HRMCF Chapter 15

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🍋‍🟩 Completed Chapter

Shen Yan didn't quite believe any of the versions he'd heard, so he went to the gossip group in his department to see what was up.

Sure enough, in the information war, the people were the real frontline force.

The amount of information in the group was immense, with new versions popping up every second. Messages scrolled upwards rapidly, showing just how interested the general public was in the "melon" of the devil professor.

Rumors tended to become more and more exaggerated as they spread. At first, Shen Yan found it quite amusing, but as he kept reading, he couldn't help but frown.

Liang Keqing was dating a female student?

Wtf!

In the few classes he'd had with Liang Keqing, except for the first time when Liang Keqing's head was clean, the rest of the time, including the basketball game, Liang Keqing's head was full of men's names.

And every name was different, all belonging to some kind of athletic, handsome guy.

There were indeed students, from their department, from other departments, all sorts.

...To be honest, he had also "had the honor" of being on the list.

When Shen Yan saw it, his pupils dilated for a moment before quickly returning to normal.

No big deal, he'd long since taken life and death in stride.

Anyway, he was on Zhao Linsu's list every day, so it didn't matter anymore. That's just how it was when you were good-looking.

What's more, Liang Keqing had only briefly fantasized about him once, and then immediately switched to another fresh-faced boy from the physical education department.

Honestly, looking at Liang Keqing's face, you wouldn't think he was so fickle, just like his brother, changing fantasy partners very frequently.

Unlike someone who was always so "devoted."

Shen Yan's mouth twitched.

He had also hoped that perhaps Zhu Ningbo could make the list once, but unfortunately, Zhu Ningbo's name had never appeared on Liang Keqing's "list."

This kind of Liang Keqing, dating a female student?

It felt really weird.

And wasn't Liang Keqing known for having a very cold relationship with students, completely disliking any private contact with them?

At first, Shen Yan was also a bit uncomfortable with Liang Keqing's fantasizing about students, but then he thought, judge actions, not thoughts. Liang Keqing hadn't actually done anything to any students. Having seen it a lot, he understood that the distance between fantasy and reality wasn't just a little bit, but the entire galaxy, so he just pretended not to see it.

Would Liang Keqing really do something with a student? He still didn't quite believe it.

"Shen Yan—"

Zhu Ningbo appeared at the classroom door, looking travel-worn, carrying a backpack, a tote bag, and dragging a suitcase, waving at Shen Yan with great effort.

Shen Yan hurried over to help. "Just arrived?"

"Yeah," Zhu Ningbo said cheerfully, "morning flight, just got here. I brought a lot of food for you and Zhao Linsu."

"Thank you, thank you," Shen Yan said quickly, dragging his suitcase inside. "We'll treat tonight to welcome you."

"Yo, Bo'er's here."

Someone came out with a water cup and smiled at Zhu Ningbo. "Looking good! You really do look radiant when something good happens."

Zhu Ningbo was confused, but he smiled and greeted them, then turned to Shen Yan and asked, "Something good? What good thing?"

"Let's sit down and talk."

Zhu Ningbo had a lot of things, so Shen Yan helped him put his suitcase at the back of the classroom. Zhu Ningbo wasn't the only one arriving just in time for class; there were already quite a few bags and suitcases at the back.

"What good thing?"

Zhu Ningbo sat down in his seat, took his backpack off his shoulder, his eyes shining brightly.

Shen Yan wasn't sure if it was a good thing for Zhu Ningbo.

Today, Zhu Ningbo's head was quite "clean."

Presumably, after a tiring flight, he wouldn't have the energy to fantasize about such things.

Shen Yan hesitated, not knowing whether to say it or not. As his gaze shifted, he met eyes with Zhao Linsu, who was just entering the classroom door.

Shen Yan: ...

This guy really had energy.

"Here—" Zhu Ningbo waved vigorously.

Shen Yan maintained a calm expression, pretending it was just Zhao Linsu missing his close friend.

Zhao Linsu was traveling light, carrying only a bag.

Shen Yan greeted him, "You're here."

"Morning."

Zhu Ningbo said, "Did you drive? I brought food for you and Shen Yan."

"Drove," Zhao Linsu said, sitting down in his seat. "Thanks."

Zhu Ningbo chuckled and looked at Shen Yan again. "Shen Yan, what exactly is the good news?"

"Good news?"

Zhao Linsu also looked at Shen Yan.

Being stared at by both of them, Shen Yan suddenly felt a lot of pressure. "It's not really good news..."

The head of the student union in front had been listening for a long time and now turned around to interject, "It might not be good news for you two, but for Zhu Ningbo, it's definitely good news."

Hearing this, Zhu Ningbo became even more curious. "Good news for me?"

