Lu Xuan had just stepped onto the campus of Jiangling University.

A slender figure suddenly appeared in front of them.

The girl had clean-cut features and a cool demeanor.

Her features were exquisitely crafted, like carved jade, without a trace of vulgarity.

She turned her head to look.

A hint of doubt flashed across her clear eyes. Her fingertips paused slightly, as if searching through long-forgotten memories, but ultimately couldn't find the match.

Lu Xuan nodded slightly, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his lips.

Just that one smile.

Lin Banxia suddenly stopped in her tracks, and long-forgotten images suddenly surged into her mind, shattering into pieces.

A few seconds later, her pupils suddenly contracted.

My heart felt like it had been hit hard by a hard object, and it trembled with a muffled sound.

It's him!

It was the person who shielded her from trouble in the alley that day!

She walked quickly forward, her steps hurried, her heels clicking softly on the ground.

His voice was soft, yet exceptionally earnest:

"Brother, it's you... I remember now! You saved me a few days ago."

"It's nothing."

Lu Xuan's tone was flat, revealing no extra emotion, and his expression remained calm.

"My name is Lin Banxia!"

She tilted her small face up, her eyes sincere, her gaze fixed firmly on him:

"I'd like to treat you to a meal as a way of thanking you."

Lu Xuan waved his hand, a faint smile on his face:

"No."

"No! It has to be!"

Lin Banxia quickly shook her head, her tone stubborn, her cheeks puffing out slightly:

"I'm available whenever you're free."

Lu Xuan looked at her serious expression and nodded slightly.

"Okay, I'll talk to you when I'm done with my work."

The voice just fell.

A familiar yet jarring sound came from behind, shattering the silence of the campus.

"Lu Xuan? It really is you, hahaha!"

Lu Xuan slowly turned around.

Chen Panfeng stood not far away, dressed in a professor's uniform, with gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose.

His eyes held an undisguised mockery that pierced like needles.

Students passing by immediately stopped in their tracks and whispered among themselves.

"Isn't that Professor Chen? Does he know that guy?"

"Your tone is off; why are you being sarcastic?"

"Professor Chen is usually quite aloof, what's wrong with him today?"

Chen Panfeng glanced at Lu Xuan from head to toe, his gaze filled with disdain, and a clear smirk playing on his lips.

"Hey Lu, you're such a top student, it's been years! How are you doing?"

Lu Xuan coldly uttered two words, his tone completely flat:

"improvise."

Chen Panfeng scoffed, his tone growing increasingly sarcastic, each word piercing to the heart's sore spots:

"Back then, you were the top student in the entire department. The school specifically requested that you stay on as a teacher, and you received top-notch benefits."

But you, on the other hand, have ambitions that soar to the heavens, insisting on going out and making your mark, saying you want to achieve great things.

He paused, then deliberately raised his voice, making sure everyone around him could hear:

I heard from my classmates that...

You're working like a dog at the company every day, 996, and you don't even get overtime pay!

Is it really true?

That was the final word.

The surrounding students immediately erupted in a commotion, and the noise suddenly intensified.

"Wow, is it that bad? The top student from back then has ended up like this?"

"As expected, after graduation, how well you do has nothing to do with your grades."

"Professor Chen deliberately exposed my shortcomings in public; he's really showing me no respect."

Lu Xuan hadn't spoken yet.

Lin Banxia had already stepped forward, slightly turning her body to block him.

His expression turned slightly cold, and he clenched the hem of his clothes with his fingertips as he looked at Chen Panfeng.

His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable firmness:

"Teacher, please show some respect."

No profession is superior or inferior; everyone is equal, and you shouldn't belittle others casually.

Chen Panfeng was taken aback.

Clearly, no one expected that this unfamiliar young girl would suddenly stand up to defend Lu Xuan.

His face instantly darkened, showing a mixture of embarrassment and anger.

The surrounding students all turned to look, their eyes filled with the anticipation of watching a spectacle.

"Who is this young girl? She dares to talk back to Professor Chen, that's incredibly brave!"

