That Girl Who Skipped Class — You're In Big Trouble! - Chapter 34

Chapter 34

“Next year at this time, it’ll be our turn to host the dinner,” Li Chenchen glanced at the group of graduates across the room who were enthusiastically toasting each other. “So? Have you decided to stay in City A?”

An Dong shoveled a mouthful of rice into his mouth, mumbling: “Haven’t decided yet. I went to the Imperial Capital for that design competition last year, right? Although I didn’t win the championship, I’ve had a steady stream of offers. But the cost of living in the Imperial Capital is too high. Anyway, I’m definitely not planning on going back home.”

It was graduation season again. An Dong, Li Chenchen, and his girlfriend were passing by this restaurant after watching a movie, and Li Chenchen paused at the entrance, suggesting they eat there. Today, the restaurant was running a graduation special, offering 20% off all beverages. The three of them ordered a case of beer and several signature dishes. They drank and chatted, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere. Before long, more and more tables filled up, and the restaurant became noisy.

An Dong patted Li Chenchen’s shoulder, motioning him to look at the entrance, where one man and two women had just walked in. The man was bald and wearing a Zhongshan suit—it was their acquaintance, the Dean of the Computer Science Department. Walking behind him was Xiao Xuan, the Gold Medal Lecturer. She wore a light grey fitted blazer, her hair was casually tied up, and a graceful smile was on her slender neck. Wherever her gaze fell, students cheered. The woman walking in behind her was wearing a black dress with a few hand-painted oil strokes on the hem and a delicate choker around her neck, smiling charmingly and carrying herself with composure.

“An… An Qingyang!” Li Chenchen gasped, calling out her name.

His girlfriend put down her chopsticks and looked at him, puzzled: “An what Yang? Who is that?”

“Cough, cough, it’s nothing, just a classmate of ours,” Li Chenchen explained. “I’m just curious why she’s with the Computer Science teacher.” The three of them lowered their heads and continued eating. Li Chenchen occasionally looked up at the table where An Qingyang and the others were, seeing Xiao Xuan and the two women chatting happily with the students.

“Junior is so beautiful. Are you from our department? Why haven’t I seen you before? Do you have a boyfriend?” A guy at the table stood up, holding a glass of wine out to An Qingyang.

“An Qingyang, from the School of Design. Nice to meet you.” An Qingyang reached out, clinking her glass against his, the cups making a gentle, crisp sound. Xiao Xuan placed some food in her bowl nearby.

An Dong, noticing Li Chenchen was distracted, chimed in: “An Qingyang has been on very good terms with Teacher Xiao since the last design competition. I heard that An family signed several large contracts with the Dean of the Computer Science Department a while ago. In the future, the college’s competitions and meetings will all be held at hotels under the An family… Hey, didn’t you know about this? Your family is quite familiar with the An family, right?”

Li Chenchen shook his head blankly, taking a sip of beer from his glass, only to find the taste a little bitter.

…

After three rounds of drinks, An Dong and the two others were slightly tipsy. An Dong and Li Chenchen’s girlfriend were both leaning on the table, chatting intermittently. Several dinner parties in the restaurant had finished. Li Chenchen came out of the restroom and saw Xiao Xuan and An Qingyang standing in an inconspicuous corner outside the restaurant. He didn’t know what came over him, but he took a few steps closer to where they were.

The two were deep in conversation and didn’t notice his approach. Suddenly, Xiao Xuan reached out and touched An Qingyang’s face: “Look at you, your face is all flushed from drinking, like a monkey’s butt.”

“Hey, it’s all Dean Li’s fault for being so sleazy! Those people kept toasting, and he kept pushing them towards you, with those leering eyes. If I hadn’t blocked them, you’d be drunk by now. Why is he so disrespectful of his age!”

“An’an,” Xiao Xuan sounded a little annoyed. “He is my superior.”

An Qingyang reached out and hugged Xiao Xuan’s neck: “I was just worried about you! If that kind of thing happened again, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to save you.”

“In my dictionary, can that kind of thing happen a second time?” Xiao Xuan pursed her lips and gently pulled An Qingyang’s hand down. “There are so many students here. You shouldn’t be doing this.”

With a “Clang,” Li Chenchen knocked over an empty beer carton at his feet. Seeing An Qingyang and Xiao Xuan look his way, he touched his head with an embarrassed expression: “Yáng Yáng, Teacher Xiao, what a coincidence.”

An Qingyang nodded lightly, her long hair brushing her face, her expression cold and completely different from her previous playful demeanor. She had become more beautiful, and also more difficult to approach. Li Chenchen thought as he walked out.

An Qingyang turned to look at Xiao Xuan, noticing her gaze drifting away and her expression wasn’t good. She took her hand and laced their fingers tightly: “Teacher Xiao, you’re so childish. Are you jealous?”

Xiao Xuan’s eyes slid towards her. Her slender neck, fair chin, and the blush on her cheeks vanished instantly: “What nonsense are you talking about?”

“Look how beautiful it is,” An Qingyang pointed to the faint moon in the night sky. “Shall we go to Australia to see the moon and sunbathe this winter? And while we’re there, I’ll help you vent your anger at Cheng Fei.”

The moonlight enveloped the two of them. Xiao Xuan leaned her shoulder against hers, and placed a light kiss on An Qingyang’s ear.