Lin… Professor Lin…?
The director of the Academic Affairs Office immediately recognized the visitor as Lin Yanqiu.
His expression shifted.
Lin Yanqiu had a certain reputation at Hangyang University’s Medical School, so naturally the director couldn’t not know her.
But he had never expected that this somewhat eccentric Professor Lin would suddenly show up at the Academic Affairs Office.
Although Lin Yanqiu was employed at Hangyang University, she held the title of professor, so the Academic Affairs Office treated her with considerable respect and dared not offend her.
Teaching was not Lin Yanqiu’s main duty, so most of the time, course notifications were sent via messages on her phone.
She only appeared in person during meetings, giving the director a rare chance to see her face.
So now, what was the purpose of Professor Lin’s visit to the Academic Affairs Office?
Her earlier words had obviously been to defend and explain on Hua Qi’an’s behalf.
The counselor, Li Lei, naturally understood the situation and was suddenly sweating profusely.
Back in her freshman year, Li Lei had had some contact with Lin Yanqiu, and this decisive professor had left a deep impression on her.
That was why she had taken extra care of Hua Qi’an on top of her already sympathetic attitude.
She just hadn’t expected…
Even though she had just finished a phone call a few minutes ago, how did Lin Yanqiu arrive so quickly?
It seemed Lin Yanqiu really cared deeply about Hua Qi’an.
At this moment, Li Lei’s mindset was somewhat similar to Hua Qi’an’s.
Lin Yanqiu said nothing and simply walked briskly from the doorway, as if bringing a gust of icy wind with her steps.
Her sharp eyes held a hint of aggression.
When she looked at Zhao Yingying, her eyes instinctively narrowed, carrying an evaluating gaze.
“This is my analysis.”
“If you insist on saying Xiao An pushed you, do you have any proof?”
Unlike the earlier formal “Hua Qi’an,” Lin Yanqiu now used the nickname, indicating an unusual closeness between them.
Her aggressive features were fully revealed now, tinged with menace.
Zhao Yingying’s face paled.
She was left speechless under that verbal assault.
At the same time, facing this woman, she dared not easily lose her temper like she had with Hua Qi’an.
Her eyes roamed over Lin Yanqiu.
The black trench coat on Lin Yanqiu looked well-made, probably crafted from fine materials.
At the same time, the coat looked familiar.
Suddenly, she recalled the coat she had seen earlier in the dormitory on Hua Qi’an’s bed — wasn’t it the same style?
Connecting the dots, this woman speaking up for Hua Qi’an…
Could that coat possibly belong to her?
Although Lin Yanqiu was somewhat famous at Hangyang University, known for being beautiful yet extremely strict in class, most people only knew the name, never having seen her face…
Except for medical school students and those who took her elective courses.
But trying to take a photo of her during class would only get one caught red-handed, creating an awkward scene.
In fact, most students didn’t care much about their teachers’ appearances.
So, Zhao Yingying had not recognized Lin Yanqiu’s identity.
She thought of another possibility.
She glanced secretly at Hua Qi’an’s expression.
Though he wore the same indifferent look as before, the tight line of his lips betrayed his tension.
Hua Qi’an was nervous.
Sure enough, this person was no ordinary acquaintance of Hua Qi’an!
Hua Qi’an’s hands subconsciously clenched the hem of his clothes, trying to ease the awkward tension inside.
He hadn’t expected to meet Lin Yanqiu less than half a day after the phone call.
And in this kind of situation…
The urge to run away, which hadn’t appeared earlier during the confrontation with Zhao Yingying, surfaced now.
“Sister… why are you here?”
Hua Qi’an quietly called Lin Yanqiu.
She stood before him as if unaware of others, looking directly at him.
She was over half a head taller, effectively looking down on him.
“Heh, I just went for a check-up at the hospital this morning, and this afternoon I’m told you got into a fight…”
“And now I’m not even allowed to care about you?”
Lin Yanqiu’s lips curled into a faintly mocking smile.
After receiving Li Lei’s call, she had asked to see the photos of the wounds.
Those photos were originally meant for Zhao Yingying’s parents to explain the injuries.
But for Lin Yanqiu, it was merely professional analysis.
She quickly assessed the likely situation based on the wounds and rushed from her office to the Academic Affairs Office.
In the corridor, she had even heard the argument inside.
“You’re not hurt, right?”
Lin Yanqiu scanned Hua Qi’an’s body carefully—there was nothing obviously abnormal.
Hua Qi’an gave an awkward smile.
“I’m fine.”
“If I were hurt… it’d be obvious, wouldn’t it?”
“We just had a quarrel in the dorm; she fell down for no reason.”
He still insisted it was only a quarrel.
“But what about you, Sister…”
“At this hour coming over here, doesn’t it affect your work?”
Hua Qi’an showed a concerned expression as he looked at Lin Yanqiu.
She nonchalantly shook her head.
“I happen to have nothing going on at this hour.”
“In another hour, I have to go to the police station to help out.”
The two chatted as if ignoring everyone else, obviously irritating the other party involved who was left ignored.
“Sister?”
Zhao Yingying bit onto that word.
Hua Qi’an called this woman “Sister”? And the coat on her matched Hua Qi’an’s own…
Could this woman be the “sister” Hua Qi’an had been talking about these days?
The benefactor he was involved with?
Playing around outside school was one thing; now she was here in this setting supporting Hua Qi’an…
Even refuting what she said!
Just thinking about it made Zhao Yingying grit her teeth, burning with jealousy.
“What’s your relationship with Hua Qi’an? How come I never knew he had a sister?”
She glared fiercely at Lin Yanqiu.
With such an improper relationship, she obviously wouldn’t dare declare it openly here.
But unexpectedly, Lin Yanqiu only coldly glanced at her once.
Then, as if not hearing her, she lifted her hand and carefully inspected the bandages and collar around Hua Qi’an’s neck.
The collar of this garment was relatively high, hiding the bandages beneath, which were already missing several layers.
Because of the recent events, it looked somewhat disheveled.
Lin Yanqiu’s fingers were slender and graceful as they smoothed the wrinkles on the bandages.
A strange, tingling sensation passed through the bandages, causing Hua Qi’an’s body to shiver unconsciously.
Then Lin Yanqiu calmly adjusted the small folded corner of the collar, making it neat.
The entire process was orderly and precise.
“Xiao An, haven’t I told you to take good care of yourself?”
Her attitude toward those she didn’t care about was always indifferent.
“Why are you so disobedient?”
As she spoke, she leaned close to Hua Qi’an’s ear, her voice dropping low.
“Tell me, what should a naughty child be punished with?”