Chapter 27: Unexpected Attention

Su Yubai’s gaze swept over Jiang Yule, then dropped to click open her presentation slides.

The talk was about to start.
Jiang Yule scanned the room, spotting an empty seat in the last row on the left.

She slipped in quietly, unnoticed by most.

Unlike other scholars, Su Yubai spoke in Chinese, commanding the stage with ease.
Hardly anyone looked away, all captivated by her presentation.

Some in the front raised phones to snap her bilingual slides, others nodded approvingly, eyes gleaming with admiration.

Jiang Yule noticed that familiar figure—Huang Yuxin, phone up, likely photographing Su Yubai, not the slides.

She shifted her gaze, focusing intently on the screen.

Su Yubai scanned the crowd, subtly glancing at Jiang Yule.

She was staring at the slides, seemingly engrossed.

After about half an hour, Su Yubai concluded, “That’s my presentation. Any questions?”

Several hands went up, and volunteers passed microphones.

No one challenged her; questions focused on the method’s generalizability and optimization.

After fifteen minutes of discussion, Su Yubai’s eyes landed on Li Zhiyi.
“Professor Li, any questions?”

All eyes turned to Li Zhiyi, but Jiang Yule could only see her back—she seemed to shake her head, waving off the question.

Thinking the Q&A was over, Jiang Yule prepared to slip out when Su Yubai’s cool voice rang out—

“The student in the corner, any questions?”

A volunteer handed her the microphone as all eyes turned to her.

Huang Yuxin looked back too.

Puzzled, Jiang Yule took the mic, meeting Su Yubai’s gaze under the crowd’s scrutiny.

“I learned a lot from Professor Su’s talk, but I have no questions for now. Thank you.”

The mic felt like a hot potato—she handed it back immediately.

Su Yubai’s lips seemed to twitch upward, gone in a flash.

Whispers erupted in the front.
“Why would Professor Su call on a student?”

Someone nearby spoke loudly in Cantonese—Jiang Yule didn’t catch it—followed by a quieter voice in Mandarin, “Does Professor Su need to curry favor with mainland journals?”

The person beside them said something, and both fell silent.

Jiang Yule pieced it together—the Cantonese likely referenced her background.

Su Yubai had only told Li Zhiyi about her being Jiang Huazhen’s daughter, yet it seemed the whole room knew now, even strangers.

Su Yubai stepped offstage.
Jiang Yule didn’t linger, slipping out the back door.

Leaving Room 12, she returned to Room 6, spotting a familiar figure at the door.

“Senior Huang, why aren’t you inside?”

Session 6 was the first “Tech Progress” session; Huang Siheng’s Session 32 was the second, same theme, non-conflicting times.
Her standing outside surprised Jiang Yule.

Huang Siheng jumped at her voice, relaxing upon seeing her.

“I’ve got something later, so I’ll skip it,” she said with a gentle smile.

Jiang Yule nodded.
“Alright, I’m heading in, Senior.”

“Okay.”

She re-entered Room 6, taking her seat.

The third talk had ended, and Qiao Anqing was asking questions from the front.

Glancing at the door, Huang Siheng was gone—likely off for her errand.

Jiang Yule refocused.

Noticing someone lean close, she edged away slightly.

“Where’d you go?” Ji Zizhen whispered.

Jiang Yule tilted her head.
“Another talk. I’m interested in that topic too.”

Ji Zizhen nodded, not pressing further.

The fourth speaker began, and Jiang Yule took notes attentively.

Then came the session’s discussion, with field experts sharing insights.
Jiang Yule listened eagerly.

After half an hour, Session 6 wrapped up.

Tea break followed.

Qiao Anqing mingled with experts upfront, while Ji Zizhen and other PhD students stayed seated, waiting for her next instructions.

Soon, Qiao finished, saying, “Session 32 is also Tech Progress. I won’t attend, but you all should.”

“Got it, Professor,” Wen Yanqing, the senior-most student, replied.

Jiang Yule followed to Room 32, unsurprisingly not seeing Su Yubai—she was likely at another session.

