Online Romance with an Iceberg Professor Backfired - Chapter 13
Chapter 13: Sprained Ankle
“Professor Jiang, what flavors do you usually like? Can you eat spicy food?” Ji Pei asked, turning her head to look at Jiang Xianhan in the passenger seat while driving.
Jiang Xianhan’s profile was calm and elegant. She gently shook her head. “I can’t eat very spicy food.”
Ji Pei looked ahead and made a mental note.
Got it, Jiang Xianhan doesn’t eat spicy food.
If she couldn’t eat spicy food, the selection of restaurants was limited. Eating without spice cuts the flavor in half.
She saw Ji Fan’s slumped face in the rearview mirror. “Ji Fan, look for a famous Cantonese restaurant on your phone. Book a table first, and we’ll drive over.”
Ji Fan was suddenly addressed. Even though it was Ji Pei, she felt the sense of crisis of being called on in class.
“Oh, okay.”
Ji Fan opened her phone to search, found a Cantonese restaurant on Dianping with a clean storefront and excellent reviews, and handed the phone to Ji Pei.
“Sister, this one looks good. What do you think? If it’s okay, I’ll place the order.”
Ji Pei took the phone, flipped through the menu, and found it acceptable. Then she handed the phone to Jiang Xianhan.
“Professor Jiang, what do you think of this place?”
Jiang Xianhan’s fingers grazed the phone. She noticed Ji Pei’s fingers holding the bottom half of the phone, seemingly trying to avoid contact with her.
“Mhm.”
Since Jiang Xianhan said it was fine, it should be good. If the food was truly terrible, then it was Jiang Xianhan’s choice.
Ji Fan sat in the back, calling to reserve a private room. Right after hanging up, she exclaimed, “Oh, no!”
“Sister, I forgot to prepare dinner for Custard Tart and the others.”
Ji Pei kept her eyes on the road. “Call your sister Wenzhu and ask her to go to our place and feed them. She’s been there many times, she knows the way.”
The speaker didn’t intend it, but the listener took note. Ji Pei focused on the car in front of her, not noticing the flash of surprise and the slight frown that crossed Jiang Xianhan’s eyes.
The phone in the back seat rang, Doo-doo. Ye Wenzhu answered the call. When she heard Ji Fan asking her to feed the cats and dog, she started spewing colorful language into the phone.
“Feed the dog? Your Custard Tart bit a hole in my pant leg last time! Those pants were Chanel. Transfer the money to me immediately, or forget it.”
Ji Fan had the speakerphone on. The entire car was captivated by Ye Wenzhu’s endless verbal art.
In less than a day, both sisters’ embarrassing moments had been witnessed by Jiang Xianhan. Ji Pei wanted to deploy the airbag and bury her head inside, even if it meant suffocating, rather than being embarrassed in front of Jiang Xianhan.
She pretended to turn around to tell Ji Fan to turn off the speakerphone. As she turned back, she secretly glanced at Jiang Xianhan. Seeing no reaction on her face, Ji Pei breathed a sigh of relief.
“Wenzhu is something else. That was ages ago, and she still remembers it. So petty.”
Even with the speakerphone off, Ye Wenzhu’s chattering voice still reached Ji Pei’s ears. She looked back. “Ji Fan, hang up. She’ll go.”
Ji Fan hung up, half-believing. “Really? I heard her cursing you fiercely.”
Ji Pei licked her upper lip. “If she doesn’t go feed the dog today, I’ll go dismantle her flower shop when I get back.”
Jiang Xianhan, who had been silent for a while, suddenly spoke up, “Are you and Ye Wenzhu college classmates?”
“Yes.”
When Ji Pei mentioned Ye Wenzhu, she felt a little sorry for her. If it weren’t for her, Ye Wenzhu wouldn’t have been isolated by most of the class. But birds of a feather flock together; the people who were close to Xie Zhen were not worth being friends with.
Jiang Xianhan’s voice sounded faint. “Your relationship is quite good.” She finished and turned to look out at the busy street.
It was rush hour, and traffic was congested. Ji Pei stopped the car at a red light, and just as she was about to speak, Ji Fan preempted her.
