Nobody said that teachers at elite academies have to be heartthrobs.

Qiaoqi shook her head vigorously, trying to shake off those unsettling associations.

Lin Xun is usually so quiet, even a little timid, and Teacher Yu takes good care of him... Maybe I really misheard?

Or is this an overinterpretation? Jiang Yu's threat was already infuriating, and Lin Xun just happened to say something in a fit of anger?

Does Teacher Yu know what kind of unknown side this seemingly harmless student beside her might have?

Or did he actually know, but still choose to protect him under his wing?

Questions kept popping up, but there were no answers.

Qiaoqi took a deep breath and gripped the food box tightly in her hand.

She took one last look at the empty corner of the corridor, where Lin Xun was no longer present.

She turned around and walked towards Yu Fuli's ward, but her steps were much heavier than when she came.

"Teacher Yu."

Qiao Qi pushed open the ward door and saw Yu Fuli leaning against the headboard. She forced a smile, but couldn't hide the dazed look in her eyes.

Yu Fuli keenly noticed the unusual expression on her face, put down the phone she was looking at, and asked gently, "What's wrong? You don't look well. Did something happen?"

"N-nothing..." Qiaoqi denied instinctively, her fingers clutching the hem of her clothes.

She walked to the bedside, placed the food box she had brought on the cabinet, but her gaze was somewhat unfocused. "Well... I ran into Lin Xun in the hallway just now."

She paused, then hesitated before speaking.

say?

Tell Teacher Yu about Lin Xun's unsettling whispers and the strangeness he showed in an instant.

But looking at Yu Fuli's slightly tired yet still bright eyes, and recalling his usual natural protection and care for Lin Xun...

If I told the teacher, they would be very disappointed and sad, right? They might see the students they care about, but behind the scenes, they might be a completely different person.

"Lin Xun?" Seeing her hesitate, Yu Fuli sat up straighter and asked with concern, "What's wrong with him? Did something happen, or is someone making things difficult for him?"

He frowned slightly, recalling the inevitable "poor little white flower law".

"He...he's fine." Qiao Qi hurriedly shook her head, avoiding Yu Fuli's probing gaze, lowered her eyes to stare at the ribbon on the food box, and lowered her voice, finding the safest and most reasonable excuse to brush it off, "Well, isn't he the vice president of the student council now? I think he seems quite busy, always in a hurry, and we haven't even said a few words."

After she finished speaking, she felt a pang of guilt and dared not look up.

Upon hearing this, Yu Fuli's tense expression relaxed slightly, and she sighed softly, "Yes, the student council has just been established, and there's a lot to do. It's tough on him; he also has a heavy workload."

His tone was full of undisguised understanding, and even carried a hint of pride as a teacher.

As Qiaoqi listened, the unspoken doubts and chills in her heart seemed to be gently covered by this warm trust, yet they stubbornly festered beneath the surface.

She clenched her fist secretly, finally suppressing those uneasy speculations back into her heart.

Maybe she's just overthinking it.

"Lin Xun said you've already eaten," Qiao Qi pouted, patting the exquisite food box she had brought with some disappointment. "What a pity, I specially prepared so many delicious things."

Yu Fuli's originally gentle and smiling expression paused almost imperceptibly upon hearing these words.

How did Lin Xun know he had eaten?

He clearly remembered that from the moment Jiang Yu brought in the food box, to feeding him, and finally to that absurd reward, Lin Xun did not step into the ward at all.

unless--

He kept watching from outside.

This thought made Yu Fuli's heart skip a beat.

He almost instantly connected the dots to Jiang Yu's unexpected last move.

If Lin Xun was really outside, wouldn't he have seen the whole process of Jiang Yu feeding him, including that... that kiss?!

A surge of heat rushed to her cheeks, and Yu Fuli felt her ears burning.

Half of the blush was a sudden surge of embarrassment and anger. Being seen in such an inappropriate scene by a student was a violation of the teacher's duty. The other half was an uncontrollable rage. That bastard Jiang Yu never considers the occasion or the consequences of his actions!

He forced himself to remain composed, not wanting to lose his composure in front of Qiao Qi, and could only vaguely reply, "Um... I have already eaten. Thank you for preparing this, I appreciate your kindness."

But I couldn't help but feel worried.

Lin Xun is a sensitive and reserved child. Will she misunderstand something when she sees that scene?

Or, therefore, are they subjected to unnecessary stimulation?

He decided that once he felt better, he would find an opportunity to have a proper talk with Lin Xun.

Yu Fuli was still immersed in shame, anger, and worry, and did not notice the subtle changes in Qiao Qi's expression.

When Qiaoqi's gaze fell upon the faint blush on his face, it involuntarily lingered for a moment.

Despite knowing that the idea was extremely inappropriate, even somewhat blasphemous, a powerful thought unexpectedly crashed into her mind—

Teacher Yu looks so beautiful even when she's sick or injured.

Normally, Yu Fuli is refined and aloof.

He has a gentle temperament and proper manners, but the noble air that emanates from his bones always gives people a sense of inviolability.

But now...

Her smooth, dark hair wasn't neatly tied up as usual; it was loosely draped over her shoulders, with a few stray strands clinging to her cheeks, which were flushed with anger.

The loose collar of the hospital gown had one button undone, inadvertently revealing a sharp outline of the collarbone, which, against the backdrop of pale skin, exuded a breathtaking fragility.

He leaned against the plain white hospital bed, his brows furrowed with weariness, his lips devoid of their usual color, his whole being like a piece of jade that had been carelessly dropped and stained with the dust of the mortal world, translucent yet fragile.

The vulnerability she was forced to reveal due to injury and illness was completely different from the composed teacher she remembered.

This stark contrast acts as the most alluring catalyst.

In a dark corner of my heart, a strange and fiery flame suddenly ignited—a desire to tear away that obstructive fabric, to shatter that fragile calm, to imprison it firmly, to watch it utterly lose its composure because of me, and be stained with other colors…

"!"

Qiaoqi was startled by her sudden, almost violent fantasy. Her heart pounded wildly, and blood rushed to her ears.

She hurriedly lowered her eyes, staring intently at her clasped fingers in front of her, her nails digging into her palms, trying to dispel the absurd evil thought with the slight stinging pain.

She's gone mad! She's really gone mad! How could she have such... such thoughts about Teacher Yu!

It must be because I've been too tired and stressed lately.

Yes, that must be it.

She took a deep breath, and when she looked up again, a concerned smile had returned to her face. However, the curve of the smile was slightly stiff, her eyes were unfocused, and she dared not linger on Yu Fuli's neck and collarbone.

"Teacher, you...you should rest well. I...I won't bother you any longer!" She spoke faster than usual, almost incoherently. "The food box is here. Eat if you're hungry! I...I'll go back now!"

After saying that, before Yu Fuli could react, she turned around hastily like a startled rabbit and left the ward almost as if she were fleeing. Although she was flustered, she still carefully closed the door behind her.

Yu Fuli stared in astonishment at the closed door, not understanding why Qiao Qi had suddenly left in such a panic.

He sighed softly, assuming that the girl was worried about his injuries or that there was something urgent going on with the student council.

The ward returned to silence.

Outside the door, Qiaoqi leaned against the cold wall, raised her hand to cover her still burning cheeks, her heart pounding in her chest.

That inappropriate thought, like ripples created by a stone thrown into a lake, though forcibly suppressed, had already quietly spread, leaving a trace that could no longer be ignored.