In truth, feeding each other is quite normal among women. Sometimes, when hands are occupied or one is too lazy to get them dirty, a simple "ah" is enough to prompt someone to feed you. The rising blush on Shen Zhengying's face greatly piqued Hu Lai's interest. Considering the older generation's lack of experience with inti.mate interactions, perhaps the act of feeding was something particularly embarrassing for Professor Shen.

It's not just a problem for two generations; if it were the big boss or that Dr. Guan, they definitely wouldn't know how to write the word "shame."

Once again convinced of Professor Shen Zhengying's rare and endearing charm, Hu Lai suppressed her urge to tease her and instead repeated her name a few times, "Zhengying. Hmm, it's a really nice name."

"A name is just a label. What's so nice about it?"

Professor Shen might not excel at much, but she was certainly first-rate at deflating compliments.

"People with nice names always say that. If you'd grown up being called 'Hu Lai' (Rogue/reckless) like me, you'd envy a good name too."

"You can change your name before you're eighteen."

"Life is full of contradictions. When you care, you can't change it, and when you can, you no longer care. Now, I love it when people call me 'Hu Lai.' I'm a rogue—who's afraid of whom?"

Shen Zhengying was at a loss for words.

"Come on, Professor Shen, give me your phone number."

Phone numbers were considered open-access contact information, so Shen Zhengying gave it without hesitation. Hu Lai called her back, and Shen Zhengying glanced at her phone but didn't save the number immediately. She finished the rest of her coffee in one gulp. "Let's go. Take me to experience your 'True Illusion.'"

True Illusion was still in the testing phase, and access wasn't open to all employees. Testing was limited to the project team members, each of whom had to sign a confidentiality agreement with extremely high penalties for breaches. Hu Lai had consulted a lawyer to ensure the agreement was enforceable—violators would definitely pay.

Entering the testing room required passing through two verification checkpoints, with armed guards stationed at the identity verification area—it felt like something out of a movie. Remembering the confidentiality agreement she had just signed, Shen Zhengying asked Hu Lai, "Do you all have to sign confidentiality agreements too?"

"Of course."

"Then how did you manage to post..."

Before she could finish, Hu Lai covered her mouth.

Shen Zhengying was both startled and amused. She patted Hu Lai's hand to indicate she understood her meaning, and only then did Hu Lai let go.

After passing through the registration machine at the entrance, Hu Lai explained, "I only mentioned the name in my WeChat Moments. I didn't say a word about anything else. I was just worried about misunderstandings earlier—it's a hassle. Don't think just anyone can see my Moments, only close friends can. That time with Wang Baobao was a slip-up."

Shen Zhengying, now classified as a "close friend," opened her mouth but decided it was better to stay silent.

After adding each other on WeChat, Shen Zhengying had checked out Hu Lai's Moments. With Hu Lai's explanation, she felt even more embarrassed to bring it up. Anything she said would just give Hu Lai more material to work with. The girl was as cunning as a fox—it was better not to provoke her.

"Professor Shen, please don't hold a grudge and report me to the big boss. It's not good to mix personal and professional matters." Before anyone else could say "please," Hu Lai tugged at Shen Zhengying's sleeve, "Ms. Shen, I'm begging you."

With so much drama, why not go act in a play?

Shen Zhengying muttered in her heart, "Afraid of losing your job? That shouldn't be the case. Judging by your outfit, you don't seem like someone short on money."

Hu Lai looked herself up and down, "This outfit of mine is plain and simple, all bought on sale from Muji and Uniqlo, okay? Besides, it's not about the money, it's about ideals."

"I almost felt a surge of respect."

"Our company is really great, the food is good, the other benefits are good, it's not something ordinary companies can compare to. There's even a harassment reporting email, no bullying of newcomers at the annual party, no cringeworthy programs, and it's very women-friendly. Professor Shen, look around at all the internet companies in the country, which one can compare to our Kunlun?"

She spoke with genuine pride and admiration.

"That's your President Yang's style. She's a truly good person. To avoid any suspicion of personal revenge, I won't mention this to her... Huh."

Entering the testing room, it was different from what Shen Zhengying had imagined. There were no computers or monitors, just rows of massage chairs. At first glance, one might think they had walked into a movie theater.

As if anticipating Shen Zhengying's surprise, Hu Lai smiled slightly and picked up two helmets from a nearby display rack.

"Welcome to Kunlun's True Illusion. Professor Shen, what we're about to experience will completely overturn your previous gaming experiences."

Shen Zhengying took one of the helmets, "VR?"

She had experienced VR before, but the helmet felt lighter than expected, unlike the heavy goggles of typical VR devices.