“Yes, Professor Jiang, my sister and Sister Wenzhu have a life-and-death friendship. Sometimes I feel she treats Sister Wenzhu better than she treats me.”
Ji Pei: “…”
“Aren’t you supposed to be socially phobic and introverted? How did you manage to say so many words in one go?”
Ji Fan quickly shut her mouth, pretending to observe the other vehicles nonchalantly.
Ji Pei’s car was purple, especially noticeable among the many black and white cars, and her license plate was unique, attracting attention every time she drove out.
Ji Fan opened her phone to watch videos and coincidentally came across a real-time clip. The video showed a purple Porsche. She looked at it, and the license plate was clearly Ji Pei’s.
“Sister, someone filmed your car license plate and posted it online.”
Ji Pei saw the green light, pressed the gas pedal. “It’s not the first time I’ve been filmed.”
Jiang Xianhan suddenly became interested. “What’s the license plate number?”
“It’s…”
Ji Pei was hesitant. She didn’t know exactly how to explain it to Jiang Xianhan.
Ji Fan held the phone up to Jiang Xianhan. “Professor Jiang, look. This is the random license plate my sister chose inadvertently. Isn’t it cool?”
Using Ji Fan’s hand, Jiang Xianhan saw the license plate number in the video and couldn’t help but curve her lips into a smile.
Another red light. Ji Pei braked and sighed, watching the two of them huddled together, discussing her license plate.
“Professor Jiang, believe me, I really picked this number randomly.”
Ji Pei felt like she had suddenly fallen into a self-justification crisis. Why was she explaining this to Jiang Xianhan?
Ten minutes later, Ji Pei drove to the Cantonese restaurant. The restaurant was indeed bustling, with a crowd of people waiting outside, gathering in small groups, including many young couples. Fortunately, Ji Pei had asked Ji Fan to book a table in advance, or they would have been forced to wait outside like the throng of people.
Ji Pei led Jiang Xianhan and Ji Fan to the front desk. Someone said “watch your step,” but the noise was too loud, and Ji Pei didn’t hear it.
Jiang Xianhan was standing on a step beside Ji Pei. After confirming the number of people, Ji Pei turned around, but her foot missed the step. She lost her balance and fell rapidly. A small gasp of alarm rose from the people around them.
Ji Pei crashed directly into Jiang Xianhan. Her entire face was buried in the professor’s chest. It was soft and warm, enveloped in a faint clean fragrance. A strong, powerful heartbeat transmitted through the contact. Ji Pei’s mind instantly went blank.
“I… I’m so sorry, Professor Jiang!”
Her eyes widened. She quickly scrambled up from the ground, grabbed Jiang Xianhan’s arm, and helped her up.
“Wait a minute…”
Jiang Xianhan frowned, clenched her jaw, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. Ji Pei saw her abnormal expression and quickly leaned in to ask, “What’s wrong?”
Jiang Xianhan weakly leaned against Ji Pei’s arm, resting her head on her shoulder, and tried to move her ankle.
“I think… I sprained my ankle.”
Emergency Room at the Hospital.
After registering at the triage desk, Ji Pei pushed Jiang Xianhan in a wheelchair to the orthopedic clinic. The doctor examined Jiang Xianhan’s injury and placed an order on the computer.
“Your right ankle sprain is quite severe. It’s best to get an X-ray to check for any fractures.”
Jiang Xianhan’s lips were pale; she seemed to be in considerable pain. Ji Pei quickly said, “Understood, Doctor.”
Ji Fan was sitting outside waiting. When the two came out, their expressions were both troubled.
“Sister, how is Professor Jiang? Is the sprain serious?”
“The doctor said to take an X-ray. I’m going to push Professor Jiang over. You stay here. Buy something to eat if you get hungry.”
They arrived at the Radiology Department. Ji Pei handed the medical order to the staff. She squatted down in front of Jiang Xianhan to help her take off her shoe and sock, her lips pressed into a serious line.
Jiang Xianhan was about to reassure her and say it wasn’t too painful, but then she heard Ji Pei whisper something very softly. She looked up, her expression sincere and earnest.
“Professor Jiang, I will take responsibility for you during this time.”