Online Romance with an Iceberg Professor Backfired - Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Counterattack

Seeing Jiang Xianhan eat the ribs slowly and methodically, Ji Pei took two new pairs of chopsticks and placed them aside. She added two more ribs to Jiang Xianhan’s plate, rested her chin on her hand, and admired the beautiful sight. “Professor Jiang, you eat so slowly.”

Jiang Xianhan picked up a small chicken leg from her tray without raising her head and placed it in Ji Pei’s bowl. “I told you to chew slowly. Eating too fast is bad for your stomach.”

Ji Pei hummed twice, quickly ate a large chicken leg, and then picked up a piece of crispy fried pork from Jiang Xianhan’s tray. “Oh, there are so many people.”

While Ji Pei was reaching for the crispy fried pork, Bai Yin, holding a clay pot, appeared out of nowhere and sat in the seat next to Ji Pei. She saw Ji Pei openly picking food from Jiang Xianhan’s tray and her eyes instantly widened, thinking she must have been mistaken.

“Professor Jiang…” Bai Yin sat next to Ji Pei, holding her chopsticks and spoon, her gaze shifting back and forth between the two. Just as Ji Pei thought Bai Yin had realized their relationship and was about to come clean, she heard Bai Yin say, “Professor Jiang, I didn’t realize you were so kind, even treating Ji Pei to crispy fried pork.”

Bai Yin’s eyes stared eagerly at the brightly sauced sweet and sour pork ribs on Ji Pei’s tray, making her stomach rumble with craving. “Ji Pei, can I have a piece of your sweet and sour pork ribs?”

Ji Pei: “…”

Jiang Xianhan lifted her head faster than Ji Pei did.

The two exchanged a look. Ji Pei smiled and said, “Sure. I think the auntie said this was the last portion. Did you not get any?”

“Yeah, I checked every window, but the auntie said the sweet and sour pork ribs were all sold out. I had to settle for the clay pot dish.” Bai Yin wiped her chopsticks and happily picked up a small piece, explaining as she did so, “These chopsticks are new. I haven’t used them yet.”

Jiang Xianhan saw Bai Yin and Ji Pei sitting close, their shoulders nearly touching. She looked away, tapping the edge of the table, seemingly hinting at something. Ji Pei quickly switched to holding her chopsticks with her left hand, moving her chair and trying to cover up the situation by saying, “The space is a bit small. I’ll move to the side.”

She looked at the clear boundary between her and Bai Yin, secretly pouting at Jiang Xianhan, transmitting her inner thoughts telepathically. Don’t be so petty. Jiang Xianhan seemed to understand Ji Pei’s expression. She lifted her eyelids to glance at her, then lowered her head to continue eating.

After Bai Yin finished the ribs, Jiang Xianhan very naturally picked up the last piece from Ji Pei’s bowl. Bai Yin happened to look up at that moment to wipe the soup from the corner of her mouth and witnessed the scene. She found it both strange and peculiar. Since when did Professor Jiang and Ji Pei become so close? She had been Jiang Xianhan’s student for so many years and stayed by her side for six months after graduation, yet she had never seen Professor Jiang be so intimate with her. Could it be true, as rumored, that Professor Jiang and Ji Pei were relatives?

She suddenly remembered a post she saw on the confession wall this afternoon about a student in Jiang Xianhan’s class who was incredibly audacious. How audacious? She was ten minutes late for class, didn’t bring a textbook, played on her phone the entire time, and even provoked Jiang Xianhan by winking at her. Despite this, Jiang Xianhan not only didn’t fail her but also didn’t say a word, acting as if she hadn’t noticed. This caused outrage, and people left comments on the confession wall.

“Professor Jiang, I saw a post on the confession wall.”

Jiang Xianhan didn’t look up. “What is it?”

Bai Yin put her phone in front of her. “Ji Pei was sitting in the back row today and was mistaken for having connections. They said you’re tolerating your relative and not upholding classroom discipline.”

“Oh.” So what?

Ji Pei hadn’t expected her casual remark to be overheard and posted on the confession wall. She immediately felt bad for Jiang Xianhan. Her reputation wasn’t great to begin with, and now she was being accused of complicity. It was outrageous. “Professor Jiang, I’m sorry. I didn’t think it through and caused you trouble.”