"A freshman, huh? You're really good-looking. Professor Chen is in an awkward position now."

"My junior is right. No profession is inherently superior or inferior."

Chen Panfeng's face was ashen as he looked at Lu Xuan, his tone sarcastic:

"Lu Xuan, you're really getting more and more impressive! Hiding behind a little girl!"

What kind of sweet talk did you give her? Why is she so protective of you!

Lu Xuan glanced at him indifferently.

His eyes were expressionless, as if he were looking at an insignificant clown.

Too lazy to bother with it, he turned and walked away, his steps steady and without the slightest hesitation.

That complete disregard deeply stung Chen Panfeng.

He's a university professor now, living a prestigious and respectable life. Why is Lu Xuan looking at him like that?

Chen Panfeng's face darkened, and he quickly caught up with him, his tone sharp and sarcastic, pressing him relentlessly:

Why are you in such a hurry to leave?

Did I hit the nail on the head?

What exactly are you going back to school for today?

Are you applying for a security guard job, or a support staff position?

The surrounding students frowned and began whispering among themselves.

The look in his eyes toward Chen Panfeng held a hint of dissatisfaction.

"Does Professor Chen have a grudge against him? He went too far with his words."

"What other people do is none of his business, so why is he being so aggressive?"

"That boy was so calm, he didn't even acknowledge him."

Lu Xuan stopped in his tracks.

He slowly turned his head.

Looking at Chen Panfeng's incessantly chattering, disdainful face, he suddenly laughed.

The smile was faint, yet it carried a chilling aura that sent shivers down one's spine, instantly lowering the overall atmosphere.

"We're classmates, please beg me, I might put in a good word for you..."

Before he could finish speaking...

Lu Xuan raised his hand, decisively and cleanly.

*Smack!*

The crisp sound of the slap was particularly jarring in the empty campus.

Instantly, all the surrounding chatter ceased.

Everyone froze on the spot, their eyes wide with astonishment.

"Holy crap! They've started?!"

"They're incredibly audacious to hit a professor from Jiangling University!"

"Oh no, this is a huge mess!"

Chen Panfeng was slapped so hard that he staggered back three steps.

He lost his balance and fell hard on his backside, getting covered in dust.

The gold-rimmed glasses flew off, crashed to the ground, and cracked.

Half of his face swelled up at a visible speed, turning red and burning hot, like a steamed bun.

He was stunned on the spot, covered his face, and his ears were ringing.

Shocked and enraged, he roared, his voice cracking:

"Lu Xuan, have you gone mad?"

"You dare hit me? I'm a professor at Gangneung University!"

Lu Xuan stood there, his posture upright, exuding a cold aura and an imposing presence without anger.

His tone was calm, yet every word carried weight:

"Deputy, I'm still a citizen of Jiangling. How can you be above the people?"

"You're talking nonsense! Lu Xuan, you're going to jail!"

Chen Panfeng was so angry that he trembled all over, his fingers clenched so tightly that the tips of his fingers turned white.

He struggled to his feet, frantically pulled out his phone, his fingertips trembling, and was about to press the alarm button.

The surrounding teachers and students were completely stunned, and discussions erupted once again.

"That guy's too reckless, he just attacked!"

"Professor Chen's face is swollen, it looks painful."

"But he was so infuriating, he deserved it!"

Just then.

A series of hurried footsteps approached from a distance.

Vice Principal Zhao Yucai, accompanied by several school leaders, strode over.

Upon seeing Lu Xuan from afar, Zhao Yucai's face instantly broke into a warm smile, his pace quickened, and his tone became respectful:

"Mr. Lu! You've finally arrived! We've been waiting for you for so long!"

A greeting: "President Lu".

Chen Panfeng's expression froze instantly.

The phone in my hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

The screen shattered, and cracks spread.

He opened his mouth, unable to utter a sound for a long time, only managing a blank "Huh?!"

Everyone around was stunned, their faces filled with disbelief, exchanging bewildered glances.

"President Lu? What's going on?"

"Why is Vice Principal Zhao so respectful to him?"

