After a Flash Marriage with a Professor - Chapter 88

Chapter 88: First Drag Hall

Ming Shu was stunned, realizing that the reason for Professor Shen’s anger was different from what she had expected. She decided to comply with whatever Professor Shen wanted to do, accepting her punishment.

Shen Junlan was angry, and growing more so. She realized she had been overly confident about her and Ming Shu’s relationship. Reality was far from the ideal state in her mind, otherwise Ming Shu wouldn’t be worried by such obvious, petty tricks from Qiao Qian.

She wanted to bite hard, but couldn’t bring herself to do it. She was afraid of breaking Ming Shu’s lip, afraid Ming Shu would feel pain, afraid she would bleed. She could only kiss repeatedly, increasing the pressure and duration, giving Ming Shu no chance to breathe.

Ming Shu felt like a little rabbit being swallowed by a big bad wolf, and the big bad wolf was saying it would swallow her whole because that was the quickest end to the pain.

Ming Shu was kissed until her brain lacked oxygen and she was on the verge of suffocating. Only then did Professor Shen release her, her lips moving away but then her fingertip coming up to gently touch and press.

Ming Shu heard Professor Shen let out a heavy sigh, seemingly exasperated with her.

Ming Shu slowly raised her eyes and asked, “Has Professor Shen’s anger subsided?”

Shen Junlan met Ming Shu’s gaze deeply, “Wife, what do you think?”

“I think… not yet,” Ming Shu hesitated.

Shen Junlan pulled Ming Shu into her arms. Ming Shu instinctively tilted her head to kiss her, but Shen Junlan avoided it and released Ming Shu. Ming Shu suddenly felt a little lost.

Just then, Aunt Zhang’s voice drifted up from downstairs.

“Junlan, Madam, you can come down for dinner now.”

Ming Shu didn’t move. Shen Junlan turned to walk out of the room, then came back and took Ming Shu’s hand, pulling her along.

“Professor Shen.”

“Mmm.”

“What can I do to stop you from being angry? Should I voluntarily lead an extra late-night class?”

Shen Junlan said, “Reflect properly. No taking shortcuts.”

Ming Shu softly replied, “Oh,” but she couldn’t help but think it was strange that Professor Shen would refuse, even just for a day.

However, that night, Ming Shu paid a heavy yet sweet price for her internal murmuring.

“Professor Shen…” Ming Shu was so overwhelmed that her words were broken, “Didn’t you say I shouldn’t take shortcuts and not have extra late-night classes?”

Shen Junlan said solemnly, “This is the routine late-night class.”

“But the time… mmph…” Ming Shu was cut off before she could finish by Professor Shen’s internal movements.

Professor Shen said politely, gently, and humbly, “Isn’t it common for a teacher to extend the class?”

“Common… doesn’t… mean it’s right,” Ming Shu tried hard to argue.

Shen Junlan said, “But this is under the circumstance of a teacher punishing a misbehaving student.”

Ming Shu fell silent, tightly pursing her lips, enduring Professor Shen’s gentle punishment. However, today’s punishment was truly a bit too long.

When she woke up the next morning, Ming Shu felt a discomfort as if her body had been taken apart and reassembled. In contrast, Professor Shen was radiant. Ming Shu knew how vast the gap in their natural energy levels was.

“Good morning, Wife.” Shen Junlan greeted Ming Shu with full vigor, not forgetting to lean in and kiss Ming Shu’s cheek.

Ming Shu covered the cheek Professor Shen had kissed and replied, “Good morning, Wife.”

Shen Junlan paused, “Wife, you rarely call me that.”

As far as she could remember, the last time Ming Shu called her that was a long time ago. The most memorable time was when Ming Shu was drunk and called her “Wife” in front of Ling Han, Ling Yu, and Yu Le.

“Because you call me that normally, if I call you that at the same time, it feels a bit odd.”

“It does feel a little strange,” Shen Junlan chuckled. “Call me whatever feels comfortable, just like at night. Don’t suppress yourself.”

Ming Shu’s face instantly flushed red. She raised her hand to cover Professor Shen’s mouth and asked, “Are you still angry?”

“Has Wife still not figured out why I was angry?” Shen Junlan spoke against Ming Shu’s palm. Her lips moved, and each movement felt like a kiss on Ming Shu’s hand.

