"Sit down," Qin Yue said, glancing at the dazed Ye Qian.
Ye Qian found it hard to believe that teachers now enjoyed such privileges. Though conditions had improved, it wasn't likely that every regular classroom had an office. He suspected that this woman had a special background or connections, which would explain her treatment. Hearing Qin Yue's words, Ye Qian came back to his senses and sat down on the chair opposite her.
"Ye Qian, I hope you understand that regardless of your relationship with Director Huang, since you are in my class, you must follow my rules," Qin Yue said sternly.
Ye Qian was momentarily surprised. He wanted to say that he had no relationship with Huang Selang, but thought it was pointless. He nodded firmly and said, "I understand. On your turf, I'll follow your rules."
Qin Yue was taken aback, feeling that Ye Qian's words sounded like those of a street thug talking about turf. But then again, she thought, this kid was a rascal and probably mixed with bad company, so it wasn't surprising for him to talk this way. After a pause, she continued, "Since you are now a student, you should look like one. Look at your outfit, it's totally inappropriate."
Ye Qian looked down at his attire. It indeed didn't resemble a student's. Having just returned from abroad, he hadn't had time to buy clothes. Besides his security uniform, all he had was his current outfit: genuine M-country special forces pants, a special forces T-shirt, and combat boots, all worn out and faded. "Uh, to be honest, this is my only outfit," Ye Qian said.
"You wear this all year round?" Qin Yue asked, surprised. As a woman who loved cleanliness, she couldn't imagine wearing the same clothes for two days, let alone all year.
"Uh, not really. I just came back from abroad in a hurry and didn't bring clothes. Since I got back, I haven't had time to buy any, so I'm making do for now," Ye Qian explained.
"You've been abroad? Which country?" Qin Yue asked.
"The Middle East," Ye Qian answered.
"The Middle East? What were you doing there? Studying?" Qin Yue asked, surprised. She had heard that the Middle East was often turbulent and war-torn. She assumed Ye Qian would have been in Europe or America, not the Middle East.
Ye Qian chuckled and said, "It's chaotic there, so it's easier to make money."
Qin Yue looked at Ye Qian in confusion, finding him increasingly enigmatic. "You've been working. Why did you decide to study again?" she asked.
Ye Qian slowly stood up, walked to the window, and looked outside without speaking for a long time. He had some experience in pretending to be melancholy, knowing it often had a strong impact on women. He sighed deeply and said, "I'm an orphan. I never knew my parents and survived by begging on the streets, sleeping under bridges, and eating leftovers. Later, a kind-hearted person adopted me, giving me a home. But the person who adopted me wasn't well-off; he was just a rag-and-bone man with no money for my education. Without him, I would have starved to death on the streets. Though he was poor, he gave me the warmth of a home. For the past eight years, I've been struggling outside. I haven't achieved much, but at least I'm no longer starving or freezing. So, I wanted to relive those lost times. The university campus has always been my dream. Even one day in class would make me feel fulfilled."
Ye Qian wasn't lying. These were his true feelings, and he saw no need to hide them. Besides, he didn't consider it something shameful.
Hearing Ye Qian's story, Qin Yue was stunned. As a pampered girl who had always been well-cared for, she couldn't imagine such a life. From childhood, she had been a cherished daughter, spoiled and protected. She couldn't fathom a young child begging on the streets to survive. She never expected Ye Qian to have such a story and found herself staring at his back, thinking, "Maybe he's not as bad as I thought." Although she didn't know how Ye Qian had struggled, she knew it must have been tough for someone with nothing to make a mark in society. Seeing the maturity in this boy that belied his age, Qin Yue couldn't help but think, "He must have many stories."
Ye Qian, a bit moved by his own story, turned around and chuckled, "Sorry for rambling."
Qin Yue shook her head and said, "Since you now have this opportunity, I hope you cherish it. University time is short, and I think you don't want to waste it, right?"
Ye Qian smiled calmly and said, "Thank you. To be honest, I won't stay here for long. This is just to fulfill a childhood dream. There are many things waiting for me outside, and I have many tasks to complete." Ye Qian wasn't sure why he was sharing so much with a stranger. Perhaps it wasn't just because he liked her; it felt more like destiny, like they were meant to meet.
Hearing that Ye Qian wouldn't stay long, Qin Yue felt a bit of reluctance. She shook her head to dispel the strange thought and said, "Since you've decided, I won't say more."
As they were talking, someone suddenly pushed the door open. A young man holding a large bouquet of flowers walked in. Seeing Qin Yue, he smiled and said, "Yueyue, school's over, right? I've booked a place. Would you do me the honor of having dinner with me?"
Qin Yue frowned slightly, her face showing obvious disgust. She glanced at the man coldly and said, "Wei Chenglong, don't you have any manners? Don't you know how to knock? And please use my full name; we're not that close."
Wei Chenglong was momentarily stunned but quickly smiled and said, "Okay, okay, I'll call you Qin Yue, alright? Qin Yue, the restaurant is booked, and the car is downstairs. Will you do me the honor?"