Chapter 71: Pursuit

Rong Yi gripped her phone and stood at the corner, her face ashen.

Sheng Shubai, who had Lu Jia pinned against the wall, remained blissfully unaware. She spoke in a light, seductive tone that floated over: “Kissing me so proactively—are you into me?”

She nibbled on Lu Jia’s earlobe. “So, do you want to—”

“Sheng. Shu. Bai.”

The cold fury was practically squeezed out through gritted teeth.

Interrupted by the sudden voice, Sheng Shubai glanced over carelessly. Upon seeing Rong Yi, she didn’t loosen her hold on Lu Jia at all.

Her tone was nonchalant. “Professor Rong, you must be quite bored to have a hobby of watching others kiss.”

Lu Jia’s heart skipped a beat.

Seeing Rong Yi flick her sleeve and leave, Lu Jia instinctively wanted to chase after her. But before she could take half a step, she felt her wrist gripped even tighter.

Sheng Shubai leaned in again, brushing her lips against the corner of Lu Jia’s mouth. Her voice softened. “Miss Sheng, I need to go find my teacher and tell her… about us.”

About us.

For the first time, Sheng Shubai realized how easily she could be coaxed.

She let out a soft hum, trying to suppress the curve of her lips, but ultimately allowed it to lift slightly.

“Do you need me to come with you?” Sheng Shubai asked considerately.

Lu Jia kissed her lips again and curved her eyes. “No need. Wait for me to come back.”

She chased Rong Yi all the way to the parking lot.

The woman was indeed waiting for her. She opened the rear door first, gesturing for Lu Jia to get in, then followed suit.

The restaurant was crowded and full of gossiping ears. This place was better suited for discussing things that couldn’t see the light of day… or rather, more private matters.

As the car door clicked shut gently, Lu Jia opened her mouth to explain, but Rong Yi raised a hand. “No need to explain. I saw everything.”

The woman furrowed her elegant brows. “Did Professor Sheng start pestering you first?”

Lu Jia understood what she meant.

It was entirely different for an older professor to pursue a young student versus the student taking the initiative.

From Rong Yi’s perspective, back at the start of the semester, Lu Jia had rented Sheng Shubai’s apartment and become neighbors—all orchestrated by Sheng Shubai.

Lu Jia shook her head sincerely. “I liked her first.”

Even in the parking lot, her gaze remained clear and bright, carrying the sincere enthusiasm of youth.

Rong Yi fell silent for two seconds. For some reason, she recalled how her own younger sister had been dead set on pursuing Sheng Shubai back then. She felt like that woman was her nemesis.

But it wasn’t quite the same.

When Rong Yu had fallen for her back then, the woman had rejected her cleanly and decisively, offering no hope at all. It had all been one-sided from her sister, so Rong Yi hadn’t worried too much.

But just now, she had seen the two of them kissing passionately, inseparable.

Even in public, and when Lu Jia’s hand had wrapped around her, it had naturally slid to her lower back—who knew how many times they must have kissed to be that familiar.

No matter how angry Rong Yi was, she temporarily had no mind to dwell on how long the two had been sneaking around behind her back.

The most pressing issue at hand was that Lu Jia was still a graduate student at the Academy of Fine Arts, and that woman was a professor from the neighboring department. If word got out…

She steadied her emotions. “Your relationship with Professor Sheng—try not to make it public.”

Lu Jia glanced at her cautiously, hesitating as if she had more to say.

Sensing the girl was about to drop another headache-inducing bombshell, Rong Yi sighed. “What else? Spit it out.”

It couldn’t be that they’d gotten married behind her back, right?!

Her once most obedient and sensible prized student had dropped this bombshell right before the New Year holiday. Rong Yi still hadn’t fully processed it. She waited for Lu Jia’s words, wondering what else the girl had been hiding from her.

Lu Jia chose her words carefully. “Actually… we’re not together yet.”

“？!”

If they weren’t in the car, Rong Yi might have slammed the seat.

She even grew incoherent. “You, her, the two of you—” Kissing like that, and not together yet?!

Lu Jia explained, “I was chasing her before, but now it should be… we’re about to be together?”

Her voice rose slightly at the end, uncertain yet tinged with the shy bashfulness of a young girl talking about romance.

She looked completely taken by Sheng Shubai.

Rong Yi closed her eyes and sighed.

She knew that woman wasn’t any good!

But she was just venting in frustration and didn’t waste more breath.

Not long after enrollment, Lu Jia had sung Sheng Shubai’s praises in front of her endlessly. Now, Rong Yi didn’t think she could talk her out of it.

The past misunderstanding had been cleared up. Aside from her frivolous and unreliable personal life, that woman was impeccable in her work and teaching—sharp and professional.

