Chapter 32 The Cold and Beautiful Professor (32)

Chapter 32: The Aloof Professor (32)

Qi Yan finally learned the intimate term of endearment between Shen Juan and his ex-husband.

"Gege."

Hah, such a cutesy nickname—not pleasant at all.

Shen Juan, elegant and languid like a Persian cat, lifted his fair chin, closed his eyes again, and gently brushed his lips against Qi Yan’s forehead, speaking affectionately, "Gege, where’s my good morning kiss?"

In his dazed, intimate state, Qi Yan naturally didn’t think Shen Juan was asking *him* for a kiss. It seemed that, freshly divorced, Shen Juan was still habitually assuming his ex-husband was by his side.

A bitter resentment rose in Qi Yan’s heart. Perhaps already accustomed to being mistaken by Shen Juan, this time he didn’t expose the misunderstanding but instead seized the opportunity.

Qi Yan pinched Shen Juan’s lips, forcing the soft, red flesh to part like a clam shell, revealing the faint, subtly gliding pink tip of his tongue.

Shen Juan’s dazed expression slowly focused. He stared at Qi Yan for a long time, neither smiling nor speaking, making it impossible to guess what he was thinking.

Then, his long eyelashes fluttered shut, his attitude ambiguous, as if silently hinting that Qi Yan could kiss him.

Qi Yan’s gaze was dark and inscrutable, his features sharp. He leaned down, ready to cover Shen Juan’s lips and let his tongue slip in, giving his clingy "lover" a good morning kiss.

The distance between their faces closed rapidly, their breaths intertwining, the air thick with suggestive tension. Qi Yan didn’t close his eyes—he kept them wide open, watching intently as Shen Juan’s thin lips drew nearer.

His exhale brushed against Shen Juan’s lips, teasing out a tantalizing itch. The Cupid’s bow glistened with moisture, looking utterly kissable.

Qi Yan held his breath, eyes fixed unblinkingly on Shen Juan as he drew closer.

Their breaths mingled, passionate like lovers.

Everything was perfect. If a photographer had captured the moment, Qi Yan felt the atmosphere would be filled with a romantic vibe.

But at the most inopportune moment, Shen Juan suddenly opened his eyes and raised a finger, pressing it against Qi Yan’s lips.

Shen Juan smiled like a seductive serpent, bonelessly reclining in Qi Yan’s arms, his voice enchanting: "Shh."

"Don’t forget—we’re not in a relationship where we can kiss so casually."

The perfectly timed reminder highlighted Shen Juan’s aloofness. Here he was, lying in Qi Yan’s embrace, enjoying the man’s warmth, yet refusing even the slightest peck.

It was baffling, and all the more maddening.

Qi Yan felt the slender, pale finger against his lips. He took it, held it firmly, and kissed Shen Juan’s fingertip, his dark eyes reflecting Shen Juan’s image.

His gaze etched every detail of Shen Juan’s form as he murmured suggestively, "Soon enough, Teacher Shen will be willing."

Shen Juan provocatively indulged him: "We’ll see if you have what it takes."

Qi Yan smirked. "If we’re not in a kissing relationship, can we at least be in a hand-holding relationship?"

As he spoke, he took Shen Juan’s right hand, lacing their fingers together under the covers. Shen Juan allowed it, their palms pressed together, warmth spreading between them.

Qi Yan glanced down at Shen Juan’s other hand, exposed to the light, which allowed him to examine it more clearly.

Shen Juan had beautiful hands—distinct knuckles, pale and slender, with faint blue veins nearly translucent under the light.

His long, slim fingers weren’t weak; they were strong and agile. From years of holding pens, a slight callus roughened the joint of his index finger.

Qi Yan adored them. He wanted to kiss Shen Juan’s fingertips again—or even better, leave a bite mark with his teeth.

Shen Juan lifted his wrist, brushing his thumb across Qi Yan’s lips. "Do you like them?"

In response, Qi Yan gently kissed his fingertip, eyes locked on Shen Juan. "Yes," he said.

