So It Turns Out You’re a Fox Spirit (GL) - Chapter 3
“Class is over for today~”
Every time class ended, Fu Jin habitually wiped the blackboard clean. She had been teaching at A University for less than a month, handling only a single elective course with about forty students, yet every class was packed.
For art-related majors like Visual Communication, students’ absentee rates were generally higher than in other fields, not to mention elective courses. Many teachers were often just performing a one-man show on the podium.
So when the break came, the faculty lounge naturally became the place for everyone to vent.
“Out of fifty students, only fifteen showed up, and today eight more asked for leave, two skipped class—what’s with the students these days… sigh…”
A middle-aged female teacher joked, “Teacher Zheng, I think all your students are skipping your class to attend Fu Jin’s class…”
Fu Jin smiled faintly and sipped her hot tea.
Teacher Zheng was a short, plump man with a round beer belly and a slightly balding head. “I’ve been teaching for over ten years, but I’ve never seen students this enthusiastic. Fu Jin is an overseas returnee—it really is different! Can you share some tips?”
Another teacher added, “I heard Fu Jin never takes attendance, yet no one skips her class~”
Fu Jin said little, her lips curling into a faint, unreadable smile. “If students want to come, there’s no need to take attendance. If they don’t, taking attendance won’t matter. I have something else to do now, so I’ll take my leave.”
When Fu Jin left, the lounge buzzed with gossip. The new teacher was just too cold—truly young and proud!
“Ms. Fu, wait!”
Fu Jin slowed her steps, hearing hurried footsteps behind her.
Gu Jiejun, dressed in a white shirt and dark red suit jacket, carrying a briefcase, glanced at his watch instinctively. “Ms. Fu, class is over already?”
He was in his early thirties, tall and upright, with a warm smile—such a male teacher was irresistible to fangirl students.
The Fu and Gu families were long-time acquaintances, and Fu Jin and Gu Jiejun had known each other since childhood, though they weren’t close. It wasn’t until studying in the UK together that they began interacting more.
Fu Jin wasn’t used to being called “Teacher Fu,” especially by Gu Jiejun—it felt strange when he said it.
“Eric, can you stop calling me Teacher Fu? You know I’m just temporarily teaching at A University. Once my research project is finished, I’ll leave.”
“Xiao Jin, wouldn’t it be better to develop your career back in China?” Gu Jiejun suddenly reached to touch her shoulder, but Fu Jin instinctively stepped back, and he grabbed air.
A few passing students couldn’t help but start imagining scenarios. After all, Teacher Gu and Teacher Fu were the most popular “CP” on the school forum~
Fu Jin said nothing and left, leaving Gu Jiejun standing there, feeling rather lonely.
Some playful students gave Gu Jiejun a fist-pumping gesture. “Go, Teacher Gu!”
He could only smile bitterly in the autumn wind.
“Female… PhD…”
Le Xiaoyao flipped through Fu Jin’s thick resume—various papers, awards—so overwhelming that she muttered, “Can she even get married?” Then she immediately put it down, thinking: why am I even worrying about this…
The lecture was scheduled for Saturday at 8 a.m., in the A University auditorium. The entire design department was to gather at the company at 7 a.m., then take a company-provided vehicle to the university.
Seven a.m.—two hours earlier than usual work! Was this really necessary?
Saturday, 7:20 a.m.
Le Xiaoyao woke up bleary-eyed and saw her phone: thirteen missed calls, eight unread messages due to the damn silent mode!
Calling back, she said, “Qin An, you guys head to A University first. I’ll be there in twenty minutes!” Qin An was the deputy team leader of Team One. Normally playful, but reliable in handling tasks, so Le Xiaoyao had no choice but to let him go ahead.
No time! Her biological clock hadn’t adjusted. She remembered Zhou’s instructions: don’t be late—there’s a welcome ceremony!
Brush teeth, wash face—wait, brush teeth, wash face! Seeing herself in the mirror, her hair was a mess. How did she sleep last night? No time to fix it properly—just change clothes…
Shh~
*Last pair of stockings, ripped…
What to wear, what to wear!
Next time, buy a whole box of stockings for home!
Le Xiaoyao opened the wardrobe. Everything looked too casual… then remembered she had more clothes at the dry cleaners!
Forget it, just wear anything!
