NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: Chapter 7 Dating
Xu Zhen saw Assistant Chen still by his side and casually asked, "Why is she in such a hurry?"
"I don't know." Assistant Chen shook his head, bewildered. He felt that Mr. Xu had been acting oddly these past few days.
Xu Zhen laughed heartily. His smile was meaningful, but he said nothing more and headed toward his office.
~
When Xu Jinzhi arrived at A University, it was already late. Seeing that Xie Yanchuan's class was about to end, she hurriedly parked her car and rushed toward his classroom.
She managed to make it to the classroom's exterior just before the class ended, but the lecture hall only had one door at the front. Xu Jinzhi now had no way of entering without disturbing anyone.
But she didn't have to go in, as the sound of the class ending had already rung out, and soon students began streaming out of the room.
It was unclear whether the students had good memories or there was some other reason, but upon seeing Xu Jinzhi, they immediately recognized her and couldn't help but stop.
Xu Jinzhi didn't mind being stared at. She flashed a proper smile at them, then continued to wait by the door until Xie Yanchuan came out of the classroom.
The students courteously made way, allowing Xie Yanchuan and Xu Jinzhi to stand face to face. Then, during a moment of silent eye contact, they started to tease.
Xie Yanchuan usually had a mild temper but wasn't without authority. A single icy glance quieted the surrounding students.
Xu Jinzhi smiled, "Class over?"
Xie Yanchuan didn't know what to say and just nodded. "Yeah."
He gazed at the Xu Jinzhi before him. He hadn't done anything, yet for some reason, looking at her made him feel somewhat guilty.
While he was still in the classroom, he had heard someone say "the professor's wife has come." At that moment, emotions that were usually undisturbed were suddenly rippled by a tiny insect flying across a tranquil lake.
He felt an indescribable sensation in his heart.
Turning around, he saw Xu Jinzhi amidst the crowd. As always, she was the center of attention just by standing there.
In that moment, Xie Yanchuan thought, perhaps marrying a girl like Xu Jinzhi wouldn't be so bad.
"Go to the office?" Xie Yanchuan regained his composure and asked.
He didn't know why Xu Jinzhi had come today, but since everyone was watching them, this clearly wasn't a good place to talk.
"Yeah," Xu Jinzhi nodded.
Xie Yanchuan turned around, ready to lead Xu Jinzhi to the office first.
But then, Xie Yanchuan's authority dissipated, and a few steps later, a male student raised his voice from behind, "Professor, when are you treating us to wedding candy?"
Xie Yanchuan remained expressionless, not intending to answer the query.
Yet Xu Jinzhi couldn't help but laugh. She stopped, turned back to look at the students, and, unclear on who had asked, simply said, "Soon. I'll treat you to wedding candy then."
Hearing Xu Jinzhi's answer, Xie Yanchuan turned around in surprise.
"Alright, thank you, madam!" the male student shouted.
Xu Jinzhi said nothing more. She turned back around and Xie Yanchuan quickly turned too, and the two continued on to the office.
Upon reaching the office, Xie Yanchuan asked, "Miss Xu, did you need something from me?"
"A date," Xu Jinzhi said seriously.
Xie Yanchuan was again surprised, unsure how to respond.
After a brief pause, Xu Jinzhi slightly tilted her head, playfully asking, "Would I have the honor of inviting Professor Xie to dinner tonight?"
Xie Yanchuan had no more classes and originally, he wasn't supposed to be busy and ought to head to the lab. However, Xu Jinzhi had shown up.
Seeing Xie Yanchuan hadn't responded, Xu Jinzhi frowned slightly, looking hurt as she asked, "Can't we?"
Upon seeing Xu Jinzhi's aggrieved expression, Xie Yanchuan instinctively said, "It's not that."
Satisfied with the response, Xu Jinzhi smiled again, "I've already booked the restaurant. When shall we leave?"
Xie Yanchuan pressed his lips together, "We can go now."
"Then pack up, and let's go," Xu Jinzhi slightly raised her eyebrows, glancing at the teaching plan Xie Yanchuan was holding and hadn't yet set down.
Xie Yanchuan nodded. He didn't really have anything to pack up. After setting down the things in his hands and tidying up the desk, he said, "We can leave."
"Then let's go," Xu Jinzhi said.
The two left the office and walked at a leisurely pace. This area was the faculty office building, and although there weren't as many students staring at them, the teachers weren't lacking in gossip either.
Moreover, many were older than Xie Yanchuan, so asking about their relationship wasn't considered inappropriate, especially since Xu Jinzhi happened to run into one of her former teachers.
Xu Jinzhi didn't hide anything, telling anyone who asked that she was Xie Yanchuan's fiancée and that they were getting married soon. They planned to invite them to the wedding.
Initially, Xie Yanchuan wanted to object, but upon reflection, he realized that what Xu Jinzhi said wasn't wrong. They were indeed getting married.
Thus, he had nothing to argue about and let Xu Jinzhi speak as she wished.
Once they left the office building, they were no longer incessantly questioned.
Walking along Lin Yin Road on campus, Xu Jinzhi said enthusiastically to Xie Yanchuan, "Thinking about it, from elementary to university, you've always been my senior, just two years ahead of me."
Xie Yanchuan nodded. That was indeed the case, so he had always been aware of Xu Jinzhi, though they hadn't interacted much.
Xu Jinzhi said again, "If I had known we'd be getting married now, I should have asked you to date early."
Xu Jinzhi's words again left Xie Yanchuan not knowing how to respond, so he remained silent.
However, Xie Yanchuan thought to himself, had Xu Jinzhi actually approached him about dating back then, would he have agreed?
"It's alright, we still have time to start cultivating our feelings now," Xu Jinzhi said seriously.
Xu Jinzhi had driven herself here, and without asking Xie Yanchuan, she assumed he would just ride in her car.
Thus, Xie Yanchuan ended up sitting in the passenger seat of Xu Jinzhi's car, the first time in his life he had sat in the passenger seat of a woman's car.
It was only then that Xu Jinzhi realized, and she told Xie Yanchuan, "I'll drive you back tonight."