Chapter 3, "Don't be nervous."
Jin Huan didn't connect the person in front of her with the big shot that Teacher Tan had mentioned; she didn't even consider that possibility.
After saying her name, she realized he hadn't asked at all. She was introducing herself so eagerly that Jin Huan lowered her head in embarrassment, completely forgetting to ask him why he was here.
"Fang Jinhuan." He pronounced her name, his tone not sounding offensive at all. On the contrary, his magnetic voice made her feel that her name sounded even better.
Then he introduced himself, saying, "My name is Zhong Yan, and I'm a friend of your teacher, Mr. Tan."
Fang Jinhuan was taken aback by the fact that Teacher Tan was a friend of hers. She glanced at the time and then belatedly realized that Zhong Yan was the big shot that Teacher Tan had mentioned.
Jin Huan's mouth gaped slightly in surprise.
Her expression was visibly surprised, followed by a scrutinizing look, because she couldn't reconcile the handsome, refined man before her with the academic giant she had imagined. That professor from the next department… he's half bald… so there are such big shots out there…
So the two vastly different images struggled to overlap in her mind, like two building blocks that never fit together. She had to suppress her shock to piece them together.
"Teacher Zhong, Teacher Zhong," Jin Huan stammered.
He said gently, "You don't need to call me teacher, I'm not quite there yet."
A teacher is someone who educates and nurtures students; if he doesn't have any students, what kind of teacher is he?
When Tan Xi invited him, he thought about it for a long time before agreeing. Although he had good grades when he was a graduate student and published several papers smoothly, he had never taught students before. Knowing something yourself and being able to teach it well are two different things. Zhong Yan was very self-aware.
Besides, so many years have passed.
As soon as he corrected her, Jin Huan immediately changed her address to "Mr. Zhong".
Jin Huan has always been very perceptive. Her voice is naturally gentle and approachable. Coupled with her love of smiling, whether shy or smiling with her lips pursed, her good looks have made it easy for her to gain the favor of others since childhood, whether they are boys or girls.
Zhong Yan was always quite tolerant of good children like this, and he asked in a low voice, "Have you been here long?"
The agreed time was four o'clock. He arrived at school early and came over right away. There were still twenty minutes before it started, and the classroom was already full of people.
Jin Huan exclaimed "Ah!" and shook her head, saying, "I've only been here a little while."
Zhong Yan noticed her nervousness, which was normal. He said, "Have a seat first."
Jin Huan: "Oh."
She then realized that she was standing there dumbfounded, staring at people like a reckless husky, which was very impolite, so she quickly sat down.
Just then, Zhong Yan's phone rang.
It sounded like it was Teacher Tan on the other end of the phone. Zhong Yan said he had arrived, and then hung up after saying a few more words.
Tan Xi and the other students were on their way.
Being alone with Zhong Yan in a space for the time being, even though there was some distance between them, Jin Huan was so nervous that her breathing slowed down. It seemed that he was even more of an academic genius than Zhong Yan. Jin Huan was already recalling the content of her PPT and thinking about whether there was anything unreasonable.
What should she do? She knew perfectly well that her research results were not yet presentable, and she really didn't want to embarrass herself in front of Mr. Zhong.
This tense and conflicted time didn't last long, only about five or six minutes of silence, before Teacher Tan and the other students arrived.
When Tan Xi saw Zhong Yan, she smiled and went over to greet him, asking how his business trip was and if his work was going smoothly.
Jin Huan looked at them, but she couldn't hear what they were saying from her position, though the two seemed to know each other well.
The order of the group meeting reports had been decided beforehand. Jin Huan was the second, after Du Qingxu, which was an order that put her under more pressure.
There's no way around it, Du Qingxu is a person who, although he holds multiple positions, can do everything well. Every time he gives a report, there is always something new to say, and Teacher Tan always praises him first.
After Du Qingxu finished his report, he mouthed "Keep it up" to Jin Huan.
Jin Huan seemed not to hear; she was looking in Zhong Yan's direction.
He sat next to Teacher Tan, his posture casual, yet one could sense the unapproachable aura emanating from beneath his calm demeanor. He listened attentively to the report, and only spoke last, after the students and Teacher Tan had raised their questions.
As soon as he opened his mouth, the classroom fell silent.
When Teacher Tan mentioned inviting him before, the students joked about whether he was Teacher Tan's boyfriend and whether they needed help to match them up. But when they actually met him, no one dared to say anything or do anything reckless.
This report was the one with the most somber atmosphere.
Feeling the same way, Jin Huan opened her PowerPoint presentation and took a deep breath.
Fortunately, she had organized her thoughts at noon, so the report went relatively smoothly. There were no stumbles or stammers, and the points were quite clear. As Jin Huan's gaze swept around, it also swept over Zhong Yan. In fact, his expression had been very indifferent, but the slightly rounded transition at his brow bone gave him the illusion of looking gentle. His expression had not changed much from when he was listening to Du Qingxu's speech, but Jin Huan just felt that his complexion was a little worse than before.
After all, she didn't do a good job.
She is definitely not good enough.
Jin Huan's mind was filled with such thoughts. After Teacher Tan finished speaking, she turned her gaze to Zhong Yan beside her.
"Don't be nervous." Zhong Yan didn't think of himself as some kind of monster who could make the girl so nervous from the moment he walked in. He softened his tone and said to her again, "Don't be nervous."
Jin Huan nodded earnestly.
She found out.
She will try her best... not to be nervous...
