Chapter 43 A 7 on the IELTS can be exchanged for a large apartment by the river…

Ordinary people often use the terms "professor," "expert," or even "academician" to refer to the entire university teaching staff, assuming that everyone in universities has high pay, low workload, high social status, and a respectable identity. However, the reality is that universities also have associate professors and lecturers in addition to professors. Associate professors are generally better off; at least they've reached the associate senior level, and retiring with that title offers decent benefits, so many settle for that. But young teachers like Jin Zhao, who have just entered university, have a much tougher time. They teach the most classes, receive the least pay, have to fight tooth and nail to get research projects, and are constantly facing obstacles in their promotion process.

There's a saying that young people should work harder, and this applies to all industries.

On the second day, Jin Zhao had classes all morning, starting with 8 AM Public English followed by the third and fourth periods of British Literature. In order to be able to stand on the podium the next day, she later turned off her phone, closed her eyes, and forced herself to fall asleep.

I don't know when she fell asleep; it must have been a struggle. She didn't feel like she slept for long, but she was wide awake when the alarm rang.

There is a WeChat message on the phone screen.

Meng Yanxi: [Still not asleep?]

It was 3:18 a.m., so he must have seen her like.

It turns out he couldn't sleep either.

This thought made Jin Zhao's heart melt like sugar frosting.

Holding her phone, she typed back: "I'm awake now."

It took two minutes to reply, and then another three minutes, but Meng Yanxi didn't reply, perhaps because she was still asleep. Five minutes is already the limit for a working person to stay in bed.

Jin Zhao decisively got up and washed up.

Meng Yanxi didn't hear the phone ring.

He was in the bathroom at the time, and the sound of rushing water drowned out his phone ringing.

When he emerged from the bathroom, it was already broad daylight. The man was casually shirtless, with only a towel wrapped around his waist.

His hair was damp, and water droplets ran down his collarbone, over his firm eight-pack abs, and then down his V-line into the towel.

He casually dried his hair, tossed aside the towel, and grabbed his phone from the bedside table.

Upon seeing her message, a smile crept onto his face, and he stared at the screen for a full half minute.

Meng Yanxi: [Just took a shower.]

The message was sent, and several minutes passed, but the dialog box remained silent.

The agitation that had been calmed down by the others started to resurface.

Looking at the time again, it was 7:56. At this hour, she should already be standing on the podium, ready to start class.

That's the downside of dating a teacher; he's not quick to reply to messages. Even though we're in the same time zone, it feels like a long-distance relationship.

Meng Yanxi resignedly exited the chat box.

In a short period of time, more than a dozen more messages appeared in my WeChat Moments.

Meng Yanxi, with his status, has many friends on social media, but only a handful who can truly engage in meaningful conversation. Therefore, the vast majority of comments are likes, except for one particularly tactless and impolite comment at the very bottom—from his biggest hater.

Meng Zhuxi: [Meng Yanxi, you are not allowed to harm innocent girls!]

Meng Yanxi didn't even blink; she simply tapped "delete" with her long finger.

*

Jin Zhao actually saw it.

Before class, she glanced at her phone and saw a message from Meng Yanxi pop up.

I was just taking a shower.

I didn't sleep until 3 or 4 am last night, why am I taking a shower so early in the morning?

Jin Zhao stared at his phone screen, his heart suddenly skipped a beat, and his face immediately turned red.

There was a security camera in the classroom, but she didn't know how high-definition it was or whether it could see the text on her phone screen. She quickly turned off the screen and placed the phone face down on the teacher's desk.

For the next two hours, she didn't have a chance to look at her phone.

After the first two classes ended, and with the third and fourth classes in a different teaching building, she took a quick look at her phone on the way. Meng Yanxi's messages had already been updated several times.

Meng Yanxi: [How did you sleep last night?]

Meng Yanxi: [I'll bring your bag over this afternoon. Shall we have lunch together?]

Meng Yanxi: [Why doesn't your class even have a break?]

Meng Yanxi: [I happen to be free today, let's come over now.]

Meng Yanxi: [Send me your location after class.]

Jin Zhao, who was striding between the two teaching buildings, thought: "..."

It can't send any location information.

To make matters worse, she didn't have time at noon either. Classes ended at 12 noon, and the department had a meeting at 1 p.m., so she only had time for a quick lunch in between.

She must have told him last night… No, wait. Realizing something, Jin Zhao raised his hand to cover his face.

Yes, she did mention it last night. Right at the dormitory entrance, she meant to say she had a meeting at 8 AM, but could be available in the evening.

But he couldn't wait for her to finish speaking; she had only uttered the word "afternoon" when he kissed her.

The scent of cold mountain pine mist rushed into her body, and then her mind went blank. His hand gripped the door frame, while she tightly clutched the hem of his coat. They both seemed to be restraining themselves, but they weren't.

The second kiss was deeper than the first.

They were even standing right at the doorway, separated by the door. The moon silently shone on the quiet teachers' dormitory, and in the distance, the footsteps of unfamiliar teachers returning late at night grew closer.

Even now, the thought still makes my heart pound.

She was surrounded by students who were also rushing to change classrooms, and the crowd was dense.

It's no surprise that her mind went completely blank last night.

He completely forgot what he hadn't finished saying, and probably assumed that she was free to meet him in the afternoon because she was at 8 a.m.

Jin Zhao couldn't reply to many text messages while on the road. He pressed the voice message bar with his finger, held the phone to his lips, and explained softly in the crowd: "A student came up to ask me about the CET-4 exam during break. They're taking the CET-4 next month... I didn't have time to check my phone. I have classes in the third and fourth periods, and a meeting this afternoon. Tonight, is tonight okay?"

It's fine tonight.

