Professor Fang liked arriving five minutes early to her class, since seats were scarce, by the time she got there, students were usually all present, seeing the packed room filled her with satisfaction.
Whether one student or a hundred showed up, professors earned the same per session, but none minded a big turnout, they compared themselves to each other, and a popular professor felt more confident!
Fang was a blend of strict tradition and open-mindedness.
Her strictness shone in her teaching rigor, while other professors might mark attendance three times before failing someone, with Fang, one absence meant a failing grade at semester’s end.
A sloppy attitude toward learning—how could you master real skills?
Of course, she wasn’t heartless, knowing people got sick, she allowed medical leave, but only with a hospital-issued note!
Her open-mindedness showed in leveraging her husband’s connections, recommending top students yearly for provincial TV internships, she didn’t shy from using that tie.
She demanded solid skills yet knew times had changed since the ‘80s and ‘90s, when society craved talent and graduates were golden, post-job allocation policy, students had to fend for themselves.
Fang wanted the best to land well, an internship at the provincial station, even if they didn’t stay, gilded their resumes.
Today was her last class of the term, after this, exams loomed, summer was prime for arranging internships, which she reserved for juniors and seniors.
With break nearing, well-connected students vied to catch her eye… just earlier, a friend called, vouching for a student named Pan Li, Fang owed this friend a favor, they pushed hard for Pan Li, a rising senior fitting Fang’s criteria, she recalled Pan Li—young, pretty, a provincial TV job could elevate her life.
Fang didn’t arrive five minutes early today, after the call, she checked Pan Li’s past grades.
Scholarships in her first two years, a middling junior fall, spring TBD, overall “above average,” Fang had no issue recommending her for the internship, staying on depended on Pan Li’s performance.
Students waiting didn’t know a provincial TV slot was already earmarked, when Fang entered, they stood to greet her.
Pan Li’s smile was extra sweet.
Yu Wenhao made her ditch the 350,000 yuan compensation, she didn’t dare disobey.
But with him still needing her, he couldn’t offer nothing, right?
Pan Li asked for a condo, Yu Wenhao agreed, promising post-exams she’d pick any unit under 500,000 yuan!
The house wasn’t instant, but the provincial TV gig via Fang? She watched Yu Wenhao make calls, finally securing a yes.
Pan Li was over the moon.
With a Rongcheng condo, a respectable job, and a bachelor’s, she didn’t need Deng Shangwei!
Billionaires were rare, but a multi-millionaire boss—couldn’t she, at the provincial station, snag one?
Staying with Yu Wenhao long-term? Never crossed her mind, his wife wasn’t Chen Li, he’d fooled around for years, multiple illegitimate kids, his wife endured it all.
That kind of忍者神龟 (忍者神龟 = ninja turtle, a metaphor for extreme endurance) was Pan Li’s toughest foe, she could rattle Chen Li, but Yu’s wife might calmly “care” for her pregnancy… plus, Yu had other women, he was never her best shore.
Her gaze met Fang’s.
The stern professor nodded slightly, Pan Li beamed, hiding her glee, she dipped her head, smiling, her youthful face flushed with excitement, no blush could match that glow.
A roommate coughed lightly, “Lili, you’ve been busy lately, hardly in the dorm, senior year’s coming, thought about internships?”
Pan Li smiled, not just thought—she was set!
But say that to her roommates?
As if she didn’t know they envied her guy-magnet charm.
She shook her head gently, “Not yet, but I want to lock down a job soon to ease my parents’ burden, you know my family’s modest, they’ve sacrificed a lot for my arts education, once I work, I can repay them.”
Her roommate smirked.
Guys around Pan Li melted.
The goddess was pure, grounded, and filial!
Pan Li never hid her humble roots, rejecting suitors with the excuse of focusing on studies, not love.
Every rejected guy, far from mad, pitied the sensible Pan Li.
One couldn’t hold back, scribbling a note, “Don’t stress about work, my uncle’s at a bank, if you need, I can get you into their internal exam, you’re so smart, you’d ace it.”
Without the TV gig, a bank job wouldn’t be bad.
But with Fang’s nod secured, Pan Li favored the station, she declined politely, “Thanks for caring, that’s a precious chance your uncle saved for you, I’ll skip the bank exam, I want to try finding work myself.”
The guy, rejected, admired her noble character even more.
As he pondered persuading her again, the classroom door burst open, a figure dashed in, hurling a basket at Pan Li’s face.
Yellow, sticky goo clung to her pretty cheeks and silky hair, dripping wetly, stunning her roommates and admirers alike.
A stench hit, a roommate touched the splash on her face.
What was this?
Manure?
Pan Li got splashed with dung water?!
In a class of two or three hundred!
Pan Li recognized Wen Ying.
She’d nearly forgotten Deng Shangwei had a useless wife and a dimwit niece.
How dare Wen Ying do this?
At school.
In a packed lecture hall.
In front of Fang!
Tears welled up, “You—you—I don’t even know you, how could you!”