Huang Siheng was seated, her eyes fixed on the door.

Wen Yanqing led them to greet her.
“Senior Huang, this is our new student, Jiang Yule.”

Huang Siheng’s gaze shifted from the door, smiling.
“We met yesterday. Nice to see you.”

Jiang Yule waved.
“Hey, Senior Huang, good to see you~”

“Keep it up~”
“We’ll sit in the back!”

“Okay.”

They settled in the back row.

The session went smoothly, but Qiao Anqing didn’t appear, even for the final discussion.

Session 32 ended, and Huang Siheng approached.
“Any plans tonight? My treat for dinner.”

Wen Yanqing spoke up.
“Professor Qiao arranged a group dinner. Want to join, Senior?”

Huang Siheng paused, then asked, “Is Professor Qiao hosting experts tonight?”

“Yes.”

She smiled.
“If it’s her treat, I’ll tag along.”

Wen Yanqing added, “I might not make it—something came up. Could you help arrange, Senior?”

Huang Siheng said gently, “No trouble. I’ll treat everyone.”

Everyone chimed in, “Thanks, Senior!”

Jiang Yule smiled faintly.

Heading to the parking lot, she noticed several seniors had cars, offering rides.
“Yule, hop in mine?”
“Mine’s fine too.”

She smiled.
“Thanks, but I’ll ride with Senior Ji. I need to grab my luggage from her place later.”

No one pushed.

Hesitating between the front and back, Jiang Yule took the front seat.

Ji Zizhen chatted while driving.
“Yule, remember that cheese peach drink in Hangzhou? I missed it so much in Hong Kong.”

Noticing her slight Northeast accent, Jiang Yule stifled a laugh.
“And?”

“I learned to make it! Impressive, right?”

Surprised, Jiang Yule asked, “Even the milk cap?”

“Yep!”
Ji Zizhen, excited, let go of the wheel to pat her chest.

With busy streets, Jiang Yule startled.
“Senior, watch the road!”

“Okay.”
Ji Zizhen focused.

Still shaken, Jiang Yule thought of Su Yubai’s intense driving focus.

Remembering their meal promise, she messaged Su Yubai: Sister Yubai, group dinner tonight, won’t be home for dinner.

A quick reply: Okay.

Her phone showed 20% battery.

She switched to power-saving and airplane mode to save juice for navigation—she wasn’t familiar with the roads.

At Huang Siheng’s reserved restaurant, they headed to a private room with a balcony view of Victoria Harbour’s sunset.

“It’s beautiful, right?” Ji Zizhen sighed.

Jiang Yule nodded, joining them on the balcony.

The evening glow and distant city lights were captivating.

Ji Zizhen snapped photos, murmuring, “Major holidays have fireworks here.”

Her eyes held a hint of melancholy.

“Like Reunification Day, Mid-Autumn Festival.”
“Or rich folks proposing—stunning shows.”

Her wistful tone suggested nostalgia.

Jiang Yule nodded.
“I’ll come see them.”
“Can you send me the photos, Senior?”

“Sure.”
Ji Zizhen perked up, asking, “Lots of fun places in the mainland, right? How’s Anhui?”

“Anhui’s rich in history, with museums and cultural traces.”

Jiang Yule, having visited twice, was drawn to its heritage.

“I should’ve worked there after graduation,” Ji Zizhen said.

HKU grads were valued in mainland academia—normal enough.

Jiang Yule smiled.
“Come visit me in Hangzhou then.”

Dinner was lively.
After an hour of chatter, they parted.

Back in Ji Zizhen’s car, Jiang Yule said, “Thanks for keeping my luggage so long, Senior.”

Ji Zizhen waved it off.
“No trouble.”

Jiang Yule stayed quiet, hoping she’d focus on driving.

Soon, Ji Zizhen got a call from Wen Yanqing.

“Senior, maybe pull over?” Jiang Yule suggested.

Ji Zizhen parked, answering.

“Senior, what’s up?”
Sounding urgent: “You done eating?”
“Yes.”
“Got time?”

