Online Romance with an Iceberg Professor Backfired - Chapter 20
Chapter 20: Jealousy
Although Jiang Xianhan was lecturing, her attention remained focused on Ji Pei. She noticed that the other person was not paying attention to the lecture but was flipping through her notebook, doodling on it, and showing a guilty expression.
After these few days of contact, Jiang Xianhan had figured Ji Pei out. And this guilty expression was one Jiang Xianhan had seen many times on Ji Pei’s face; it was all too familiar.
Her lips curved slightly. She had originally intended to call on Ji Pei to answer a question. But judging by the current situation, asking Ji Pei a question would probably frighten her. Jiang Xianhan thought better of it. After all, she was just a child. It was already commendable that she was sitting in the classroom listening to her lecture.
After mistakenly writing on the notebook, Ji Pei felt terribly embarrassed. What should she do when Jiang Xianhan asked for the notebook back and saw the name she had written without permission? Ji Pei was fidgety. She secretly took out her phone, placed it under the desk, and saw a message from Ji Fan.
Ji Fan: “Sister, why are you at the public lecture too? Didn’t you say you’d go home after dropping off Professor Jiang?”
Ji Pei read the message, bit her lower lip, and used a fingertip to type letter by letter on the screen.
Ji Pei: “Pay attention to class, don’t get distracted.”
Ji Pei: “I’m Jiang Xianhan’s private caregiver now. I’ll be taking her to school all week.”
Ji Fan and a classmate were sitting in the last row. She secretly took a photo of Ji Pei looking down at her phone and sent it to her.
Ji Fan: “Sister, you’re in the front row. Be careful Professor Jiang catches you.”
Ji Pei chuckled inwardly, thinking Ji Fan was such a coward. After exchanging glances with Jiang Xianhan again, she still guiltily shoved her phone into the desk compartment. Knowing when to yield and when to stand firm was a fine traditional virtue.
Finally, the public lecture was over. Ji Pei stretched her limbs a couple of times, organized the notebook, and placed it neatly in front of her. Students in the classroom began leaving for lunch. Jiang Xianhan, sitting in her wheelchair, waited until everyone had left before moving. This had always been her habit.
Just as Ji Pei thought the classroom was empty, a hand reached out and patted her shoulder. She turned and saw Ji Fan. Ji Fan was still a bit afraid of Jiang Xianhan. After greeting the professor, she leaned into Ji Pei’s ear and whispered, “Sister, I’m going to lunch with my classmate.” Ji Fan ran off as soon as she finished speaking, disappearing in a flash.
Ji Pei smiled, stood up, and walked behind Jiang Xianhan, placing both hands on the wheelchair.
“Professor Jiang, she’s afraid of you. She’s avoiding you.”
Jiang Xianhan nodded, then heard Ji Pei say, “Next time she takes your class, call on her every day and make her stand up to answer questions.”
Bai Yin grimaced upon hearing this and couldn’t help but ask, “Student Ji Pei, what’s the feud between you and your classmate?”
Ji Pei smiled. “She never studies properly and still tells me she’s going to be an excellent doctor in the future. Who would dare seek treatment from her then?”
As soon as Bai Yin heard the word “doctor,” she felt uneasy and tentatively said, “Student Ji Pei, you must tell me where your sister goes for work in the future.”
“…”
It was lunchtime. This time, Ji Pei finally had a chance to legitimately use Jiang Xianhan’s card. She and Bai Yin found a quiet corner with almost no one around. After settling Jiang Xianhan, they went to line up.
Ji Pei had been wanting to eat Yellow Braised Chicken and Rice last time but didn’t get a chance. She felt a bit hungry for it. However, the Yellow Braised Chicken and Rice was in the distant West Cafeteria. She didn’t feel comfortable mentioning it, nor did she want Jiang Xianhan, who was in a wheelchair, to accompany her on such a long trip. It was just a plate of Yellow Braised Chicken and Rice. She could make it herself at home. It would be cleaner and more hygienic.
Ji Pei still remembered eating with Jiang Xianhan last time. The professor only ate vegetables and no meat at all. But her foot was sprained. They say you should eat foods that benefit the injured area, so should she get Jiang Xianhan a pig trotters meal? Thinking of this, Ji Pei couldn’t help but laugh out loud, which Bai Yin heard.
Bai Yin leaned in, looking mysterious. “What are you laughing about?”
Ji Pei whispered, “I was wondering if I should get Professor Jiang a pig trotters meal. Do you think she’ll eat it?”
Bai Yin shook her head. “Based on my years of knowing Professor Jiang, she doesn’t like meat. She rarely eats at the school cafeteria. Her life is very disciplined. Sometimes I think she’s a robot.”
