I never expected to encounter such a situation. My heart was pounding, and I didn't dare to breathe too loudly, afraid that the other party might notice.
When I glanced at Harper, she wasn't faring much better. Her face was flushed red, and she looked utterly embarrassed.
After a long pause, Li Chunping's voice rang out again: "Director David, you seem unusually excited today?"
David chuckled softly and lowered his voice: "It's all because of that Linda. She's so damn pretty, and today she was wearing office attire—it really got me going."
Li Chunping: "Oh, you devil. How dare you think of another woman when you're with me? But now that you mention it, you've had your eye on Linda for a long time, haven't you? Haven't you gotten your hands on her yet?"
David: "That woman's too clever. I've helped her out a bunch of times, but so far, I've gotten nothing in return. But this year, she wants to resolve her professional title issue. I won't make it easy for her—she'll have to pay a price."
Li Chunping: "Alright, alright, we get it—you're impressive. Let's hurry up and leave. It feels risky staying here. If someone sees us, we're done for."
A moment later, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed as David and Li Chunping left.
As soon as the two next door were gone, Harper immediately turned on me, shoving me angrily: "Andrew, get out of here right now. Don't just loiter around."
"Who's loitering? Seriously."
I knew Harper wanted to change her clothes. After checking that the coast was clear, I cautiously stepped out. I waited outside for a few minutes until she emerged, now wearing the blue capri pants I had bought for her, carrying a plastic bag.
Pretty girls look good in anything. Even an ordinary pair of capri pants suited Harper perfectly.
Noticing me staring, Harper chided, "What are you looking at?"
I shrugged. "The pants look nice."
Girls love compliments, and Harper was no exception. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she murmured, "Thanks."
I coughed and reminded her, "Uh, you still owe me eighty bucks for the pants. Oh, and another ten for the pads—ninety in total."
Harper hadn't expected my compliment to be a prelude to asking for money. Instantly, her face turned crimson with anger. She huffed and pulled out her pink wallet, thrusting a hundred-yuan bill at me. "As if I'd skip out on paying you. Here, keep the change, you cheapskate."
"Miss Harper Tang, I only get three hundred a month. That's nearly half my living expenses—of course I'm anxious."
Without hesitation, I pocketed the hundred yuan. My budget was tight, and I couldn't afford to be careless with money.
After exchanging a few more words, Harper and I headed back to our respective dorms. It was already nap time, and if the duty teacher caught us wandering around campus, we'd be in trouble.
Back in the dorm, my roommates—Bucktooth, Luo Cheng, and Luo Wei—were already asleep. I tossed and turned on my bunk, unable to rest, my mind fixated on Director David and his shady intentions toward Linda.
From what I'd overheard in the restroom, it was clear Linda needed David's help with her professional title. But David wasn't some pushover—he was planning to exploit the situation, and if Linda went to him, she'd be walking straight into the lion's den.
Lost in these thoughts, I barely noticed when the wake-up bell rang. After a quick wash, Bucktooth and I hurried off to class.
Distracted by my worries, I zoned out through most of the afternoon. The last period was Chinese, and as I stared at Linda's graceful figure on the podium, my mind wandered back to that balding, lecherous director.
Noticing my inattention, Linda's expression darkened. She rapped the podium and called on me: "Andrew, the answer to question three?"
Snapped out of my daze, I scrambled to my feet, clueless about where we were in the lesson. Desperate, I shot a glance at my deskmate, Mia, hoping for a hint.
Bucktooth sat upright, lips barely moving as he whispered, "B… pick B…"
Taking the cue, I put on a thoughtful face and declared confidently, "I think the answer is B!"
The class erupted in laughter, loud enough to shake the ceiling. Bucktooth bit his lip, struggling not to burst out, while I stood there bewildered.
Linda's face turned stormy. "This is a fill-in-the-blank question. What 'B' are you talking about?"
Fill-in-the-blank?
I shot Bucktooth a glare and muttered under my breath, "Dude, you set me up."
Linda's voice was icy. "Andrew, see me in the office after class. For now, sit down and pay attention."
"Yes, ma'am."
I slumped into my seat, scowling. Bucktooth stifled a laugh. "Just a little joke. Don't be mad."
"You just got me killed," I grumbled, dreading the scolding I'd get from Linda later.
Soon, the dismissal bell rang. As Linda gathered her materials, she shot me a look. "Andrew, don't forget—my office."
I trailed her out of the classroom toward the staff room. She wore a simple office outfit today—a white blouse paired with black slacks and heels—her figure drawing envious glances from every man in sight.
Inside the office, Linda took a sip of tea before addressing me. "Andrew, what's going on? You've been spacing out all day."
I couldn't exactly explain the David situation, so I lied: "Didn't sleep well at noon. Felt a bit drowsy."
To my surprise, Linda didn't press further. Instead, she reminded me to rest and even asked about my studies. Despite her coldness at home, she took her job seriously. Ever since I aced the last exam, she'd shown more interest in my progress, often offering guidance.
After a brief chat, she handed me a stack of papers. "These are some advanced practice problems. Take them home, and if you get stuck, come ask me."
I was taken aback. "Thank you, ma'am."
Perhaps worried I'd misinterpret her kindness, Linda glanced around the empty office and whispered, "Andrew, don't overthink it. I'm helping you because you're a promising student—not because of your… status at home. Understood?"
"Understood."
I nodded, but inwardly, a flicker of hope ignited. At the very least, my academic performance had earned me a shred of her respect. She no longer outright called me "useless."
As we spoke, Linda suddenly winced, clutching her stomach. Her face paled, and she looked visibly pained.
Concerned, I asked, "Ms. Zhang, are you okay?"
She waved me off. "I'm fine. Go get dinner."
"Alright."
I turned to leave but froze at the sound of shattering ceramic. Spinning around, I saw Linda's teacup toppled over. She was hunched over the desk, one hand pressed to her abdomen, the other gripping the edge for support. Her face was ghostly white.
"Ms. Zhang! Should I take you to the doctor?"