Chapter 27: Asking Why

"Alright, I'll stop teasing you. Are you two here for a meal?" Professor Li interrupted her before she could explain, accompanying them as they walked toward the sports field.

"Yes, we're heading to that skewer restaurant over there."

"You must mean Li's Skewers. Their food is indeed delicious, and I hear it's clean and hygienic. I go there myself whenever I have the time."

Beside her, Huo Beihan listened to their conversation with patience. It was only when the professor turned an inquisitive gaze toward him that he stepped forward and formally extended his hand.

"Thank you for looking after Su Mian."

"You look so familiar. Let me think... have we met somewhere before?" The professor studied Huo Beihan, lost in thought.

"Perhaps at the Physics Symposium in City C," Huo Beihan offered, quickly recalling their previous encounter.

"Yes, that's it! My apologies, I'm getting old and my memory isn't what it used to be."

Su Mian was surprised to learn that the professor and Huo Beihan had actually met.

Professor Li patted Huo Beihan on the shoulder and looked at Su Mian. "President Huo is a promising young man—mature and steady. He seems much better than that brat from before; he’s a great match for you. Anyway, it’s getting late. Go finish your walk and head home; I need to get some rest as well."

Su Mian tried to clarify the situation several times but was interrupted again, forcing her to swallow her words. As Professor Li walked away, he suddenly turned back and called out, "Remember to invite me to the wedding!"

Su Mian wished she could disappear into the ground.

Once they left the campus, Su Mian couldn't help but ask, "Why didn't you explain it to the professor earlier?"

Huo Beihan gazed at her with deep, enigmatic eyes. "Explain what?"

"Explain that you aren't my boyfriend."

Su Mian looked up to meet his eyes, her bright gaze seemingly piercing straight into his heart. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he looked away.

"There is nothing to explain. After all, the professor was right—I am indeed a better match than Qin Yunzheng."

His answer was double-edged. Su Mian dared not pursue the topic, terrified that if they kept talking, things would spiral into something unimaginable. Seeing her evasive expression, Huo Beihan’s brow relaxed, and his mood improved significantly.

Meanwhile, Su Mian, distracted by her own nerves, tripped on a stone. Huo Beihan reached out to steady her, but the momentum caused her to stumble right into his arms.

After a few stunned seconds, Su Mian scrambled away, her face burning crimson. "Big brother, I... I should be going."

"Let me take you home," Huo Beihan said, his voice laced with a faint smile.

The offer made Su Mian’s face redden even further. She stammered, "N-no need, I can just catch a taxi."

Only after ensuring she was out of Huo Beihan’s sight did Su Mian collapse into the back of a taxi, the flush on her face refusing to fade. Even as she tried to shake off her unrealistic thoughts, she could still feel his presence every time she closed her eyes, and she couldn't stop thinking about that soft chuckle she heard when he offered to drive her.

Huo Beihan watched the taxi until it disappeared before finally collecting his thoughts. Once he was back in his own car, the smile faded from his lips, returning him to his usual calm demeanor.

Just as he started the engine, his phone rang.

"Hello, is this Mr. Huo?"

"Who is this?"

"The young lady who was with you earlier left a handbag behind. It seems to contain some folders. Would you be able to come and pick it up?"

It was the hotel manager. Huo Beihan suddenly remembered that Su Mian had been carrying something when she came to see him, but she hadn't taken it with her when they left the private room.

"Yes, leave it at the front desk. I'll be there shortly."

Meanwhile, Qin Yunzheng, who had initially planned to leave, found himself walking into the skewer shop on a whim. As soon as he sat down, Lin Qingqing appeared and sat opposite him.

"Why are you here?"

Just then, the proprietress passed by and teased, "Oh my, handsome, why aren't you here with your girlfriend this time?"

Qin Yunzheng’s face darkened instantly. Realizing her mistake, the proprietress quickly apologized. "My apologies, my mouth runs faster than my brain. My fault, truly. Let me bring you two some complimentary dishes." Fearing a scene, she hurried away, muttering for them to talk things out calmly.

"You've been talking about coming here for ages; why are you eating so little now that we're here?" Lin Qingqing placed food on his plate, carefully monitoring his expression, but Qin Yunzheng remained sullen.

"Why are you so gloomy in such a lively place? By the way, I didn't get a chance to say this earlier, but I’ve always felt that Su Mian and her 'brother' act quite strangely."

Hearing Su Mian’s name, Qin Yunzheng looked up at her. "What do you mean?"

"Don't you think they are overly intimate? It doesn't look like a sibling relationship at all."

Qin Yunzheng seemed to recall various past events, and his face sank. Lin Qingqing was startled by his reaction and quickly apologized, "I was just saying it casually, please don't be angry."

It took a great effort for Qin Yunzheng to pull himself out of his memories. He stared at Lin Qingqing with a complicated expression. "Do not bring this up again."

Having lost his appetite, he wiped his mouth and stood up to pay. Lin Qingqing followed him out. "But we haven't finished eating!"

"I've lost my appetite. Order more if you want; I'll pay the bill."

Sensing the shift in his mood, Lin Qingqing grabbed his arm coaxingly. "I only came to keep you company. If you're done, let's just go."

Perhaps her submissiveness eased his tension, as his formidable aura softened slightly.

...

After retrieving the documents, Huo Beihan drove home. No sooner had he changed his shoes than his phone began to ring incessantly. Seeing the caller ID, he frowned before answering.

"Beihan, what is going on? Why are people saying you already have a girlfriend? How is it that I, your mother, know nothing about this?"

It was Ouyang Yuzhuo. Despite the familiar voice, Huo Beihan felt an instinctive irritation. Using Su Mian as a shield today had been a spur-of-the-moment decision. He could have handled the situation without her, but for some reason, he had wanted an excuse to keep her by his side.

While his mother continued to drone on, his mind drifted elsewhere.

"Don't blame me for being blunt, but you are the eldest grandson of the Huo family. If the girl has no background, you should end it as soon as possible. It serves neither you nor the family."

When he finally focused, he heard his mother measuring marriage and love against family interests. He was tired of these arguments.

"I am no longer a child. I know how to make my own decisions."