"Did I hear wrong? Am I hallucinating?"

Zhao Yucai ignored Chen Panfeng, who was paralyzed on the spot, and walked straight to Lu Xuan.

His waist bent slightly, and his attitude became even more respectful.

"The venue for the speech is ready, and all the leaders and guests are waiting for you."

Chen Panfeng's voice trembled uncontrollably, his teeth chattered, and he spoke with difficulty:

"Vice Principal Zhao...you...you call him General Manager Lu?!"

Zhao Yucai then turned his head to look at him, and spoke loudly and clearly, his voice carrying throughout the surroundings:

"Associate Professor Chen, this is Lu Xuan, a distinguished alumnus of our school and president of Zhiqun Technology."

I remember you and him didn't graduate in the same year?

This is a huge opportunity, you'd better hold on tight!

I went to great lengths to invite him back to share his knowledge of advanced AI with us!

A single sentence was uttered.

Chen Panfeng felt as if he had been struck by lightning; his blood instantly froze.

His face was ashen, and he swayed, almost falling again.

All the mockery, smugness, and sense of superiority just now...

At that moment, it all transformed into the loudest slap, landing hard on his own face.

It burned like fire, it pierced my very bones.

The surrounding students and teachers were in an uproar, with discussions rising and falling, all filled with shock.

"My God! The president of Zhicheng Technology? That's a top-tier executive!"

"No wonder he was so calm; he was playing dumb to fool everyone!"

"Chen Panfeng has really lost face now. He even dared to mock others, when those people are a hundred times better than him!"

"They were just saying he was treated like a beast of burden, but it turns out he's a big boss. How ironic!"

Zhao Yucai then noticed Lin Banxia beside Lu Xuan and casually asked:

"Who is this?"

Lu Xuan's tone was calm, and his gaze softened slightly:

"Lin Banxia, ​​I helped her with a small favor before, and she said she wanted to treat me to a meal."

Lin Banxia quickly composed herself, nodded politely, and spoke in a sweet voice:

"Hello, Principal."

Zhao Yucai immediately revealed a knowing smile and nodded in understanding:

"In that case, let's go to the venue together. That way, it'll be easier for Mr. Lu to finish his work before we talk again."

Lu Xuan turned his head and looked at Lin Banxia beside him.

The voice was soft and gentle, with a hint of tenderness that was barely perceptible:

"Want to go?"

Lin Banxia's eyes lit up slightly for a moment, as if they had been touched by tiny starlight.

She pursed her lips, a faint blush rising to her cheeks, and nodded gently, her voice soft and clear:

"think."

Lu Xuan's lips curled up almost imperceptibly as he replied calmly:

"Then let's do it together."

He didn't even glance at Chen Panfeng, whose face was ashen and who looked extremely embarrassed.

She simply turned slightly to the side, signaling Lin Banxia to follow.

Then, following Zhao Yucai and his entourage, they walked leisurely straight toward the lecture hall.

All eyes turned to Chen Panfeng.

Sympathy, ridicule, and disdain—all sorts of gazes mingled around him, making him wish he could disappear into a crack in the ground and never come out again.

"Hahaha, Associate Professor Chen is completely screwed now."

"Trying to step on someone's foot, but you kicked a steel plate, and it's pure gold."

"He brought it on himself, that's so satisfying."

Chen Panfeng's chest heaved violently as he gasped for breath, his throat tightening and he could barely catch his breath.

His bloodshot eyes were fixed on the snickering onlookers.

A hysterical growl, hoarse in voice:

"Shut up! What are you looking at?!"

What's so interesting about this! Get out of here, all of you! Get out!

The students were startled by the sudden outburst of anger and scattered like birds, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

The campus fell silent instantly.

Only the wind blowing through the corridor made a faint sound.

Chen Panfeng stood frozen in place, his hands clenched into fists so tightly that his fingernails dug into his palms, drawing blood.

Her bloodshot eyes were fixed on the direction Lu Xuan had left in, her teeth clenched, each word dripping with resentment:

"Lu Xuan! You just wait! This isn't over!"

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like