Chapter 33 The Cold and Beautiful Professor (33)

Chapter 33: The Cold and Alluring Professor (33)

Qi Yan was eager to know the answer to this question.

Lin Jun actually didn't know the specific reason either. He shook his head, glanced at Shen Juan beside him, and stammered, "Why don't you ask my brother?"

Qi Yan had considered asking Shen Juan, but he had sounded out Shen Juan about his ex-husband multiple times. Each time, Shen Juan still seemed hung up on him post-divorce.

Asking wouldn't yield any clear answer and would only make himself feel worse.

Seeing that Lin Jun didn't know, Qi Yan lost interest in talking to him. He turned his gaze and focused on Shen Juan.

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After about five minutes, they finished their conversation. Qi Yan walked over.

Seeing him, Su Nian's attitude inexplicably softened a lot. She waved her hand and said, "Well, Little Lin and I will go ahead then."

Shen Juan nodded.

Su Nian had been asking what was going on between them. In her view, Qi Yan was the culprit who had made her brother withered like dead wood.

She still remembered over two weeks ago, because Shen Juan hadn't answered his phone for a long time, she was extremely worried and had her husband drive her to Shen Juan's house overnight.

There, she found Shen Juan collapsed amidst a pile of clothes—Su Nian recognized them as his ex-husband's clothes.

Her brother looked haggard, his face pale, with large bluish-dark circles under his eyes, sitting there in wrinkled clothes, both disheveled and defeated.

She had never seen her brother like that before.

Without a second thought, Su Nian dragged her brother back to her house. Even then, her brother acted as if possessed, insisting on clutching his ex-husband's clothes, afraid of losing them.

On the first day at her place, her brother fell into a deep sleep, fell ill that very night, with a continuous fever and heart palpitations.

The doctor said it was due to extreme emotional turmoil and a severe shock. Apart from being abandoned by his lover, Su Nian couldn't think of any other shock that could make her usually strong and calm brother so distraught, even to the point of falling ill.

During the days in the hospital, apart from some friends, the lover her brother had married never visited. Su Nian thought it must be because of the divorce and separation.

How could she not be angry? How could she not despise the cruelty of her brother's lover? Su Nian would rather her brother live alone for the rest of his life.

After her brother recovered, he remained thin and pale, but his spirits improved greatly. He could eat normally and speak normally, though occasionally he would say things she didn't understand.

Things like "catch him back," "imprison him," and so on.

Su Nian didn't understand, but she was genuinely happy to see Shen Juan's mental state improve. Still, she insisted on keeping Shen Juan at her place for a few more days before letting him return home.

Later, she called her brother several times, and he always answered. These past few days, her brother's condition had clearly improved a lot—not just mentally, but in many other ways too, as if the very foundation that supported him had finally returned.

At first, Su Nian couldn't figure it out, but the moment she saw Qi Yan, everything became clear.

Hmph, even a good horse doesn't return to old grass. Since he left, why come back to mess with her brother?

Su Nian had been questioning Shen Juan about what was going on, her words laced with dissatisfaction towards Qi Yan.

Although Shen Juan wanted to torment Qi Yan, that was his own business. He hated for Qi Yan to be disliked, especially by his family, so he explained a few things on Qi Yan's behalf, saying there had been some misunderstandings back then.

Su Nian, being naive, believed him immediately. Although she still wasn't happy with Qi Yan, her hostility diminished significantly.

Qi Yan had been standing far away, and since Shen Juan was talking to his sister, his possessiveness wasn't that controlling—he hadn't been eavesdropping, so naturally, he didn't know what they were discussing.

He didn't ask too much either. Qi Yan only said to Shen Juan, "Let's go in and see the exhibition."

The mathematics exhibition hall was spacious, with three floors and not too many people. Being together felt like having their own private world, and Qi Yan loved it.

Most of what greeted the eye were unsolved math problems or some mechanical designs. Seeing Shen Juan engrossed in them, Qi Yan also began to appreciate the displays.

