Chapter 5 : Mr. Jiang

The Conference Begins

The academic conference unfolded as planned, spanning two and a half days.
Friday was for expert check-ins, with formal presentations scheduled over the weekend.

Jiang Yule received Su Yubai’s first message: a request to pick up her advisor, Professor Qiao Anqing, at the airport.

Qiao Anqing, dean of Hong Kong University’s Economics Faculty, was a high-profile expert.
Su Yubai, as Dean Su, personally arranged her itinerary.

“Reception” meant Jiang Yule only handled the airport pickup.
Professor Si Qing, her undergraduate and master’s advisor, would host the evening banquet.

Qiao’s flight from Hong Kong landed at Hangsui Airport at 4 p.m.

The long flight prompted Jiang Yule to order coffee and light meals in advance.
As she prepared to leave, Su Yubai messaged her—her second ever.

Su Yubai: [Headed out?]
True to form, her messages were curt, all business, no pleasantries.

Thinking Su Yubai was checking her progress, Jiang Yule replied nervously: [Leaving now.]

Su Yubai: [Haven’t moved, right?]

Confused, Jiang Yule replied instantly: [No.]

Su Yubai: [Ten minutes.]

Jiang Yule rushed out, reaching her complex’s gate in seven or eight minutes.
Su Yubai pulled up in a plain black car.

Seeing her window roll down, Jiang Yule approached, leaning in.
“Professor Su, you’re going to the airport too?”

In her southern accent, “you” slipped out sounding like “Lin.”

Su Yubai gave her a steady look.
“Mm.”
Her gaze flicked to the takeout bags.
“Can go in the trunk.”

Jiang Yule nodded, heading to the rear.
Su Yubai stepped out, reaching the trunk simultaneously.

Su Yubai opened it, took the bags, placed them inside, and shut the lid in one fluid motion.

“Um, Professor Su, there’s coffee in there.”
Su Yubai’s car looked spotless—what if it spilled?

“No issue. There’s a tray.”

“Okay.”
Relieved, Jiang Yule walked to the front, steeling herself to open the passenger door.

Su Yubai got in, closing her door.

Cool air from the AC hit her waist.
In the confined space, only a faint tea scent and the aroma of takeout from the trunk lingered.

Jiang Yule discreetly scanned the interior.
No trinkets, no decorations, not even a “safe travels” charm—like a brand-new car.

Silence settled.

Her mind raced—did Su Yubai see her and Lin Siqiong at the restaurant that night?
The flowers she’d picked from the trash?

Su Yubai’s icy demeanor suggested she wouldn’t care about her personal drama.
Jiang Yule relaxed slightly.

“Too cold?”
Su Yubai broke the silence, asking about the AC.

“Not cold.”
Jiang Yule tilted her head, catching half her profile.
Su Yubai seemed intensely focused, making her question if she’d imagined the words.

Silence returned.

Jiang Yule felt the quiet was awkward.
Noticing the tea scent again, she ventured, “Professor Su, do you like tea?”

“Mm.”
A soft acknowledgment.

Cool, like her tea scent.

Jiang Yule racked her brain for a topic to ease the tension while respecting boundaries.

Before she could, Su Yubai spoke.
“Oolong.”

“Oolong’s great. My mom loves it too.”
Regret hit instantly—comparing Su Yubai to her mom?

The air stilled for two seconds.

Jiang Yule rushed to clarify.
“No, no, not just my mom. I like it too.”

“Good taste.”
Su Yubai’s casual reply.

Jiang Yule touched her nose, laughing awkwardly.

In her peripheral vision, Su Yubai’s hand moved toward her.
Jiang Yule’s eyes locked on her right hand.

That silver quartz watch on her wrist felt familiar again.

Su Yubai tapped the screen twice, activating the car’s audio.

A violin melody filled the cabin—slightly lonely, not Jiang Yule’s style, but it eased her discomfort.

She dropped the search for topics, closing her eyes to rest.

Su Yubai drove so smoothly that Jiang Yule soon dozed off.