“Isn’t it because Professor Shen felt I didn’t trust you enough?”

“Mmm. So, can Wife trust me one hundred percent now?” Shen Junlan asked.

Ming Shu hesitated.

Shen Junlan took the hand Ming Shu had placed on her lips, and said with a touch of sadness, “Wife still doesn’t believe me.”

“It’s not that I don’t believe you. One hundred percent is a bit difficult. No one can predict the future. Qiao Qian came to show off in front of me, threatening to spread rumors about Ling Han and me to Professor Shen. And Professor Shen has been jealous of Ling Han before, so I was worried.”

“Regarding Ling Han, haven’t we already talked it through? Wife, I won’t limit you from having good friends.”

“I know.” Ming Shu felt confused. “Maybe I lack confidence in myself. Maybe there’s also a slight influence from Miss Yu. Miss Yu liked her ex-girlfriend so much before, but now she doesn’t. Although I think her no longer liking her ex-girlfriend is good for Ling Yu, it also makes me think about us. Has Professor Shen truly only committed to me for life? Maybe something could change between us too.” Ming Shu said powerlessly, “I’ve tried hard to boost my confidence, but I genuinely don’t have the confidence that Professor Shen will always like me, that your love for me won’t change, and that you’ll always be on my side. I don’t have that confidence. I want to reserve a small corner for myself, so that if I lose what I have now in the future, I still have a part of my strong self left.”

I have only committed to you. Shen Junlan clearly stated this in her heart, but she only said it internally, not out loud to Ming Shu, because she realized that her passionate expression also implicitly demanded strong feedback from Ming Shu.

She herself was also a person lacking self-confidence, which was why she sought one hundred percent certainty from Ming Shu.

“Professor Shen, let’s both take some time to cool down.” Ming Shu expressed the emotions that had been lurking beneath the surface. She immediately felt a sense of relief.

Perhaps true confidence also included allowing oneself to be unconfident. Ming Shu had a flash of sudden insight. She knew that gathering the courage and becoming confident under Professor Shen’s influence were all good things, but this didn’t mean she could only be confident from now on. The confidence gained by masking underlying lack of confidence was not true confidence.

“Okay.” Shen Junlan also felt she needed some time to think.

After breakfast, Shen Junlan had Old Liu drive Ming Shu to work. She had an early class today, and driving Ming Shu would likely make her late for her students’ early class. Ming Shu understood perfectly. She didn’t need Professor Shen to be with her every moment; work was more important.

Old Liu dropped Ming Shu off at the company entrance.

“Yan Mingshu!”

As soon as Ming Shu got out of the car, she heard someone calling her, the voice filled with exasperation.

Turning her head, Ming Shu saw Qiao Qian’s furious face. Qiao Qian wasn’t wearing the company’s custom uniform but a very conspicuous red riding outfit, holding a riding crop in her hand. Ming Shu didn’t care what Qiao Qian wore, but the riding crop in Qiao Qian’s hand made her feel uneasy. Although Qiao Qian might just be checking in at the company and then heading to the stables, her expression was clearly hostile, and Ming Shu instinctively became wary.

Old Liu noticed the situation and got out of the car, thinking he could shield the Madam if Miss Qianqian started to act crazy.

“So scared of me?” Qiao Qian folded the crop in half, raised her bright red lips, and said to Ming Shu, “Yesterday, you went and tattled to Sister Junlan beforehand, didn’t you?”

“Tattling about what?” Ming Shu was a bit confused.

“Stop pretending, Yan Mingshu. If you hadn’t gone and tattled to Sister Junlan beforehand, Sister Junlan wouldn’t have refused to see me, and wouldn’t have denied having me as a sister.”

“Miss Qiao, you keep calling her ‘Sister Junlan,’ but do you treat Professor Shen like a sister?” Ming Shu asked angrily. A sister wouldn’t treat her sister this way.

Qiao Qian narrowed her eyes and smiled at her, stepping closer. Old Liu blocked Qiao Qian, preventing her from approaching Ming Shu. Qiao Qian tossed the riding crop into the air, and her bodyguard caught it.

“I’ve thrown the whip away; I have nothing to hit Yan Mingshu with. Now move aside.”

Old Liu glanced at Ming Shu. Only when Ming Shu nodded did he move back a little.