Zhong Yan then continued.
He hit the nail on the head, pointing out that among the problems she was currently facing, the technical difficulties were the hardest to overcome. Her chosen research topic was so difficult that, at least for her current level of learning, it was beyond her capabilities.
There was no criticism as she had imagined. Tan Xi had certainly given her advice regarding her current predicament. Zhong Yan said that his company had new technology in this area, and he could provide her with some information if she wanted to learn more.
"Really?" Jin Huan was pleasantly surprised. Indeed, the most difficult part for her was the technology, but she was unwilling to change her research topic after all, she had already put so much effort into it.
If there were cutting-edge technical guidance, that would be even better, making things twice as easy.
Zhong Yan nodded. Of course, what he said was true; he had no reason to tease people.
Jin Huan laughed heartily.
This was the first time she had smiled naturally since entering the classroom today; she was genuinely happy.
Zhong Yan said slowly, "The report's approach is good."
Jin Huan blinked.
Her eyes had a very gentle color, like a bunch of pink irises in spring. She was even happier to hear the praise, which was an affirmation of the results of her hard work. Jin Huan's originally tense lips completely relaxed.
I can finally breathe a sigh of relief; I can relax a bit more from here on out.
After the presentation, Jin Huan ran downstairs to the coffee shop and ordered a latte. The school's coffee is for students, and it's cheap and the taste is passable. If she hadn't been in such a hurry, she would have at least gone to the Starbucks near the school gate to buy a cup, but Jin Huan still ordered the most expensive one.
When she arrived at the teaching building, Zhong Yan was just about to leave.
Jin Huan jogged over to him, and when Zhong Yan heard the hurried footsteps, he stopped.
Seeing that she had come to find him, Zhong Yan's gaze fell on her. The girl was walking quickly, her hair flying as she ran, and she held onto the coffee in her hand tightly.
“Mr. Zhong, I’ve come to thank you.” Jin Huan handed over the coffee she was holding. “I bought this for you.”
“This is the only one available at the school,” Jin Huan explained to him.
It wasn't anything special, but Jin Huan thought that perhaps only something so unpresentable would he not refuse.
Zhong Yan looked at the coffee she handed him and, out of politeness, accepted it, saying, "Thank you."
Jin Huan breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him accept the coffee, and then said, "Can I add your contact information? It will be easier for you to send me your information."
Zhong Yan's gaze lingered on her eyes.
He understood the little girl's thoughts very well. When he said he would give her the information, it was obviously through Tan Xi. He had no reason to bypass her and her students. Besides, they were all children, and it wouldn't be appropriate for him to contact them privately.
Zhong Yan had just accepted the coffee, and his expression remained cold as he refused, saying, "You don't need to add my contact information. I'll send the information to your teacher, Ms. Tan."
Jin Huan had already guessed that he probably wouldn't give her his contact information, but she still wanted to try. As expected, she was rejected. She was a little embarrassed, but she didn't dwell on it too much and quickly moved on: "Okay, then I'll ask Teacher Tan for it later."
She didn't press the issue, afraid he'd find her annoying, so she took a small step back and said again, "Thank you so much for today."
The wind blew past her ear, and a strand of hair still clung to her forehead. It was because she had run too fast and it had slipped out like a snuck out, making her look really cute.
People her age are still very vibrant.
Jin Huan said softly, "Have a safe journey."
.
Back in the dorm, Jin Huan took a shower and came out to find everyone chatting enthusiastically in the group chat.
The conversation mainly revolved around Zhong Yan.
I had never heard of Teacher Tan having such a friend before. Just from his demeanor, you could tell he must be an important person. When he was around, no one dared to discuss it. Only after he left did people in the group chat exclaim in amazement.
Although his gaze was gentle and his tone was pleasant, he still gave off an invisible sense of pressure, making everyone turn into obedient students in his presence.
Unlike before when we were in group meetings, where we got to know each other well and joked around, laughing and joking.
Tan Xi is like an older sister to them, and she always gives them milk tea when they've been together for a while.
In front of Mr. Zhong, even when thirsty, one would subconsciously be very careful when drinking water.
They dared not discuss it further, as if saying even a few words would be an offense to him.
Jingxin was the boldest; she joked in the group chat that Mr. Zhong and Teacher Tan were a perfect match, sitting together like a handsome man and a beautiful woman.
A group of children like to talk nonsense. Tan Xi didn't say anything, but steered the conversation back to their studies, asking them to organize their thoughts and synthesize the questions and solutions raised that day.
"We should have made significant progress by the next group meeting," Tan Xi emphasized in her final sentence.
These words seemed to be directed at Jin Huan, who stared at the screen, feeling a little embarrassed.
Another half hour passed, and Tan Xi privately sent some information to Jin Huan.
She was also instructed to keep this information confidential and not to disclose it to others, and to ask her any questions she might have.
Jin Huan wasn't the smartest among Tan Xi's students, but she was studious, ambitious, and had a tenacious spirit that refused to give up. Her gentle smile made her very likable.
Therefore, Tan Xi also loves to enjoy herself to the fullest.
Help her as much as you can.
Jin Huan agreed to everything she asked. She typed out a line to ask about Zhong Yan, but then deleted it all.
Since he doesn't like to reveal his privacy, it would be disrespectful for her to ask Teacher Tan again, and it would also put Teacher Tan in a difficult position. It really shouldn't have been done that way.
Until next time, I hope we'll meet again. I'm sure there will be another chance to see each other.
A note from the author:
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