As if rewarding him, Shen Juan ruffled Qi Yan’s hair with his right hand, the callus scraping lightly against his scalp, bringing a rough sensation.

It was the first time anyone had ever touched Qi Yan’s head like that. Under the covers, his palm grew sweaty—whether from nervousness, embarrassment, or excitement, he couldn’t tell.

Not wanting Shen Juan to feel uncomfortable, he grabbed a tissue and said, "Let me clean it for you, Teacher Shen."

He hadn’t meant to sweat so much, but…

Shen Juan shook his head, unbothered by the young man’s impulsiveness.

Lifting the blanket slightly, his pale fingers searched until Shen Juan, still holding Qi Yan’s hand, noticed both their palms were damp with sweat.

Shen Juan spread his hand open for Qi Yan to see. "Too much on the left side of my middle finger, too little on the right—it’s uneven."

He complained lightly, "Don’t do this again."

Qi Yan’s eyes scanned his hand, taking in the uneven sweat patterns, and he rasped, "Okay."

Finally, he glanced up at the wedding photo on the wall and remarked with a hint of envy, "Teacher Shen, you’re so delicate. Did your husband indulge you like this too?"

As always, his words reeked of pettiness, subtly driving a wedge between Shen Juan and his ex.

Shen Juan ignored Qi Yan’s petty remark. He felt weak, slightly dizzy, and nauseous. Later, he’d have to sneak some prenatal supplements behind Qi Yan’s back to avoid being found out.

For now, he’d linger in Qi Yan’s embrace as long as possible, saving his energy so he could focus on disciplining this heartless lover he despised yet couldn’t let go of.

Despite his words, Qi Yan obediently carried Shen Juan to the bathroom, holding him close.

Outside the bedroom, Shen Juan leaned bonelessly against Qi Yan’s shoulder, his feet barely touching the floor as if stepping on soft mud, utterly weak and limp.

His eyes half-closed, he let his full weight rest on Qi Yan, seemingly unconcerned that the other might suddenly pull away and let him fall.

Qi Yan, seeing how dependent Shen Juan was on him, felt a surge of satisfaction.

Warm water flowed from the tap. Shen Juan meticulously washed his hands using the seven-step method before handing Qi Yan a fresh towel. "Clean yourself."

Knowing Shen Juan valued cleanliness, Qi Yan scrubbed his hands and face almost raw. Once satisfied, he dried off, wrapped his arms around Shen Juan’s waist from behind, and held him close.

The water stopped abruptly. Shen Juan looked down at the hands suddenly encircling his waist and lightly tapped them. "Let go."

His tone lacked any real coldness or refusal, so Qi Yan had no intention of releasing him. Instead, he slid his thumb over Shen Juan’s slightly rounded lower abdomen and teased, "Teacher Shen, your little belly is so soft. So cute."

Shen Juan’s expression cooled instantly. *Little belly?*

Before the pregnancy, Qi Yan often dragged him to work out. His figure was anything but lacking—his abdomen was flat, with well-defined, evenly toned muscles.

Now, after getting him pregnant, Qi Yan had the nerve to say he’d gained weight.

How infuriating.

Shen Juan was not pleased.

Shen Juan’s gaze turned icy. He swatted Qi Yan’s hand away and said coldly, "Go to the kitchen and make me noodles."

Hearing the anger in his tone, Qi Yan obediently released his grip, his mind racing as he thought that perhaps Shen Juan was upset about him mentioning the soft belly and wanted to work on his physique.

Qi Yan gently bumped his head against the back of Shen Juan's head, their soft heads touching lightly. He cooed soothingly, "Teacher Shen, don't be mad at me. From now on, I'll take you to work out, help you build better muscle tone, and turn that belly into abs, okay?"

Unexpectedly, Shen Juan's expression grew even colder. He took half a step forward, his tone displeased, "Not necessary."

Qi Yan was puzzled, unsure why Shen Juan was angry. Thinking he needed to coax him properly, he remembered Shen Juan's earlier words and headed to the kitchen, where he cooked two bowls of tomato and egg noodles.