Qiao Qian whispered close to Ming Shu’s ear, “Mistress-sister is also a sister.”

Ming Shu’s pupils abruptly contracted. How could Qiao Qian say such a thing? It was an absolute slander and insult to Professor Shen!

Ming Shu clenched her fists. Qiao Qian noticed Ming Shu’s action and felt she had hit her mark. She pointed to her face and said, “What? Want to hit me? Hit me right here.” Qiao Qian deliberately pointed to the spot on her face where Zhang Jiajia had previously scratched her. Although the skin there looked healed, it felt noticeably uneven to the touch, and the newly healed skin was the most delicate. Qiao Qian eagerly wanted Ming Shu to be provoked and strike her.

Once Yan Mingshu struck her, she thought, Sister Junlan would have no choice but to re-evaluate their relationship and Yan Mingshu as a person. She didn’t believe Sister Junlan could treat Yan Mingshu the same after she hit someone.

To fight Yan Mingshu, this woman who had usurped her position, she had recently binged on many revenge-themed web novels and dramas. She was casting herself as the protagonist who was battered and needed to reclaim everything that was hers through revenge, and Yan Mingshu was the cunning and wicked female supporting character. She refused to believe she couldn’t outwit Yan Mingshu.

“Hit me!” Qiao Qian said excitedly. Ming Shu merely held her fist tightly, feeling somewhat confused by Qiao Qian’s urging. Who would be so eager for someone else to hit them? Ming Shu felt Qiao Qian genuinely had a psychological problem and took a step back.

“Ming Shu!” Mia had just come out of the company and saw Ming Shu backing away. She ran over and asked, “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“It’s almost time for work. Let’s go in first. Don’t be late for clocking in; you’ll have your salary deducted.”

Upon hearing about salary deduction, Ming Shu ignored Qiao Qian. Qiao Qian was just deliberately trying to cause trouble, and Ming Shu wouldn’t play along. Earlier, Qiao Qian had blocked her path, so she had to deal with it, but now with Mia there—Mia was the Vice President’s assistant—no matter how formidable Qiao Qian’s status was, she was only a regular, albeit nominal, intern at GR Company. Ming Shu didn’t need to get tangled up with Qiao Qian.

“Thank you for the reminder. I’m going in now.” Ming Shu thanked Mia and hurried into the company.

Seeing that the Madam had safely entered the company, Old Liu felt relieved and returned to the car. Before leaving, he carefully considered the matter and decided to tell Professor Shen everything about Qiao Qian bothering the Madam. Fearing he would interrupt Professor Shen’s work, he sent a long text message explaining the cause and process of the event.

Only Mia and Qiao Qian were left standing there. Qiao Qian glared resentfully at Mia. She hated this woman who had ruined her plan.

Mia ignored Qiao Qian’s hateful gaze, raising an eyebrow, and said, “The company is not a place for you to fool around, Miss Qiao. Although everyone knows your nominal internship, it’s better to keep a low profile.”

“You…” Qiao Qian angrily pointed at Mia, “Do you know what I brought to your rotten company?”

“I know, an investment. However, our GR Company is well-known in the industry, and there’s no shortage of big shots who want to invest besides Mr. Shen behind you. Furthermore, speaking of connections, Ming Shu is closer to the Shen Group,” Mia spoke words that infuriated Qiao Qian even more.

“What do you know!” Qiao Qian was nearly hysterical, gripping and messing up her own hair, “Uncle Shen doesn’t take Yan Mingshu seriously at all!”

Seeing this, the bodyguard rushed forward, grabbed Qiao Qian’s arms, and quietly reminded her, “Miss Qianqian, calm down. It’s time to get in the car and take your medication.”

Hearing this, Qiao Qian tried to calm down. She really did need her medication. The treatment that had been disguised as studying abroad for several years couldn’t be wasted now. She still hadn’t won back Sister Junlan.

Qiao Qian and the bodyguard returned to the car. Mia felt somewhat perplexed but didn’t want to engage with Qiao Qian anymore and also turned to go back into the company.

At noon, Ming Shu received a call from Professor Shen right as she was clocking out for lunch. She walked to a corner and answered softly, hearing Professor Shen’s urgent and concerned voice.

“Wife, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. What happened?”

“I’m downstairs at your company. I want to see you.”

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