103: Chapter 103 Expert Chen

Early the next morning.

Lin Xi woke up from her sleep and found the space beside her on the pillow empty.

She froze for a few seconds, then slowly sat up. The quilt slid off her shoulders, and the cool air pressed against her skin.

She subconsciously reached out to touch the pillow beside her—it was still warm.

She felt a sudden sense of emptiness in her heart.

Just then, a voice came from nearby.

"Awake?"

Chen Fan walked over, sat on the edge of the bed, and reached out to ruffle her hair.

"If you're awake, go wash up. I bought you breakfast."

Lin Xi looked at him, stunned for two seconds, then looked down at herself—her bare shoulders, the slipped quilt.

Her face flushed red, and she pulled the quilt up, leaving only her head exposed. Her eyes blinked rapidly, like a startled little animal.

"You... you go out first."

Chen Fan smiled. Everything that needed to happen had already happened, so why was she still so shy?

But he didn't say anything. He stood up, hands in his pockets, and strolled slowly toward the living room: "Alright, hurry up. It won't taste good if it gets cold."

A few minutes later, Lin Xi came out of the room. She had changed into that white dress with the patterns, and her hair was loosely tied in a low ponytail with a hair tie. A few stray strands of hair fell beside her ears, framing a face that still carried the lingering grumpiness of just waking up.

She came to the dining table, sat down, and looked at the breakfast laid out before her—century egg and lean meat porridge, a steamer of soup dumplings, and a cup of freshly ground soy milk.

The porridge was still steaming, the aroma of the century egg and lean meat mixed with green onions wafting upwards; the skin of the soup dumplings was so thin that the broth inside could be seen, and the pleats were pinched neatly.

She picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a soup dumpling, and took a gentle bite.

She narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.

"Aren't you eating?" Lin Xi looked at him.

"I've already eaten."

"Oh."

Lin Xi didn't say anything more and focused on the breakfast in front of her. She was very focused when eating, taking small bites, looking very ladylike.

Chen Fan watched her eat breakfast, his gaze gradually shifting to her smooth, bare legs.

The hem of the dress just covered her knees, leaving her lower legs exposed. They were fair and straight, glowing with a delicate sheen in the morning light.

"Xixi, it's already September. Aren't you cold wearing that?"

"Not cold at all." Lin Xi said casually, her words muffled as she chewed.

In truth, when they were out walking last night, it had been a bit cold. The autumn wind blew, chilly and biting, and she had hunched her shoulders several times, but she hadn't been embarrassed to say it out loud.

"If you're cold, you could wear a pair of stockings on your legs."

Lin Xi paused, looking at him with a strange expression.

Chen Fan didn't change his expression and continued: "Experts say that wearing stockings not only keeps you warm but also prevents varicose veins."

Watching Chen Fan spout nonsense with a straight face, Lin Xi couldn't help but roll her eyes at him: "What kind of expert? I think it's Expert Chen, isn't it?"

Chen Fan laughed and didn't deny it.

"Then, Expert Chen," Lin Xi put down her spoon, looking at him with a half-smile, "how long have you been researching this?"

"Not long, just started researching it."

"So many theories just after starting your research?"

"Talent."

Lin Xi was amused by him and reached out to pinch his arm lightly. There was no strength in it; it didn't hurt, just tickled.

"Perverted expert."

At 7:30 AM, Chen Fan dropped Lin Xi off at Changan University.

The car stopped at the school gate. Lin Xi unbuckled her seatbelt, picked up her bag, and pushed the car door open.

"Let me know when you arrive," Chen Fan said.

"Mhm." Lin Xi nodded, closed the car door, took two steps, looked back at him once more, and then turned and walked into the school gate.

Chen Fan watched her back disappear behind the turnstiles before shifting gears and driving away.

Then, he headed straight for Chang'an Jiaotong University. The first class of the morning started at eight o'clock, and he had to get back as soon as possible.

Even though Chen Fan didn't delay on the road, it was already 8:03 AM by the time he arrived at the classroom.

He snuck in through the back door, crouching low, trying his best not to make a sound. Inside the classroom, a male teacher around thirty years old was taking attendance at the podium, his voice neither loud nor soft, carrying a routine, indifferent tone.

"Chen Fan."

Chen Fan, who had just snuck in through the back door, was stunned—what a coincidence, it was his name being called. He quickly stood up straight and answered: "Here."

The Advanced Mathematics teacher raised his head, looked in the direction of the voice, let his gaze rest on him for a moment, and then lowered his head to continue calling the next name.

Chen Fan went to the empty seat next to Wang Lei and the others. Wang Lei was sitting on the aisle, so he tapped Wang Lei on the shoulder, and Wang Lei shifted inward, making space for him.

As soon as he sat down, Wang Lei leaned over and whispered: "I was just about to answer for you when you arrived."

"I almost didn't make it." Chen Fan leaned back against the chair and let out a long breath.

"Did you not bring your book?" Wang Lei looked at him, puzzled.

When Wang Lei asked that, Chen Fan remembered that his book was still at home, and he had forgotten to take it. He had left in such a rush this morning, too focused on dropping off Lin Xi, that he hadn't even brought his backpack.

"I forgot to bring it."

Wang Lei pushed his book toward the middle, and Chen Fan pulled it over and flipped to the page for today's lecture.

Shortly after one o'clock in the afternoon, Chen Fan left school and headed to the company.

He had just received a call from Zhang Tao; the final version of "defend the carrot" had finished testing, and they were just waiting for Chen Fan to confirm the launch date.

Twenty minutes later, the car pulled into the parking lot of the building where the company was located. Chen Fan headed toward the building without stopping, his pace much faster than usual.

As soon as he entered the company, he saw Qiao Linlin sitting at the front desk, bored, playing on her phone.

Her head was lowered, her fingers swiping across the screen, a faint smile on her lips—she didn't know what she was looking at.

The front desk was kept clean and tidy, with only a computer, a water cup, and a small potted plant.

Chen Fan walked to the front desk and tapped on the surface twice.

"Stop slacking off."

Qiao Linlin was startled, and her phone almost slipped out of her hand.

She looked up and saw it was Chen Fan. A look of panic from being caught slacking off appeared on her face, but it quickly dissipated—because there was no anger on Chen Fan's face; he was even smiling slightly.

"Boss, you're here~" She immediately beamed, her eyes curving into crescents.

"Mhm."

Seeing that Chen Fan wasn't angry, Qiao Linlin's face immediately brightened again. She stood up from her chair, her tone light: "Boss, I'll go get you a glass of water."

"Sure."

Chen Fan nodded and headed toward the office area.

The office area was very quiet, with the sounds of keyboards, mice, and the occasional whispered discussion.

Chen Fan went directly to Zhang Tao's workstation. Zhang Tao was staring at the screen, his fingers typing something on the keyboard, with half a cup of cold coffee sitting beside him.