The man raised an eyebrow, looking at the nervous, trembling girl before him. He found it utterly fascinating.
Clearly, her courage was fiercer than a little tiger’s, yet when facing him, she cowered like a rabbit.
The curve of his lips deepened, though his expression remained as indifferent as ever.
“Let’s begin the class.”
As his words fell, Cheng Youyi breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he hadn’t recognized her. All she had to do now was keep her head down throughout the class, avoid drawing his attention, and find an opportunity to slip away quietly.
She stole a glance at Gong Ming and saw his gaze still fixed in her direction. Instantly terrified out of her wits, she quickly lowered her head like an ostrich burying itself in the sand.
Good heavens, was he insane? Wasn’t he usually swamped with work? How did he have time to come to her school as a professor? And why did he have to make such a grand entrance?
Did this mean she might run into him at school from now on? Did it mean she’d have to hide from him every single day? Oh no, she didn’t want to live like that for even a second.
Yu Mengwan watched from the side, clicking her tongue in disbelief. She tugged at Cheng Youyi’s arm and shook it. “Hey, what’s wrong with you? Are you scared out of your mind?”
“No… I just don’t want to live anymore,” Cheng Youyi replied, on the verge of tears. She felt she’d never escape his clutches in this lifetime.
Yu Mengwan was taken aback. “What? It can’t be that bad. No one’s laughing at you. Don’t overthink it. Professor Gong won’t remember, don’t worry.”
Cheng Youyi forced a bitter smile. “I hope so…”
Gong Ming’s peripheral vision happened to catch the expression on her face, and the corners of his lips curled into a meaningful smile.
“Hey, Professor Gong seems to be looking our way. Quick, look—is he looking at me?” Yu Mengwan pointed at Gong Ming, eagerly introducing him to Cheng Youyi, her eyes filled with hope.
Cheng Youyi glanced up and, sure enough, Gong Ming’s gaze drifted toward them again. She immediately averted her eyes, wishing she could turn around and run away on the spot.
What should she do? Had he recognized her? If so, her days ahead would surely be miserable. Wuwu…
Thinking this, Cheng Youyi buried her head even lower and tugged at Yu Mengwan’s sleeve, signaling her to lean down.
Yu Mengwan looked at her, puzzled. “What’s up?”
Cheng Youyi quickly leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Keep your voice down. I’ll find a chance to slip away later. Please cover for me.”
Yu Mengwan widened her eyes, not quite understanding. “Huh?”
Cheng Youyi urgently grabbed her hand and pleaded, “Mengmeng, please, I’m begging you. It’s a matter of life and death.”
Yu Mengwan frowned. Though she didn’t fully understand, she agreed. “Alright, but it’s such a great lecture. It’s a shame you won’t listen. Do you know how many people outside couldn’t get tickets to come in?”
“I don’t want to know. I just want to survive,” Cheng Youyi said firmly and decisively.
Unable to persuade her, Yu Mengwan could only nod.
Meanwhile, the man on the podium seemed to have anticipated her little scheme. The next moment, his deep, low voice rang out. “For the next question, I’d like to invite a student to come up and interact.”
Hearing the familiar voice in her ears, Cheng Youyi nearly collapsed, her legs going weak. Why did he have to call on someone during class? Was he just bored?
The students below seemed both eager and fearful of being called upon, all keeping their heads down in silence, looking as if they dreaded being chosen.
The teaching assistant wrote the question on the screen. In the room, the only sounds were the faint scratching of the electronic pen against the tablet and the occasional cough.
Cheng Youyi’s heart pounded like a drum. Clenching her fists, she comforted herself over and over in her mind: He definitely won’t pick me, definitely not.
Finally, amidst the dead silence, Gong Ming stepped down from the podium with his long strides. The sound of his leather shoes against the floor seemed to echo in her chest, making her heart race violently.
The man’s footsteps drew closer and closer until he stopped right beside Cheng Youyi. Since she was sitting in the outer seat, she could feel his overwhelming presence at that moment, his imposing aura almost enveloping her.
She couldn’t help but shift slightly to the other side, putting a little more distance between them.
Clearly, her small movement caught his attention.
Throughout the entire process, Cheng Youyi kept her head down, burying it lower and lower, almost tucking it under the desk.
In her mind, she prayed fervently to every deity she could think of: Please, oh gods, make him leave quickly. Don’t pick me, don’t pick me, please, please.
But as fate would have it, the more she feared something, the more it happened. The lower she buried her head, the more determined he seemed to choose her—
“This student.” The man leaned forward slightly, his tall, straight nose almost brushing the top of her head.
The overwhelming pressure made Cheng Youyi’s body stiffen, her hands and feet frozen in place, let alone daring to look up.
She nervously clutched the hem of her skirt, her heart pounding like thunder. It’s over, I’m really done for this time.
The man’s gentle yet cool voice sounded again as he deliberately asked, “What’s your name?”
“Ch-Cheng, Cheng…” Cheng Youyi was so nervous she could hardly speak. Just as she was trying to think of a way to muddle through, Yu Mengwan beside her stepped in to help, saying, “Professor Gong, her name is Cheng Youyi.”
This answer instantly petrified Cheng Youyi.
She turned to Yu Mengwan with a look of utter despair, while Yu Mengwan stared back blankly.
Mouthing the words, Yu Mengwan said, “I’m helping you!”
Cheng Youyi: “…”
It’s over. She had no hope left.
As Gong Ming watched the little girl’s utterly defeated expression, a flicker of amusement flashed in his eyes. His voice was slow and steady as he said, “Well then, let’s have Student Cheng come up and demonstrate for everyone.”
What? Cheng Youyi looked up in shock. As their eyes met, she could sense the mockery hidden in his gaze.
He did it on purpose. He recognized her. He was absolutely doing this on purpose.
“Student Cheng?” he repeated.
Gritting her teeth, Cheng Youyi mustered her courage and stood up.
At that moment, the entire class’s attention was fixed on the two of them, especially Yu Mengwan, whose curiosity was burning fiercely as her eyes darted back and forth.
Clenching her fists, Cheng Youyi steeled herself and decided to throw caution to the wind. She met the man’s mocking gaze head-on and said, “Professor, I don’t know how.”
This response caused the already quiet classroom to erupt into whispers, with all eyes turning toward Cheng Youyi.
Just as everyone thought Gong Ming would choose another student, he instead slowly moved a little closer to Cheng Youyi, stopping only when he was mere inches away from her.
Cheng Youyi stared rigidly at his handsome face, not even blinking.
The next second, the man took the professional course textbook from her hand and placed it on his own body. Then he bent down, extending his large, well-defined hand to grip the armrest behind her chair.
“Come to my office after class. A teacher’s role is to make sure you learn.”
This sentence instantly set the entire lecture hall abuzz. Everyone looked at Cheng Youyi in astonishment—not just because of the man’s earlier actions, but also because of what he had said. Was he really going to teach her personally?
Could Cheng Youyi be his relative?
The thought alone caused an uproar.
Cheng Youyi, meanwhile, stood frozen on the spot, unable to react for a long moment.
Her world suddenly turned chaotic. All she could hear was a buzzing in her ears, as if she had been lifted into the clouds—light, floating, and ungrounded.