Ji Zizhen glanced at Jiang Yule, who nodded.
“I’m with Yule, we’ve got time.”

“Can you pick up Professor Qiao?”
“What’s wrong?”
“She’s drunk, and I’m tipsy too.”

Ji Zizhen agreed.
“I’ll come.”
To Jiang Yule: “Go with me or head home?”

Worried she couldn’t manage alone, Jiang Yule said, “I’ll come.”

“Professor Qiao sometimes has a drink or two.”

“Normal. Mainland professors do too.”

Ji Zizhen said no more.

Jiang Yule realized Wen Yanqing had mentioned a conflict but was actually with Qiao, hosting experts.

She thought of Huang Siheng.
Normally, Qiao would bring her, a faculty member, not a student like Wen Yanqing.

Something felt off.
Qiao might have noticed Huang Siheng’s feelings and distanced herself.

Her approach was subtle—some students hadn’t noticed issues between Huang Siheng and Qiao.

At dinner, someone asked why Huang Siheng hadn’t joined group meetings or meals lately.

She’d only smiled, saying she was busy.

At the restaurant, only Qiao Anqing and Wen Yanqing remained.

Qiao, not fully drunk, smiled.
“Thanks for the trouble.”

Jiang Yule helped her up.
“No trouble, it’s expected.”

Qiao could walk.
Jiang Yule guided her to the car, settling her in the back.

They drove Qiao home.
Exiting the elevator, Jiang Yule glimpsed a figure in the hallway, gone when she looked again.

Qiao entered her passcode.
“Thanks, you two.”

Her home seemed empty, no signs of life.

“Message us if you need anything, Professor,” Ji Zizhen said.
“Good night, rest well.”

They headed to drop off Wen Yanqing, but opening the car door, she was gone.

Ji Zizhen checked her phone.
“She took a cab.”

“She didn’t want to bother us.”

Ji Zizhen sighed.
“Wen’s too kind.”

Back at Ji Zizhen’s by 9 p.m., Jiang Yule slipped on shoe covers.
“Senior, can I borrow your charger?”

“Phone dead?”
“Yeah.”
“How about I make you that cheese peach drink?”
Ji Zizhen fetched the charger.

Jiang Yule wanted to decline but saw her excitement and relented.
“The milk cap takes time, won’t it trouble you?”

“No trouble. I made some this morning, saved it for you to try.”

Touched, Jiang Yule smiled.
“Thanks, Senior! Can’t wait!”

Ji Zizhen headed to the kitchen.

Jiang Yule plugged in, opening WeChat.
Among messages, Su Yubai’s white avatar stood out with “2” notifications, family group at “8.”

Hesitating, fearing her mom’s call barrage, she checked the family group—questions about her dinner.
She replied quickly.

Opening Su Yubai’s chat, she saw messages from two hours ago: Know the way?
Need me to pick you up?

Her heart warmed.
She replied: Thanks, Sister Yubai, I’ll cab back.
Sorry, phone was dying, just charged, missed your messages.

Waiting, no new messages appeared.
She replied to others.

She sent Ji Zizhen’s scenery photo to Su Yubai and the family group.

A call popped up—Su Yubai’s avatar.
Her heart skipped.

Taking a deep breath, she answered.

Only wind sounded through—no other noise.

Guessing Su Yubai was on her balcony, Jiang Yule spoke first.
“Sister Yubai, sorry, my phone died earlier, just saw your messages.”

“No need to apologize. Done with dinner?”

“Yes, near Victoria Harbour. Good food.”
“The view’s great too. Senior said there’s fireworks on holidays. Let’s eat there next time?”

Su Yubai waited, then said deeply, “Okay.”

A quieter, clear voice followed—

“Junior, try the cheese peach. Same taste?”

Junior. Cheese peach.
Su Yubai caught the keywords.

Jiang Yule turned, seeing Ji Zizhen wave, pointing to her phone to signal the call.

“Sister Yubai…”
She tried explaining she was at Ji Zizhen’s for luggage, but Su Yubai cut in—

“Send me the address.”
“I’ll pick you up.”