Professor Sheng finally noticed something was wrong.
After Sheng Tang went back to her room, she sent a message to Jiang Zhonglian, asking to meet him at a café near Huishi High School the next afternoon.
This is what she said in the message: "Don’t leave until we meet, senior brother."
It seemed almost like a date.
Sheng Tang wasn’t considered an ugly girl anymore, and being the daughter of Professor Sheng, Jiang Zhonglian would surely come to her date.
After school, Sheng Tang went directly over there.
Gu Shiting’s car encountered her at the school gate. He planned to give her a lift, but seeing her head towards the café, he had the driver drive over there.
Stopping by the roadside, Gu Shiting saw Sheng Tang meeting a young man, and his heart sank a bit.
He stared blankly for a moment.
At this moment, Sheng Tang was chatting casually with Jiang Zhonglian, talking about the matter of guaranteed graduate school admission.
"...Senior brother, my father said your grades are good. In my opinion, you have a high chance of getting a guaranteed spot," Sheng Tang said, "Can you do me a favor?"
Her words were skillful, even if recorded, she wouldn’t be afraid.
But, she gave Jiang Zhonglian the impression that by helping her, Professor Sheng would support him in his graduate school admission.
This was big.
Jiang Zhonglian’s heart skipped a beat: "What favor?"
Sheng Tang asked him to come closer.
She told him her request.
Jiang Zhonglian was shocked: "Why do you want me to lie?"
"You didn’t lie," Sheng Tang smiled, "That day you took Chen Zhan to my house, you indeed went upstairs with her. My grandma was cooking at home, and my father received both you and Chen Zhan in the living room. Do you not remember?"
Jiang Zhonglian’s heart skipped a beat.
He sensed something was off.
However, Jiang Zhonglian did know that day Professor Sheng’s mother-in-law was at home, because when they arrived, Professor Sheng had just come back, helping an elderly lady carry groceries, and they entered the building together.
Professor Sheng didn’t notice them.
That elderly lady was in a family photo on Professor Sheng’s desk. He had also mentioned she was his mother-in-law.
His mother-in-law was at home, and Professor Sheng was known to be very upright, so there shouldn’t be any issues.
But why did Sheng Tang want him to lie?
"Senior brother, will you help me with this favor?" Sheng Tang asked.
Jiang Zhonglian hesitated for a moment: "What did Professor say about my guaranteed admission?"
"Absolutely certain."
Jiang Zhonglian seemed reassured and breathed a sigh of relief: "I did go upstairs that day. Your family has a standing cupboard with glass doors, filled with awards and trophies of you and your brother, right?"
He had been to Professor Sheng’s house once before, right before last semester’s finals, to help move books back there.
"Exactly." Sheng Tang smiled.
The two reached an understanding.
After finishing their conversation, Sheng Tang went to pay the bill. Jiang Zhonglian tried to fight her for it, but Sheng Tang said: "This time I’m asking you for a favor, so I should pay. You can treat me next time."
Jiang Zhonglian didn’t say any more.
He took the bus back to the Geological University.
As Sheng Tang headed in the opposite direction to cross the street to another bus stop, she suddenly heard a sharp horn.
She was startled and hurriedly looked over.
Not too far away was a car she knew very well.
She shook her head and laughed, then quickly walked over.
Gu Shiting sat in the car, silent, looking quietly at Sheng Tang.
Sheng Tang got into his car: "It’s already late, you should hurry home. It’ll be dark soon..."
"Tangtang..." His voice was low, with a hint of grievance and unease.
"That was my dad’s student, I asked him to be a witness, not a new friend," Sheng Tang explained.
Gu Shiting seemed to feel a bit better: "A witness for what?"
Sheng Tang asked the driver to start driving and take him home first.
On the way, she slowly began to tell him about what had happened recently, starting from when she attended her father’s classes.