Jiang Xianhan gave a faint glance, taking a sip of the tomato and egg soup. “Let them say what they want. You’re not my student.”

The egg soup was salty and tasteless. It didn’t smell very fresh. She thought it would taste the same as the one Ji Pei made yesterday, but after one sip, she frowned. One might think it was dishwater. “Why is this soup so awful?”

“What soup?” Ji Pei lifted the small bowl and smelled it. “This soup is free, so…”

Jiang Xianhan looked displeased. She had rarely eaten in the cafeteria before. She hadn’t expected the free soup to be so terrible, with white foam floating on top. “What is this white stuff?”

Ji Pei scooped it with a spoon. “Eggs, maybe.”

“This is egg? Did they only put one egg in the whole pot?” Jiang Xianhan took out her phone and called the principal, demanding that the cafeteria be reformed. Even free soup shouldn’t be mediocre. How could they serve students swill all day? It was detrimental to recruitment.

Seeing Jiang Xianhan’s stern and serious expression, Bai Yin leaned in and whispered to Ji Pei, “Good. Professor Jiang’s reputation will be restored. The students will thank her.”

The meal was finished. Ji Pei asked Jiang Xianhan to stay put. She carried both trays and placed them on the nearby cart. Jiang Xianhan’s books and laptop were originally meant for Bai Yin to carry, but Ji Pei pulled them from the other chair and held them in her arms.

Jiang Xianhan gave her a light glance. Ji Pei gave her a big smile and followed behind Jiang Xianhan. Bai Yin sniffled with gratitude, thinking that Ji Pei was such a good person, actively helping her carry the books and laptop without any complaint. Indeed, good people stick together. No wonder Professor Jiang likes her so much. Their auras must be similar.

Jiang Xianhan didn’t have class in the afternoon. Ji Pei had originally planned to take Jiang Xianhan home to rest after lunch. Jiang Xianhan, however, had specifically worn soft flat shoes today because she wanted to walk around the campus with Ji Pei, relax, and deepen their relationship.

Ji Pei, carrying the laptop, asked, “Do you need to take all of these back?”

Jiang Xianhan nodded. “They contain important course materials. I need to take them back to organize.”

“Then let’s go back now. I’m afraid your ankle will swell up again.”

Jiang Xianhan laughed. “Do you think I’m a porcelain doll? My ankle actually stopped hurting a while ago.”

Ji Pei countered, “Not hurting is one thing, and being completely healed is another. Why don’t you listen to the doctor?”

“The doctor also said I should move around more to prevent muscle adhesion. It’s very beneficial for ankle recovery.”

“…” Ji Pei almost forgot about that. “Alright then. Maybe we can walk around the school lake and feed the cats.” Ji Pei patted her sling bag, smiling. “I brought a few extra bags of dried fish today. I didn’t realize dried fish were so popular.”

“Why do you carry dried fish with you?”

“Did you forget? I have two big fat cats at home. They love dried fish. They can eat several bags a day.” Jiang Xianhan belatedly remembered that when Ji Feng was Winter Sun, she occasionally mentioned having two cats at home.

“Let’s go then. I’ll take you to the place with the most cats.” Ji Pei’s eyes sparkled. She couldn’t help but ask, “The place with the most cats? How many stray cats are there at our school?”

Jiang Xianhan thought for a moment. “I had a student count them before. There are about sixty-eight permanently staying on campus.”

“Bai Yin said you’re the president of the school’s cat association. Is that true?”

Jiang Xianhan nodded. “Yes.”

Ji Pei smiled so widely her mouth couldn’t close. She grabbed Jiang Xianhan’s arm and shook it. “I didn’t realize my dear Professor Jiang was so amazing!”

“It would be even better if you could drop the three words after ‘dear’.”

Seeing people around, Ji Pei reluctantly let go of her arm and mumbled, “We should mind our image when we’re out. Besides, calling you Professor Jiang is quite charming, isn’t it?”

Jiang Xianhan paused for thought, then nodded. “It is good. It would be even more charming if you called me that in bed.”

Ji Pei: “…” How can this person say such things so casually, without blushing or her heart skipping a beat? Ji Pei quickly changed the subject. “Do all the cats have to be neutered?”

