Chapter 78: Long Time No See

“Hi, Professor Jiang, long time no see!” Tong Yi suddenly leapt out from behind, her smile as radiant as a blossoming flower, greeting Jiang An cheerfully.

Jiang An felt a touch of helplessness. Tong Yi, with your clumsy skills, I saw you coming from afar, he thought, but he had to pretend not to have noticed. He glanced at her with a complicated look and replied with a smile, “Tong Yi, it’s been a while.”

Tong Yi’s heart raced like a startled fawn, though she forced herself to appear calm. “Professor Jiang, your classes have been suspended for several weeks. We were worried we wouldn’t get credits this semester. When will the exam be?”

“We’ll have one more class this week, then the exam next time. I’ll coordinate with the school so you won’t lose your credits due to fewer sessions. I do share some responsibility, after all,” Jiang An replied in a businesslike manner.

“Professor, we’re friends now, right? Can you give us some hints on the key points?” Tong Yi sidled closer, smiling mischievously like a clever little fox. The delicate fragrance of youth inevitably drifted to Jiang An.

Tong Yi was undeniably beautiful, and a ripple stirred in Jiang An’s heart. He sighed inwardly, discreetly widening the distance between them, and said, “I’ll explain during class. As long as you're attentive, you should all pass.”

Jiang An’s subtle gesture disappointed Tong Yi for a moment, but her disappointment quickly transformed into resolve. He truly is a gentleman around women, not the kind to flirt recklessly. No wonder I like Professor Jiang.

Ah, love is blind; everything seems wonderful.

“Okay, there’s one more thing. Last time you helped me with my illness, my family insisted I invite you to dinner. So please, Professor Jiang, let me treat you today!” Tong Yi laughed as she ran ahead. “No refusing! Class is about to start—let’s hurry!”

Jiang An watched her flitting away like a butterfly, uncertain how to handle this girl.

In class, Jiang An deliberately sped up the pace.

He randomly quizzed a few students to test their memory of the acupuncture charts, then taught them some practical techniques in acupuncture and massage. But soon, the students began asking him about their ailments right on the spot, turning the classroom into a clinic.

Their questions ranged from irregular menstruation, to what to do about a father’s troubled lumbar spine, to how to deal with elderly night sweats—strange and varied, far beyond the scope of acupuncture. Jiang An simply went along, answering every question, considering it compensation for the lessons he had missed.

The more he indulged them, the more excited the students became, awed by his profound knowledge. Even as the bell rang for the end of class, they lingered, reluctant to leave.

“Alright, everyone, that’s all for today. Next time is the exam—I’ve told you the key points, so review well,” Jiang An announced.

“Professor Jiang, will you teach again next semester?” a student called out.

“Yes, Professor Jiang, I want to take your class again!”

“Me too!”

“I want it as well!”

All eyes turned to him, waiting for his response.

Jiang An glanced around, feeling a touch of emotion, but he truly couldn’t say for sure. Teaching was only a foundation for his own cultivation; as circumstances evolved, he would likely become busier. He could only reply, “We’ll see. Class dismissed!”

With that, he left the classroom straightaway.

“Professor Jiang, wait for me!”

Sure enough, Tong Yi dashed after him, catching up so she could walk at his side.

“Professor, you promised to let me treat you to dinner, so you can’t back out now,” Tong Yi said with a sly smile, almost as if she were playfully demanding.

Jiang An thought for a moment. Fine, this would be a good chance to clarify things so as not to waste her youth.

“Alright, you decide the time and place,” he agreed.

Yes! The first step of the Great Wall!

Tong Yi cheered silently, then said with a gentle laugh, “The place is Cool Page Restaurant, like I told you last time. This time, I won’t change venues halfway. As for the time—why not now? We can just make it for lunch.”

“Now? You have no afternoon classes?”

“None,” Tong Yi replied cheerfully. Even if she did, what of it? She was pursuing her own happiness.

