Chapter 3 The Professor
Strictly speaking, Shen Xiuming wasn’t a regular faculty member here.
He was a young Visiting Scholar sent to our school for exchange—one of those top talents with several Nature papers.
The original teacher for this elective was his senior sister from the same advisor. While she was on maternity leave, Shen Xiuming kindly covered her classes.
Teaching undergrad physics was way beneath him—just a friendly favor.
At first his lectures were packed. Even the aisles were full.
Word spread that the Physics Department had landed an insanely handsome guy. Standing on the podium felt like a movie scene.
After a few classes, his random roll calls and instant questions scared off most of the fangirls and casual attendees.
Those left were mostly people like me—serious about credits and minoring properly.
Influenced by movies since childhood, I loved physics, especially astrophysics and cosmology.
Professor Shen was strict with attendance, but his lectures were witty and full of interesting references.
Complex, abstract theories—he explained them clearly with just a few examples.
He treated an elective like a proper major course. Naturally some loved it, some hated it.
When I realized Brand was him, my emotions crashed through shock, tension, fear, giving up, acceptance, and finally the resolve to just go all in.
Ever since I broke up, Shen Xiuming’s messages never stopped.
Until he sent the ID photo labeled 【K University Physics Department Visiting Scholar: Shen Xiuming】.
I had to face one question:
Was it worse to dump the professor and then let him find out I was his student?
Or date the professor and then let him find out I was his student?
I decided the first one.
At least with the second… one kiss might get him to forgive me?
My ears heated just picturing Shen Xiuming’s refined, aloof face saying “Baby” in those voice messages.
I poked my head out from under the blanket and reopened the chat with Brand:
【We don’t have to break up, but I have one condition.】
He replied instantly:
【Baby, say it. As long as we don’t break up, I’ll do anything.】
I hesitated, then typed word by word:
【You said… you’d tutor me in physics. Does that still stand?】