After ninety-nine online romances, I finally met my ex in person when school started.

"It's a friend's car, I borrowed it for a few days." Zhu Xun Chuan casually replied, "Alright, stop standing here like a telephone pole, hurry back to the dorm, Dad will treat you to a big meal tonight."

After saying that, he stepped on the gas and sped away.

The three roommates were left bewildered in the wind.

Zhu Xun Chuan parked his car in the parking space downstairs from dormitory 621 and strode upstairs.

I had just pushed open the dormitory door and hadn't even had time to change my clothes when my phone started vibrating incessantly in my pocket.

When I took it out, I saw it was a WeChat message from my counselor, Gu Qinghan.

[Teacher Gu: Come to my office immediately. I have an urgent task.]

Zhu Xun Chuan's lips curled into a smile as he recalled the scene from yesterday evening at his desk, where he had completely subdued the aloof instructor.

His long, slender fingers flew across the screen as he replied with a dirty joke.

[Zhu Xunchuan: Advisor, those black stockings I wore yesterday are ruined. What color are you wearing today? If you're not wearing any, I'm not going.]

There was silence on the other side for a full minute.

Then, a 20-second voice message was sent.

Zhu Xunchuan clicks on it.

"Zhu Xun Chuan! What else is in your head besides those filthy things?!" Gu Qinghan's voice was filled with obvious embarrassment and anger; even through the screen, one could imagine her gritting her teeth and snapping her pen in two. But then her tone turned serious. "Enough nonsense! Let's get down to business. The welcome party, which was originally postponed, is now scheduled for tomorrow night at seven!"

Zhu Xun Chuan raised an eyebrow. He knew about this; Xie Jing Hong and Meng Wan Qing had joined forces to pressure Pei Yan Yu into postponing the concert and gala in order to create space for public opinion regarding her comeback.

Now that Pei Yanyu's audition for the male lead has been finalized, the gala is naturally on the agenda.

Immediately afterwards, Gu Qinghan dropped a bombshell.

"This year's party is different from previous years! The Education Bureau just issued a directive to promote teacher-student relationships in the new era. This year's welcome party will not only feature performances from students, but also from faculty members of various departments!"

Gu Qinghan's voice betrayed a hint of frustration and helplessness, "Even... school leaders at the vice-principal level are required to perform on stage as role models!"

At this point, the smile on Zhu Xun Chuan's face slowly faded.

He leaned back in his chair, his mind racing, taking stock of his "fishpond" that was already on the verge of exploding.

Are the students going to attend?

Shen Tianxi is a ballet soloist.

Is the teacher going to teach?

As the counselor and discipline supervisor, Gu Qinghan will definitely have to make an appearance; Fu Xinghe, as the face of the Chinese Department, is even more bound to be involved.

Is the vice principal going to take the position?

Meng Wanqing, the Executive Vice President of Peking University, is definitely a heavyweight figure who will be making a grand entrance last.

Special guest?

Su Mucheng was already scheduled to be the grand finale. Add to that Pei Yanyu, the retired film queen who just announced her plans to audition for a new movie at Peking University… and don't forget Xia Wanying, the richest woman in North China; she's Peking University's largest board member and sponsor, and will undoubtedly be sitting in the first row of VIP seats tomorrow night.

Good guy.

Students, celebrities, movie queens, counselors, professors, principals, sponsors.

Everyone is here!

Moreover, these women had already shown signs of clashing at the concert. Although everyone tacitly kept quiet about the rescue, now that they have this legitimate excuse of "teachers and students on the same stage," wouldn't they turn the welcome party stage into a chaotic free-for-all?

Zhu Xun Chuan rubbed his temples, and the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

3 PM, the counselor's office of the School of Humanities.

The heavy security door was pushed open, and Zhu Xun Chuan locked it with his other hand, the crisp "click" echoing in the quiet room.

The entire row of blinds was drawn tightly shut, blocking out the autumn sunlight. Only a warm yellow desk lamp was on in the office.

Gu Qinghan sat behind a large mahogany desk. She had changed into a perfectly tailored black business suit, over which she wore a pure white silk blouse, the top button fastened to the very top, exuding an aloof and unapproachable aura. Her signature gold-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, making her appear both cold and dangerous.

Under the desk, her long legs, encased in sheer black stockings, were crossed, with a pointed high heel dangling gently in the air.

"Advisor, why are you drawing the curtains in broad daylight?" Zhu Xun Chuan walked to the desk with his hands in his trouser pockets, his gaze sweeping aggressively over her taut legs. "This is considered inducing students to make mistakes."

Gu Qinghan, with a cold face, casually tossed a document stamped with an official red seal onto the table.

"Stop with your act. It's an urgent notice from the Education Bureau that tomorrow night's welcome party requires teachers and students to perform together." Gu Qinghan's voice carried a cold, businesslike tone. "I just submitted the list of students from the School of Literature. As the freshman representative, you'll be the final performer."

Zhu Xun Chuan raised an eyebrow, picked up the document, glanced at it, and casually read aloud, "Recitation? You want me to go on stage and recite a poem?"

"What, you don't want to?" Gu Qinghan crossed his arms and leaned back in his boss's chair, his gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses sharpening. "Or perhaps you spent too much time at the National Museum this morning, looking at the exhibition and talking about poetry and literature, and your voice is hoarse?"

See the picture poorly.

This was the real purpose of the conversation. All the issuing of documents and arranging programs were just pretexts used by the icy advisor to mask his jealousy.

Zhu Xun Chuan put down the documents, placed his hands on the table, leaned forward, and closed the distance between them: "Your advisor is quite well-informed. You even know what exhibitions I saw at the National Museum?"

"Zhu Xunchuan, stop trying to fool me!" Gu Qinghan finally snapped, her chest heaving as her voice rose several decibels. "A big Audi with a Beijing license plate, brazenly driving into the school gate and parking right in front of your dorm! Do you really think all the school's security guards and surveillance cameras are just for show?!"

Gu Qinghan comes from a family of police officers in Beijing and grew up in such a compound. Her sensitivity to license plates and rank within the system far surpasses that of ordinary people. As soon as that license plate appeared, she identified the owner behind it.

The Fu family, the municipal party committee, Fu Xinghe.

"So?" Zhu Xun Chuan pressed on instead of backing down, "Is Teacher Gu maintaining school discipline, or is he checking up on himself?"

"I..." Gu Qinghan was speechless.

She bit her red lips, her long, black-stockinged legs, hidden under the table, suddenly tightened, her pointed high heels slamming heavily on the thick carpet. Jealousy was almost burning away her reason. She knew Zhu Xun Chuan had many women around him, but Fu Xing He's entry into the picture brought her an unprecedented sense of crisis. That woman, in terms of education, status, and appearance, was more than capable of completely overwhelming her.

Zhu Xun Chuan did not give her a chance to continue her attack.

He walked around the large mahogany desk and went straight to Gu Qinghan's boss's chair. Just as Gu Qinghan was about to turn the chair to create some distance, Zhu Xunchuan swiftly pressed down on the back of the chair.

"What are you doing! This is an office!" Gu Qinghan warned in a low voice.