Kidnapping the Female Teacher's Best Friend - Chapter 80

Chapter 80

Not long after Mo Zebei walked back inside with her backpack, her phone chimed with a WeChat notification.

I put a bottle of sunscreen in the inner compartment of your backpack. Remember to apply it to your face before you go out. It was early September; the sun was still fierce, and skin was easily damaged by UV rays.

Okay, I got it. Mo Zebei brushed her thumb over Mu Hanxi’s profile picture, her eyes full of affection. She remembered back in senior year when her under-eyes turned dark from staying up late; Mu Hanxi had given her a bottle of eye cream. She hadn’t been able to bring herself to throw the empty bottle away; it was still sitting in a drawer at home.

She swung her backpack around, unzipped it, and felt around the inner layer until she found a delicate small bottle. She must have slipped it in while I was in the shower, she thought.

She gave the small bottle a light kiss and carefully tucked it back into its place.

Back in the dorm, she attached the apartment key Mu Hanxi had given her to a small brown bear keychain. She carried this backpack almost every day. The bear stayed with the bag, the bag stayed with her—it was perfect.

She didn’t linger in the dorm. Grabbing a few books, she headed to the library to study her major subjects, only emerging when it was time for dinner.

Meanwhile, Mu Hanxi and Liu Chuqing went to the “Blue Whale” restaurant together.

During the meal, Liu Chuqing asked with feigned casualness which university Mo Zebei was attending. When she learned that Mo Zebei had chosen the school where Mu Hanxi’s mother taught, her facial muscles froze for an instant.

Struggling to hide her reaction, she continued to probe, asking where Mu Hanxi had gone during the days of the National College Entrance Exam.

Kind and honest, Mu Hanxi told her directly: she had gone to accompany Mo Zebei during the exams.

Liu Chuqing’s face darkened, and she gripped her wine glass so hard that, had it been of lesser quality, it likely would have shattered.

Upon leaving Blue Whale, Liu Chuqing immediately made a phone call, ordering her subordinates to secretly investigate Mo Zebei her family, her school records, and anyone close to her.

At evening self-study, the class assistant announced two major items. First, the election for class committee members was coming up; interested students should prepare, as the speeches and voting would take place this Friday.

Second, the school was hosting a freshman welcome gala at the end of the month. Students with talents or interest were encouraged to sign up with her.

Since textbooks had been distributed during military training, formal classes were set to begin the next day.

After self-study, Ren Xueying walked back to the dorm with Mo Zebei.

“Where were you this afternoon? I went to your dorm but couldn’t find you.”

“I went out for a bit, then went to the library.”

“Oh,” Ren Xueying nodded. “I’m thinking of running for League Branch Secretary.”

Mo Zebei gave a non-committal “mhm.” She didn’t care much for such things.

University life was full of club activities, and Ren Xueying asked if she was interested in any so they could join together. Mo Zebei shook her head.

Ren Xueying sighed. “You really are quite dull.”

Mo Zebei gave a helpless smile. Upon reaching the fourth floor of the dormitory, they parted ways. Mo Zebei found a quiet spot in the hallway and called Meng Yuanhao.

“What are you up to?”

“Just wandering around,” he was at the sports field. “Do you remember Zheng Hanyu?”

“Huh?”

“The girl we saved outside a bar back when we pulled that all-nighter at the internet cafe.”

“I remember now.”

“She treated us to a meal later, remember? You couldn’t make it, so I went alone,” Meng Yuanhao said with a chuckle. “I only found out during dinner that she goes to the same school as me. She’s two years my senior.”

“Oh, quite a coincidence.”

“I went to see her this afternoon,” Meng Yuanhao looked up at the sky. “We had dinner together.”

“Mhm.” Mo Zebei opened the window in front of her, looking at the dorm building opposite hers.

“Her boyfriend tried to get back with her recently, but she turned him down…”

Mo Zebei tapped her fingers on the windowsill, waiting for the punchline.

