There’re Always Paranoid Thoughts to Monopolize Me - Chapter 24.2

“These are the things that need to be prepared. I’ll have to trouble you to notify the three classes later.”

Outside the multipurpose hall, the stone steps were bathed in the soft light of approaching noon. Huo Jingyan stood to one side, smiling gently at Qin Ke, “Any problems?”

“No,” Qin Ke nodded, “Don’t worry, teacher. I’ve noted everything down.”

“Then I’ll have to trouble you.”

“It’s my duty.” Qin Ke shook her head. “Take care on your way, teacher.”

“Alright, you too.”

Huo Jingyan smiled, his eyes gentle. He closed his teaching plan and turned to walk down the steps.

After walking down three or four steps, he slowed down and finally stopped.

Standing at the top, Qin Ke, who was looking over what she had just recorded, sensed something and looked up. Due to the direction of the light, she squinted slightly.

Huo Jingyan was silent for a moment.

Looking from his perspective, the girl’s skin was fair, like smooth and warm white jade. Her delicate features were perfectly set on her small, oval face.

At the best age, she was flawless from head to toe. Combined with her quiet and pleasant demeanor, without any affectation, she was like a pure white sheet of ancient, high-quality rice paper: most captivating to linger over, even more so to want to exclusively paint on, not knowing what kind of stunning masterpiece it might become in the future.

—No wonder Huo Jun would fall for her.

Perhaps it didn’t start deep, but the closer one got, the more trapped and unable to extricate oneself one became.

Huo Jingyan smiled with a slight headache.

Qin Ke was laughed at inexplicably and innocently by him. Due to her familiarity with him in her past life, she spoke without much hesitation, instinctively asking, “What are you smiling at?” After asking, Qin Ke came back to herself and quickly added, “Teacher Huo.”

Huo Jingyan didn’t notice this change in her tone and continued smiling, “Nothing, just thought of something a bit troublesome.”

He paused, then said, “I heard from Qin Yan that you seem to be quite close to Huo Jun?”

“…”

Qin Ke’s expression paused, and she nodded. After hesitating, she decided to take this opportunity to ask about her confusion, “Teacher Huo, do you know Huo Jun?”

Huo Jingyan: “Hm? Why do you suddenly ask this?”

Qin Ke: “Although Huo Jun’s personality is a bit stubborn, he’s not the type to provoke others actively, so what happened in class today seemed a bit strange to me…”

“It seems you really understand him well.”

Huo Jingyan smiled.

After saying this, he was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly changed the subject, “How did you guess the creative intent behind that painting in class?”

Qin Ke thought for a moment, and still chose to be honest—in front of Huo Jingyan, she really couldn’t bring herself to deliberately deceive.

“I do indeed like that painting very much, but as for the creative intent, it was actually… an elder in my family who told me about it. Both the painting and his words had a profound impact on me, so I’ve remembered it until today.”

“…..”

After hearing Qin Ke’s words, Huo Jingyan was silent for a long time, then suddenly laughed heartily.

“You’re very good, knowing the ways of the world without being worldly. I like that—our teacher-student cooperation in the coming semester should be very pleasant.”

Qin Ke was a bit bewildered by his laughter.

Huo Jingyan continued, “Since you’re willing to tell me the truth, I can also reveal something to you that I shouldn’t—I do indeed know Huo Jun.”

Qin Ke’s expression changed slightly, and she instinctively asked.

“Then what’s your relationship?”

“…”

Huo Jingyan looked at Qin Ke with a bit of surprise. He could naturally see Qin Ke’s emotional disturbance at this moment, but couldn’t understand the reason.

However, Huo Jingyan didn’t delve deeper, he just smiled, “That question is really not one I can answer for you—if you really want to know, you might as well ask Huo Jun. If he’s willing to tell you, then I have nothing to hide either.”

After saying this, Huo Jingyan smiled and turned to leave.

Qin Ke’s thoughts were left blank by Huo Jingyan’s admission, and she didn’t even know how she walked out of the school.

It wasn’t until she passed through the south gate and was suddenly blocked by a figure in front of her that she abruptly came back to her senses.

Qin Ke looked up, her pupils contracting.

“Huo Jun…”