"Good morning, class. I apologize for being late for a minute,

" he exclaimed, leaning forward on his desk as he rested both of his hands on it.

"I had to escort a student at the nurse's office since she was not feeling well this morning.

"

With that said, the students nodded and the others found it weird that someone would suddenly feel sick this morning. It was something rare to see and hear in college—but common to hear in elementary and high school.

However, the students just shoved it aside, already focusing in class.

Zhang Ren looked at Shi Lian.

"Do you think that she's really in the infirmary?

"

"No,

" Shi Lian whispered back,

"I think it's just an alibi—it's appropriate this way, rather than both of them being seen entering the class together. It would make their disappearance more suspicious.

"

With that said, both of them looked straight at the board, already listening to the professor as he remembered that Ruo Xi is at the back of the room.

As he eyed her carefully, Ruo Xi noticed that he was looking at her, making her smile at him.

However, the professor internally scoffed, thinking to himself how absurd it must've been for him to suddenly feel pissed at her after not seeing her for how many years!

Maybe it's because he's slowly getting sure that Shu Xian is the one mending his broken heart?

Soon after, Pan An let out a sigh. With him feigning a fake smile as he made sure that he would still sound professional, he gestured his hand to Ruo Xi, further introducing her to the class even though the dean did not formally tell him that she would be observing the class.

'Talk about professionalism,' Pan An thought, his eyebrow almost twitching in annoyance.

"Everyone,

" he said, his fake smile not leaving his face as he introduced the woman behind the classroom.

"As you are now fully aware, we have a visitor at the back of the classroom.

"

With her standing up from her seat, she smiled at everyone and did a bow, greeting everyone.

"Good morning, everyone,

" she said, everyone's eyes on her now, especially the men since they see her so beautifully.

With the students now returning their gaze to the professor, he further introduced their unexpected visitor to the class, doing so professionally as if he had never known her at all!

Because of this… deep down, it had started to make Ruo Xi feel irritated!

It was not what she had expected at all—she thought he would grovel at her feet and treat her like a goddess like he always did back in the years!

"It was unexpected for us as well since this was informed earlier in the morning, but she will be a new professor in the College of Teacher Education. She's here today to observe in one of the classes before she would formally start her teaching in the university. In the near future, she may be your instructor.

"

Already stepping aside, the professor gestured at the free space in front of the classroom, giving the floor to Ruo Xi.

"Everyone, greet Ruo Xi as she introduces herself to class.

"

With that, Ruo Xi started to walk down the aisle. However, with the sound of the back door suddenly opening and closing, she saw a glimpse of Shu Xian entering the class and sitting down beside the two students in front of her, a thought passing in her mind.

'Hmph! I'll show her something shocking that she wouldn't like!'

As Shu Xian was walking down the aisle, she pretended to trip on her own foot. With the thought of Pan An catching her since she knew that he has great reflexes, what happened next was something that she didn't expect once again!

Pan An saw her fall, landing on her knees…

But he didn't do anything.

At all!

Ruo Xi gritted her teeth under her breath, making sure that her hair would block the frustrated expression on her face. With her feeling stupid as she embarrassed herself, she felt her blood boil as Pan An showed no interest at her!

Even in the slightest!

With some of the girls who started to hate her giggling at the sight, she couldn't help but glare at them from the corner of her eye, the students noticing for a brief moment.

Soon after, one male student stood up, extending his hand towards her as he asked,

"are you alright?

"

Ruo Xi raised her head. With a fake smile on her face, she nodded, already taking his hand and letting him help her up when her target clearly wasn't participating in her shenanigan!

Is this the same Pan An that she knew… or someone different?

"I'm sorry,

" she said, her fake smile not leaving her face.

"I'm quite a klutz.

"

"Oh!

"

Pan An pretended that he didn't know her, nodding as he commented on what she said that made the other students stifle their laughter.

"Then I suggest, Professor Ruo Xi, that you don't wear heels if you can't even walk properly and tend to be clumsy. You may look elegant, but obviously, that wasn't elegant at all. No offense.

"

Ruo Xi's hands at the sides balled into tight fists. With her shoving her embarrassment and his statement aside, she then walked to the middle of the classroom, looking at everyone as she formally introduced herself to the class.

"Once again, good morning, everyone, my name is Ruo Xi.

"

As the students listened to her, Zhang Ren and Shi Lian looked at Shu Xian suspiciously, the girl combing her hair properly with the comb that she got from her bag.

"What's up?

" Shi Lian whispered to her, obviously not paying attention to the bitch in front of the class.

"You look obviously disheveled and flustered,

" she added, a cheeky grin appearing on Shu Xian's face as she didn't answer for a while.

"Hmm… something tells me that something has happened in that classroom. It was as if you were about to cry before and know you're like this? Did he clear it up to you, or what?

"

Shu Xian grinned at them. Despite the girl whom she feared being in front and introducing herself to the class before them, it's as if she didn't mind it.

Heck, she was even among the students who laughed when they saw Ruo Xi fall to the floor and the professor didn't even help her!

Their group specifically noticed that this Ruo Xi was doing it on purpose but her plans, whatever those be, are failing right here and then!

"He reassured me of my standing,

" Shu Xian whispered, making Shi Lian playfully roll her eyes at her.

"Not only through his words… but through quick, certain actions.

"

"Naughty,

" Zhang Ren commented, a smug grin on his face.

"Just naughty.

"

As the three of them now focused their attention on the woman in front of the class, they listened to her—not believing every word she says as it was obvious that she is here for another reason.

Just to get on Shu Xian's nerves and just for her to get Pan An's attention.

"I was born and raised here, but due to some issues, I have decided to study abroad and live my life there.

"

Shu Xian and Shi Lian looked at each other as if communicating with each other through their eyes. With a light scoff coming from Shi Lian, Shu Xian's lips tugged into a small smile, knowing that the reason why she has left the country is because of her infidelity.

Being in a relationship with Pan An's and Wang Lei's other

"friend,

" Hao Jiao Long.

"Now that I'm done with my pedagogy studies, I decided to come back home and then give back to the country where I stayed once. Being here in front of you students, I'm excited that one day, you will be my students that I will guide in the near future. Thank you very much for your time listening.

"

As the class gave her a round of applause, Pan An did so as well, already looking at Ruo Xi as he still continued to act professionally.

"Thank you for that introduction, Ruo Xi. You may now head back to your seat.

"

With a nod, she walked back in the aisle, then back to her seat behind the three. It was only now as well that she had confirmed that Shu Xian is friends with her two other seatmates, making her eye on them as well as she wanted to make an investigation about them.

'What are their names?' she thought, especially eyeing on Zhang Ren. 'This guy… I knew I saw him before in Country S… but am I sure that I did? Or do they just look alike?'

Zhang Ren met the gaze of Ruo Xi. With him feigning ignorance as he smiled at her, Ruo Xi only smiled at him back, already sitting behind them as she shot an icy look on Shu Xian's back.

Shu Xian obviously felt the dagger-like gaze that was aimed at her back!

With a smirk on her face as she daren't looked back, she suddenly felt her confidence boosting up a hundred fold with the help of Pan An's assurance that she is capable of beating this girl as what Cai Li had always believed.