Fancy Me, Professor!

Shu Xian and Pan An arrived in the library. The moment they did, Shu Xian thought that he's going to go back to the classroom or to the faculty since he lied about being needed here, but still, she had to buy some time or else other people will suspect her.

"Aren't you going back?" she whispered, Pan An, shaking his head in protest like a kid.

"No. I'm going with you."

Shu Xian narrowed her eyes at him.

"People will suspect us!"

"They won't," he replied with a scoff, playfully rolling his eyes at her. "Besides… we're not yet done with the conversation."

"We will talk about it later," Shu Xian almost snapped in annoyance, not wanting the people who have their vacant time in the library to hear them. "Just pretend that you're borrowing books and then go back! I'd have to make a quick detour here before going to my next class because of you."

Pan An feigned getting a heart break. With him pretending to wince as he put his hand on his chest, Shu Xian arched a brow at him, forcing herself not to laugh—or even smile because of what he did!

'This Pan An… he's acting like a child!'

"Fine… we'll talk about this during dinner time," he suggested, Shu Xian, blinking her eyes a few times.

"Dinner time?"

"Yes," Pan An answered, stopping in his tracks as it made Shu Xian stop as well. "I'll be waiting for you at home after my classes in the afternoon and then we'll drive to the same mall and eat there."

"Alright," Shu Xian answered as an excited smile appeared on her face. "See you later, then."

And with that, Pan An did really come to borrow a book. As he went to the periodicals section to borrow the latest paper of the day, Shu Xian then walked up to their workstation in the fiction and internet library, surprising Yan Yan and Zhong Li on her sudden appearance.

"Shu Xian!"

Yan Yan greeted in a loud whisper, making Zhong Li choke on his drink as he was surprised with her sudden exclamation.

"So unusual of you to drop by! Don't you have a class?"

Zhong Li wiped the corners of his mouth with his arm. With him shyly looking at Shu Xian as he nodded at her to greet her, Shu Xian smiled at the two, answering Yan Yan's question.

"Well, unexpectedly, we had an early dismissal and I thought of killing time," she reasoned, Yan Yan, arching a brow at her in confusion.

"When you have like… five minutes left before your next class would start? You chose to be here?"

Shu Xian cleared her throat, not expecting the time. People who knew her well would notice that she is lying because a person studious as her would prefer waiting outside of the classroom until it has been cleared for the next class.

"I… decided to be quite rebellious today, I guess."

"Rebellious?" Yan Yan giggled, making Shu Xian's eyes widen with what she said. "How can you be rebellious about that? Anyway, I heard it was your birthday yesterday, so belated happy birthday!"

"Oh! Thank you so much!"

Shu Xian smiled as she blinked her eyes in surprise, not expecting Yan Yan to know about her special day.

"You knew about my birthday?"

At the same moment, Pan An was seen walking up the stairs towards Shu Xian's workstation. With him walking slowly and undetected, he listened to their conversation, wondering what they're talking about as he hid behind the wall that was near the stairs.

"Yeah, I heard about your birthday," Yan Yan answered, elbowing Zhong Li who was sitting beside her. "Zhong Li told me about it!"

"I see!"

Shu Xian turned to Zhong Li, a sweet smile appearing on her face that made his heart race along with the words that she said that made him blush.

"Thanks for greeting me yesterday, too, Zhong Li. Thank you for the food as well—and the sweet drink."

Pan An's ear twitched. With him hearing this, suddenly, he peered over the wall, looking at the people whom Shu Xian's talking with.

The moment his eyes landed on the guy whom Shu Xian is talking to, he saw a small blush appearing on his face, his lips thinning as he thought to himself:

'This guy gave her food and greeted her on her birthday yesterday?'

"I-it was nothing," Zhong Li spoke, stammering on his words as well. "I felt a bit guilty of asking you to help me in my homework when it was your special day."

Pan An furrowed his brows, not liking what he has heard.

"Oh?" Yan Yan exclaimed in surprise, looking at Zhong Li and Shu Xian back and forth. "You two were studying together?"