"VR still relies on your body, but our equipment allows you to abandon your physical form and control everything with just your brain."

Leading Shen Zhengying to a small room with only four massage chairs, Hu Lai turned on the light and waved, "Professor Shen, sit here. Other colleagues will come for testing, but we won't be disturbed inside."

It felt like a VIP movie theater box.

Noticing Shen Zhengying's hesitation, Hu Lai chuckled, "Don't worry, this isn't a dark room. There are cameras monitoring everything. If a person's physiological indicators are abnormal, an alarm will go off."

Shen Zhengying mumbled, "What do I have to worry about?"

Indeed, what did she have to worry about? Was she afraid the young girl would do something to her? By today's standards, she was already considered an "auntie." What could a lively young girl possibly do to her?

If it were ordinary people, two women wouldn't even think in that direction. But Shen Zhengying had been a teacher at the school for so many years, had seen many same-s.ex couples, and had often heard about students pursuing same-s.ex counselors and teachers. She had also received love letters from the same se.x herself. Having had quite a few bad experiences before, she naturally thought more about it than others did.

"Ah, it seems I didn't do well enough before and scared Professor Shen," Hu Lai stuck out her tongue. "I'll be more careful in the future."

The hardest to bear is the kindness of a beauty.

A beautiful young girl, completely unrelated to her, keeps showing her favor—how could that not make her nervous?

If it were a male teacher, he might have been proud of his charm and even tried to stir up some scandal, blaming the girl for seducing him if things went south.

But Shen Zhengying? She was downright terrified.

Following her instructions, she sat down on the massage chair and was just about to put on the helmet when Hu Lai stopped her, saying, "Hey, take off your glasses first."

Shen Zhengying was stunned.

Ever since she got these specially modified glasses, she had been wearing them during classes and training sessions. The glasses were her protective shield. In a way, taking off her glasses in front of someone was akin to undressing in front of them. Hu Lai had seen her without glasses before, but that time she had taken them off in private.

"Professor Shen, you can't put on the helmet with your glasses on."

"Okay... okay."

In all honesty, Hu Lai only asked Shen Zhengying to remove her glasses because they interfered with the helmet. But the way Professor Shen carefully took off her glasses made it seem like she was being asked to remove her underwear, not her glasses.

Last time wasn't like this.

Hu Lai was puzzled. She squatted down and looked at Shen Zhengying, "Are you afraid of confined spaces?"

Shen Zhengying shook her head.

"Are you afraid... of me?"

Shen Zhengying hesitated for a moment before shaking her head. Sensing the young girl's sincere concern, she shyly said, "I'm just not used to taking off my glasses in front of others."

Hu Lai was even more confused. Her son could make out with someone in public, but his mother was shy about taking off her glasses.

This...

"You could have told me, I could have turned around. Next time I'll turn around on my own. But Professor Shen, you hesitated just now, are you afraid of me?" Hu Lai thought she was harmless and couldn't understand what Shen Zhengying was afraid of. Although she had some mischievous thoughts, she didn't want to ruin things over this.

At this point, with the girl being so sincere, Shen Zhengying stuffed her glasses into her bag, smoothed her hair, and said, "I'm not afraid of you. I just can't understand why you want to get close to me. Having meals together might not need a reason, but your presence does. Don't tell me it's just a coincidence that you came to my class."

The young girl's smile remained unchanged, but the joy in her eyes had faded. She stood up and sat down on the massage chair beside her.

"At first, I thought you liked Ming Ming, my son. Most of the female students who came to audit my class had that intention."

"Heh."

"I also think those female students are a bit silly, and you don't seem like that kind of person. After last time, I thought you probably weren't here for my son. But if it's for some other reason, I can't think of what it could be. We have such a big age difference, different interests, and we're both women..." At this point, Shen Zhengying suddenly fell silent again.

Why did this conversation take such a strange turn?

She instinctively glanced at Hu Lai beside her, who was covering her mouth with her fingers, shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.

"No, what I mean is..." Shen Zhengying was completely at a loss for words.

"From what Professor Shen is saying, it seems like you think I'm pursuing you, and you're rejecting me based on age, interests, and gender, right?"

—No, that's not it.

Professor Shen didn't want to talk anymore, she just wanted to dive into the game to calm down.

"You always say you don't understand, but I think you understand very well. Professor Shen, you already have a son, so you must have a husband, right?"

Professor Shen honestly replied, "We divorced a long time ago."

"Oh~"

This time, Professor Shen wanted to slap herself.

"Since you've said that, I'll be honest too."

---

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