He even asked Shen Juan what some of the formulas meant. Shen Juan patiently explained, and talking about his familiar field made him even more captivating.

Qi Yan couldn't take his eyes off him, trying to listen to his voice while watching him, overwhelming his senses.

Seeing his expression, Shen Juan smirked slightly and said, "Let's go, let's check out the upstairs."

Qi Yan nodded and said, "Okay."

After the exhibition, it was already evening. Qi Yan took Shen Juan to a Western restaurant he had reserved in advance.

On the table was a vase holding nine delicate, small roses, with scented candles lit. The overhead light was soft and intimate.

It was a restaurant many couples would choose—one with great ambiance, aroma, and taste. Qi Yan had picked it after reading many recommendations.

The two sat facing each other. Qi Yan looked at Shen Juan as he chewed the last piece of his steak.

Shen Juan wiped the corner of his mouth and lifted his eyelids slightly. "Something to say?"

Qi Yan smiled and shook his head. "No, I just want to look at you."

Ignoring Shen Juan's ex-husband, who was far away, Qi Yan had a very pleasant day. He created many memories unique to him and Shen Juan, memories he could savor slowly in the future.

Shen Juan put down his knife and fork and looked at Qi Yan. "Any other plans after this?"

Qi Yan pointed outside the window. "In half an hour, there's a fireworks display by the shore. I bought tickets. Let's go watch it together."

"Okay," Shen Juan nodded.

The two walked out of the restaurant.

Almost everyone there to watch the fireworks were lovers or married couples—pairs everywhere you looked.

Qi Yan and Shen Juan fit right in among them, not standing out at all. They stood at the edge, away from the crowd, and glanced at each other.

The presence of the person beside him was clear, his breath distinct. In the noisy show, Qi Yan could only catch Shen Juan's breathing—soft and steady.

Even without looking, Qi Yan could now sketch the other's outline from memory, and it made his heart beat faster.

For some reason, he felt a slight ache in his chest, swollen with emotion.

Qi Yan remembered last night's dream again—fragmented, chaotic, and swaying in his mind.

He remembered the existence of these memory fragments but couldn't recall what memories they actually held.

Throughout the day, Triple Zero had disappeared, and Qi Yan hadn't been apart from Shen Juan, so he had no chance to ask Triple Zero.

A sudden thought occurred to Qi Yan: could it be related to his missing memories?

On his first day in this world, Triple Zero had used his missing memories to lure him into calling Shen Juan.

Later, as Qi Yan grew more invested in Shen Juan, he paid less mind to his own missing memories and hadn't asked Triple Zero about them for a long time.

In his memory, he could clearly recall everything that happened in reality—large, connected, coherent memories. Logically, Qi Yan shouldn't have sensed anything amiss.

Long before now, he had sensed something was off—a voice within him told Qi Yan that there was a gap in his memory, like a missing puzzle. Even if the surface seemed complete, it left a trace in his mind.

He had to find that missing piece.

"Boom—" A loud sound snapped Qi Yan out of his thoughts.

Looking up, he saw fireworks launched into the sky one after another, man-made stars blooming in the night, their shimmering tails dazzling and brilliant.

The night sky above them glittered at that moment, forming a continuous, romantic sea of blazing red.

The crowd erupted into cheers of excitement, and couples naturally embraced and kissed one after another.

Qi Yan looked up, his eyes reflecting the blazing sea. His uncontrollable emotions soared passionately like the fireworks.

At that moment, his little finger, hanging by his side, was gently hooked. Qi Yan lowered his eyes and saw his little finger intertwined with Shen Juan's.

Shen Juan's eyes still held the lingering warmth of the fireworks, scattered with glimmers of light. Behind his glasses, his peach-blossom eyes were captivatingly bright.

Qi Yan watched as Shen Juan took a half-step closer amid the noisy cheers of the crowd. Their gazes collided, sparking invisible electricity.

Shen Juan's thin lips lifted slightly, and even the usually cold corners of his eyes softened into a smile. He initially took Qi Yan's hand, looking at him as he said, "Today made me really happy."

