The next morning dawned clear and crisp, the heavy rain from the previous night a distant memory. Lia felt a flutter of nervousness as she climbed into Professor Qin's car. It wasn't the university itself that made her anxious—after all, she'd practically grown up around campus, following Professor Qin to lectures and seminars.
It was the idea of stepping into a role she hadn't entirely prepared for. Teaching, research, academia—it all seemed a bit overwhelming.
Professor Qin, ever the early riser, was already at the wheel, his usual energy on full display. Lin sat beside him in the passenger seat, humming a soft tune as they drove through the city streets.
When they arrived at the university, the campus was buzzing with students rushing between buildings, backpacks slung over their shoulders, heads bent over phones. It felt both familiar and distant at the same time.
After parking, Professor Qin turned to Lin, planting a quick kiss on her cheek. "I'll drop you off at the music department, love," he said, his voice warm and affectionate.
Lin smiled, adjusting her elegant scarf as she gathered her things. "Don't keep her too long," she teased. "I want Lia to visit me at my office later. I have some new sheet music I want to show her."
Lia grinned at the easy affection between them. She had always admired the way the Qins balanced their professional lives with such warmth in their personal relationship. It was a dynamic that seemed worlds away from her parents' cold interactions.
After dropping Lin off, Professor Qin drove Lia to the department of mathematics, pulling up in front of a grand, historic building with tall, arched windows and ivy crawling up the walls.
"So, this is my—no, our—department," he said with a wide smile, pride evident in his voice as he gestured toward the building. "Your office will be on the third floor. It's modest but cozy. Since the semester's already started, you won't have any teaching duties this year, but you could always set up a research group and figure out your funding."
Lia raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What sort of research am I allowed to pick up under the math department?" she asked, trying to gauge just how much freedom she had.
"Just about anything involving math," Professor Qin replied, laughing heartily. "Which, as you know, is everything."
Lia couldn't help but smile at that. She had always admired how much Professor Qin loved his work. His enthusiasm for mathematics had been contagious when she was younger, and it had been a huge part of what had drawn her into the field in the first place.
As they walked through the corridors, filled with the low hum of students and the occasional murmur of conversations from open office doors, Professor Qin suddenly called out, "Ah, Professor Shi!"
Lia glanced up to see another elderly man, a bit hunched but still sprightly, making his way down the hallway. He had a gentle, kind face, the type that seemed always on the verge of a smile.
"This is my daughter," Professor Qin began, his voice filled with pride, "and our department's new professor—"
Lia blinked, speechless at the casual nepotism in that statement, as she offered a polite smile to Professor Shi.
Professor Shi chuckled, clearly amused. "Nice to meet you, Miss Qin," he said warmly. "I've heard plenty about you. Your father has sung your praises whenever he could—probably more than you'd like!"
Lia felt a pang of awkwardness as she smiled, unsure how to respond. "Thank you," she managed, trying not to overthink the compliments. She had always appreciated Professor Qin's support, but this level of open pride still made her feel a bit self-conscious.
Professor Qin waved his hand dismissively, correcting his friend with a grin. "Her surname's Zhang, you infuriating old man!" he said with a laugh.
"Ah, grown daughters," Professor Shi sighed, shaking his head. "Hard to keep them in the nest, aren't they?"
Lia watched the interaction with amusement. She had never quite gotten used to how these old professors spoke with one another—so familiar, so lighthearted.
Before she could stop herself, Lia let out a laugh, the sound bright and genuine. "You two act like you're part of some secret society," she teased, feeling more at ease as the moment unfolded.
Professor Shi chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "Oh, we've been around long enough that it might as well be a secret society. We just don't have the cool robes."
Professor Qin clapped a hand on Lia's shoulder. "Don't listen to him, Lia. He's just jealous you're going to be working with the best department in the university."
"I'm in this department too!" yelled professor Shi in exasperation, "Miss Zhang if you ever need a new father, feel free to contact me."
Professor Qin shot him a murderous look, and professor Shi instantly ducked behind Lia to hide.
Lia found her smile growing, as Professor Shi tagged along, poking at professor Qin.
As they continued walking through the department, they pointed out various rooms—offices of other professors, the common areas, the lecture halls.
When they reached Lia's new office on the third floor, Professor Qin opened the door with a flourish.
"And here we are," he said proudly. "It's not much yet, but with a few personal touches, it'll feel like home."
Lia stepped inside, looking around at the small but comfortable space. The room was bright, with a large window overlooking the campus courtyard. The desk was simple but functional, and there was enough shelf space to house her books and research materials.
It was, in a word, perfect.
"I love it," she said honestly, turning to Professor Qin with a grateful smile. "Thank you."
He waved her thanks away with a casual flick of his hand.
"It's the least I could do," he said. "You deserve a good place to start."
"And obviously, your department is the best place to start!" laughed Lia brightly, turning to give professor Qin a huge and warm hug.
"Our department." corrected professor Qin with a smile, "It's our department now."