While he was busily cooking, Shen Juan's lips were flushed red as he gazed at the ceiling, his slender fingers touching the supplements.

Perhaps because he was further along in his pregnancy, he occasionally felt a second heartbeat in his belly.

If Qi Yan were to feel the baby kicking later on, how would he explain it?

Would he say his heart was kicking and jumping? Who would believe that?

Qi Yan brought the two bowls of noodles and a cup of honey water to the dining table. After about three minutes, Shen Juan ambled over, his expression calm.

He looked up, and his eyes briefly met Shen Juan's. The corners of Qi Yan's lips curved into a smile, "Teacher Shen."

The light from outside sprawled like winding vines, crawling across the entire table and filling Shen Juan's eyes. In his pupils, Qi Yan's reflection swayed.

Making Qi Yan seem dreamlike and ethereal, Shen Juan's breath hitched slightly, a complex, unreadable shadow flashing through his calm eyes.

Shen Juan sat across from Qi Yan and quietly ate breakfast.

Qi Yan directly dragged his chair next to Shen Juan's side, deliberately choosing to sit close to him despite the plenty of space available.

Shen Juan glanced at him out of the corner of his eye but said nothing, allowing him to lean in. On the table, the chopsticks and bowls made faint clinking sounds.

The two finished their breakfast quietly, the atmosphere unusually tranquil.

Qi Yan loved it.

The mathematics exhibition was open all day, so they could go whenever they wanted.

But Qi Yan, wanting to make more meaningful memories with Shen Juan, washed the dishes, put them in the dish sterilizer, and then looked at Shen Juan, saying, "Teacher Shen, let's go."

Leaving early meant they could spend the whole day on a date, though staying home with Shen Juan all day was also a good option.

But Qi Yan wasn't just lusting after Shen Juan's mature, attractive physique—he also coveted even more elusive treasures.

Shen Juan's genuine affection.

And the status of the official partner.

To get these, Qi Yan had to approach from different angles, creating romantic and unique memories.

Shen Juan nodded and walked downstairs side by side with him. Having been to the mathematics exhibition so many times with Qi Yan before, he wasn't very interested.

Qi Yan wanted to woo him this way, but it was far from enough.

The mathematics exhibition was less than half an hour away by car. By the time they got out, the sky was still bright and azure.

The whole street was lively. Qi Yan noticed a street not far away selling milk tea, and most importantly, it seemed mostly couples buying it.

Couples...

Weren't they just like a couple on a date now?

Qi Yan's mind stirred, and he turned to Shen Juan, saying, "Teacher Shen, let me buy you a cup."

Shen Juan wasn't really interested in milk tea, but seeing Qi Yan so enthusiastic, he nodded.

Without delay, Qi Yan walked to the most upscale-looking milk tea shop nearby.

There were too many people, so Shen Juan didn't follow him inside, waiting instead outside the crowd.

After a while, he saw Qi Yan holding two cups of milk tea. Just then, a shy young girl appeared beside him. She was very young, with a sweet appearance, blushing as she said something to Qi Yan and took out her phone.

She was flirting with Qi Yan. This wasn't the first time Shen Juan had encountered such a situation, and seeing it again, he was still unhappy.

Even after getting younger, Qi Yan still knew how to attract admirers.

Shen Juan's gaze turned icy.

As Qi Yan walked over, the girl accidentally touched the milk tea on the right.

Qi Yan took out the cup on the left and handed it to Shen Juan, "Added red beans, half-sweet, warm."

Shen Juan had low blood sugar, so zero sugar wasn't good for him, but he also didn't like anything too sweet.

Shen Juan lowered his gaze to the cup Qi Yan was holding, the one the girl had touched, "This one is only half-sweet? The one in your hand must be extra sweet, then. Yours is probably sweeter."

His tone sounded normal, but Qi Yan keenly detected something off. He took out his own cup and offered it to Shen Juan, smiling, "Both are for Teacher Shen."