“I feel like she’s a really good person… Do you think this is a chance?”

“Spend some time together first. Only pursue her once you’re sure you truly like her.”

Meng Yuanhao’s face flushed. She sure is blunt, he thought.

He cleared his throat. “Are you and Ruoxin doing okay? Do you still eat together often?”

“Usually for lunch and dinner.”

Meng Yuanhao hummed and sighed. “I’m eating with a bunch of stinky guys every day now. I’m not used to it. They wolf down their food and sometimes even snatch mine…”

Mo Zebei hummed in response and chatted a bit longer before returning to her room to wash up and sleep.

Monday morning was free for the first two periods. After breakfast, she went straight to the Literature Department.

She had previously looked up the professors in the Literature Department. There was only one female professor with the surname Mu likely Mu Hanxi’s mother.

After checking for two class periods, she discovered that Professor Mu taught “Modern Literature History” to undergraduates, along with other courses, but most conflicted with her own schedule.

The only time she could audit the Modern Literature History class was Wednesday afternoon during the first two periods.

However, since it was a required core course, it was taught in a small classroom. It wouldn’t be easy for a stranger to blend in.

After dinner, Mo Zebei went back to scout the specific classroom. Fortunately, the room didn’t have assigned individual desks but used long, connected rows of seating, which made sneaking in slightly easier.

On Wednesday afternoon, right after her nap, she arrived early. She brought a book and a notebook; the book was borrowed from the library.

She chose an inconspicuous seat in the very last row. A few minutes later, a girl sat down next to her.

Since they were freshmen who had only been on campus for a week, classmates hadn’t yet learned everyone’s faces. The girl only saw Mo Zebei’s profile and was too sleepy to ask questions.

When the bell rang, Professor Mu entered promptly.

Mo Zebei straightened her back and looked closely. She was even better looking than her photos on the website.

She used to have medium-length hair, but now it was shorter, just touching her shoulders. She had a gentle expression, delicate features, and a very elegant manner.

As Mo Zebei watched her, images of Mu Hanxi kept flashing in her mind. Mother and daughter were at least sixty percent alike.

Professor Mu spoke at a steady, unhurried pace, occasionally tucking a strand of hair behind her ear when she looked down.

Mo Zebei listened intently. The girl next to her was already slumped over with her eyes closed; she had come to the back row specifically to sleep, using the “wall” of students in front as cover.

Mo Zebei watched the PPT on the screen, listening to the lecture and taking diligent notes. The sleeping girl looked up at her briefly: “If you want to listen so seriously, why didn’t you sit at the front?”

Mo Zebei paused her pen and whispered, “I will next time.”

“Actually, the back is better,” the girl stretched her neck. “Less likely to be called on.” Even though it was her first time in Professor Mu’s class, she had years of student experience.

Mo Zebei gave a soft “oh” and went back to her notes.

The girl rested a bit longer before sitting up and taking a few sips of water. Perhaps influenced by Mo Zebei, she spent the rest of the time focusing on the lecture and even started jotting things down.

During the break, Professor Mu left the room. Students headed to the restroom or to get water.

Neither Mo Zebei nor the girl moved. Mo Zebei was reviewing her notes; the girl was watching her.

“Are you in our class?” the girl suddenly asked.

Mo Zebei blinked and replied honestly, “No, I’m from the Physics Department.”

“I knew it,” the girl said as if a puzzle had been solved. “I had no impression of you at all…” With Mo Zebei’s short hair and heroic features, she would have noticed if she were a classmate.

“So why did you come all the way here to audit?”

“I heard Professor Mu’s lectures are good, and I’m interested in the subject, so I wanted to listen.”

The girl hummed and started sharing gossip: “I heard from my roommate that Professor Mu’s daughter is incredibly beautiful.” This girl was the type who was smart enough to get good grades without much effort, but she loved to have fun, sleep in, and hunt for gossip.

Mo Zebei slowly looked up from her notebook, finally showing a flicker of interest in the conversation. “How does your roommate know?”