"Yeah."

The cadre acted mysterious again, gesturing for Zhu Ningbo to lean closer.

Shen Yan's arm was nudged. He turned his head, and Zhao Linsu looked at him questioningly.

Shen Yan had no choice but to lean down as well, lowering his voice. "Professor Liang is suspended from teaching."

"Why?"

Zhu Ningbo's voice was loud, attracting the attention of all the students in the classroom.

Shen Yan didn't want to become a trending topic again and quickly tugged at Zhu Ningbo's sleeve.

Zhu Ningbo turned his head, the expression on his face an absolute blast from the past.

That was the same expression Shen Yan had when he first realized he was "perverted."

Shock, incomprehension, pain, sadness...

Wait, Zhu Ningbo's expression was sad???

Zhu Ningbo was more than just sad; the expression on his face was almost frantic. His thick eyebrows were furrowed tightly together. He also realized he had lost his composure and quickly lowered his voice. "Shen Yan, is it true? Is Professor Liang really suspended? Is he not going to teach us anymore?"

"There's no official statement like that yet," Shen Yan said truthfully. "It's just a suspension from classes. Professor Liang was suspended at the beginning of the semester too, wasn't he?"

"Suspended... then why the sudden suspension again? A mid-semester suspension... did something happen to Professor Liang?"

The cadre in the front couldn't help but interject again, "Zhu Ningbo, I didn't expect you to be so concerned about Professor Liang. I thought you'd be very happy."

Zhu Ningbo didn't respond, his eyes anxiously and earnestly fixed on Shen Yan.

Shen Yan had no choice but to say, "We don't know the reason yet. Professor Zhang is here—let's go to class first."

Zhu Ningbo was stunned for a long while before slowly turning back and sitting up straight.

He looked completely lost.

Shen Yan thought, this doesn't look like happiness at all. Could it be that this kid really has something for Liang Keqing...? As Shen Yan pondered, he turned his head and met another gaze beside him.

Shen Yan: ... People are different, you can't generalize!

Zhao Linsu pointed to the phone on the desk.

Shen Yan understood immediately and quickly opened WeChat.

【Son: Liang Keqing is suspended.】

【sy: ??????】

【sy: Really suspended?】

【sy: How do you know?】

【sy: Is the news reliable?】

【Son: Forwarded "Happy Family" chat log】

Shen Yan: ...

Oh, he almost forgot that this school was his and Zhao Linsu's family's alma mater for three generations. They definitely had connections.

【Lin Hui: Isn't Liang Keqing a professor at the Lin Su College?】

【Zhao Tiancheng: Yes.】

【Lin Hui: Why is he suspended?】

【Zhao Tiancheng: It's a personal matter, let's not discuss it.】

Personal matter?

Shen Yan was shocked. Could Liang Keqing really be dating a student?

That would be a major scandal involving moral turpitude.

Shen Yan typed rapidly.

【sy: Is Liang Keqing really dating a student?】

【Son: No.】

Shen Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

Actually, ever since he discovered Zhu Ningbo's occasional sexual fantasies about Liang Keqing, Shen Yan had secretly started observing Zhu Ningbo's real attitude towards Liang Keqing.

He found that Zhu Ningbo was definitely afraid of Liang Keqing, but it wasn't the fear of a mouse seeing a cat. It was a kind of reverence mixed with admiration.

Every time they had Liang Keqing's class, Zhu Ningbo was very, very attentive. His eyes would always carefully avoid Liang Keqing's gaze, stealing glances out of the corner of his eye.

Shen Yan wouldn't say for sure that Zhu Ningbo had feelings for Liang Keqing, but at least Zhu Ningbo didn't dislike him.

If Liang Keqing really "collapsed," he thought Zhu Ningbo definitely wouldn't be able to take it.

Today's performance also proved this point. Zhu Ningbo was not happy about Liang Keqing's suspension.

【sy: Do you know why Liang Keqing is suspended?】

【Son: The specific reason isn't clear, only that he voluntarily requested the suspension himself.】

Shen Yan was very confused.

Liang Keqing's actions were truly incomprehensible to him.

Unless he really had found another way out, he couldn't understand why any professor would leave such a good platform as their school.

Shen Yan put down his phone and glanced at Zhu Ningbo again out of the corner of his eye.

Zhu Ningbo still looked lost.

Shen Yan thought this expression also looked familiar. He had the same expression the first time he saw Zhao Linsu's fantasy object.

Did Liang Keqing's suspension have such a big impact on Zhu Ningbo?

"Shen Yan..." As soon as class was over, Zhu Ningbo immediately grabbed Shen Yan's arm, looking pleading. "What exactly happened?"