After a couple of seconds, Shen Juan released Qi Yan's hand and looked up at the sky, a smile trailed on his lips.

Qi Yan rubbed his fingertips where Shen Juan had touched him, as if repeatedly feeling the lingering warmth Shen Juan had left behind. His gaze remained glued to Shen Juan's profile, unable to look away.

His voice laced with pleasure: "I'm glad I could make you happy, teacher."

It made Qi Yan feel that everything he had prepared was meaningful.

The second round of fireworks began.

They stood beneath the sky full of fireworks, thinking of each other, their eyes filled with the complete glow of the lights.

Qi Yan lowered his head, resting his chin on Shen Juan's shoulder, and gently brushed a kiss against his cheek.

A warm, delicate kiss.

Before the fireworks faded, Shen Juan turned his gaze sideways at the unexpected kiss on his cheek, meeting Qi Yan's eyes, which were brimming with a triumphant grin.

He tapped Qi Yan's lip with his index finger and chuckled softly, "What bad habit have I spoiled you into?"

The brilliant, crackling fireworks overhead were like jolts of electricity from the chest, spreading throughout the body.

The fireworks were the perfect embellishment, sculpted Shen Juan's features with exquisite, stunning beauty, as if he were the greatest masterpiece of the world's most talented artist.

For a moment, Qi Yan held his breath. Looking at Shen Juan, he thought he was more beautiful than any firework blooming in the sky.

Shen Juan's fingertips grazed Qi Yan's straight nose bridge, his fingers arching as the back of his hand repeatedly brushed against Qi Yan's Adam's apple.

Teasing out hidden sparks, Qi Yan exerted great effort to fight the impulse to kiss Shen Juan's red lips in public.

Shen Juan calmly withdrew his hand as the fireworks show in the night sky drew to a close.

Like countless couples in the throes of passion, after the fireworks ended, Qi Yan walked Shen Juan to his doorstep before they parted ways.

Watching Shen Juan's retreating figure disappear from view, Qi Yan's brow deepened with a sullen shadow.

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Qi Yan stood still for a few seconds before turning and heading to his rented apartment.

Entering the room, Triple Zero appeared out of nowhere, a mini fluffy chicken toy perched on its head.

Qi Yan looked at it: "Little Chicken, how much do you know about the memories I've lost?"

Triple Zero knew a great deal—after all, it was the one who had sealed, copied, and extracted Qi Yan's memories.

But according to the System Bureau's rules, it couldn't disclose anything casually. Now, in the second timeline, this rule was even more strictly enforced.

It could only wait for the host to remember on his own.

Originally, the host shouldn’t have been able to recover his memories through his own power, but Triple Zero’s energy was insufficient. While it had enough to crawl around or exchange for minor items, it was powerless to do more.

This created the possibility for the sealed memories to loosen.

Triple Zero adjusted the chicken toy on its head and spoke, pretending to be casual.

[I’m not really sure either.]

Qi Yan wasn’t about to let it off that easily and was ready to press further.

Suddenly, the surveillance screen flickered, showing Shen Juan's face. Qi Yan quickly locked Triple Zero outside the door.

On the screen, Shen Juan was handling a disc, inserting it into a projector.

Qi Yan also caught a glimpse of what Shen Juan was watching—an intense and provocative intimate footage.

Shen Juan's face appeared sometimes blurred, sometimes clear, filled with willing intoxication and attachment as he clung tightly to the man in front of him.

The recording's audio was fuzzy, and through the monitor, it was even harder for Qi Yan to make out, but he heard it nonetheless.

"Gege, if you’re this rough, do you still want me?" The tone was pampered and coy—it was Shen Juan's voice.

On the screen, the man holding him lowered his head to kiss the corner of Shen Juan's mouth, gripped his waist, and pulled him close into his lap. Then the man turned to face the camera—

It was a face nearly identical to Qi Yan's.

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Author's Note: Feel like the pacing is a bit slow, want to outline and chapter-plan to set the rhythm. Will update at 11 PM from now on, might add extra chapters depending on the situation ovo.