After Becoming Roommates with an Obnoxious Wealthy Heiress - Chapter 35

Or perhaps another way of being angry, called the “cold shoulder.”

The two boys glared, their eyebrows shooting up in anger.

Who is this blind fool trying to interfere?

They glanced back, but the moment they saw who it was, they immediately let go of Qin Shuyue’s hands.

Han Junli.

Hadn’t he already left? Why was he still here?

“Let her go.”

Han Junli walked up to the two boys. Grabbing them by the back of their collars like they were little chicks, he tossed them aside, clearing the space in front of Qin Shuyue.

Qin Shuyue stepped out from her seat and walked to Han Junli’s side, casting her gaze downward.

“Thank you, Teacher Han,” she whispered.

Han Junli gave a slight nod, shot a warning look at the two boys, and then spoke softly to Qin Shuyue. “Let’s go. I will walk with you.”

“Teacher Han.”

A dull male voice came from the seats behind Qin Shuyue.

Han Junli frowned slightly and looked in that direction. It was the same boy who had cornered Qin Shuyue at the school gate before, intending to lay hands on her.

Just as Qin Shuyue was about to turn around to see what was happening, Han Junli’s clear, refined voice reached her ears.

“Don’t look back.”

Those words were like an anchor, calming Qin Shuyue’s restless, pounding heart. She stood still where she was. Though there was some distance between her and Han Junli’s broad chest, she felt a strange sense of security.

Han Junli took a few steps forward, his gaze piercing as he looked at the boy who had called his name.

He spoke, his voice relatively civil but firm. “Student, I don’t recall you being one of mine. I can overlook the fact that you entered this classroom to audit the lecture, but if you do anything to my student in front of me if you cause her any physical or psychological harm as Qin Shuyue’s instructor, I will pursue the matter to the very end.”

Seeing how serious Han Junli was, it was clear he intended to protect Qin Shuyue at all costs.

The boy clicked his tongue in annoyance. He didn’t look at Han Junli; instead, he stared at the back of the girl’s head.

“Qin Shuyue, I’m giving you this one chance. If you don’t come over here, consequences will follow.”

He spat out the last few words one by one. Qin Shuyue’s heart began to waver.

But then, a warm sensation spread across the back of her hand.

Qin Shuyue looked down.

Her heart leaped into her throat. Was Han Junli holding her hand?

He Suddenly, with a strong pull, Qin Shuyue was drawn behind Han Junli. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she looked up, witnessing him firmly shielding her with his own body.

In that instant, Qin Shuyue’s nose felt stingy, and her eyes immediately filled with tears. She quickly lowered her head, using her other hand to swiftly wipe them away.

Seeing he had no other choice, the boy turned back hatefully and spat at Qin Shuyue, “Qin Shuyue, you’ll regret this.”

He gave a signal to the other two boys, and they scrambled out through the back door.

Just as the back door was about to close, Song Jiajia was there, staring intensely at her. Noticing Qin Shuyue’s gaze, Song Jiajia smiled and waved her phone mockingly. With a cold sneer, she crossed her arms and walked away.

The group of boys and girls behind her also gave Qin Shuyue malicious looks before following Song Jiajia, causing no further trouble for the moment.

It was obvious that Han Junli had also seen Song Jiajia’s group.

Once the boys were gone, Han Junli released Qin Shuyue’s hand and maintained a proper professional distance. However, after seeing Song Jiajia’s crew, he couldn’t help but shift slightly to block Qin Shuyue’s line of sight.

But no matter how much he blocked, he couldn’t stop Qin Shuyue’s gaze.

Song Jiajia’s look.

Qin Shuyue hurriedly pulled her cracked phone from her pocket. She opened every chat app, scrolling through one by one, but found no message from Song Jiajia.

Instead, a mountain of harassment messages flooded her phone like artillery fire. She could only constantly remind herself: I don’t care what these people say. I don’t care at all.

Han Junli’s gentle voice sounded in her ear. “It’s alright, they won’t come back. Let’s go.”

Qin Shuyue gave a low response and walked ahead, while Han Junli followed behind her at a respectful distance, holding his lesson plans.

After walking for a while, Qin Shuyue paused and looked back.

“Teacher Han, don’t you have any more classes?”

Han Junli smiled and nodded. “That’s right. Did you forget, Student Qin? I only teach your class.”

Most instructors taught two or three classes in the same major, but Han Junli only taught one.

“That was an oversight on my part…” Qin Shuyue murmured.

Han Junli caught up in a few strides, walking alongside her but still keeping a deliberate distance. After all, if a rumor started between a teacher and a student, his teaching career would likely be over.

“Teacher Han… thank you.”