“Alright, let's head out together, if you don’t mind,” Jiang An said.

Of course I don’t mind—the more witnesses, the better, Tong Yi thought with a secret smile, keeping her expression composed. “Let’s go.”

They walked together down the campus avenue toward the gate, chatting along the way (mostly Tong Yi), drawing the astonished gazes of countless male students, whose hearts and glasses were shattered in disbelief.

“Professor Jiang, you’re so tall—almost a whole head taller than me,” Tong Yi gestured, “You must have practiced martial arts, right? I suddenly find martial arts fascinating. Do you think it can help me grow taller?”

Tong Yi was actually quite tall herself, over 170 centimeters. Her question was merely in line with the strategy of the skirt brigade, searching for a shared topic. Professor Jiang had leapt so high with her in his arms last time; surely he practiced martial arts.

“For you, starting martial arts now might be a bit late. If you want to shape your body, yoga or fitness would suit you better. As for getting taller, that’s hard to say.”

“True,” Tong Yi nodded earnestly. “By the way, Professor, I heard you graduated from Eastern University—you’re my senior! What was your major?”

“Literature.”

“Then how did you switch from literature to medicine?”

Tong Yi’s questions came one after another, and Jiang An patiently answered, the two of them thus walking out of Eastern University and arriving at the parking lot.

Before they reached the car, someone behind called out. Jiang An turned to see a girl with long hair and heavy makeup running over, holding a phone in one hand.

“Hey there, handsome, give me your hand—I have a gift for you!”

The girl stared at her phone screen, extending her free hand toward Jiang An, giggling.

Jiang An was baffled. Beside him, Tong Yi bristled, darting between them and exclaiming, “Are you taller than me? Prettier than me? Better figure? And you dare record a short video right in front of me? Shoo! Don’t interrupt us! Do you believe I’ll tear you apart?”

Her rapid-fire retort was fierce and relentless, like a machine gun, leaving the girl dumbfounded.

“Hmph!”

Tong Yi, now resembling a tigress defending her cub, made a face, then grabbed Jiang An’s hand and marched forward, muttering inwardly: Shameless! Flirting with my man right in front of me—don’t you even look at yourself? Infuriating!

A few steps later, she suddenly shivered, glancing down to realize she was holding Professor Jiang’s hand. Remembering her outburst, she felt as if drenched in icy water from head to toe. Oh no, he saw everything—so much for being gentle, so much for being ladylike! I acted like a shrew! My perfect image is ruined. Tong Yi, you idiot!

She covered her face with both hands and squatted down, almost in tears. “Professor Jiang, I can’t face you. I don’t know why I got so worked up—I hope you don’t mind. I’m not usually like this.”

Jiang An burst out laughing. “Not at all—it was genuine. I like that.”

He paused, surprised at his own words. Did I say that by accident?

Could it be I hit the mark by chance? Professor Jiang doesn’t mind!

Tong Yi instantly brightened, standing up with cheeks like white jade tinged with sunset, her beauty delicate and moving. She smiled, “Good! That’s settled. No one’s allowed to mention it again. Let’s go eat.”

“Alright, my car’s right here—hop in!”

Tong Yi saw an imposing Mercedes waiting before her. She smiled, “Professor, you’re quite wealthy. I wonder if I should seek a sugar daddy for support?”

It was a joke, but also a subtle test.

Wealthy? If only you knew your own net worth—three billion US dollars!

“I’d rather not become the kind of person I once despised. A girl should respect herself,” Jiang An replied, getting into the driver’s seat. “Get in!”

His answer was ambiguous, but Tong Yi seemed to understand. She got in the passenger seat, nodding, “Professor, your standards are high. I’ll need your guidance at lunch—maybe I’ll eat two bowls.”

“Haha, you,” Jiang An laughed, shaking his head. “Buckle up, let’s go.”

The car sped away, heading toward the Cool Page Restaurant in the city center.