Chapter 32: Twenty-two years old – he is a professor

A Bold Intervention

“I can’t stand watching this anymore. Stop with the sneaky glances, you two. You’re adults—can’t you be direct?”
Zhao Lu, the short-haired senior, marched over, grabbing the fleeing Lin Lu with one hand and pulling up her roommate with the other.

“Mi Xue, can you be braver? You suggested this mixer, saying you wanted to see Lin Lu. Half an hour in, and you haven’t said a word to him.”

The shy senior named Mi Xue blushed like a sunset, her hands twisting nervously in front of her.
In a timid voice, she mumbled, “The… the mixer wasn’t my idea…”

Seeing her roommate shrink back, Zhao Lu gently pinched Mi Xue’s beautiful face, exasperated.
“Fine, I suggested the mixer. At first, you refused to come, but then, out of nowhere, you changed your mind. You specifically asked for a mixer with the Management School freshmen from Dorm 12, Apartment 205. You even made me ensure that Lin Lu would show up. Now he’s here, and you’re acting like a scared turtle…”

Zhao Lu’s Concern

Zhao Lu wasn’t truly mad at Mi Xue.
As her close friend, she was just worried about Mi Xue’s lifelong prospects.
Both were single, and Zhao Lu, six years older, should’ve been the one anxious about finding a partner.
Yet Mi Xue’s personality was… well, hard to describe.

They were in the same PhD cohort, their age gap due to Zhao Lu pursuing a master’s before her doctorate, while Mi Xue went straight from undergrad to a combined master’s-PhD program.
Thanks to her stellar research, Mi Xue had published two first-author papers in Nature, the top-tier journal.
At just 22, she’d graduated early.

Recently, a bombshell dropped on the university’s website: Mi Xue had been hired as an associate professor with a million-yuan salary and talent subsidies, becoming one of the youngest in the school’s history.

As her roommate and fellow PhD student, Zhao Lu felt no jealousy—only joy for Mi Xue.
Despite Mi Xue’s beauty and figure, Zhao Lu knew she wasn’t one of those “academic vixens” who traded favors for success.
Mi Xue’s achievements came from relentless, grueling work—sleeping less than six hours a day, skipping naps, and living in the lab or at her desk, aside from meals.

A true research prodigy.

Zhao Lu marveled at how Mi Xue maintained flawless skin and a great figure despite her punishing schedule.
Most PhD students, herself included, ended up haggard, aged, or overweight.

Mi Xue’s Isolation

However, Mi Xue’s dedication came at a cost.
She had no personal life, avoided social events, and was naturally introverted.
Dating? Out of the question.
Zhao Lu suspected Mi Xue had never even touched a guy’s hand.
At least Zhao Lu had “accidentally” brushed a junior’s hand while playing mahjong.

Now that Mi Xue had transitioned from student to professor, she’d soon move from the dorm to a university-assigned apartment.
Their time together would dwindle.
If Zhao Lu didn’t act now, Mi Xue might spend her life married to a lab flask.

Thus, Zhao Lu suggested a mixer with single male PhD students, but Mi Xue refused outright.
Yet, miraculously, yesterday Mi Xue approached her, requesting a mixer with the freshmen of Dorm 12, Apartment 205.

Zhao Lu was stunned.
Did Mi Xue finally have normal human desires, eyeing a young undergrad for a fling?
There had to be a catch.
After relentless prodding, Mi Xue revealed the name “Lin Lu.”

An undergrad, an age-gap romance, even a student-teacher dynamic…
It didn’t matter, as long as he was a guy.
Mi Xue was finally interested in someone!
So Zhao Lu quickly contacted Fat Bro, the dorm leader, stressing that all four guys, especially Lin Lu, had to attend.

Understanding Mi Xue’s Taste

Zhao Lu had been curious about what kind of guy could captivate a research maniac like Mi Xue.
The moment she saw Lin Lu, it clicked.
No wonder Mi Xue, who published in top journals, aimed for the top-tier guy.

Yet now, Zhao Lu was frustrated with Mi Xue’s timidity.
With her brilliance and beauty, charming a naive freshman should be effortless.
Instead, she was too shy to even speak!

If Zhao Lu had Mi Xue’s credentials, she’d have that freshman worshipping at her feet, calling it his honor.

Roommates’ Realization

Meanwhile, Fat Bro and the others, upon hearing Mi Xue’s name and seeing her face, were floored.
They whispered among themselves.

“Holy crap, she’s the youngest hot professor that went viral on campus?”

“Our school’s one of the few with an undergrad mentorship program, right? I’m signing up to be her student.”

“No chance for you. Didn’t you see? The moment Old Fourth saw Mi Xue, he bolted. And she’s a beauty. Based on past patterns, if he’s scared and she’s gorgeous, Mi Xue’s definitely another ex of his. You can tell with your butt.”

No one disputed Fat Bro’s logic.
It was starting to feel normal.
They realized the mixer’s true star was Lin Lu—they were just tagalongs.
Still, it wasn’t a loss.
They’d added the other three PhD seniors on WeChat, chatted plenty, got a free meal courtesy of Mi Xue, and learned dating tips.
A solid win.

A Moral Dilemma

Yet they couldn’t wrap their heads around it.
The whole campus knew about Lin Lu and Su Keke’s photos.
Who’d dare steal a celebrity’s boyfriend, especially a state-assigned one?
Even a prestigious professor like Mi Xue couldn’t do that without tarnishing her reputation and academia’s image.

So why would Mi Xue specifically request Lin Lu for the mixer?

Perhaps PhD students, buried in research, didn’t follow Su Keke’s gossip.
Many in academia, especially research titans like Mi Xue, ignored entertainment news.

Lin Lu’s Panic

Only Lin Lu knew the truth: Mi Xue was here for revenge!

Overhearing his roommates, he realized he’d been too busy with part-time jobs to follow campus news.
The poor senior he’d once bullied had risen to such heights.
Lin Lu gasped in awe.

Was this the power of a destined heroine?
Terrifying!

Her level of strength was beyond a rookie villain like him.

This time, Lin Lu was truly fleeing.
He had to escape before Mi Xue’s aura overwhelmed him.

But a master like her could shatter space itself.
A mere fledgling like him stood no chance.
Soon, a spectral hand of energy grabbed his sleeve.
Turning, he saw the destined heroine had crossed the void to catch him!