Chapter 186
+15 BONUS
L
It rained for three days straight, and the temperature dropped as a result.
As it was getting cold, I put on thick winter clothes before I did my daily commute of going to the apartment, lecture hall, and cafeteria.
Helen stopped coming back to the apartment the second night after the incident. I was all alone in the cold apartment.
When I was bored, I’d talk to my friends. More often than not, I’d be texting Colin.
It wasn’t that I was neglecting my friends, but they all had a boyfriend. They didn’t have time for me. Colin and I were both single, so we were like each other’s support group.
On the fourth day, I had a lecture in the morning. As soon as I entered the lecture hall, I saw my classmates gossiping about something excitedly.
“So what’s the good news? Did they increase the scholarship amount or something?” I found a seat at the front of the lecture hall. Then, I took out the textbooks from my bag and placed them on my desk. I also took out the draft I drew yesterday so that the lecturer could
evaluate it.
“It’s much better than that.”
“The Professor Ash King is teaching here now. Do you know him? The same Professor King who was very successful when he was young and is even more successful now that he’s old!”
Professor King? Wasn’t he my guest lecturer at Lincoln University? He was Colin’s thesis supervisor too. It was thanks to him that I became so successful in the arts industry.
Was he teaching at Jesselton College now? How come Colin didn’t tell me?
I was delighted by the news, of course. It brightened up my gloomy morning.
Just when I figured I should call Professor King to ask when he would be dropping by, the bell rang.
I sighed and put my phone away. The corners of my eyes caught a glimpse of the lecturer walking in, and my jaw fell to the ground.
The subject of the mass gossip appeared before everyone with a thick stack of reference books. He looked all dapper and dashing.
No one told me that Professor King was coming. What a surprise!
1/2
+15 BONUS
“Miss, please close your mouth. In my class, being pretty doesn’t mean you can break the
rules.”
Everyone turned their heads to look at me.
Was being beautiful a crime now? Why put me on a pedestal?
I pouted but didn’t dare talk back.
Professor King adjusted the glasses on his nose. His shrewd eyes hid the joy and playfulness from seeing me. “What? Are you too happy to see me here?”
All my classmates looked at me, bewildered. They were probably confused as to why an
ordinary, meek woman like me could draw the professor’s attention on his first day here.
I stared at Ash and rubbed my face. When I opened my eyes again, he was already standing next to my desk
Luckily, I wasn’t wearing any makeup. I highly doubted my makeup would remain intact
after I rubbed my face like that.
I tilted my head and looked outside. Then, my gaze returned to the professor. I failed to stifle the excitement within me, so the corners of my lips curled as I said, “It’s been a while, Professor King.”
“It’s been a while, indeed. I read your thesis. It was very well–written. However, you need to
elaborate more on your reflections and analysis of classical paintings in the middle section.
Perhaps you can use some examples to illustrate your argument and viewpoint.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll do that as soon as possible.”
Professor Ash and I lost ourselves in the conversation. It felt like the one–on–one meeting we had in his office when I was at Lincoln University.
My classmates began whispering among themselves when they saw Professor Ash and I engaged in a friendly chit–chat.
He appraised my draft and nodded appreciatively, “Not bad. I like your precision.”