Chapter 72 - A Favor To Ask (2/2)

Professor Sun couldn’t repress a smile. He had seen all this play out before. He could tell that Ning Mufan and Qian Hongwei–two of his top students–liked Tang Qiu. Her academics were not bad, but she seemed overly focused on studying; too dense to be aware of such emotional nuances. It was hard to say who would win the pretty girl’s heart in the end.

***

After her shift ended, Tang Qiu quickly packed her things and went to look for Qian Hongwei. At the end of the corridor, she saw a tall, straight-backed man standing by the window. Rays of sunlight bathed his face, highlighting its youthful lines. Tang Qiu quickened her pace and walked up to him. “Senior, I have a favor to ask of you.”

Qian Hongwei looked at Tang Qiu smiling brightly, as though it were a result of the sunlight. He couldn’t help but inch closer to her, their proximity filling him with a steadily growing warmth. “Go ahead. What is it?”

“I want to attend the Traditional Medicine Club to learn some skills,” she said, eyes sparkling.

“We’ll be opening up classes in six months. There’s no hurry to learn now,” Qian Hongwei replied, puzzled.

Tang Qiu explained, “I want to learn it now because I want to help my husband with his treatment. I don’t want to wait for half a year.”

Qian Hongwei’s expression darkened when he heard her mention Jiang Shaocheng.

“Senior, please do me this favor. I’ll work very hard. I’ll even help you out with some odd jobs if you need,” Tang Qiu begged, clasping her hands together.

Qian Hongwei was helpless. It was rare for her to ask him for help of her own accord. How could he refuse? He clenched his fists. “Alright, there’s an event at the club this afternoon. I’ll take you there.”

“Thank you!” Tang Qiu bowed gratefully.

“Must you be so formal with me?” Qian Hongwei didn’t know whether to laugh or cry–it was almost painful, how sincerely she had bowed. But nothing irked him more than her asking him for help to cure her husband. Just then, he thought of something and his lips curled into a sardonic smile. If she wanted to help Jiang Shaocheng recover, he would make sure she achieved just the opposite.?Sorry, Tang Qiu, he silently thought in advance.

He took her bag for her. “Do you make a habit of carrying stones around? It’s so heavy.”

“I can manage,” she replied, avoiding the hand he extended to her. “Inside are all the books Professor Sun gave me to read.”

“So many?” he asked, displeased. “Professor Sun is too hard on you.”