After the gala ended, Shi Anlan walked out of the auditorium with the crowd, overhearing two young men whispering behind him.
“When did our department get such a remarkable person? How come I never knew before?”
“I heard she’s a teacher at the affiliated elementary school, just hired last year.”
“No wonder. Do you think she has a boyfriend?”
“Not sure. But judging by her age, probably not.”
“Ha, if she doesn’t, I might just give it a try.”
“Go ahead, with your looks, it would be a piece of cake.”
“Ha! You always know what to say. Let’s go say hi.”
When Zhou Nuan exited the auditorium, she found a group of young men lingering at the entrance—almost all wanting her contact information.
She felt overwhelmed.
Just as she hesitated, a secretary-like man approached.
“Are you Teacher Zhou Nuan?”
“Yes… and you are?” she asked cautiously.
“I’m Secretary Shi’s assistant, my surname is Song. Secretary Shi wants to see you. Please come with me.” Song gestured politely.
Zhou Nuan’s eyes lit up.
“All right,” she said, walking forward without hesitation.
Hearing that Secretary Shi wanted to see her, the young men seeking her contact info were stunned!
Could it be that Secretary Shi had the same idea? He was single too!
They exchanged glances.
Zhou Nuan followed Secretary Song to Shi Anlan’s car.
“Se… Secretary Shi, did you need me?” She still wasn’t used to the formal address.
“Yes.” Shi Anlan nodded, his gaze briefly sweeping over the men lingering nearby.
“Where are you headed? I’ll take you,” he said in a low voice.
“Ah?” Zhou Nuan was startled, waving her hands repeatedly. “No, it’s fine, Secretary Shi. I can go back on my own.”
“Fine? You’re my son’s homeroom teacher. What’s the problem with giving you a ride?”
The explanation was flawless, leaving Secretary Song and driver Yao Di speechless.
Ah, so that’s why! But isn’t Secretary Shi being a little too kind to this homeroom teacher?
“Really, there’s no need.” Zhou Nuan stood still.
“Are you trying to exchange contacts with those men?” Shi Anlan’s expression darkened slightly, his voice tinged with displeasure.
Following his gaze, Zhou Nuan saw the men still lingering and looking this way. She instantly understood Shi Anlan’s careful intentions.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think it through. Thank you,” she said, moving to open the front passenger door.
“Sorry, Teacher Zhou, this is my seat. You’ll need to sit in the back,” Secretary Song promptly stopped her.
“This…” Zhou Nuan glanced at the man in the back, hesitated, then slowly moved to the rear seat.
The men, watching her enter Shi Anlan’s car, left begrudgingly.
“Where to?” Shi Anlan asked.
“To my apartment,” Zhou Nuan replied.
“First to Chaoling Apartments,” he instructed Yao Di.
Hearing this, Secretary Song and Yao Di exchanged glances, full of curiosity.
Secretary Shi even knew where Zhou lived?
Those who work close to leaders as drivers or assistants are sharp observers.
Yao Di remembered when Shi Anlan had previously checked Jiang Hao’s license plate. Now learning he even knew Zhou Nuan’s address, everything became clear.
In all the years he’d followed him, he’d never seen Shi Anlan so attentive toward a woman.
Even without knowing the background, Secretary Song could tell from a few sentences that Zhou Nuan held special weight in Shi Anlan’s mind.
So as the car left the municipal compound, he called out to Yao Di, “Stop here for a moment. I just remembered something I need to do.”
Seeing Song step out, Zhou Nuan reached to open the door. “I’ll sit up front.”
Shi Anlan held her hand. “It’s not far, no need to trouble yourself.”
It was their first physical contact.
The warmth of his palm was intense.
Zhou Nuan blushed instantly and instinctively let go of the door.
Shi Anlan withdrew his hand, acting as if nothing happened, and calmly instructed Yao Di, “Go ahead.”
The car started moving again.
After the brief incident, Zhou Nuan’s heart was still racing, and the car fell into an awkward silence.
“Teacher Zhou, have you studied dance before? You move very professionally,” Shi Anlan broke the silence.
“Yes, for many years,” Zhou Nuan replied, feeling less nervous discussing her favorite thing.
“Why didn’t you continue?” he asked.
“Because…” Zhou Nuan lowered her voice. “Some family troubles came up, so I couldn’t continue.”
“I’m sorry,” he immediately said.
“It’s okay. It’s all in the past,” she smiled and shook her head.
Suddenly realizing that Secretary Shi was apologizing to her, she looked up reflexively, only to find him watching her.
Startled, she quickly lowered her gaze again.
For a moment, she thought she saw pity in his eyes.
“Do you mind telling me what happened?” Shi Anlan probed gently.
“My father got injured at work and couldn’t continue working,” she said softly.
“That’s… really unfortunate,” he sighed.
With her talent, she could have gone on to a dance academy and become a professional dancer.
“Well, teaching is good too,” Zhou Nuan shrugged lightly.
“Indeed,” Shi Anlan chuckled softly. “Otherwise, Xu Zhi wouldn’t have met you.”
And I wouldn’t have met you!
The atmosphere in the car relaxed.
Zhou Nuan no longer felt as tense as when she first got in.
They talked about Xu Zhi again.
“He seems more cheerful and bold lately,” Zhou Nuan said, recalling her student’s school behavior.
“That’s good. Looks like I’ll have to listen to you more,” Shi Anlan said with a double meaning.
“?” Zhou Nuan looked puzzled.
“You told me to spend more time with Xu Zhi, right? I’m following your instructions—and it’s working well,” he teased.
Zhou Nuan’s face turned red again.
“Sorry to make you laugh, Secretary Shi,” she said, embarrassed, scratching her head.
“No, truly sincere,” Shi Anlan reassured her.
Feeling his burning gaze, Zhou Nuan’s heart raced again.
She turned to the window, trying to hide her fluster.
Yao Di, driving up front, thought: I didn’t expect Secretary Shi’s flirting techniques to be so skillful! Truly, “if he doesn’t flirt, he doesn’t; if he does, he astonishes.”