He added, "Mine is zero sugar, no sugar at all."

Qi Yan prefers strong flavors, usually liking boldly flavored food, but when it came to drinks or milk tea, he liked them zero sugar.

Shen Juan glanced at it, knowing full well it was zero sugar, but said to Qi Yan, "I'm meant to have sour flavors. Yours is too sweet for me."

Qi Yan couldn't figure out why Shen Juan was upset. He edged closer, his eyebrows slightly raised as he smiled, "Then... how about I mix you a sour milk tea when we get back?"

Shen Juan's expression remained displeased, but since Qi Yan didn't know the reason for his anger, he couldn't very well say he was upset about Qi Yan being flirted with and noticed by others.

It would make him seem petty.

A man almost thirty years old, jealous of a young girl—how narrow-minded.

His unhappiness made Qi Yan want to coax him. He popped in a straw into the milk tea and took a sip of the half-sweet one, blinking, "Actually, Teacher Shen's is sweeter. Try it."

After a long moment, Shen Juan lowered his head and took a small sip, the straw slightly flattened under his lips. He looked up and said flatly, "Mediocre."

Qi Yan used the same straw Shen Juan had used and insisted, "Teacher Shen is the sweet one."

The anger in Shen Juan's heart lingered, but looking at Qi Yan, it subsided somewhat, and his expression softened slightly.

Qi Yan held both cups of milk tea and said, "Shall we go see the exhibition now?"

Shen Juan nodded.

The two set off for the mathematics exhibition again, the futuristic entrance gradually coming into view.

Qi Yan looked at the exhibition entrance and was about to guide Shen Juan inside when he heard an unfamiliar voice call out from behind, "Brother!"

Shen Juan froze, and Qi Yan also stopped, following his line of sight.

Qi Yan saw two people behind him—one was Lin Jun, who had bad eyesight, and the other was a girl who looked somewhat similar to Shen Juan. No question, it was Shen Juan's half-sister, Su Nian.

Su Nian saw them from a distance, a smile curling at the corner of her mouth as she waved her arm and called out, "Brother! I'm over here!!!"

Her eyes then fell on Qi Yan's face, and she let out a cold snort, sneering, "Long time no see. What suddenly brings the busy man around?"

Her tone was sharp: "I thought you were completely absorbed in your work and never came back home. No wonder my brother divorced you—"

Qi Yan listened silently, catching the keyword she left unfinished. His eyes lit up slightly—it seemed Shen Juan had indeed divorced that Yan character. The intelligence from Triple Zero was correct.

Lin Jun tugged at her sleeve, shaking his head to signal her to say less.

Taking her husband's hint, Su Nian held back her temper and her tone softened slightly: "Are you two here on a date? What, getting back together?"

Shen Juan sidestepped the topic of dating and reconciliation, instead asking, "What are you doing here?"

Su Nian pointed to a nearby building: "The aquarium's just around the corner. We're planning to go there—you know how much Xiao Lin likes that sort of thing."

Qi Yan looked relieved. It seemed this was just a chance encounter; they wouldn’t be tagging along to the math exhibit, so it wouldn’t turn from a twosome into a group.

No interruption to his date with Shen Juan.

Su Nian seemed to have something private to say to Shen Juan. Hesitating for a moment, she pulled him aside and whispered something to him.

Qi Yan’s gaze shifted over, lingered briefly, then withdrew politely and restrained.

Now only Qi Yan and Lin Jun remained. Although it wasn’t exactly alone time, being this close to Qi Yan made Lin Jun extremely uncomfortable—he wished he could disappear into the floor.

Interacting with a man who looked exactly like his ex-brother-in-law felt bizarre.

Lin Jun wondered briefly: Could there really be two people in the world who looked completely identical?

Was he being tricked?

But his ex-brother-in-law had no reason to mess with him like that. Lin Jun couldn’t figure out what was going on.

Qi Yan glanced at him and asked casually, "Since Shen Juan divorced his husband, why are they still living together? Does he still visit his ex-husband?"