying. She just said "Oh" and left it at that. It was baffling. Hu Lai used to hate the word "Oh," but now she hated it even more when it was followed by nothing else.

Kicking a pebble on the road in frustration, Hu Lai grew increasingly agitated.

She might as well go for something bold!

The terrain wasn't suitable for a wall slam, but a forceful kiss was feasible—kiss and run.

Forceful kisses were shameful, sleazy, tacky, and beneath her, but she was out of options.

Just as she was about to throw caution to the wind, Shen Zhengying grabbed Hu Lai's arm and pulled her behind a rockery. The campus of H University was once the mansion of a high-ranking official during the Republic of China era, with lush gardens, elegant landscapes, and pavilions scattered throughout—an ideal place for both studying and romance.

Hu Lai, who had been preoccupied with thoughts of mischief, was startled by the sudden pull, her heart racing.

When she regained her composure, the hand gripping hers hadn't let go. Following Shen Zhengying's gaze, she looked over.

Oh wow, in the pavilion by the river, a man and a woman were locked in a passionate embrace, kissing back and forth.

Two words popped into Hu Lai's mind: amateur hour.

For Shen Zhengying to be so tense and focused, could it be...?

Hu Lai strained her eyes, looking again and again, until she finally recognized the two people—

Jiang Yuming and his girlfriend.

—So desperate! At least get a room. Making out in public like that.

Surprisingly, she wasn't as angry as she thought she'd be. Instead, she found it amusing and even had the urge to record it and upload it to P.orn site.

However, the inti.mate scene was seen by his mother.

This scene is so beautiful and amazing, it's just incredible.

Blowing in Shen Zhengying's ear, Hu Lai said, "Professor Shen, I didn't expect you to have this kind of hobby. Do you like it?"

The so-called "don't look if it's inappropriate"—most people instinctively avoid watching others being inti.mate. Upon seeing it, Shen Zhengying felt it looked familiar. As a mother, she had to make sure if that person was her son. There were no streetlights in the pavilion, and the dim light made her more and more certain, and more and more alarmed.

Knowing that her son has a girlfriend is one thing, but seeing him being affectionate with her at school is another.

Even though she usually doesn't interfere in Jiang Yuming's personal matters, she felt a bit angry inside.

She was so taken aback by Hu Lai's tone that she suddenly realized that her behavior was inappropriate and could easily be misunderstood, and her face turned red.

"No, I just want to see clearly..."

"Oh~~ you want to see clearly, got it, got it. Professor Shen doesn't need to explain, I understand."

 —You know sh.it.

"No, that person is..."

"That person is your student? Tsk tsk, that's just too much. Today's students are so open-minded."

Shen Zhengying's face darkened, "It's my son."

"Oh, it's your son... Sorry." Saying sorry, Hu Lai didn't look the least bit apologetic, grinning wickedly, "So, are you going to keep watching?"

It's better not to ask, but once they did, the situation became even more intense. The two of them just watched as Jiang Yuming reached into his girlfriend's skirt.

Shen Zhengying lunged forward, ready to jump out and intervene, but Hu Lai grabbed her, pulling and dragging her onto another path.

"Why did you stop me!" Shen Zhengying broke free from Hu Lai's grip, visibly angry.

Hu Lai secretly wished Shen Zhengying would confront Jiang Yuming on the spot and embarrass him, but if Shen Zhengying went over, she would have to follow, and that would expose her. What if Jiang Yuming thought she had deliberately brought his mother to witness this? She didn't want to take the blame for Jiang Yuming's lack of discretion.

"If I hadn't stopped you, you would've jumped out there."

"Shouldn't we stop them?! Doing such things in public, such..." Shen Zhengying couldn't even bring herself to finish the sentence.

"It's just some inti.macy, no big deal. Don't worry, it won't escalate to anything more serious."

"No big deal? In a place full of people! Are they really that desperate? If they're in such a hurry, why not just get a room!"