“She heard it from a second-year grad student.”

“That senior has seen her?”

“Yeah. Just before school started during the summer, the senior was in the office helping Professor Mu organize research materials. Professor Mu’s daughter came by to drop off a flash drive, and the senior happened to see her.” The girl turned to face Mo Zebei fully. “Just looking at Professor Mu’s looks, you can bet her daughter is definitely a beauty.”

Mo Zebei smiled silently and nodded.

When class resumed, Professor Mu returned on time to continue.

Mo Zebei continued to sit upright and listen. Once, Professor Mu’s gaze drifted toward the back row. Mo Zebei instinctively tightened her grip on her pen, her heart racing uncontrollably.

On Friday night, Mo Zebei’s class held their elections for committee members. Department teachers, the counselor, and the class assistant sat in the front.

Candidates took turns on stage, followed by a student vote. The counselor then considered the speeches, the students’ votes, and the assistant’s evaluation to finalize the appointments.

The results came out on Monday. Ren Xueying successfully became the League Branch Secretary. The class monitor was a boy named Sun Zhi, who was known for being outgoing and a bit of a performer. Other positions like discipline monitor, hygiene monitor, and arts monitor were also filled.

Mo Zebei had zero interest in any of it; she only participated in the voting.

The two days after Friday were the weekend, but unfortunately, Mu Hanxi had gone out of town.

On Sunday, Mo Zebei went to the apartment to take a shower. She stayed there all day and even helped clean the place.

On her way back to school, Qu Junzhi called. She had finally finished her military training and had just finished a celebration dinner with her roommates.

“Do you want to come visit our school?” Qu Junzhi asked.

“Next time,” Mo Zebei said, sympathizing with her friend who had just survived the brutal training. “You should get some rest first.”

“Good point. I’m going to bed. I literally only have half my life left in me.”

Mo Zebei hummed and hung up.

A few more days passed. On Wednesday afternoon, Mo Zebei went to audit Professor Mu’s class as usual, but this time she sat near the front.

During the first period, Professor Mu glanced at her several times. Perhaps because of the girl’s earnest and focused expression, she had caught the professor’s eye.

During the second period, Professor Mu actually called on her.

When the finger pointed her way, Mo Zebei froze for a second, then stood up gracefully and shared her views. Her answer might not have been perfectly professional, but it was at least the result of careful thought.

After class, Professor Mu asked her to come to the podium to ask for her name. Professor Mu didn’t often call on students maybe only one or two per class but the school’s grading system included a score for class participation.

Professor Mu kept a special list; whenever she felt a student answered well, she would place a checkmark next to their name.

Mo Zebei scratched the back of her head, her face flushing as she explained, “My name is Mo Zebei… I’m from the Physics Department. I came because I enjoy your lectures…”

Professor Mu was stunned. She hadn’t expected her to be from another department. Then she smiled: “You are welcome to come often.”

Mo Zebei nodded hurriedly.

“Did you get that book from the library?” Professor Mu asked.

“Yes, but I could only find the old edition.”

“Come with me to my office,” Professor Mu said, unplugging her flash drive and turning off the projector. “I happen to have an extra copy.”

Mo Zebei was startled, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the favor.

“Let’s go.”

“Oh… okay.” Mo Zebei quickly packed her bag and followed.

On the way, Professor Mu chatted with her casually: “Where are you from?”

“City J.” Walking beside Mu Hanxi’s mother, Mo Zebei was quite nervous.

“City J?” Professor Mu glanced at her and smiled. “My daughter used to work there.”

Mo Zebei opened her mouth to say something but held it back.

“Here it is,” at the office, Professor Mu pulled a book from a drawer. “Take this to read. Just return it to me when the semester ends.”

“Okay. Thank you, Teacher.”

As she walked out of the Literature building holding the book, a smile lingered on her lips. Auntie Mu is so easygoing, she thought, just like her daughter.

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