Jiang Fuyue saw it.
She sat back in her chair. The model on her computer was still running its automatic optimization, but she propped one elbow on the desk, eyes blank as her thoughts wandered.
The moment the towel fell open, he…
That image replayed over and over in her mind. The more she tried to suppress it, the more it resurfaced.
And the more she thought about it, the clearer it became…
For the first time, Jiang Fuyue felt that having a good memory wasn’t such a blessing.
It was just…
Embarrassing as h*ll.
Still, to be fair, she hadn’t expected Xie Dingyuan—a lifelong academic nerd—to have such a great physique.
He usually wore button-downs with a jacket on top, completely hiding any trace of abs or pecs.
But just now, she saw everything.
Including how big… ahem!
Jiang Fuyue quickly stopped herself.
Taking a deep breath, she tried to cool her burning cheeks and forced herself to focus on the model.
Ten minutes later, Xie Dingyuan walked in fully dressed, neat from head to toe, completely back to his usual refined and composed self.
He said, “I’m ready.”
“Oh.” Jiang Fuyue shut her laptop and stood up. “I’ll just…” leave.
Before she could finish, the man cut her off forcefully—
“Let’s go. Lunch time.”
“…Huh?”
Xie Dingyuan: “Aren’t you hungry?”
He looked completely unaffected by what had just happened. His gaze was steady, not even a hint of awkwardness.
Jiang Fuyue somehow felt relieved. She nodded. “Now that you mention it, I am hungry.”
“What do you want to eat?”
She raised an eyebrow. “I get to choose?”
“Of course. My lifesaver deserves top-tier treatment.”
Without thinking, Jiang Fuyue blurted out, “Hotpot.”
“Okay.” The man agreed without hesitation.
He let her walk ahead while he stayed behind to turn off the lights, shut down the equipment, and lock the door.
As the lights dimmed, he finally exhaled in relief. On his face—tangled embarrassment, awkwardness, irritation, and shame—all surged up and intertwined in a mess of emotions.
But in those deep black eyes, two small flames flickered.
Hidden and restrained, buried in the depths.
Even Xie Dingyuan himself might not have noticed them right away.
“All set?” Jiang Fuyue stopped a few steps ahead and looked back at him.
The man instantly masked everything, his expression returning to calm. “Yeah, ready.”
Click.
The door shut.
Xie Dingyuan walked toward her.
The corridor, with its lights off, was dim. They walked side by side.
Suddenly—
Jiang Fuyue broke the silence: “Just now… was all a misunderstanding.”
He let out a soft “mm.” “I know.”
You know?
Know what, exactly?
Jiang Fuyue’s eyes darted nervously. Fortunately, the corridor was dark, and the man beside her kept his gaze straight ahead, not noticing her awkwardness.
Xie Dingyuan was equally grateful for the cover of darkness, allowing him to keep up a perfect poker face.
Both were clearly affected—each replaying unspeakable images of the other—yet both kept up an air of composure.
The silence between them made each other’s breathing audible. In that stillness, the air began to fill with a soft, hazy ambiguity.
Xie Dingyuan’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. “I… don’t mind.”
Jiang Fuyue blurted, “I don’t mind either.”
“After all, we both…”
Saw each other. No need to explain.
“So let’s call it even.”
The corner of Xie Dingyuan’s eye twitched.
Even?
She actually thought that made them square?
Jiang Fuyue not only thought it, but the thought made her feel much more at ease.
After all, it wasn’t like she was the only one who saw something. Xie Dingyuan saw her too.
And he looked longer… more thoroughly… and even touched her…
At that, the last bit of guilt in her heart completely vanished.
Yes, more than embarrassment, Jiang Fuyue had been feeling guilty.
She had just seen everything of the great Xie Dingyuan—an aloof flower on a high peak, a renowned scholar and scientist.
Unacceptable!
She might’ve just broken the hearts of half the nation’s fangirls.
If Xie Dingyuan knew what she was thinking right now, he might faint on the spot—
Jiang Fuyue, you’re nothing but an irresponsible scumbag (scratch that—scumbag woman)!
The subtle tension between them dissipated the moment they walked out of the DNA Building, swallowed up by the bright daylight.
He went back to being the proud, untouchable Professor Xie.
And she, the cold, aloof genius girl.
Like water returning to calm after raging through a dark tunnel—silent and still once more.
…
Old Bai finally got a chance to sleep in today. He woke up late and decided to make a run to the supermarket. Just as he was about to leave, he remembered he’d left his car keys in the lab.
He lived in the upscale complex right across from Hanqing University—each member of their research team had one of these units.
All courtesy of Xie Dingyuan.
That was a big reason they’d all signed on in the first place.
Who wouldn’t want to follow a big-name, generous leader?
Xie Dingyuan was basically catnip to academic nerds like them.
Old Bai slipped on his slippers and headed out. After crossing the street and slipping in through the side entrance, he was back in the lab zone.
Whistling as he walked, clearly in a great mood—
Suddenly, he stopped dead in his tracks, eyes wide open…