The only issue was their professor-student dynamic, but they weren’t in the same direct lineage.

Once Lu Jia was recruited by the Sheng Family later on, whether by one elder or another, this period of being schoolmates and teacher-student at C University would fade into the background. It wasn’t worth worrying over.

In those few seconds of silence, Rong Yi’s thoughts had already turned a full circle.

She had considered a lot for Lu Jia’s sake and, in passing, thought of her own situation with Shi Mengxi.

Rong Yi realized she had no standing to criticize Sheng Shubai for being improper with her student and disregarding ethics.

After all… harboring feelings for a student was an even graver sin for her.

–

Sheng Shubai stood by the elevator, looking up at the two who had finally returned.

Her gaze mainly fixed on Lu Jia, only casually noting the complicated look Rong Yi shot her way. Her lips curved higher involuntarily.

“Professor Rong, mind if I take her now?”

She boldly took Lu Jia’s hand, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the girl right in front of Rong Yi as she called out.

Not together yet, and still flirting so openly in public.

Rong Yi held back. If Lu Jia hadn’t just said they had their own plans, she would have been the first to break them up.

She simply looked away and nodded. “Be safe on the road.”

The words were directed at Lu Jia.

Sheng Shubai didn’t mind and chuckled lightly. “Let’s go.”

They went back down to the parking lot. Lu Jia followed the woman’s lead but didn’t see the usual silver off-roader.

She looked around and saw Sheng Shubai stop in front of a new silver sports sedan.

“Did you send the other one for maintenance?”

Lu Jia had drunk tonight, so she naturally couldn’t drive. She got into the passenger seat on her own.

Sheng Shubai glanced at her. “After that night… I washed it and sent it straight to the villa garage. We can use it exclusively from now on.”

The intimacy in the car felt nice.

The off-roader had more space than others. Next time they had a chance, she could take Lu Jia back to the villa—no worries about anyone interrupting, and they could go all out.

She had specially renovated an empty room in the villa beforehand, installing a mirrored ceiling and adding a few other touches. It would be ready after the New Year.

As Sheng Shubai drove, she told Lu Jia bit by bit.

The two bottles of wine earlier hadn’t gotten her drunk, but the woman’s words one after another made Lu Jia’s ears burn hotter and hotter, refusing to cool down.

Feeling restless, she looked out the window and realized they weren’t heading back to the neighborhood.

Recalling what Sheng Shubai had texted before they met, Lu Jia asked, “Miss Sheng, you said earlier you had something important to tell me?”

Sheng Shubai nodded, her tone as steady as her driving. “A confession—isn’t that important?”

Lu Jia thought that luckily she wasn’t driving tonight, or she might have slammed on the brakes instinctively.

“I… I wi—”

Now it was Sheng Shubai who hit the brakes hard.

Fortunately, the road was empty. She pulled over to the side and sighed helplessly. “Lu Jia, I haven’t confessed yet.”

Lu Jia fell silent for a moment. “Does it make me seem too eager?”

She heard an extremely soft laugh, laced with obvious delight, followed by the sound of an unbuckling seatbelt.

Sheng Shubai leaned over and kissed Lu Jia’s lips again.

The girl’s reaction was too adorable; she really couldn’t hold back.

Resuming the drive, she noticed Lu Jia glancing at her several times, words on the tip of her tongue. Sheng Shubai looked over. “Hm?”

Lu Jia hesitated. “I want to apologize to you. For avoiding you these past few days…”

Back in the restaurant corner when Sheng Shubai had cornered her and questioned her, she’d wanted to explain. But between the kissing and getting caught by Professor Rong, she’d only remembered now.

Sheng Shubai waited leisurely for what came next.

“I don’t mean to make excuses for myself.”

Lu Jia stated upfront. Sheng Shubai chuckled lightly—her seriousness was adorable.

Then she heard the girl slowly explain: “That night, I was drunk and not in my right mind, chasing you for a definite answer.”

“You said you needed time to think it over properly, and I get that. So I thought if we kept acting like before during that time, it might mess with your considerations.”

Sheng Shubai had been a bit irked at first by Lu Jia’s “drunk and not clear-headed,” but the next sentence melted her heart.

A full several minutes of explanation and apology.

She laid bare all the inner turmoil and tossing and turning of the past half-month, holding nothing back, afraid Sheng Shubai might misunderstand her intentions.

When the last words fell, Sheng Shubai was silent for half a minute before nodding lightly. “I understand.”

She gently rubbed the girl’s hand, the familiar warm, smooth touch.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the restaurant.

She had reserved the entire place early.

Rounding the corner revealed a whole wall of blooming roses in reds and pinks—the color scheme Lu Jia had once said she liked.