“Yes. Neutered cats will have a mark. I caught one before. After taking it to the clinic, I found it had already been neutered.” Since then, Jiang Xianhan developed a habit of taking any stray cat she saw for neutering at her own expense, especially the female ones living in the wild. These cats were considered a vulnerable group. If left unchecked, they would continue to reproduce, so human intervention was necessary.

Ji Pei grinned, giving Jiang Xianhan a thumbs-up. “You really are the ‘Neuter King’ in the eyes of the cats.”

Jiang Xianhan was amused by the new title Ji Pei gave her. “Then what does that make you? My Queen?”

Someone walked past. Ji Pei glanced around and whispered, “You’re so annoying, Jiang Xianhan.”

Jiang Xianhan scoffed. “Aren’t I right?”

At the cat feeding area, Ji Pei saw the other cats eating cat food and canned food. She cleared a bowl and poured the dried fish into it. Initially, the cats were a bit afraid of Ji Pei, but after smelling the dried fish, they eagerly rubbed their paws on the ground, eager to jump onto Ji Pei to eat the fish.

Jiang Xianhan stood behind her. “Be careful not to get scratched.”

Ji Pei listened to Jiang Xianhan and laughed. “It’s fine. I get scratched by the two half-ton trucks at home all the time. The doctor who gives me vaccines suggested I get an annual package.”

A trace of heartache flashed in Jiang Xianhan’s eyes. “Try to avoid too many vaccines. They have side effects and are bad for your body.”

Hearing this, Ji Pei put down the dried fish and retreated a few steps. “That’s true. The first time I was bitten by a dog and got the rabies vaccine, I immediately got a high fever, over $40°C$.” Ji Pei sighed. “I was delirious from the fever. Who knew the side effects were so severe? I couldn’t even lift the arm where I got the shot because it was so sore.”

“So, as cute as the fluffy creatures are, try to avoid touching them.” Jiang Xianhan continued, “I have my students catch the registered cats here and regularly deworm and vaccinate them. It’s actually fine if you get scratched by them.”

“However, if you get scratched, I would be very upset.”

Ji Pei raised her finger. Jiang Xianhan saw it and quickly grabbed her fingertip. “Were you scratched?”

Ji Pei shook her head, looking confused. “No.”

Jiang Xianhan sighed in relief. “That’s good. Getting scratched still hurts a lot and might leave a scar.”

Seeing Jiang Xianhan so worried about her, a warm current surged in Ji Pei’s heart. “Don’t worry, I’m not prone to scarring.”

“Even if you’re not prone to scarring, a scratch will still bleed and hurt.” Seeing Jiang Xianhan staring at her so seriously, Ji Pei shivered, her limbs tingling. Jiang Xianhan took the casual remark that slipped from her mouth so seriously.

Her parents had always been hands-off with her. Ji Pei became independent early. Coupled with Ji Fan, her sister who was three years younger, she felt she had to take on adult responsibilities before she even reached adulthood. In the past, she would bear colds and fevers alone without telling anyone. Even if she was scratched by a cat or bitten by a dog, she would go to disinfect and get vaccinated by herself.

But now, she had Jiang Xianhan, whose eyes were filled with her. Ji Pei gently poked Jiang Xianhan’s arm, her voice very soft, seemingly with a hint of grievance. “Then I won’t touch them anymore. I’ll protect myself.”

Ji Pei looked at the cats greedily eating the dried fish. She suddenly realized that one powerful member seemed to be missing.

“Meow—”

“Meow—”

A rough cat meow came. Ji Pei followed the sound coming from the bushes and saw a… no, a massive tabby cat, the size of a truck, emerging from the bushes. It had a few leaves stuck to its body and a dark scar over its eye, giving it a strong intimidating presence. Ji Pei finally saw the infamous, formidable “Wang Erhu,” the Cat King. Wang Erhu was clearly a female cat, so why did the students give her such a rough name, reminiscent of a supporting character from the Water Margin? However, when the huge, fat, and evil calico appeared, Ji Pei finally understood why she was named that. She looked like she had taken several cat lives, and her presence made the other cats tremble.

Jiang Xianhan followed Ji Pei’s gaze and introduced the cat. “This is Wang Erhu. She often fights other cats to claim territory. The scar over her eye was from a fight with a male cat three months ago.”

“That male cat was too much. He almost blinded Erhu.” Ji Pei was feeling sorry for the poor female cat, but then she heard Jiang Xianhan say, “She bit off one of the male cat’s legs.”

