Chapitre 5: Propose Another Deal

After their class in Assessment of Student Learning, Shu Xian had another subject before 11:30.

Since she has a 30-minute break before her lunch break, that's when she decided to check the schedule of Pan An so she could visit him if her free time is in jive with his.

Shu Xian is currently in her Literary Criticism class. She listened to her instructor as she tapped her pen on her notebook, feeling impatient as their instructor gave them the course outline.

With Professor Pan An getting her notebook with his name written scribbled on it, Shu Xian couldn't help but feel uncomfortable with the thought of him reading what was inside.

In the notes that she made, she also wrote the possibilities--their dilemmas!

Shu Xian felt her face redden at the thought of Pan An reading what was in her notebook.

'If only I paid attention,' she thought, narrowing her eyes at the same time, 'Pan An wouldn't have to confiscate my notebook, and I wouldn't have to visit him.'

Shu Xian heaved a sigh. She then stopped tapping her pen on her spare notebook, and when the bell rang, the instructor dismissed them, the students already fixing their things.

Shu Xian kept her things in her bag. Once she secured all of her things, she stood up, her backpack hanging around her shoulder.

The moment Shu Xian got out of the classroom, she made her way towards the College of Teacher Education Office. There, she saw beside the door the list of the instructors, then their schedule.

Shu Xian opened the list and noticed that it was in alphabetical order.

She jumped to the letter P, and when she saw Pan An's name, coincidentally, Pan An's break started after his class in Assessment of Student Learning. Meaning, his break time is in jive with her 30-minute break.

Shu Xian heaved a sigh, "Alright," she mumbled, "Time to get this thing over with then," she added, already entering the office to meet Pan An.

When Shu Xian entered the room, she gave a small bow to the secretary and gave her a small smile, greeting her at the same time.

"Good morning, Ms. Ling," she said, getting the secretary's attention. "My name is Shu Xian. May I know if Mr. Pan An is around? He told me to visit him during my break time, so I came here."

"Oh! Let me take a quick look."

The secretary stood up, overlooking the mini door that separated the secretary's desk and the faculty area. When she saw Pan An's familiar figure, she turned her body to look at Shu Xian and smiled at her.

"He's here. Let me tell you that you already arrived," Ms. Ling said, clearing her throat to call out to Pan An. "Mr. Pan An, Shu Xian is here looking for you!"

With that, Pan An stood up, getting the notebook of Shu Xian from his desk. He then put both of his hands in his pockets, walking out of the faculty area to see Shu Xian.

"Hello, Shu Xian."

"Mr. Pan An."

Both of them nodded at each other as a greeting. Pan An then turned his head to look at Ms. Ling, asking her a question.

"Is the office's conference room in use?"

Ms. Ling cocked her head to the side as she contemplated for a while.

"Hmm... no, Mr. Pan An. You're inquiring if you two could use it?"

He nodded, giving her a small smile.

"Yes. Is it okay?"

"Sure!" Ms. Ling smiled, "The meeting will be later in the afternoon anyway. You two can use it for now."

With that, Pan An nodded as he walked ahead, Shu Xian hesitantly following him.

'He could at least talk to me in the faculty area... why want to talk privately in a conference room which is an enclosed four-wall room?'

When Shu Xian had that thought in mind, she suddenly stopped in her tracks, her heart racing in her chest.

Her face started to heat up, making her blush as her mind began to run wild, her anxiety attacking her.

'Wait... could it be that he read my notebook and Pan An wants to know more about what I wrote?'

'Wait... could it be that he found me weird?'

'Wait... if he found me weird, does that mean that he will kick me out?'

'Oh, no! What if that were the case? I won't have any place to stay with Wan Wan!'

Pan An turned his back to look at Shu Xian when he noticed that her footsteps behind him ceased. Surprised, Pan An raised a brow at her, wondering what she could be blushing about, her panic also evident on her face.

"Shu Xian?"

"Ah, y-yes!?"

Pan An sighed, shaking his head in disapproval as he seriously looked at Shu Xian.

"Your focus is wandering off again. Pay attention. We only have 20 minutes before lunchtime," Pan An said, Shu Xian, nodding as she now followed Pan An inside the conference room.

The moment they entered the room, Shu Xian sat down on the empty chair, Pan An, closing the door behind him.

When Shu Xian heard the locking sound of the door, she suddenly felt nervous.

She was wondering why Pan An needed to lock the door.

When Pan An was sure that only the two of them are inside of the room, he sighed in relief, sitting in front of Shu Xian as he propped a hand under his chin, his eyes on her.

"Finally..." he said, the cold tone from earlier gone as if it was never there. "I'm sorry that you had to see that side of me, Shu Xian," he apologized, the girl blinking her eyes a few times as she sensed the difference in Pan An's personality.

"Y-you..."

Shu Xian stammered, not sure of what to say. With Pan An shyly scratching the back of his head, Shu Xian narrowed her eyes at him, irritated with what happened earlier.

"I don't know which to believe anymore! You're like a person having split personalities!"

Pan An chuckled, finding her reaction funny. He then put her notebook down on the desk, instantly making Shu Xian silent as she remembered what she wrote inside.

"If you're worried about our situation, let's talk about it now," he suggested, Shu Xian shyly looking at him as she nodded once, but what he said next made her curious, wondering what it was.

"And after that, I have to propose another deal to make your stay in my house worthwhile."