The problem is, the others have already arrived at the school.

As soon as Meng Yanxi's car entered the west gate, she saw a large group of students moving between the teaching buildings in the distance.

It's currently the long break between the first and second periods and the third and fourth periods, and the road is packed with students. Occasionally, a few bicycles and electric scooters slowly squeeze through the crowd.

After listening to Jin Zhao's voice message, Meng Yanxi fell silent.

Did she mean she was free this afternoon last night? Meng Yanxi touched her nose guiltily.

Meng Yanxi parked the car under a sycamore tree by the roadside and glanced at the time. It was only ten o'clock, and she would have to wait several more hours until evening.

Looking at the crowd ahead, he suddenly remembered that he had a younger sister.

*

When Meng Yanxi called, Meng Zhuxi wasn't keen on answering. She deliberately made her adopted brother wait a while before slowly pressing the call button.

"What's up?"

Remembering that his comments were deleted that morning, Meng Zhuxi asked in a cool and aloof tone.

Meng Yanxi: "Shall we have lunch together?"

Meng Zhuxi wanted to refuse, but then, thinking about her account balance, she reluctantly agreed.

Actually, she had a lot of pocket money. Not only did Meng Huai and Meng Shixu give her money, but even Meng Shijin often slipped her bank cards. The problem was, no one ever complains about having too much money. And the more money she had, the more she spent, so she always felt like she didn't have enough.

Meng Yanxi was her biggest source of funding, and her brother had been the one to pay for her troubles over the years, which she had to admit. Even though she despised Meng Yanxi's character.

Because his girlfriend had to go to class and didn't have time to see him, Meng Yanxi eventually drove his car to Meng Zhuxi's dormitory building.

Meng Zhuxi stood outside the passenger window, not getting into the car, and said to him awkwardly, "Brother, I won't invite you out to eat, let's go to the cafeteria instead."

Meng Yanxi was very astute; he saw through his sister's intentions at a glance: "Out of money again?"

Meng Zhuxi didn't say anything, her beautiful peach blossom eyes blinking as she looked at him.

Meng Yanxi picked up her phone and immediately transferred 100,000 yuan to her. The next second, Meng Zhuxi happily opened the car door.

"Brother, why didn't you come to pick me up last Wednesday? I missed you so much."

If Meng Yanxi believed his sister's words, he could be swindled out of his entire fortune.

"You really know how to be born into the right family." Meng Yanxi glanced at her and commented sarcastically.

Meng Zhuxi pretended not to understand and lowered her head to accept the payment without ceremony.

In the end, the brother and sister ate at the school cafeteria, mainly because Meng Yanxi didn't want to go out. Actually, Meng Zhuxi was very generous. Having just gotten a good deal, she originally planned to treat Meng Yanxi to a nice meal on the spot.

At just past 11 a.m. on the university campus, the cafeteria had just started serving lunch, and the students hadn't finished class yet. The cafeteria was quiet, and the food was fresh.

The brother and sister sat by the window, with Meng Yanxi looking at Meng Zhuxi thoughtfully.

His sister was as attentive as a happy little bird at that moment. As soon as she sat down, she started putting food from her plate on his plate: "Brother, try this spare rib, it's delicious."

Meng Yanxi: "Eat it yourself."

When Meng Zhuxi is being sweet-talking, she can say all sorts of nice things without hesitation: "You eat, I don't like meat."

Listen to this; anyone who didn't know better would think that the siblings came from a very difficult family, and that his sister was such a gentle, kind, respectful, and modest younger sister.

"How are the teachers' salaries at your school?" Meng Yanxi asked.

"It's alright, otherwise why would everyone be scrambling to become a university teacher?" Meng Zhuxi said without thinking.

Meng Yanxi curled her lips slightly: "Then I'll let you take the job, will you go or not?"

Meng Zhuxi looked up, blinking her big, innocent eyes: "Is she still your sister? If so, then I'm all set."

"You think you can?" Meng Yanxi scoffed without any politeness. "You've used up all your talent in this life by being born into the right family, and you still want to be a university teacher?"

Meng Zhuxi, who had just received the money, didn't argue with him.

Meng Yanxi then asked, "Do all the teachers at your school receive a settling-in allowance?"

Meng Zhuxi shook her head: "There shouldn't be a counselor."

She glanced at her brother shrewdly and said, "But if you're asking about Professor Jin Zhao, then she should have one. I heard a professor mention it in class before; he's also a PhD graduate from overseas, and he gets a settling-in allowance."

"How many?"

"I don't know, but it should be no more or less. You can check it online yourself."

Meng Yanxi looked at her without saying a word.

That's why I found it strange – I had checked it out.

How could Jin Zhao be so poor? He's even trying to save money on rent.

Her dorm room... well, he wasn't saying it was bad, it was fragrant and soft, and quite charming. But that's on the condition that you ignore the snakes and spiders that had appeared there.

The school was even willing to provide half of the rent subsidy, but she still hasn't moved out.

She seems to be short of money.

After a moment of silence, Meng Yanxi suddenly asked his sister, "Do you want to take the postgraduate entrance exam?"

a bolt from the blue!

Meng Zhuxi suddenly looked up and asked incredulously, "Meng Yanxi, are you crazy or am I crazy?"

Meng Yanxi seemed to realize that the suggestion was a bit crazy, and then compromised by saying, "Or you could take the IELTS test."

Meng Zhuxi: "?"

Meng Yanxi: "Don't worry about your grades, I can get you a tutor."

Meng Zhuxi: "...Would that teacher happen to be named Jin Zhao?"

Meng Yanxi pointed to the table: "A score of 7 in IELTS can get you a large apartment by the river, and I'll also arrange a housekeeper for you."