Chapter 143: Professor Ruan

"Lin Yao, slandering a classmate is not a good habit."

Shen Jie placed the phone into Lin Yao's hand. "Look for yourself. Is there any trace of the evidence you speak of? You slander Ruan Cha without a shred of proof, all because there’s some friction between her and Mr. Li?"

Lin Yao clutched the phone, staring at it for a long time, unable to believe her eyes.

How could this be?

Yun Zhe’s expression had clearly indicated that the phone contained evidence; otherwise—

"Mr. Shen, Yun Zhe must be deliberately shielding Ruan Cha! Perhaps the evidence is hidden somewhere else, and he’s just refusing to bring it out!"

"Enough!" Shen Jie’s expression shifted.

He rarely lost his temper with students, which was why they all liked him, but this time, Shen Jie’s face changed entirely because of Lin Yao. His gaze was icy.

The students in the classroom were stunned into silence.

Shen Jie retrieved the phone and thrust it into Yun Zhe’s hand. "Go back to your seat."

At his command, the entire class scrambled back to their desks.

Shen Jie’s face remained stern. He tapped the desk, his tone sharp. "Our student Ruan Cha has achieved such an excellent result this time, bringing great honor to our class. Yet, some students, out of sheer jealousy over her grades, would resort to such slanderous acts. I will say this for the last time: a student should act like a student. Stop thinking of these underhanded ways to frame your classmates day in and day out..."

Humiliated in front of the whole class, Lin Yao’s eyes reddened with fury. She clenched her fists, shot a glare at Ruan Cha, and ground her teeth.

Once he finished, Shen Jie’s gaze softened as he turned toward Ruan Cha. "Ruan Cha, come to the office with me."

Ruan Cha stood up obediently and followed Shen Jie toward the office.

There were very few teachers in the office at that moment; it was practically empty. As soon as Ruan Cha walked in, Shen Jie pulled his desk chair out and pushed it behind her, his voice taking on a slightly sycophantic tone. "Professor Ruan... please, have a seat!"

Hearing the long-unspoken title "Professor Ruan," the corner of Ruan Cha’s eyebrow twitched.

She sat down naturally in Shen Jie’s chair, propped her slender legs up on the desk, and exuded an inexplicable air of defiance. "How did you find out?"

Shen Jie hunched over, dragged another chair over, and scratched his head at her question. "Actually, my uncle is an economics professor at Mocheng University. When I mentioned you to him the other day, he told me you were a professor."

Ruan Cha sighed. "So, now that you know my identity, what do you intend to do?"

Shen Jie straightened his back at once, his face full of feigned righteousness. "Professor Ruan, that’s not fair! Can’t it be that I simply feel a sense of admiration for you now that I know who you are?"

Ruan Cha looked at him skeptically.

Under her clear, piercing gaze, Shen Jie felt his confidence waver. He avoided her eyes for a few seconds before finally giving in. "The truth is... I’m currently a graduate student at Mocheng University. My supervisor is away on a business trip, and I was hoping..."

"You want me to help you finish your research?"

Shen Jie grinned. "Heh, that’s the idea."

Ruan Cha narrowed her eyes, deep in thought for a few seconds. "I can agree to that, but I have conditions."

"Go ahead, Professor Ruan!"

"I need freedom. I cannot come to school every day; it’s a waste of time. But Mocheng No. 2 High School has such strict management..."