For the next few days, Xin Zhiyao was like before. She attended classes during the day, stayed in the library when she had no classes, and went to the milk tea shop for her part-time job in the evening. Zhou Ji would pick her up at ten o'clock. Apart from being cautious and afraid that Zhou Ji would find out, her days were quite fulfilling and pleasant.
"You're living in constant fear like this every day. Wouldn't it be better to just tell Professor Zhou directly?" Song Yujia said, unable to watch Xin Zhiyao any longer.
"If I tell him, he definitely won't let me work part-time," Xin Zhiyao said, her small face scrunched up.
"If he doesn't let you, then so be it. You have a man supporting you now. Didn't you say Professor Zhou gave you a card?"
"He did give me one, but I can't use it."
Seeing her like that, Song Yujia couldn't help but tap her head. "You stubborn person."
"Jia Jia, you grew up in a loving family, so you don't understand," Xin Zhiyao's voice was a little low. "The psychological preparation needed for such a long time, and the feeling of asking others for money, is too difficult to bear."
Hearing this, Song Yujia immediately looked at Xin Zhiyao with heartache.
Although she hadn't experienced that feeling, Xin Zhiyao would rather work so hard every day than ask her parents for money. It was clear how much she had suffered before.
Song Yujia was silent for a moment. Seeing her like that, Xin Zhiyao knew she was sad for her and quickly put on a smile. "That's why I want to earn as much as I can now. Later, when my belly gets big, I won't be able to earn even if I want to."
Song Yujia pouted. "I wonder how long you can hide this from Professor Zhou. You're carrying his child and secretly running out to work. If he finds out, he'll definitely spank your buttocks."
Hearing this, Xin Zhiyao's face couldn't help but heat up. "What nonsense are you talking about? Professor Zhou would never do such a thing."
Song Yujia smirked. "I heard that people who look proper on the outside can be really wicked in private. Tell me, how wicked is Professor Zhou?"
Xin Zhiyao pushed her, chiding, "Don't ruin Professor Zhou's reputation."
"Oh, you're still calling him Professor Zhou? You should have been calling him husband long ago."
As soon as Song Yujia finished speaking, Xin Zhiyao immediately landed several punches on her.
Xin Zhiyao knew that Zhou Ji would eventually find out about her secret part-time job, but she didn't expect him to find out so soon.
That evening, she went to work at the milk tea shop as usual. Yu Xiaoxiao saw her, glanced around vigilantly, and then pulled her into the locker room.
"Yaoyao," Yu Xiaoxiao began tentatively, "What do you think of Zhang Hongwen?"
Xin Zhiyao was a little surprised by Yu Xiaoxiao's question, but she still thought about it seriously. "He doesn't talk much, but he's quite proactive at work and is earnestly learning things."
Yu Xiaoxiao's expression was hesitant. "I'm not asking about that. I mean..."
Seeing that she didn't continue, Xin Zhiyao looked at her with doubt.
"It's just, he's a bit strange."
"Strange? How is he strange?"
Seeing Xin Zhiyao's blank expression, Yu Xiaoxiao wondered if she was overthinking it.
Just then, a customer came in. Yu Xiaoxiao couldn't explain it clearly for the moment, and they both returned to work.
While taking orders, Xin Zhiyao saw Zhang Hongwen cleaning the table left by a previous customer. She sized him up a few times but didn't find anything unusual.
It was purely by chance that Zhou Ji discovered Xin Zhiyao wasn't in the classroom for evening self-study.
The teacher responsible for patrolling the classrooms today had asked for leave. Since Zhou Ji had been working overtime at the school almost every day recently, that teacher had no choice but to boldly ask Zhou Ji to cover for him. Zhou Ji readily agreed.
When he checked Xin Zhiyao's class, the classroom was filled with rows of dark heads, but not a single one was Xin Zhiyao.
Finally, his target was set on Song Yujia, whose eyes darted around, desperately trying to minimize her presence.
He knew she was Xin Zhiyao's friend.
"That student," Zhou Ji's gaze fixed directly on Song Yujia, "Come out for a moment."
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Song Yujia stood up and walked to the classroom doorway, trembling.
Zhou Ji stood with his back straight, yet he exuded an invisible pressure.
The students in the classroom all pricked up their ears, trying to hear something.
"Where is she?"
Zhou Ji's voice was steady, making it impossible to guess his emotions.
Song Yujia's heart pounded. "Professor Zhou, I can't betray my friend."
Hearing this, Zhou Ji turned to look at her, his gaze gentle. "Do you want to fail a course?"
What a gentle knife.
Those four words, with their extreme lethality, made Song Yujia surrender. She honestly revealed Xin Zhiyao's whereabouts.
After hearing her words, Zhou Ji finally understood that Xin Zhiyao hadn't been attending so-called evening self-study these past few days but was working part-time at the milk tea shop.
At this moment, his feelings were indescribably complex.
After Zhou Ji left, Song Yujia, whose conscience was heavily burdened, quickly took out her mobile phone to call Xin Zhiyao.
Yao Yao, run! Professor Zhou is on his way with a thirty-meter-long saber.
But the phone kept indicating no one was answering.
Song Yujia's hands dropped helplessly to her sides.
Sister, you're on your own. It's not that I want to betray you, but Professor Zhou threatened me with failing a course.
You know, I'm most afraid of failing a course.
Little did Xin Zhiyao know that her misfortune was imminent. When Song Yujia called her, a large order had just come into the shop, and she was busy making milk tea. Her phone, in her pocket, vibrated non-stop, and she had no time to attend to it.
After finally finishing her work, she wiped her wet hands, took out her phone, and found that Song Yujia had called her more than a dozen times in rapid succession.
What could be so urgent?
She had a bad premonition and was about to call back.
The glass door of the shop opened, and footsteps entered. She was standing by the order machine and instinctively called out, "Welcome! What would you like to order?"
Then she looked up, and Zhou Ji's face came into view.
Her pupils dilated in shock!!!
Almost as a conditioned reflex, Xin Zhiyao squatted down on the ground.
Crouching on the ground, her mind raced. Then, realizing she couldn't avoid it, she slowly stood up again.
"Hi, Professor Zhou, what a coincidence," Xin Zhiyao said with a silly smile.
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