Online Romance with an Iceberg Professor Backfired - Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Cold Sweat

Jiang Xianhan was still holding the tissue stained with soup, her gaze scanning the surroundings, seemingly looking for a trash can.

“Thank you, Professor Jiang.”

Ji Pei was stunned for a long time, but finally took the tissue and threw it into the nearby trash can. She felt something was odd. Why would Jiang Xianhan be so kind as to wipe her clothes? Was it just because she had served her lunch today? That was too polite. Besides, she was eating on Jiang Xianhan’s dime.

After going back and forth these past few days, the two of them had developed a friendship. Why was Jiang Xianhan still treating her like a stranger?

“Professor Jiang, I remember your last class is this afternoon. How about we go home and take a nap first?”

Jiang Xianhan was still somewhat surprised. She hadn’t expected Ji Pei to go to such lengths for her. At first, she was secretly pleased, her whole heart practically soaring. Then, remembering that Ji Pei’s personality was simply like this—responsible and gentle toward her friends and family—her mood started to sour. However, she currently held no title or status, merely an acquaintance of Ji Pei’s with a decent relationship. She had no right to question anything.

The pink-haired girl also entered the elevator. Ji Pei, holding onto the wheelchair, inadvertently met her gaze. The girl seemed to want to say something, but the elevator doors opened, and Ji Pei pushed Jiang Xianhan out.

“Are you really sure you don’t need me to wash it for you?”

The girl’s eyes looked pitiful, but Ji Pei found her baffling. She had already said no need and that she could handle it herself, yet the girl seemed insistent.

“No, thank you.”

“But…”

Before she could finish, Ji Pei pushed Jiang Xianhan away.

Sitting in the wheelchair, Jiang Xianhan experienced such speed for the first time. In a corner where no one could see, the corners of her mouth lifted in a barely noticeable smile.

Bai Yin lived in the faculty dormitory and went back for a nap after eating. There were still quite a few students coming and going on the tree-lined path. Ji Pei and Jiang Xianhan were in the middle, looking out of place. Their pairing was novel. Most of the faculty and students knew Jiang Xianhan and what she looked like. Ji Pei heard a lot of whispers and gossip along the way. After this morning, she had mostly become immune and accustomed to the stares.

Reaching the parking spot, Ji Pei helped Jiang Xianhan into the passenger seat. She folded the wheelchair and put it into the trunk.

The car stereo automatically connected to Ji Pei’s playlist. It started with a piece of soothing instrumental music. After it finished, another catchy intro played. Ji Pei felt it sounded familiar, but she didn’t think much of it.

When the song reached the chorus, Ji Pei blinked slowly.

“I can’t just be friends…”

“When the feelings run so deep…”

Ji Pei: “…”

Would turning off the stereo now be too much of a giveaway?

Ji Pei secretly glanced at Jiang Xianhan in the passenger seat and was relieved to see that she didn’t seem to be overthinking it.

Before she could fully exhale, she heard Jiang Xianhan suddenly say, “This song is quite nice.”

Ji Pei: “…”

Ji Pei smiled and said, “It is. It’s one of my favorites.”

Just as she thought the interlude would quickly pass, Ji Pei heard Jiang Xianhan say, “What’s the name?”

“That…”

Ji Pei licked her lips, but before she could speak, Jiang Xianhan said another sentence.

“Ordinary Friend. So that’s the name.”

After the song finished playing, Ji Pei had also driven back to the villa complex. After parking the car in the garage, she quickly turned off the stereo.

Wang Ma heard the sound and came to the garage, helping Ji Pei take the wheelchair out of the trunk. Ji Pei pushed Jiang Xianhan into the living room. Wang Ma had already prepared fruit after lunch and placed it on the dining table. Jiang Xianhan sat at the table and ate a few cherries, the bright red juice staining her lips.

Ji Pei initially tried to pretend she didn’t see it, but ultimately couldn’t resist. She pointed to the corner of her own lip.

“Professor Jiang, you have something on your mouth.”

Jiang Xianhan pulled out a tissue and wiped the corner of her mouth. Ji Pei finally felt relieved.

After finishing the fruit, Jiang Xianhan saw Ji Pei holding her bag, seemingly ready to leave.

“Where are you going?”

“Professor Jiang, you should take a nap first.”

Jiang Xianhan looked puzzled. “Aren’t you going to sleep?”

She thought Ji Pei was going home for a nap, but then heard the other person say, “I’ll sleep here. I already asked Wang Ma to clean the second-floor bedroom earlier.”

Jiang Xianhan nodded. Ji Pei hung her bag on the door and set an alarm. After taking Jiang Xianhan back to the bedroom, Ji Pei held the door frame with one hand and smiled. “Professor Jiang, sleep well. I’ll wake you up later.”

Ji Pei had a habit of taking naps since childhood. After a nap, she felt energized. Even half an hour of rest was valuable.

After Ji Pei left, Jiang Xianhan stood up from the wheelchair. Her ankle no longer hurt much. Even she was shocked by her self-healing ability. She estimated she would be able to walk without difficulty in less than a week.

Jiang Xianhan sat on the bed, took off her coat, her mind a chaotic mess. She then lay down, eyes wide open, unable to fall asleep for a long time.

Ji Pei quickly fell asleep. She had a very realistic dream.

She dreamed that she met Winter Sun. The other person was wearing a long red dress, her figure swaying, full of allure. The two stood on soft pink clouds. Ji Pei was both shy and nervous, standing still, unable to move her legs. Separated by hazy, ambiguous mist, the red figure gradually approached her. Ji Pei’s heart pounded in her throat.

A long, beautiful hand slowly reached out to her. Soft fingertips gently brushed her throat, tracing upward along her skin, stroking her chin. Ji Pei closed her eyes, allowing the hand to move from her neck to her chin, and then from her earlobe to the corner of her mouth.

The soft, pale red corner of her mouth was slowly rubbed by the fingertip. The fingertip lingered on her warm lips for a moment, and her chin was gently lifted by a hand.

In the moment before the kiss, the hazy mist dissipated, and Winter Sun’s face gradually became clear. Ji Pei slowly opened her eyes.

In that instant, Ji Pei’s face changed drastically. She felt a numbness throughout her body and subconsciously wanted to retreat, but her legs felt like they were filled with cement, unable to move. She saw Winter Sun’s blurry face change with the flickering light, turning into Jiang Xianhan’s cold and ascetic face.

“Ah—”

Ji Pei cried out, suddenly sitting up in bed, eyes wide open. Her back was soaked with sweat. The window was open, and a blast of cool air instantly turned the sweat cold. Ji Pei sat motionless on the bed, vigorously rubbing her face with both hands, trying to keep herself awake.

Why did I dream of Jiang Xianhan?