Chapter 31

After tidying up her desk, Lin Yilan left the dormitory with Peng Junhua.

"Lin, I saw your assignment on the department bulletin board earlier. You freshmen are truly remarkable. No wonder I often hear the professors praising you all while they're chatting in the office." Peng Junhua struck up a conversation as they walked.

Lin Yilan replied politely, "You’re exaggerating, Senior. You’re quite impressive yourself."

Peng Junhua paused, then slowed her pace to walk side-by-side with Lin Yilan. "I think you’re far more talented than I am. There are so few women in our architecture department, and you’re the only one like this."

"Speaking of which, do you have any study methods for architectural design? Would you be willing to share them with me?"

She was genuinely curious. As a girl who had come from the countryside to study in the capital, how had Lin Yilan achieved such outstanding results in just a few months, even surpassing Ji Xuecheng, whose parents and elders were all in the architecture industry? Thinking of the recent rumors circulating in the department about her, Peng Junhua was incredibly intrigued. Having been recommended to university so many years ago, she had only ever encountered one student like Lin Yilan. With that in mind, she decided to find a way to get on good terms with her.

She linked her arm through Lin Yilan’s and whispered, "Xiao Lin, do you know why Professor Shen asked you to his office?"

Lin Yilan disliked people she wasn't close to being so physically intimate. She pretended to be casual as she pulled Peng Junhua’s hand off her arm, looking blankly at her. "I don't. I assumed it was about professional matters."

After her hand was pulled away, the smile on Peng Junhua’s face faltered for a second. She chided playfully, "Xiao Lin, the department has found out about that matter of yours. You should quickly think about how you’re going to explain it to the teachers."

"Let’s walk slowly to give you more time." Peng Junhua patted Lin Yilan’s shoulder and gave her a wink.

Lin Yilan looked bewildered. "What matter? I haven't done anything recently."

Observing her expression, Peng Junhua inwardly marveled at how perfectly composed the girl was before whispering, "Xiao Lin, although I’m the temporary class monitor for your group, I’m actually about the same age as you and Zhaodi. I think we could be friends."

"If you really can’t figure out what to say to the professors, do you want me to help you find a way?"

The cryptic, half-veiled words left Lin Yilan completely confused. "No, Senior, what on earth has happened that I don't even know about?"

Peng Junhua admired Lin Yilan’s acting skills. She couldn't help but think to herself, *Still pretending not to know, how impressive.*

"It’s about you and your boyfriend from outside the school. The department leaders and professors all know about it." After saying this, she cast a wary glance around them.

Lin Yilan massaged her throbbing temple and said flatly, "Fine, thank you, Senior. I think I can guess what’s going on."

Peng Junhua looked at her with excitement. "So, junior, where did you meet a boyfriend who drives a car?"

Lin Yilan let out a weary sigh. Seeing the look on Peng Junhua’s face—ostensibly concerned but actually just eager for drama—she said coldly, "Senior, I’ll explain it to the teachers when we get to Professor Shen’s office."

Peng Junhua curled her lip, feeling that Lin Yilan didn't appreciate her kindness. For the rest of the walk, the two remained silent until they reached the door of Professor Shen’s office. Seeing the sign, Peng Junhua immediately put on a bright smile.

"Professor Shen, I’ve brought the student, Lin."

"Professor Lu, Professor Zhang, Professor Zou, Teacher Zhao."

Seeing the office packed with faculty, Peng Junhua greeted them one by one. After finishing her greetings, her eyes lit up when she saw the professor sitting at the main desk. "Professor Wu!"

Once Peng Junhua finished, Lin Yilan saw the teacher named Zhao look toward Peng Junhua with a smile. "Xiao Peng, you’re here. Sorry for the trouble."

The other professors merely glanced at Peng Junhua before turning their attention to Lin Yilan, who was standing behind her. Peng Junhua gritted her teeth inwardly but kept her previous smile on her face. "Teacher Zhao, it’s no trouble at all. It’s what I should do."

Lin Yilan, uninterested in their banter, simply greeted each professor. "Hello, Professor Shen." (This was someone she knew.) "Hello, professors." (These were the ones she didn't.)

Professor Shen smiled at Lin Yilan and then glared at his stern colleagues beside him. "Xiao Lin, we’ve asked you here today because we have a few questions for you."

Lin Yilan nodded calmly. "Professor Shen, please ask."

Looking at Lin Yilan, Professor Shen recalled how she diligently took notes in his class. Looking into her clear, steady eyes, he didn't know how to proceed and could only sigh.

Next to him, Professor Lu, whose thick, dark eyebrows made his naturally stern face seem even more unapproachable, spoke up. "Since Professor Shen won't say it, I will."