"Yeah," Shu Xian answered, "In the student's lounge."

"I see!"

A teasing grin appeared on Yan Yan's face as she narrowed her eyes at Zhong Li.

"He's a shy boy so I know both of you were alone for him to ask for your help~!"

Pan An furrowed his brows, having the urge to show himself before them so they would stop, but his gut feelings are telling him that he had to listen more.

This is so absurd—a professor, a man at that, eavesdropping on someone else's conversation! How childish and unprofessional of him—but he just couldn't help it!

It's Shu Xian!

"Aaand…"

Yan Yan spoke again, teasing both of them that even made Shu Xian widen her eyes as she couldn't believe what she has heard.

"Zhong Li is stingy! He doesn't share his food! With him sharing his food to you and is making such a small, but sweet effort to make your day, now this is something that would make me think!"

Zhong Li glared at Yan Yan, as if giving her a warning look to stop talking.

"Stop spouting nonsense. Or else, I'll—"

"You like Shu Xian, don't you?"

With Yan Yan's question interrupting Zhong Li, his face suddenly turned beet red, the redness of his face oblivious to Shu Xian as she just shook her head and chuckled awkwardly. She scratched the back of her head, reprimanding Yan Yan at the same time.

"Come on, Yan Yan. Zhong Li is just nice! Don't tease him like this. I know he's just being kind!"

"Kinder than his personality," Yan Yan teased, letting out a scoff as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. "I'm telling you—we've been co-workers since last year and he has never shared food with me! But to you whom he just met recently, he—"

"Shut up," Zhong Li interrupted and snapped under gritted teeth, his eyes like daggers aimed at her. "Shut up, or else!"

"Or else, what?" Yan Yan probed, what he said as an answer making her drop her jaw to the floor.

"Or else I'll do an over break of one hour instead of 30 minutes so you won't have a break."

"You—!!"

Shu Xian chuckled, making sure that no one would be disturbed with her laughing. With her making a comment about them, both of them retorted as they didn't like what she said.

"You two look so cute together like a couple! A cat-dog relationship!"

"No!" both of them said in unison, Zhong Li, finding himself to scoff at her statement.

"She's not even the slightest bit my type," he commented as he waved his hand in disapproval, Yan Yan taking this opportunity to tease him again.

"Well, what is your type, Zhong Li?"

He suddenly swallowed, his body stiffening as he didn't like the question thrown at him.

However, with Shu Xian nodding in enthusiasm as she was curious as well, she had a beautiful smile on her face as she said, "Well? What's your type? I'm curious, too!"

'No…' Pan An thought, glaring at Shu Xian's back hoping that she would sense him. 'Why are you ignorant—it's obvious that he has an interest in you with how that other girl claims on how he acted towards you!'

Shu Xian, Yan Yan, and unexpectedly (and secretly), Pan An, waited expectantly for his answer. With Zhong Li staring straight into Shu Xian's eyes as Yan Yan's gaze on him pressured him, he just averted his gaze away from her, only saying a statement that brushed off their curiosity.

"It's none of your business."

"Tsk…" Yan Yan complained as she clicked her tongue. "So boring of you. It's obvious that It's Shu Xian."

"Wha—"

Before any of them could speak, suddenly, Pan An emerged from the wall. With Yan Yan and Zhong Li noticing him first, they widened their eyes in surprise, Shu Xian, turning her back as she wondered what could have surprised them.

She opened her mouth in shock. Before she could even speak, Pan An put his hand on Shu Xian's shoulder as casually as possible, Zhong Li's body stiffening as he didn't expect a professor putting his hand on a student's shoulder.

Even though it's done casually…

"Shu Xian…"

Pan An said her name, a scary smile appearing on his face that made Shu Xian feel shivers down her spine.

Shu Xian didn't know why… but she felt like if she didn't follow him, he would have her punished!

But what kind of punishment? Shu Xian didn't know whether to be scared really...

Or be expectant of it. 

"Aren't you going to be late for class?" the professor asked, cocking his head to the side as he tried his best to hide his annoyance. "Hmm?"