Chapter 208

Chapter 208

December, Jian Jing finally appeared in class.

Graduate classes were mostly specialized classes with just a few people. Other students had already been in class for three months, and they were inevitably a little strange to see a classmate who had skipped so much finally show up.

But no student made any sour remarks.

They couldn't help it. Jian Jing was studying "Contemporary Literature", and many of the key research topics involved people who were either colleagues of the same boss or fellow writers in the same circle.

When they read other people's articles and analyzed their thought processes, she may have already had dinner with them directly and obtained first-hand information.

If she tried a little harder herself, who knows, maybe in a few years she could prop up a paper herself.

So while they were envious, the students acknowledged she had this kind of privilege.

On the contrary, Jian Jing felt a little embarrassed. She didn't intend to miss so many classes. Since the start of the semester, she had first been running around investigating Wang Shi's case, then was dragged to Paris by Kang Mu Cheng. When she came back she was busy writing the script, setting traps to lure the culprit. She really had no time.

It was so cold now...

Graduate classes were only two or three classes per week. Some of the big classes were at 8am in the morning, she really couldn't get up, so could only skip them.

But this morning, the knight was hungry and scratched at her door, waking her up. After feeding it a meal, there was still time, so she didn't have the heart to find an excuse and dutifully came to fulfill her student duties.

Ahem, she had to listen carefully in class.

Jian Jing laid out her notebook, pretending to listen attentively.

One class flew by quickly.

There was a 15 minute break between classes.

Jian Jing hurried out to pick up her coffee order. After a sip of the hot mocha, she finally felt her muddled mind become clearer.

Sitting back in her seat, the two girls in front were chatting.

A said: "I was so terrified last night. Suddenly so many police showed up in the middle of the night."

Jian Jing bit on the straw, ears perking up.

B asked: "What happened?"

A whispered mysteriously: "They said there was a corpse, right by the roadside, frozen to death alive."

B immediately said: "Definitely some drunkard. Winter is here, these kinds of people have no regard for their lives."

A lamented sorrowfully: "That's for sure."

Jian Jing continued sipping her coffee.

Then the second class started. After the teacher finished the lecture content, he brought up the homework: "Did everyone finish writing what I assigned last time? Let's take turns sharing and discuss."

Jian Jing: 0.0

There was homework? Her butt that could remain calm even facing a serial killer subtly shifted.

The anxiety of not completing homework was a lifelong nightmare no student could escape.

Because of the small number of people, they didn't have to present in front of the class. The chairs were shifted into a circle for casual sharing.

The teacher sat with the students, jotting down notes.

Jian Jing was no longer calm. She poked the shoulder of the student in front. "Classmate, what was the homework from last time?"

The girl in front whispered: "Write a reflection after reading any literary work about the Northwest, no limits on era."

Jian Jing: "..." She was doomed, this was her blind spot for reading.

The teacher's requirements weren't high, the reflection only needed to be around 1,000 words, and each person only needed a few minutes.

Soon, all ten students had finished sharing.

The teacher didn't make things difficult for Jian Jing either, saying: "Just chat about anything casually, any work is fine, no limits on genre or era."

Jian Jing thought, it's easy to say that, but I can't just recite Tang poetry to fool everyone. As a graduate student reciting high school poems and lyrics, wouldn't she become a laughingstock?

But as someone focused on mystery fiction, she really hadn't read works from this genre. She pondered for a bit, and decided to sell out her enemy: "Let me gossip to everyone."

The students became interested.

But males were another species.

As soon as Li got in the car, he looked all around, sizing up the interior decor: "This car is pretty nice, a BMW. Do girls also drive such big cars? I thought the pink one next to us was yours."

Jian Jing: "..."

Li remained oblivious, still chatting actively with Jian Jing to get closer: "I've read your books before. I heard they're making a movie? When's the premiere, we'll definitely go support."

"Thank you." Jian Jing politely responded with one phrase, pretending to concentrate on driving.

The air was quiet for a moment.

Li (thought he was being) secretly looking at her through the rearview mirror for a while. To liven up the atmosphere, he said: "Jian Jing, you haven't interacted with Teacher Yao much right? She's actually really nice, at most she'll have us run errands."

"A boss who doesn't make students run errands isn't a good boss," he "humorously" cracked a joke, "I have a classmate who studied science. Poor guy, not only did he have to pick up the boss's son, he also had to help the boss's wife buy groceries. Who has time to go to the market every day? He could only order takeout food. As for money..."

He dragged out the tone, the implications were loud and clear.

Le Classmate was obviously annoyed by him, but still had to chime in: "Yes, Teacher Yao is very nice."

"I can see that," said Jian Jing.

Li Classmate went on and on, bringing up all kinds of topics.

Jian Jing occasionally responded with "Is that so," "Oh," and "Really?," quickly mastering the art of playing along.

Also rising was the car's speed.

She kept the speed right at the limit, going faster and faster, and finally arriving at Dean Wan's house in half an hour.

Dean Wan, associate dean of the Literature Department, was a dean with a questionable reputation.

He lived in a villa district.

After registering at the security gate, Jian Jing drove into the complex, checking the house numbers one by one until she found the place tucked away in a corner. She parked the car and knocked on the door with the two classmates.

Ding dong, ding dong went the doorbell.

No one answered from inside.

"Strange, is the dean not home?" Le Classmate wondered.

Li Classmate knocked on the door again: "Hello, is anyone home? Teacher Yao asked us to bring something over. Hello??"

Still no response.

"Looks like no one's home." Le Classmate turned her head and saw Jian Jing staring intently at the packages in the yard. She couldn't help but ask curiously: "What are you looking at?"

Jian Jing didn't answer, but said, "Call Teacher Yao and ask."

"Oh right," Li Classmate eagerly volunteered to report the situation to the boss. After saying a few words, he relayed: "The teacher said the dean was sick at home these past few days, so he should be in. If not, just leave the stuff by the door."

Jian Jing frowned.

The delivery slip on the package was wrinkled, evidently dampened by water and dried again. It hadn't rained yesterday or today, so it must have been delivered the day before.

How could a sick person at home not even collect a package from two days ago? Strange as it was, she didn't investigate further - maybe he had more than one home, or went directly to the hospital.

She turned and said, "I'll take you back."

But Li Classmate was excited and eagerly asked, "We're already out, the book fair is today, why don't we go take a look together?"

Le Classmate was aloof: "I'm going back to study."

"What about you, Jian Jing?" Li Classmate looked at her intensely. "My friend gave me two tickets, want to go together?"

Jian Jing...looked at him complicatedly. They just met today, and he already wanted to ask her out - who gave him the courage?

She flatly nipped the karmic tie: "I can get the books at the fair for free whenever I want."

Kang Mu Cheng University had a library that displayed books from major publishing houses nationwide each year as references. If she wanted them, Wang Shi could send her truckloads.

- Of course, other authors could also get them for free.

But Li Classmate didn't know that. He just felt rejected and forced out a laugh: "I see, then never mind." After a pause, probably hurt in his pride, he couldn't help but mock, "Well, a big shot author after all."

Jian Jing smiled: "You flatter me, I've only won a Dream Pen award."