Chapter 14: The Disobedient Student

Shit.

Ming Ying instantly wiped the mental smile from his face.

Faced with XI’s invitation to meet in person, he tightened his grip on his phone, a surge of nervous excitement flooding his heart.

Did this… did this mean he succeeded? It had to be, right?

He thought to himself, were thigh photos really that effective?

Ming Ying rubbed his eyes and began typing out a reply, feeling giddy with glee.

Mingo: [Puppy running.jpg]

Mingo: I knew it! You’re here too!

Mingo: Where should we meet? [Starry-eyed]

The reply came back the instant his message was sent.

XI: Atrium Gallery

XI: Now

Ming Ying stared blankly at the message upon seeing it. Why was she suddenly typing in English?

Even though XI was a foreigner, they had always chatted in Chinese, which left Ming Ying feeling unaccustomed to receiving messages in English now.

Slow on the uptake as always, Ming Ying pursed his lips. From within the thrill of the moment, he suddenly detected a hint of anger from the other party. Had he gone too far…?

Thus, Student Ming Ying began his pity act.

Mingo: Okay, okay.

Mingo: Coming, coming.

Mingo: Don’t be mad at me [Folded hands]

Mingo: [Puppy finger heart.jpg]

The message was read but left unanswered.

Fine. Ming Ying glanced at the side door of the auditorium and prepared to get up. Strange… why was he feeling a bit excited but also a bit scared at the same time…

Meanwhile, Dean Steve had reached the end of his speech on the podium. Enthusiasm was running high. Ming Ying glanced left and right. Spotting someone else crouching low as they left, he followed suit, bending over as he stood up.

Alan frowned at him. “What are you doing?”

Ming Ying pointed at the auditorium’s side door. “I need to use the restroom.”

Alan looked a bit speechless but moved to give him space.

Ming Ying grinned. “Thanks.”

However, before that “thanks” could fully leave his mouth, the smile on his face froze.

Damn it, why was that strange professor also leaving through this same side door?!

Silas had chosen the Atrium Gallery to meet mainly because it was very close to the auditorium, and secondly, it was well-ventilated.

The man stood before the glass with one hand in his pocket, a half-burnt cigarette dangling between his fingers. He wasn’t even smoking it, simply letting the wisps of smoke curl upwards.

Before him lay a dazzling, glittering nightscape of lights, but his attention was nowhere near the scenery.

Silas frowned. Those near-seductive photos on his phone flashed through his mind one by one.

There was no room for doubt anymore. He had indeed been seduced—by a student, and a male student at that.

It sounded somewhat absurd and helpless.

Yet, during this waiting interlude, as Silas gazed at the night view through the glass window, the corner of his mouth unexpectedly curved into a smile.

He had to admit, the experience was quite novel.

Ming Ying, however, was finding things far less novel.

He knew the location of the Atrium Gallery. It was a glass skywalk situated just outside the auditorium, specifically designed for viewing the scenery. Hence, it was also the auditorium’s scenic viewing corridor.

XI had probably chosen it because the spot served as a small, easily recognizable landmark.

The problem was, the quickest way to reach that skywalk was through this very side door.

Ming Ying thought it over and decided against it. He was afraid of running into that strange professor.

So, Ming Ying ultimately decided to exit from the side door on the opposite end, taking a slightly longer route to reach the skywalk.

Along the way, Ming Ying was constantly sneaking glances at every blonde female student he passed. Logically, he should have run into her by now…

The night was ink-black, but fortunately, the lights were bright. Walking and looking all the way, he finally reached the entrance to the Glass Skywalk.

—Wait.

Ming Ying halted. Squinting, he saw that there were indeed people on the skywalk. The problem was… why were they all men?!

From a distance, Ming Ying could make out a few older foreign male professors gathered on the skywalk, seemingly chatting and laughing. One of them was that strange professor.

God damn it. Ming Ying silently punched the wall in his mind.

Why did he have to run into him everywhere he went?!

…

On the skywalk, a male professor asked, “Aston, are you off to Washington tomorrow?”

Silas replied, “No, tonight.”

The other man sounded puzzled. “Oh? Then are you waiting for Steve’s lecture to finish?”

The man lowered his gaze to his wristwatch, a soft chuckle escaping him. “As you can see, I am indeed waiting for someone. But it’s not Steve.”

As he spoke, Silas turned his face slightly, seeming to glance toward the skywalk entrance.

Ming Ying, completely unaware that he himself was the one being waited for, hastily and sneakily pulled his head back!

He took a deep breath and pulled out his phone.

Mingo: I don’t see you.

But before the message could be sent, Alan’s call suddenly flashed onto the screen, disrupting Ming Ying’s typing.

Startled, Ming Ying cursed a swear word and then answered.

“Hey!”

On the other end, Alan’s tone was even more irritated. “Didn’t you go to the restroom? Why aren’t you back yet? The dance is about to start! Mr. Marty is looking for you!”

Marty was Thomas’s assistant, acting as Thomas’s stand-in to accompany (supervise) them.

Ming Ying replied, slightly anxiously, “I’ll be back in a bit. Just wait a moment.”

“Tell Marty that yourself.”

Alan hung up.

Damn it.

Ming Ying looked down at the disconnected call on his phone, feeling helpless.

He poked his head out again to glance at the corridor outside. It was still just that group of male professors and male teachers. Not a shadow of a single girl.

Had XI gone to the wrong place?

Ming Ying waited on the spot for another five minutes. During that time, nobody passed by at all. Meanwhile, Marty had already called twice to hurry him along.

Ming Ying could only sigh and start heading back.

Mingo: XI, I haven’t spotted you. How about we just meet at the dance?

Mingo: I’ll ask you to dance at the dance.

Mingo: [Puppy spinning in circles.jpg]

Silas sensed his phone vibrate twice in his pocket. He raised a hand in a gesture of apology. “Pardon me, I need to check this message.”

The person opposite him said, “Of course, Mr. Aston. Please, go ahead.”

Silas swiped open the screen. Seeing the messages on the interface, he paused slightly, then immediately frowned.

“Mr. Aston, has something happened?”

The man pocketed his phone and turned slightly, his gaze sweeping past the entrance of the Glass Skywalk.

“It’s nothing.” He withdrew his gaze, a smirk touching his lips. “I just made another mistake.”

When Ming Ying returned to the auditorium, Steve’s lecture was just ending. The crowd was shifting venues to the dance.

This was standard daily social etiquette at N University.

While everyone around him was in high spirits, Ming Ying simply couldn’t muster any enthusiasm. Instead, he felt a bit anxious and fidgety.

What if XI had gone to the Glass Skywalk just after he left?

Damn, if he’d known, he would have stayed a bit longer.

On the way to the dance together, Ming Ying’s chagrin was written all over his face. Noticing this, Marty asked with great concern, “Ming, is there a problem?”

Ming Ying snapped back to attention. “Huh?”

Beside him, Alan said, “He’s been like this since he came back from the restroom.”

Marty frowned. “Ming, did something happen in the restroom?”

“…”

Ming Ying facepalmed.

Just then, buzz! His phone vibrated with a notification!

Ming Ying felt his heart skip a violent beat. He stopped walking and hurriedly thumbed open the screen.

Sure enough, it was a message from that campus scenery avatar!

Overjoyed and surprised, Ming Ying tapped it open. This time, it was in Chinese.

XI: Ming, you’re disobedient.

…Holy crap.

Ming Ying’s fingertips trembled.

Buzz. Another one arrived.

XI: Disobedient students, shouldn’t they receive punishment?