Ji Pei: “…”

Seeing Ji Pei’s sudden look of shock, Jiang Xianhan said, “I was afraid she would secretly take revenge and kill that male cat, so I had to find an adopter and send him away overnight.”

Ji Pei hadn’t expected such a bloody incident to occur in the cat world. While feeling sorry for the other cat, she couldn’t help but marvel at Wang Erhu’s ferocity. “She’s so amazing. Can I take her home and have her teach those two unruly ones at my place a lesson?”

Jiang Xianhan smiled. “It’s best not to.”

The moment Wang Erhu strode up to the cat food bowl, all the other cats instantly scurried away.

“…” Ji Pei suddenly felt that the name Wang Erhu was actually too restrained. A name like “Scar” or “Brutal” would have been more fitting. Wang Erhu devoured the dried fish in big gulps. She finished all the fish in less than a minute, then turned her attention to the cat food in the other bowls. She sniffed it, then turned and walked away.

Ji Pei: “…” No wonder she’s so big. She doesn’t fancy cat food and only eats the good stuff.

“Erhu, come here.” Jiang Xianhan made two soft clicking sounds to Wang Erhu. Then, Ji Pei saw the “half-ton truck” take long strides and pounce toward Jiang Xianhan. Ji Pei instinctively stepped in front of Jiang Xianhan. “Watch out! Run!”

The moment she spoke, Ji Pei saw Wang Erhu brake suddenly and lie down, crawling at Jiang Xianhan’s feet. Then, she exposed her soft, snow-white belly, rolling on the ground coquettishly.

Ji Pei: “…” I didn’t expect the brutal one to have such a demure side. Ji Pei heard a loud purring sound from her throat, louder than the other cats. It’s so fawning! It’s almost human-like!

Jiang Xianhan smiled. Before she could even squat down, Wang Erhu rolled and rubbed against her, vigorously nudging Jiang Xianhan’s calf with her big head, leaving a lot of cat hair on her pants. Jiang Xianhan was caught off guard. She bent over and picked her up, which seemed to take some effort. “Why are you heavier again?”

These cats were weighed once a month. Wang Erhu was an exception. She was weighed once a week, and each time, she managed to exceed Jiang Xianhan’s expectations. Jiang Xianhan had previously worried that Wang Erhu was too fat and unhealthy, so she took her to the pet clinic for a check-up. The vet checked her multiple times and said the weight was mostly lean muscle and not a health concern.

Besides being aggressive, Wang Erhu was also a master of cuddling and charm. Ji Pei stood on the side, watching quietly. She didn’t dare to touch Wang Erhu, afraid she might scratch her, drawing bl00d.

Seeing Jiang Xianhan struggle to adjust Wang Erhu’s weight in her hands, Ji Pei quickly snapped several photos of the heartwarming moment on her phone. It wasn’t until she saw Wang Erhu trying to climb onto Jiang Xianhan, attempting to get on her shoulder, that Ji Pei grabbed her from behind. “No! Get down!”

Ji Pei’s hands smelled of dried fish. When Wang Erhu smelled the scent of a stranger and the fish, she became agitated and started clawing, leaving a bloody scratch on Jiang Xianhan’s hand. Jiang Xianhan frowned, put her down, and Wang Erhu instantly disappeared without a trace.

“Jiang Xianhan!” Ji Pei’s pupils contracted when she saw the shocking bloody scratch. “She scratched you!” She gripped Jiang Xianhan’s wrist, anxious and angry, filled with regret. “I… I shouldn’t have touched her…”

Tiny red beads of bl00d continuously seeped from the broken skin on the back of her hand. Ji Pei’s eyes were red as she held the other’s wrist. “We’re going to the hospital right now.”

Jiang Xianhan looked up and saw Ji Pei’s moist, bloodshot eyes. Her heart skipped a beat. “It’s just…”

She only managed two words before Ji Pei, staring at her, couldn’t hold back the tears. A tear dropped directly onto the cat scratch wound on Jiang Xianhan’s hand.

“…” Hiss… It hurts even more now.

At the hospital. Ji Pei took Jiang Xianhan to the emergency room. There were many people in the emergency room, and it was noisy. After checking in, Ji Pei found a quiet corner to sit in.