Inside the restaurant, only one table overlooked the city nightscape, surrounded by a full circle of Freud Roses, with the rest of the space adorned in various decorations.

It was far more exquisite than the wedding banquet prelude hall she’d attended with friends a year ago.

Lu Jia’s steps faltered involuntarily. She turned to look at Sheng Shubai.

They were dressed casually. Lu Jia glanced down at her wool coat and short boots. Even with the light makeup she’d done before heading out, she felt it didn’t quite match the ambiance.

As she voiced this, she saw the woman curve her eyes. “Lu Jia, everything here tonight was arranged for you. No matter what you’re wearing, it’s the most suitable—it’s they who aren’t worthy of you.”

Several gown options suited for Lu Jia had been selected overnight and delivered that afternoon.

Sheng Shubai had originally planned to invite Lu Jia out for dinner, swing by the apartment first to do her makeup personally, then change into a beautiful dress at the restaurant.

But it was still doable now.

The team was professional. Not long ago, upon receiving the signal, the restaurant staff had quickly set up a private changing area in the employee lounge for makeup and dressing. The gowns had arrived too.

The hair and accessories were handled by the stylist; the makeup by Sheng Shubai herself.

She had done Lu Jia’s makeup several times before, but none as meticulously as tonight.

When it came to lipstick, Sheng Shubai pointed to the row on the table. “Which shade do you want to try first?”

The gown Lu Jia picked was from the same designer as hers, with similar details but brighter colors. In Sheng Shubai’s opinion, a soft pink mirror-finish gloss would suit better.

Once they stepped out, eight fixed cameras and four photographers would capture every moment of their night.

Lu Jia didn’t speak, her gaze simply falling on the plump, rosy lips before her.

One second, two seconds, three seconds.

On the fourth, Sheng Shubai leaned down and kissed her.

Stained with the same rouge hue, it was soon covered by a proper shade. Lu Jia pointed to the smudged lipstick at the corner of the woman’s mouth. “Miss Sheng, want me to touch it up for you?”

She knew full well the girl was doing it on purpose.

So they switched places. Sheng Shubai closed her eyes, letting Lu Jia apply the lipstick, then stood and looked into the bright mirror.

To match the gown, Lu Jia’s long hair had been styled into a low bun by the stylist.

The seashell pearl necklace on her collarbone was the piece Sheng Shubai had spotted first thing that morning. The full set with matching earrings would be presented as a gift tonight.

Seductive allure and soft innocence—worlds apart, yet perfectly complementing each other in the mirror.

A pair of stunning beauties standing side by side.

Sheng Shubai was very satisfied. She led Lu Jia to the table and picked up the bouquet already placed there, handing it to the girl.

“Don’t worry, they’re just here to record. No need to be shy.”

Seeing Lu Jia occasionally glancing aside, Sheng Shubai curved her eyes. “Lu Jia, right now, you should be looking at me.”

Lu Jia wasn’t nervous, exactly.

It was just… this setup for a confession— wasn’t it a bit too grand?

She held the flowers in her arms, her peripheral vision catching the nightscape beside the woman before pulling it back.

Sheng Shubai looked exceptionally striking, perfectly matching her tastes from the start—otherwise, that night wouldn’t have happened.

In all the time she’d known her, Lu Jia had seen the woman in many settings: effortlessly charming and multifaceted at the bar, the picture of a proper teacher at school, and… in those intimate moments, breathtakingly beautiful.

But tonight was completely different from before.

Noble and elegant, with undisguised gentle affection in her eyes—directed only at her alone.

Lu Jia tried to suppress her pounding heartbeat as she waited for Sheng Shubai to speak.

She would agree immediately.

“Lu Jia, I like you.”

Sheng Shubai said slowly, “But before becoming partners, I want… to discuss something with you first.”

Originally, Sheng Shubai had planned to confirm their relationship with Lu Jia tonight, but she had changed her mind at the last moment.

On the way here, she had heard the girl candidly confess all her anxieties and restless speculations over the past half month. Yet Lu Jia had shown no intention of pressing for answers, leaving every choice and decision entirely up to her.

Lu Jia had lowered her own stance too much and placed Sheng Shubai’s position too high.

She felt uneasy about it.

Sheng Shubai thought that she should reciprocate in kind—lay her own attitude and feelings bare, and compensate the girl as best she could.

“Pushing you away twice in a row, and selfishly making you wait while I sorted out my thoughts—that was my fault.”

Sheng Shubai gently stroked the back of her hand, her words sincere and earnest, one by one: “Lu Jia, I’ve never pursued anyone before, and this is the first time I’ve ever felt my heart move like this. I didn’t handle things well before, so please forgive me.”

“Let me be your pursuer this time, okay?”