Hu Lai burst out laughing.

Shen Zhengying glared at her, "And you're laughing!"

She was absolutely furious.

She had repeatedly reminded Jiang Yuming to watch his behavior, to be mindful of his actions, and yet she had to witness such a scene. It was as if everything she had said had gone in one ear and out the other.

"Did you not give your son enough money for a room?"

"I should give him money for a room?! The reason humans are human is because they know what's appropriate and what's not!" Shen Zhengying spoke with deep concern and frustration. "They're not some animals on the side of the road... ugh!"

Hu Lai couldn't help but laugh even harder, saying between giggles, "Humans are also animals, Professor Shen. There's a term called 'wild union.' Do you know why Confucius is called Kong Qiu? It's because his father and mother, on a dark and windy night, on a deserted hill, did the deed. And that was a man in his sixties, almost in his coffin, with a young woman. At least those two... were of similar age, right?"

"Are you trying to comfort me or make me angrier?" Shen Zhengying felt even more upset after hearing this.

"Comforting you, comforting you. A grown son is no longer under his mother's control. Men are creatures driven by their lower instincts. Your son is young, the girl is naive, and they got carried away in the heat of the moment. It's really no big deal."

"I still feel like you're trying to make me angrier."

"Alright, I'll stop talking then." Hu Lai patted Shen Zhengying's back, gently stroking it a few times. "Calm down, it's not worth getting so worked up over something that's not even a big deal."

Her movements were smooth and natural, but when Hu Lai's hand touched her back, Shen Zhengying stiffened, her upper body tensing up.

"How is that not a big deal!" Shen Zhengying, who was used to speaking directly to people, turned her face toward Hu Lai.

Hu Lai, with one hand still soothing her and the other holding her arm, stood right beside her. As Shen Zhengying turned her head—

The large frame of her glasses bumped into Hu Lai's face first.

So much potential inti.macy, ruined by a pair of glasses. Otherwise, it could've been considered a near face-to-face moment.

"Professor Shen, your hidden weapon is quite impressive." Hu Lai let go, touching her own face.

Shen Zhengying took off her glasses and apologized.

Hu Lai didn't dwell on it, speaking calmly, "If you're really worried, you could call your son and interrupt them."

"Forget it." After the initial shock, Shen Zhengying calmed down. "Different generations have different values. I've always stayed out of Ming Ming's private life, trusting he'd know his limits. Sorry you had to see this."

"No big deal." And indeed, it wasn't a big deal. Seeing her ex-boyfriend being affectionate with someone else didn't faze her. Hu Lai and Jiang Yuming had never even been that close.

"Are all young people like this nowadays? Are you like this too?" As soon as the question left Shen Zhengying's lips, she felt it was abrupt. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"There's nothing I can't answer," Hu Lai shrugged. "I don't have that big of an appetite."

Her relationships usually end within two months, still in the getting-to-know-you phase, never reaching the point of losing herself in inti.macy.

The two walked along the path out of H University and stopped in front of Hu Lai's car.

"Get in, I'll give you a ride?"

"No need, it's just a few steps away."

Hu Lai nodded, not insisting. Driving would require a detour, but walking would allow them to cut through.

"Then I'll walk you over?"

"And then I'll walk you back to get your car?"

Hu Lai laughed, making it seem like an endless farewell.

"I'm fine, Hu Lailai, thank you for keeping me company tonight."

"I was happy to accompany you."

After a moment of silence, Hu Lai said, "Professor Shen, you should head back soon. Your son has his own life, don't worry too much about him."

Watching Hu Lai get into her car and turn on the headlights, Shen Zhengying felt a strange sense of melancholy and parting.

"Hu Lailai—" she couldn't help but call out.

"What?"

After a while, Shen Zhengying finally said, "Well, don't trust Baidu Baike for things about Confucius, and try to use Baidu less..."

Hu Lai laughed again and said, "Alright."

---

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆Charvinovel ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