Zhen Jiu’er followed Qin Fei inside.

Su Nan, camera in hand, paired up with Meng Xiao and walked into the passage as well.

The professor was still studying the surroundings.

Yan Qiu said nothing, but he was likely the only one who noticed that the moment Zhen Jiu’er followed Qin Fei into the passage, Master Nine’s expression changed at once.

It turned distinctly unpleasant.

“Ninth—”

“It seems Master Nine cares quite a lot about that little Jiu’er girl.” A sudden, jarring voice cut Yan Qiu off.

Lu Beicheng lifted his gaze calmly, glanced at her, and said nothing.

Xia Zi pushed up her glasses and, seeing that Master Nine was willing to look at her, walked up to him with a composed smile on her face.

“Honestly, I think that Jiu’er girl is pretty good too, it’s just that she’s a little young…”

Her words cut off abruptly.

Lu Beicheng had already wheeled himself away.

Just like that, he passed right in front of her without so much as a glance.

Xia Zi was left completely stunned.

This man had absolutely no manners, no grace! She was still in the middle of talking to him—how could he just ignore her like that?

Yan Qiu walked behind Lu Beicheng, and as he passed by Xia Zi, he rubbed his nose and said with a smile, “Master Nine’s temper has always been like this. Don’t take it personally.”

“I… no, it’s fine, it’s just a little…” unfamiliar.

Xia Zi cleared her throat lightly, forced a smile at Yan Qiu, and said nothing more.

But her face, which had been flushed with displeasure moments ago, had now gone somewhat pale.

After Lu Beicheng and Yan Qiu had left, the professor finally called out, “Xia Zi…”

Xia Zi didn’t respond, still staring blankly in the direction Lu Beicheng had gone.

The professor called again, “Xia Zi!”

“I—I’m right here!” Xia Zi finally snapped back to attention and hurried over to the professor. “Professor, you needed me?”

“I’m heading in—are you coming or not?” The professor sounded somewhat irritated.

These young girls, honestly—the moment they saw Master Nine, they turned into bees drawn to honey, eyes glazing right over.

He gave an unimpressed snort. “Don’t waste your time on wishful thinking. Master Nine has seen more beautiful women than you could imagine—why would he ever be interested in someone like you?”

“Professor, I’m not, I just…”

“Don’t think I don’t know what each and every one of you is scheming!”

Ever since being betrayed by Xiao Chengyuan, Professor Xiao had grown far more wary of the people under him.

“You think that once you land Master Nine, you can cut ties with me completely? Dream on! If you dare try anything, I’ll take those old photos of ours and…”

“Professor!” Xia Zi’s face went ghost-white with fear.

She pushed up her glasses, putting on a pitiful expression. “Professor, I’ve already dressed like this for you—isn’t that enough? Professor, I have no ulterior motives toward you at all, I swear!”

Professor Xiao looked her over again—the plain, unfashionable clothes, the thick glasses with absolutely no sense of style, the hair carelessly tied back in a ponytail.

After looking her over once more, his anger finally, truly began to settle.

He gave another cold snort. “That little brat Xiao Chengyuan—I can’t do anything about him for now, but you? I have plenty of ways to handle you. Don’t try anything cute in front of me!”

“I know, I won’t, I wouldn’t dare!” Xia Zi said quietly.

The professor turned and walked toward one of the passages. “Follow me.”

A cold glint flashed through Xia Zi’s eyes, gone in an instant.

In the end, she simply followed behind him, walking slowly into the passage the professor had chosen.