"Let's go outside and talk." Shen Yan looked at Zhao Linsu. Zhao Linsu said, "Let's talk in my car."

Shen Yan saw that Zhu Ningbo looked like he could barely walk, so he quickly gave Zhao Linsu a look. The two of them went to the back of the classroom to help Zhu Ningbo get his luggage. Shen Yan went over and took Zhu Ningbo's arm. "Let's go to the parking lot."

The parking lot was very full. Zhao Linsu parked his car in the shade of a tree.

"Trunk."

"Full."

Shen Yan could only put Zhu Ningbo's suitcase sideways on the front seat. "Is it okay to put it here?"

"It's fine, put it there."

The three of them sat in the car. Zhao Linsu sat with the suitcase, and Shen Yan tried to bring Zhu Ningbo back to his senses in the back seat.

"Bo'er, wake up."

Zhu Ningbo was dizzy and disoriented. Sitting in the car, he calmed down a bit. "Shen Yan, Professor Liang really isn't suspended, is he?"

Shen Yan looked at the front row.

Zhao Linsu had his hands on the steering wheel and met his gaze in the rearview mirror, answering Shen Yan with his eyes: "Go ahead and say it."

Shen Yan said, "It should be."

Zhu Ningbo's eyes were vacant for a moment, and he murmured, "Why..."

"Not sure," Shen Yan said, sharing the internal information internally. "Professor Liang voluntarily requested the suspension, so it shouldn't be anything serious."

"Voluntarily requested suspension?"

Shen Yan nodded his chin towards the front row. "Internal information, please don't spread it."

Only then did Zhu Ningbo remember Zhao Linsu's three-generation family connection to the school. He quickly leaned forward. "What exactly happened? Why did Professor Liang voluntarily request a suspension? Can you tell me?"

Zhao Linsu said, "I've already told Shen Yan everything I know."

Zhu Ningbo's hands gripped the car seat for a long time without moving or speaking, then he slowly nodded. "Thank you, I understand."

Zhu Ningbo opened the door and got out of the car, not forgetting to open his suitcase to share the food he brought with Zhao Linsu and Shen Yan. Zhao Linsu also took a box of things from the trunk for Zhu Ningbo.

"Thank you."

"Bo'er, let's take you back to the dorm. Dinner together tonight? My treat."

Zhu Ningbo shook his head. "No need, I'm a bit tired."

Shen Yan could only watch Zhu Ningbo drag his suitcase away, looking dejected.

This kid, he had never seen him so down before.

Even when he was bullied in the dorm, he was always submissive and smiling, which was why Shen Yan initially didn't realize this guy was being oppressed at all.

Shen Yan put his hands in his pockets, his brow slightly furrowed, thoughtfully watching the direction Zhu Ningbo had gone.

"His feelings for Liang Keqing are unusual."

Zhao Linsu said faintly beside him.

A warning bell immediately went off in Shen Yan's mind. "Is, is that so? It does seem a bit like it, his reaction is a bit excessive."

Zhao Linsu turned and opened the car door. "Does he want to study for Liang Keqing's postgraduate degree?"

Shen Yan: ...

That was a possibility he had never considered.

Shen Yan got into the car and immediately reflected on whether he had been too obsessed with studying male homosexuality lately, seeing everyone as gay, even though he had clearly established that sexual fantasy did not equate to sexual orientation.

"What you said seems to make a bit of sense," Shen Yan said, fastening his seatbelt. "Bo'er and Professor Liang do indeed have a deep and inseparable connection in their studies."

Objectively speaking, Zhu Ningbo was indeed one of the students with more private interaction with Liang Keqing—a relationship built on failing two make-up exams in a year.

Zhao Linsu glanced at him in the rearview mirror after starting the car. "Otherwise? Is he secretly in love with Liang Keqing?"

Shen Yan: ... Ok ok, he knew he was overthinking it.

There weren't that many secret or obvious crushes. People shouldn't be too narcissistic.

During the National Day holiday, Shen Yan and Zhao Linsu didn't talk much.

It was the same as usual: talk about business when there was business, and if they had spare time after that, they would tease each other for a bit, otherwise the conversation would end there, and neither would feel awkward.

This kind of natural friendship made Shen Yan feel very comfortable.

Shen Yan stretched lazily. "Little Su Su, I just saw a lot of good stuff in the trunk~"

"For the dog."

"..."

Don't be so stubborn.

Shen Yan snorted, didn't argue, and said directly, "Thanks." He clicked into the WeChat group on his phone, wanting to see if there was any inside information. He had just swiped twice when he immediately reached out and pressed down on Zhao Linsu's hand, who was about to start the car. "Don't drive yet, Zhu Ningbo is fighting with someone!"