Makeup! Not enough time t_t
Hair had to be tied up with a simple hair tie, baseball cap worn backward to prevent frizz. She didn’t even have time to properly “admire” herself in the mirror. 7:34 a.m.—grab bag, keys, off she went.
Supposedly twenty minutes later, she arrived on time, but her design department colleagues were stunned. To be precise, none of them recognized her.
The first to recognize her was Qin An, whose eyes nearly popped out. “Boss, are you still half asleep?”
Bare-faced, wearing baggy pants, a baseball jacket, and a backward cap—
The design team erupted in discussion. Usually, Team One’s leader may not have the aura of Xu Boss, but at least she was considered a goddess. Today… today she looked completely out of place!
Le Xiaoyao knew her outfit wasn’t appropriate, but not this extreme! Meanwhile, her colleagues were all dressed to impress—women in full makeup, men in sharp suits.
“You guys are too much! It’s just a lecture, not a ball!” Le Xiaoyao twitched at her mouth, whispering to Qin An.
Qin An quietly said, “We’re representing the company; we need to look presentable~”
Basically, everyone wanted to see the online celebrity “Ginkgo Goddess.” Female colleagues wouldn’t want to be outshone, so they dressed up. Male colleagues’ intentions were easier to guess.
Everyone in the design department were 4A company elites; she alone was the odd one out? Le Xiaoyao felt disheartened. The contrast was too stark—look at herself, look at them, neither was normal!
But this pseudo-calm girl quickly composed herself.
“Where’s Ms. Le?”
All fingers pointed at Le Xiaoyao.
After scrutinizing her for three seconds, the university staff finally asked, “Ms. Le?”
Le Xiaoyao smiled politely and extended her hand. “Hello, I’m Le Xiaoyao.”
The staff awkwardly chuckled twice, stammering: “Ms. Le, you’re so young…”
Ten minutes early, everyone entered the auditorium, and there really were VIP seats. Soon, the students filled the large circular hall.
Le Xiaoyao sat front row center, clearly seeing the nameplate on the podium: Professor Fu Jin.
“Before the lecture starts, let me introduce some ‘special’ attendees—they are the senior colleagues from Leader Company’s design department~” The host stirred the crowd, applause thunderous…
Leader is one of the top domestic advertising companies, so even if not elite, anyone there was certainly talented.
Design department colleagues were radiant, standing and waving to the students behind them.
“That girl with the baseball cap too?”
“…probably not…”
Some female students whispered. Indeed, Le Xiaoyao’s outfit made her stand out. Although everyone else dressed extravagantly, when everyone’s over-the-top, it doesn’t seem as much.
Le Xiaoyao felt embarrassed, while the host asked Leader to send a representative to speak.
Only Le Xiaoyao, among the three team leaders, was present. Zhou Yi didn’t come, so the responsibility fell on her, especially as an alumna of A University—it was polite to say a few words.
Embarrassment aside, she couldn’t show it. After all, years of work experience meant she could handle simple on-the-spot speaking.
Le Xiaoyao went on stage, taking the microphone.
“Hello everyone, I’m honored to represent my colleagues from Leader’s design department, and I’m glad to join you for this lecture. Five years ago, I also sat here for my last lecture as a student…”
At this, some murmuring arose from the audience.
No need to guess—they were calculating her age. Le Xiaoyao never hid it, smiling: “I’m from the Class of 2006 in Visual Communication, 27 this year~”
Even more excitement below!
“27?! You look so young!”
“…can’t tell at all…”
Someone even shouted, “Senior~ you’re so cool!”
Hearing this, Le Xiaoyao was delighted. “Seeing everyone full of youthful energy brings back my university days… cherish it well~”
She was about to leave the stage when the host stopped her.
“Ms. Le, wait…”
“What a coincidence! Today we also have another alumna from A University, and many students already know who she is! It’s the lecturer for today, Fu Jin! Recently, Fu Jin has become very popular online, A University’s Ginkgo Goddess~”
The audience erupted into deafening cheers and applause.
The design department employees craned their necks to find her. Le Xiaoyao glared at them on stage—she could care less about their embarrassment, yet no one even noticed her…
Le Xiaoyao wanted to ask the host, “Can I leave first?”
But the shameless host seemed intent on orchestrating a reunion of old classmates…
Le Xiaoyao’s heartbeat was rising. Could Fu Jin remember her?
“Everyone, please welcome…”
Le Xiaoyao truly hated the host’s over-the-top style…