Han Junli glanced at her and winked. “Thanking me? Which time are you thanking me for, Student Qin?”

Qin Shuyue was somewhat surprised by his demeanor. In class, he was always serious and meticulous. She had thought he was a man of few words and no smiles, but she didn’t expect him to be like a different person outside of class.

His tone was relaxed, more like an ordinary friend chatting while walking down a campus path.

His words brought back memories. Ever since her freshman year, when Song Jiajia’s group had blocked her path and Han Junli had witnessed it, he always made sure to be the last person to leave whenever he had a class.

Because Qin Shuyue didn’t want to run into those people, she also waited until the very end to leave. Once or twice might be a coincidence, but since Han Junli did it every time, it was clearly intentional.

Qin Shuyue lowered her head and whispered, “For every time.”

Showing no surprise, Han Junli said, “I see. Your grades are excellent, Student Qin. If your personality were as strong as your grades, things might be even better, wouldn’t they?”

Qin Shuyue’s head dropped even lower. Han Junli was giving her a reminder.

She forced a faint, dry smile. “Thank you for the guidance, Teacher. I will try to improve.”

Han Junli didn’t respond directly. Instead, he pulled a business card from his breast pocket and said seriously, “A girl shouldn’t walk alone at night, nor should you return to school too late. If you encounter a situation like that day again, I might not always be there. This is my card. If you have any difficulties in life, you can call the number on it for help. I will come immediately.”

Qin Shuyue hesitated. She didn’t take the card. She shook her head. “Teacher Han, I am very grateful for your care over the past two years… but I don’t want to be a burden to anyone. Your card should be given to people of your own status. I… I’ll pass.”

Han Junli smiled. He took Qin Shuyue’s hand, opened her palm, and placed the card inside. He said warmly, “You don’t need to feel like you’re burdening anyone. I could be like any other teacher—finish the lecture and leave, not caring whether a student lives or dies. But, Student Qin, you know I’ve never been that kind of teacher, don’t you?”

“Teacher.”

Qin Shuyue suddenly stopped walking.

She looked up at Han Junli. The warm golden sunlight spilled over him, making him look like a deity standing in the light merciful and compassionate.

Her fingertips trembled. Her lips quivered as she spoke. “Teacher Han… truly, thank you.”

“In the future, I want to become someone just like you.”

“Become like me?” Han Junli smiled and shook his head. “You don’t need to become anyone else.”

“You are just yourself.”

He looked up at the sign for Heqing Court and said, “Alright, Student Qin, you’ve reached your dormitory.”

Looking at the dazed Qin Shuyue, Han Junli suddenly felt an urge to pat her head to encourage her. But he restrained himself. As a teacher and a man, he had to maintain a proper distance.

Qin Shuyue shouldn’t become like him; she should become herself, rather than trying to find herself through others. This was currently her biggest issue a lack of self-awareness.

And what he needed to do was help her find herself.

After Han Junli left, Qin Shuyue stood frozen for a long time, until a cold female voice came from behind her.

“Watched enough? He’s already out of sight.”

As the words fell, the woman walked up behind her. She rested a hand on Qin Shuyue’s right shoulder and followed her gaze. Han Junli was now just a tiny speck in the distance.

Still looking.

Tsk.

Zhu Lingyi was suddenly very annoyed.

Her sharp eyes immediately caught sight of the business card tucked in Qin Shuyue’s hand. While Qin Shuyue was still lost in thought, Zhu Lingyi snatched the card away and glanced at the information.

Han Junli?

She squinted at the phone number below.

Before she could finish reading the digits, Qin Shuyue snatched the card back, tucking it away as if it were a precious treasure.

Zhu Lingyi’s expression shifted. “That precious to you?” she asked coldly.

Her tone was barbed, but Qin Shuyue remained unmoved.

She gave a soft “mm” and walked past Zhu Lingyi into the elevator lobby. She ignored her completely, as if Zhu Lingyi didn’t even exist.

Tsk.

Extremely irritated, Zhu Lingyi turned around. Seeing the elevator doors about to close on Qin Shuyue, she strode forward and thrust her hand between the closing doors.

Qin Shuyue was startled by the dangerous move. She frowned and backed up a few steps into the elevator, seemingly wary of what Zhu Lingyi would do next.

However, Zhu Lingyi didn’t corner her like Song Jiajia’s group would have. She simply walked in and stood side by side with her.

The reflective surface of the elevator distorted and elongated their figures; even stretched out, Zhu Lingyi was still a head taller than Qin Shuyue.

Staring at Qin Shuyue’s small, thin frame in the reflection, Zhu Lingyi asked, “Are you malnourished?”

Qin Shuyue didn’t answer.

This was her way of being angry silence. Or, to put it another way: the cold shoulder.

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