Ji Pei’s eyes fell on Jiang Xianhan, who was quietly waiting in the distance. The distance between them was a bit far. Ji Pei could vaguely see Jiang Xianhan lifting her head and lowering it again, probably wondering why she and Bai Yin hadn’t returned yet.
As it was almost their turn to get food, Ji Pei messaged Jiang Xianhan, asking what she wanted to eat, and sent a photo, asking Jiang Xianhan to send back her choices. Jiang Xianhan opened the small picture, the photo Ji Pei had sent.
Ji Pei: “So many choices!”
Ji Pei: “Bai Yin told me you don’t like meat, but I think you should supplement your protein.”
Ji Pei: “The braised pork ribs look good. I’ll get you a serving.”
Ji Pei: “No refusing!”
Jiang Xianhan’s curved lips never dropped. She replied “Okay.” Then her phone vibrated again. It was the notification sound from the app.
Seasonal Wind: “Wifey, look at all the food in our school cafeteria. And it looks delicious.”
Seasonal Wind: “[Photo] [Photo]”
Jiang Xianhan opened it and saw that the two photos the other person sent were identical to the ones Ji Pei had just sent her. She truly reported everything at all times. Jiang Xianhan replied contentedly.
Winter Sun: “That’s a feast.”
Seasonal Wind: “Next time, I’ll secretly take you in to eat. I’ll use my sister’s card. I’m not a current university student, so I can’t use the card.”
Winter Sun: “Okay.”
Ji Pei returned to their table with two trays. Jiang Xianhan had just put away her phone. One tray was placed in front of her. This was what Ji Pei had bought for her. There was indeed a serving of braised pork ribs and some bright green stir-fried vegetables. Bai Yin had previously told her Jiang Xianhan was a picky eater, but after two days of bringing her food, Ji Pei didn’t think so. Jiang Xianhan ate everything she brought, leaving no leftovers. Ji Pei had also specifically asked Jiang Xianhan if there was anything she wouldn’t eat, and the professor always replied that she would eat anything Ji Pei made.
Ji Pei sat across from Jiang Xianhan, handing her the chopsticks. “You can’t just eat vegetables. You need a balance of meat and vegetables.”
Jiang Xianhan nodded in agreement. “Mhm, a balance of meat and vegetables.”
Ji Pei was busy eating her minced meat and eggplant mixed with rice when a shadow fell over her. She looked up and saw a girl with long pink hair looking down at her, a faint smile on her lips.
“Hello, can I sit in the empty seat next to you?”
“Yes, of course.”
Ji Pei didn’t think much of it. She moved her chair over, and the pink-haired girl placed her tray down and sat beside her.
Jiang Xianhan’s hand, holding the chopsticks, paused slightly. She casually glanced at the girl diagonally across from her, then lowered her gaze and continued to eat in silence. Ji Pei was sitting on the left and eating with her right hand. She kept bumping the arm of the girl on her right, so she switched to her left hand. She had only taken a couple of bites when she noticed Jiang Xianhan’s gaze fixed on her left hand.
“I’m left-handed, but I’ve been practicing eating with my right hand recently.”
The meal was eaten in silence. Even the talkative Bai Yin didn’t speak, likely subdued by the delicious food. Ji Pei finished eating and looked up, seeing that Jiang Xianhan was also done. She proactively gathered her own and Jiang Xianhan’s bowls and placed them on the nearby mobile dining cart.
When she returned, the pink-haired girl had also finished her meal. Her gaze quickly swept over Ji Pei. She stood up with her tray, but inadvertently, some leftover soup splashed onto Ji Pei’s clothes.
“I’m so sorry!”
The pink-haired girl looked flustered and quickly pulled out a tissue to wipe Ji Pei’s clothes, but Ji Pei moved away.
“It’s okay, I’ll do it myself.”
From the moment the girl stood up to the accidental spillage of leftover food on Ji Pei, all the actions and expressions were witnessed by Jiang Xianhan. She watched everything with an expressionless face, her brows slightly furrowed, and her complexion darkened.
“I stained your clothes by accident. How about I take it and wash it for you?”
Ji Pei felt she had heard those words somewhere before. She shook her head and smiled. “It’s fine. It’s just a little bit. Wiping it is enough.”
“But this is a Chanel coat. It will get ruined if it’s not washed.”
Ji Pei casually replied, “Mine is a fake.” Her gaze settled on the spot where Jiang Xianhan had been. She realized the professor was gone, leaving only a solitary figure slowly wheeling herself forward.
Ji Pei bypassed the pink-haired girl and quickly caught up, grabbing the wheelchair.
“Professor Jiang, why did you push yourself away?”
Jiang Xianhan took a tissue from her bag. Seeing the dark stain, she naturally grasped the hem of Ji Pei’s coat and gently wiped the area clean. Ji Pei stood still, head bowed, feeling a little overwhelmed.