Perhaps poverty had limited Lin Fan's imagination.
As a child from a farming village without any backing, Lin Fan knew that making money was not easy at a young age…
Over fifty thousand!
He never possessed so much money.
Still, given the sudden amount of balance in his account after just three days, that was the only possibility he could think of.
It was either crime, or… a reluctance to work by living off a sugar mommy?
What else could there be?!
The problem was that no matter what the tigress had done, it wouldn't be any good for Lin Fan!
Feeling his head spinning and unsure of what he should be doing just then, he soon came to his senses.
"I have to check where the fifty thousand came from as soon as possible, and since a payment app was used, it should have a record, right?"
He opened the transaction history, and then realized that it was Wu Guodong who wired the money with a 2D barcode.
"Wu Guodong??? That police captain before?!" Lin Fan was even more bewildered.
What is going on here!?
A policeman actually wired him money, and a ton at that?!
Stroking the back of his hip, he murmured, "There's no scar over my back and it feels like my kidneys are still here… so where did this money actually come from?!"
It is weird no matter how you think about it, when it involves a policeman transferring fifty thousand dollars into your account?!
"That wastrel… uh, well, not such a wastrel I guess, really earned a chunk of cash here," he muttered. "But why didn't she leave a message over something so important? I'm really nervous now…"
Still, nervousness aside, Lin Fan had a rough idea about Qi Zixiao's mindset.
To put it simply, it was her tsundere side.
"Who knows how happy she looked when she got the money? She might have wanted to diss me or whatnot too."
"But her tsundere side would never permit her to do that… was that about it?"
"That said, the question is how the heck did she earn that money?!"
Be that as it may, Lin Fan was not worried about the unknown source of the money. It was money transferred to him from a policeman, so would he not be in the slammer if the source was obscure?
Nonetheless, just as he was about to feel relief, his heart abruptly skipped a beat.
"Could the tigress have used some enchantment to bewitch the police captain?"
"…"
After some thought, Lin Fan sighed.
"Oh, I can't care about this any longer. No matter how she earned the money, it's now in my hands… as for the bewitching or whatnot, I could only hope he eventually recovers."
What could he do now that things had come to this?
Getting off the bus, Lin Fan ran straight towards the lab.
He naturally had to sign in since he was back just to show his face. After all, would his efforts not be in vain if he could not get his certificate during graduation?
Although he is involved in an 'escapade' these days, no one could tell what would happen after this.
He would have another path to pursue if he had a postgraduate certificate, would he not?
"It's my insurance card."
Lin Fan cautioned himself thus.
***
In the lab, Professor Chen was guiding a group of students in various studies and experiments.
Old Chen is a bull-like existence in the country's physics scene, which was why he had many students.
That was also why Lin Fan had wanted to ask Wang Dong to help him apply for leave.
What if Old Chen forgot about him because there were too many others around?
And yet…
Though his dream was beautiful, reality was cruel.
Old Chen caught Lin Fan the instant he entered the lab, his aged but bright gaze staring at him as he said, "You're here?"
"Uh… Professor, I…"
Lin Fan felt awkward.
"Come with me."
Old Chen led Lin Fan into his office, and began kindly and earnestly, "You're a kid with a good heart. Wang Dong told me about your problems."
What did Wang Dong say?
Lin Fan had no idea!
That was why he simply smiled dryly, unsure what to say.
"Well, it's always been said that spouses are like birds of the same forest, often fleeing their separate ways when there's trouble. You have yet to register with that lady of yours, have you? And yet, you did not give up on her even after all that, even taking care of her… Sigh…"
Old Chen dried his eyes, as if remembering some past memory. "If I did what you've done back then, I wouldn't have had so much regrets."
"Go on. She needs company, especially yours… you don't need to come before you have settled your affairs."
"As for classes, just come when you have the time. I could give you remedial sessions."
Lin Fan: "…"
(O_O)???
Though he looked quite calm, question marks were all over his head.
What the hell?!
What is it this time?!
I'm completely drawing a blank here, alright?
Utterly bewildered, Lin Fan suddenly realized that the gap of transmigrating every three days felt like a century. Why does it feel like he knows nothing now, just three days after not attending classes?
So when did I get a girlfriend?
And she even needs care and company?!
What excuse did Wang Dong come up with to help me ask Old Chen for leave!!!
"Go…"
Professor Chen said emotionally again then.
Lin Fan: "…Thanks, Professor."
Though there was no telling what happened and what excuse Wang Dong had cooked up, it seems that things were settled with the university, and he did not have to put effort here for now.
Overall speaking, it was not bad.
Moreover, it seems that the excuse for his leave had invoked Old Chen's empathy, to the extent that he offered remedial classes?
What was there to not like about it?
At the same time, Lin Fan became even more curious.
After all, Old Chen was famous for being incorruptible, and it was alleged that no postgraduate student ever pulled wool over his eyes under his watch!
But somehow, he showed a completely different side of himself now?
So what on earth was the excuse Wang Dong made up?
In the meantime, Lin Fan left the office.
Still, the instant he did so, he spied on Wang Dong who was hiding in a corner right then, and could not help walking up to him before dragging him into the lab.
"Ahem…"
Wang Dong stumbled one step back. "What? What did Old Chen talk to you about?"
"He gave me leave." Lin fan grinned. "I don't have to come back to the lab for some time. I really have to thank you for that!"
"Oh, it really worked?!"
Surprised, Wang Dong smiled smugly. "I knew I was quick-witted. Go, me!"
"Yes, you really are!" Lin Fan praised.
"So? How did you manage to get someone as incorruptible as Old Chen to show mercy?"
"Isn't that simple? By appealing to his soft side, of course!"
"Back then, Old Chen had a girlfriend who caught cancer at a young age and was about to meet her end. Old Chen was busy getting his professorship overseas, which was why he was not at her side and did not even see her one last time."
While Wang Dong still appeared cheerful, Lin Fan was scowling now.
"So…"