"Student Lin, the department received a report claiming you are dating someone from outside the school. Is this true?"

Teacher Zhao pulled out a piece of paper. "This is a record provided by someone, detailing the times and locations of your meetings with that male comrade from outside the school."

Lin Yilan glanced at it, and her expression immediately turned cold. Someone had been stalking her. "Teacher, I would like to ask who gave you this information? I believe such stalking and voyeurism are illegal."

Teacher Zhao curled his lip and tucked away the paper detailing Lin Yilan’s movements. As they spoke, the atmosphere in the office grew heavy. Professor Zhang, having looked around and recalling the excellent assignments he had seen from Lin Yilan, felt a sense of regret for the situation and disgust for the act of reporting her.

"First of all, I am personally strongly opposed to such groundless reports!" Seeing Teacher Zhao about to speak, he raised a hand to stop him and continued, "Teacher Zhao, that paper in your hand proves nothing. We cannot assume people are dating just because a man and a woman are seen eating together. This is not evidence; it is merely conjecture. We should have learned from the mistakes of the past and not repeat them."

Following Professor Zhang’s meaningful words, the expressions of the other professors turned somber.

Lin Yilan looked at Professor Zhang with gratitude. "Professors, teachers, first of all, I want to emphasize that I cherish this opportunity to study very much. I would never do anything that violates school rules or jeopardizes the education I have worked so hard to attain."

"Secondly, I am not dating anyone. The record the teacher just provided is correct in that I was with a male comrade, but it is not because of a romantic relationship. He is the son of a client of mine."

"If you do not believe me, I can provide the contract I signed with his father."

Hearing this, the professors in the office turned their eyes toward Lin Yilan. Lin Yilan met their gazes one by one, looking perfectly composed.

"Of course, I am willing to accept an investigation by the school or the department, but I must also ask the school to allow me to report this to the police."

Upon hearing "report to the police," Teacher Zhao panicked. "Student Lin, why bring the police into this? It’s such a small matter, there’s no need to trouble them."

Lin Yilan frowned, her tone serious. "Teacher, the thought that someone is following me every time I leave the house terrifies me. I must report this to the police; otherwise, I’ll be too afraid to even step out of my dormitory."

"As a seventeen-year-old, I am very concerned for my own safety. My reputation has already been smeared, and if someone tries to harm me further, I only have my own voice to defend myself. How would I ever be able to explain things then?"

"Furthermore, Teacher Zhao, according to national law, a woman must be eighteen years old to marry and obtain a marriage certificate. Why would I violate national law by engaging in a premature relationship?"

As she spoke, she covered her face and pretended to sob.

Teacher Zhao hurriedly pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. "No, no, student, please don't cry. The things you’re worried about definitely won't happen, rest assured."

Professor Lu pushed back his chair and stood up, walking toward Teacher Zhao. "Teacher Zhao, since the student has said this, I believe her. There is nothing else, so I will take my leave; I still have to prepare for my lectures. Goodbye."

Teacher Zhao looked at Lin Yilan, who was crouching on the ground sobbing, and then at Professor Lu, who was preparing to leave. He wished he could split himself in two. "Professor Lu, wait—"

"Student, don't cry. You must trust that the school will handle this properly."

Lin Yilan stared at a crack in the cement floor and said in a muffled voice, "Teacher, please don't try to persuade me. I am definitely going to the police."

Teacher Zhao felt like slapping his own thigh. If she reported it to the police, the whole thing would blow up. Seeing his old colleague slip away, Professor Zhang followed suit quickly. "Teacher Zhao, I have a class soon. I’m leaving."

Teacher Zhao watched this scene in a daze. It wasn't his place to say, but wasn't this supposed to be an issue for the Architecture Department? Helpless, he looked at Professor Shen, the only one in the office who was actually one of Lin Yilan’s instructors.

Professor Wu, sitting at the desk, flipped through Lin Yilan’s past assignments. Observing the situation in the office, he found this student quite interesting.

Professor Shen sighed in frustration. "Teacher Zhao, why don't we let the student return to her dormitory for now? As for the matter of the relationship, we will investigate further. We cannot act on hearsay; that would be unfair to her."

Seeing that the Architecture Department teachers seemed to be siding with Lin Yilan, Teacher Zhao looked at Professor Wu with some resentment. "Professor Wu, what do you say?"

Professor Wu closed Lin Yilan’s assignment notebook, pushed up the glasses sliding down his nose, and looked at Lin Yilan, who was still crouching on the floor.

"Student Lin, you say that the male comrade is the son of your client. Would you mind telling me what project you are currently working on?"