CHAPTER 152: 92. WORDS THAT ONLY YOU AND I CAN UNDERSTAND (8,000 WORDS)

Shi Nian and Tang Yanqing took the same car back to Kangchuan University.

Throughout the ride, Shi Nian didn’t dare to look at Tang Yanqing. He told her jokes and anecdotes, but she only listened with her head lowered or turned away, completely avoiding eye contact.

Yet his tone was full of joy, not minding her little ostrich-like behavior at all.

There was still some distance to the school gate, and it was dusk, the slanting sun spread like gold on the road, reflecting a dazzling color in people’s eyes and faces. Only then did she muster the courage to glance at him: "Uh, driver, please stop here."

He looked over.

She smiled awkwardly: "I want to get off early and take a walk. Uh, you head back to school first."

"Uh-huh," his voice was arrogant, but a smile spread on his face: "Are you worried that people might misunderstand if we return together?"

"Oh." Shi Nian lowered her head, twisting her fingers.

In fact, she understood that even if classmates saw them returning together, they wouldn’t really speculate anything. After all, this isn’t the conservative East, and besides, after she fainted last night, he, as a teacher, sending her to the hospital is perfectly justified.

Actually, it’s she herself... who has something on her mind.

Seeing the series of fleeting expressions on her face, Tang Yanqing laughed.

Letting her realize she has something on her mind was even more important than walking back to school side by side with her. So he opened the car door on his side and got out first.

"What are you doing?" She looked over in surprise.

He smiled: "Uh, I jumped the gun on you, I also want to take a walk." With that, he leaned towards the driver, handed over the fare, and smiled as he instructed: "Take her to the school gate."

The driver nodded and started the car.

As the car drove away, Shi Nian turned back to look through the rear window.

A tall man stood in the golden sunlight of the summer evening, behind him stretched Kangchuan University’s lawn like a velvet carpet, beyond which lay a calm, mirror-like artificial lake, and a white spired building stood – such a scene, like a dream, like a painting.

She pressed her hand to her chest, gently closed her eyes, and quietly sighed softly.

.

Back at the dormitory, she quickly dashed into the bathroom to freshen up and applied some light makeup.

It’s basic courtesy to meet with the school’s chairman.

Spicy Girl came in, looking Shi Nian up and down: "Hey, how come you don’t look like you were scared last night at all? You look today—hmm, practically radiant from head to toe."

The "ghost" in Shi Nianxin wandered out again, and she quickly splashed cold water on her cheeks: "Uh, this is—righteous radiance. I helped solve a case last night, of course I’m happy."

There was nothing wrong with what she said, so Spicy Girl could only shrug in agreement. Unable to resist, she hooked an arm around her shoulder: "Hey, Nian, honestly, I’m proud of you."

.

Shi Nian prepared herself and quickly went to meet the school board.

The board’s office was a small, independent three-story building. Its exterior walls and architectural style were consistent with the rest of Kangchuan University’s buildings, but it was of an older history. The top floor housed the board’s office, and the two floors below were the school history exhibition hall.

Ascending on the ancient redwood floors, Shi Nian casually skimmed through the school history along the way. Some hundred-year-old images were captured in photos, but others were depicted in oil paintings. Among them, one particularly large painting was hung in the center, signifying its importance.

The painting’s technique and perspective were quite similar to The Last Supper, with about ten gentlemen seated on either side of a long table, seemingly engaged in a lively discussion. The central figure wore exaggerated court attire, looking very much like the king in a deck of cards.

Shi Nian didn’t have time to stop and examine it closely, she only found it interesting. Isn’t M Country supposed to have no king, so why does that person’s attire and demeanor seem so king-like?

The secretary of the board was a quiet young man, who led Shi Nian upstairs without disrupting her observations and didn’t offer an explanation until Shi Nian asked.

Shi Nian thought this person was really well-mannered.

Upon reaching the third floor, the secretary stood at the top of the stairs, no longer leading the way, merely bowing and gesturing: "The chairman is waiting for you inside. I’ve delivered you here, please go in by yourself."

Shi Nian nodded and smiled, then stepped into the large glass door.

The office was full of antique charm, the floor still expensive redwood, the wallpaper on the walls seemed to have aged but was well maintained, with no damage or peeling. The patina of time colored it, making the unnamed beautiful flowers all the more classically beautiful.