Some time later, a light tap on her shoulder stirred her.
Opening her eyes, she heard Su Yubai’s soft voice: “Text me when you reach the hotel. Let Qiao’s group rest a bit… before the banquet.”

Su Yubai’s profile was backlit, leaving Jiang Yule dazed.
She nodded blankly, realizing they’d reached the pick-up zone.

Su Yubai opened her door.
“Keep taxi receipts.”

Seeing her move, Jiang Yule unbuckled and stepped out.

“If the takeout has receipts, the college can reimburse.”
Su Yubai, now at her side, handed over the bags.

Her right hand, with the quartz watch—the one that had held the cola.

Jiang Yule took them quickly.
“Thanks, Professor Su.”

“No need.”
Su Yubai got in, driving toward the parking lot, missing her “goodbye.”

Only when the car vanished did Jiang Yule realize Su Yubai had said a lot to her.

All work-related, even down to letting Qiao rest.

Jiang Yule booked a ride on her app, selecting a six-seater.
Qiao’s email mentioned three senior students joining, making six with her and the driver—too many for a standard car.

She’d planned to borrow her mom’s car for the pickup, but Su Yubai’s message threw her off.

She scolded herself—she couldn’t lose focus again.

The flight was on time.
Jiang Yule didn’t wait long before spotting Qiao’s group.

Qiao Anqing, a mainlander, was warm, waving with a grin and introducing her to the students—mostly mainlanders too.

One student, a Hong Kong local, cut in before Qiao reached her, speaking in shaky Mandarin.
“Hi, junior sister! I’m Ji Zizhen, or Jane. Finally meeting you!”

A tall, striking woman in bold Hong Kong fashion.

Jiang Yule remembered Ji Zizhen from online group meetings—her lively presence stood out.

She greeted politely.
“Hello, Senior Ji.”
Caught off guard, Ji enveloped her in a hug.

It was enthusiastic but proper etiquette.
Jiang Yule, unaccustomed, couldn’t show discomfort or pull away.

Her gaze blurred, catching a vague but familiar figure approaching.

Ji released her in seconds.
Jiang Yule, staring at the newcomer, froze.

Qiao had noticed Su Yubai earlier, teasing from afar.
“Dean Su, didn’t you send a capable assistant for pickup? Why’re you here too?”

Su Yubai approached, subtly glancing at those beside Qiao.
“Professor Qiao brought students.”

Qiao introduced her.
“This is Dean Su Yubai from B University’s Economics Faculty.”

“Dean Su, hello.”
“Dean Su, hello.”
The seniors chimed in, and Jiang Yule followed.
“Dean Su, hello.”

Polite, distant.
She hadn’t expected her greeting to draw Su Yubai’s focus.
“Jiang, contact me if anything comes up.”

Jiang Yule nodded quickly, startled as Su Yubai stepped closer.
Her heart tightened, her right hand suddenly lighter.

“I’ll take it.”
The takeout bags were now in Su Yubai’s hand.

She turned to Qiao.
“Professor Stana’s flight is delayed. I’ll get you to the car first.”

Qiao’s eyes flicked to Su Yubai’s hand holding the bags, then away.

Jiang Yule walked in line with the seniors, listening to Qiao and Su chat ahead.

Mostly Qiao talked, Su Yubai listening, offering brief replies.

Jiang Yule, last to board, reached for the bags, but Su Yubai handed them to Qiao.

“Prepared by Jiang.”

“Thanks, Yule, so thoughtful.”
Qiao smiled at Jiang Yule, passing the bags to Ji Zizhen to distribute.

“Junior sister, you’re too sweet, getting us meals! Thanks!”
“Thanks, junior sister!”

Gratitude echoed in the van.
Jiang Yule smiled lightly.
“No problem.”
She glanced at Su Yubai, who missed the thanks in her eyes.

Su Yubai addressed the driver.
“Drive steadily, take your time, safety first.”

Jiang Yule found her detailed instructions oddly meticulous today.

“Thanks, Dean Su. See you.”
Qiao bid farewell.

Su Yubai nodded slightly in response.

The engine started.
Jiang Yule caught Su Yubai’s gaze flicker past the window.