Chapter 18: Beast

Jiang Xihan sat in the passenger seat as Ji Pei folded the wheelchair and stowed it in the trunk.

Once in the car, Ji Pei handed Jiang Xihan a freshly baked muffin and a bottle of warm milk.

“Professor Jiang, you’ll have to eat breakfast in the car.”

Jiang Xihan seemed still caught in her earlier shock. She hadn’t expected Ji Pei to go this far for her.

Ji Pei’s lips curved, her mood visibly bright. The car’s speakers played soothing European film music.

Jiang Xihan couldn’t help asking,

“How did you know I have class today?”

“I asked Bai Yin. She said you have classes Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and a public lecture today, so I got up early.”

Jiang Xihan nibbled the muffin.

“Have you eaten breakfast?”

Ji Pei nodded.

“Yeah, I ate.”

They soon reached the north gate, where Ji Pei launched her “charm offensive.”

The security guard approached with a kind smile.

“Little Pei, here to visit campus again? Driving today, huh?”

Ji Pei grinned, handing him a small bag through the rolled-down window.

The car cruised slowly through campus. Jiang Xihan’s lips curved.

“Didn’t expect you to be so tight with security.”

Ji Pei explained sheepishly,

“I’ve come to campus a few times before. The guards let me in; they know me.”

The campus had free parking spots. Unsure where to go, Ji Pei followed Jiang Xihan’s directions.

Her car drew stares from students, a 100% head-turner.

Ji Pei figured it was partly the car’s color, partly her license plate.

As Ye Wenzhu said, her plate was just begging for trouble.

Ji Pei had considered driving another car, but this was already the cheapest in her collection.

She and her car attracted a crowd of onlookers early in the morning. Unfazed, Ji Pei parked, got out, and unfolded the wheelchair.

Opening the passenger door, she reached for Jiang Xihan.

“Professor Jiang, let’s go. I’ll push you to your office.”

She’d heard Jiang Xihan never brought textbooks to class, but she’d need to prep at the office, right?

Bai Yin messaged, saying she was waiting in the office.

Ji Pei pushed Jiang Xihan into the elevator and into the office.

Three professors were inside. Ji Pei felt uneasy the moment she entered, especially with all eyes on her. She wanted to ditch Jiang Xihan and bolt.

Professor Zhang adjusted his glasses, chuckling.

“Well, Professor Jiang, new mode of transport today?”

Jiang Xihan pointed to her right foot.

“Sprained it. This kind-hearted young lady brought me.”

Another female professor flashed a gossipy smile.

“Is this young lady from our department? Never seen her.”

Ji Pei smiled, explaining,

“I’m not. I’m Professor Jiang’s caretaker.”

Jiang Xihan pursed her lips.

“Alright, enough gossip. Where’s Bai Yin? Help me prep the PPT.”

Thinking of the public lecture, Ji Pei leaned close to Jiang Xihan’s ear, whispering,

“Professor Jiang, can I sit in on your lecture?”

Jiang Xihan’s pursed lips relaxed into a smile.

“What, you want to be my shill?”

Ji Pei froze, not expecting Jiang Xihan to be so witty and charming.

“Then I won’t go.”

Though Ji Pei kept her voice low, everyone in the office heard clearly. The two professors who’d spoken exchanged smiles.

“Just kidding,” Jiang Xihan said.

She opened her laptop, glasses reflecting faint light, her phoenix eyes slightly upturned, her mood visibly upbeat.

“Come with me later. Sit in the front row.”

Ji Pei cringed at “front row.”

“Uh, front row? Can I pick a spot farther back?”

Jiang Xihan shook her head, her eyes still twinkling.

“No way, front row. Didn’t you say you’re my caretaker? A caretaker can’t leave their patient for a moment. It’s your professional duty.”

“I…”

Ji Pei wanted to argue, but she’d just claimed in front of the professors to be Jiang Xihan’s caretaker.

After being shut down, she pivoted.

“Fine, front row, but don’t call on me to answer questions. I know nothing—it’d be too embarrassing.”

Jiang Xihan turned, meeting Ji Pei’s sparkling eyes.

“You answered pretty well last time.”

“Last time?”

“What last time?”

Professor Zhang, munching a scallion pancake, wandered over.

“What are you two whispering about? Let me in on it.”

Ji Pei shook her head.

“Nothing, Professor. You misheard.”

Jiang Xihan’s public lecture was the second period. Ji Pei felt awkward lingering in the office. Though Bai Yin offered her a chair, she was restless.

“Professor Jiang, I’m stepping out. I’ll be back after this class.”

With Jiang Xihan’s permission, Ji Pei bolted, feeling instant relief outside.

Professor Zhang Yun, seeing her leave, dragged a chair over, shock written on his face.

“Jiang Xihan, you’ve got some nerve.”

Jiang Xihan stared blankly at her screen.

“What’s it to you?”

Zhang Yun scoffed.

“Look at you, all sharp-tongued again. You were so gentle with her, like water. I’ve worked with you for years and never heard you talk like that.”

Jiang Xihan didn’t blink.

“You don’t deserve it.”

In their eyes, Jiang Xihan was a gifted, sharp-tongued queen of sarcasm.

“She looks young, early twenties, right? You’re over thirty, preying on a pretty young thing. Are you even human?”

“Mind your own business.”

“I bet that sprained ankle’s just a ploy to hook her. Nice move, Professor Jiang.”

Zhang Yun bit his scallion pancake viciously, grinding his teeth, but before he could speak, Jiang Xihan waved her notebook to fan away the smell.

“Get away from me. I hate scallion pancakes.”

***

Ji Pei wandered outside for nearly an hour. When the class-ending bell rang, she leisurely took the elevator back.

She knocked, cracked the door, then slowly pushed it open, heading toward Jiang Xihan.

Jiang Xihan had prepped her lecture slides, with Bai Yin trailing her, carrying the laptop bag.

“Professor Jiang, Mingde Building’s a bit far. Let’s head over now.”

Jiang Xihan nodded. “Mm, alright.”

Bai Yin pushed the wheelchair. Jiang Xihan squinted slightly, then turned to instruct,

“Bai Yin, bring the textbooks needed today.”

Bai Yin looked surprised.

“Professor Jiang, don’t you usually skip textbooks?”

Jiang Xihan explained,

“There’ll be students from other majors today. I’m worried they won’t follow.”

“Oh, got it.”

Bai Yin counted the books.

“Professor Jiang, how many?”

Jiang Xihan, without looking back, said,

“All of them.”

Bai Yin hugged a thick stack of books, nearly dropping them. Ji Pei took her laptop bag.

“I’ll carry the laptop.”

Bai Yin adjusted her glasses.

“Thanks, Ji Pei, you’re a lifesaver.”

Ji Pei smiled, turning to Jiang Xihan.

“Professor Jiang, I’ll push you down.”

Jiang Xihan’s curved lips relaxed, her eyes barely hiding satisfaction, noticed by her professor friends.

“Okay.”

After the three left, the other professors huddled, rubbing their chins, marveling.

“No wonder Jiang Xihan’s been dodging our hangouts. She’s got a new flame.”

“Quite the catch. That girl looks like a celebrity, polite and refined.”

“They’ve got a bit of an age gap. I heard Bai Yin call her a student. Jiang Xihan’s got game.”

“I’m telling you, Jiang Xihan’s a beast.”

Zhang Yun rubbed his chin, nodding.

“You’re so right.”