Fancy Me, Professor!

Dinner with Pan An and Wang Fang went by smoothly. With them having such a light conversation as they ate, they were getting closer to each other, too, Shu Xian, already feeling comfortable around them.

"Goodness. I feel so bloated—I might have to work out extra during the weekends," Wang Fang said as she patted her belly, making Shu Xian giggle as she made a comment.

"I think, Miss Wang Fang, that you don't have to worry about your weight. It's good to have a little fat in the body, right?"

"I agree," Pan An said with a nod, smiling at the Chief Librarian as well. "Men like a little meat. You're nearing your 30s and you haven't found a boyfriend yet."

"Oh, please…"

Wang Fang rolled her eyes at what Pan An had said, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"You know, I don't work out for men—and I certainly don't gain weight for them! If it's about changes, I would definitely do it for me and not for others."

"I agree!"

With Shu Xian and Wang Fang doing a high five, Pan An laughed, seeing that they are indeed women who empower positivity of not doing it because of the standards of men.

"And besides," Wang Fang started, now narrowing her eyes at Pan An. "I could say the same—you're nearing your 30s and yet you don't have someone."

Pan An shook his head, already scoffing.

"You got me, Wang Fang. Alright, I won't say anything more, you witty woman."

With that comment said, Shu Xian giggled a bit, asking Wang Fang a question.

"If you don't mind, Miss Wang Fang… how old are you?"

"Oh! I just turned 26 months ago."

"Oh? Seriously?" Pan An arched a brow at her. "I thought that you're around 27-28. I just turned 27."

Wang Fang immediately rolled a ball of tissue and threw it towards him. With Shu Xian giggling, she complimented Wang Fang so she would not feel bad with what Pan An had said.

"Don't worry, Miss Wang Fang. You're still very pretty—I really admire your mature demeanor! It is something that I want, to be honest… I look… monotonous."

"Oh, Shu Xian, don't say such a thing about you. Your young and mysterious look is good, too! You can take it to advantage."

"Oh?" Shu Xian cocked her head to the side. "How?"

Leaning in closer as if to whisper something to her and Pan An, what she said made Shu Xian blush, Pan An, not liking the idea.

"Getting a man for you to date~!"

Shu Xian shook her head, letting out a shy smile.

"Dating? Oh, no, no… I'm not thinking about this yet," Shu Xian replied, embarrassed that they are talking about this with Pan An beside her.

"Yeah," Pan An chimed in, slightly surprising the girls since he butted in. "Besides… Shu Xian is… how old are you?"

With that being asked, Shu Xian blinked her eyes a few times, answering their question.

"I'm 19."

"Yeah, she's 19," Pan An said, taking a quick sip of his drink. "She is a studious girl who focuses on her studies and goals. Right?"

"Uh, yes…"

With Shu Xian confirming what he said, Wang Fang shook her head, arching a brow at Pan An.

"Oh, you act like her guardian! Or maybe…"

As a smug grin appeared on her face, what she said next made both of them look at each other discreetly, Shu Xian, blushing with what Wang Fang had said.

"You want Shu Xian to yourself, Professor Pan An?"

Shu Xian grabbed her drink and sipped from the straw, Wang Fang, snickering as he saw discomfort on Pan An's face.

"Not that this is bad—I mean, Shu Xian is a good girl! Any man is definitely lucky to have her!"

"Enough, Wang Fang," Pan An scolded, "Anyway… I think it's best if we pay the bill and go home now?"

"Oh, just a few minutes. I need to tell Shu Xian something."

With Pan An and Shu Xian looking at Wang Fang as they waited expectantly for what she's about to say, the Chief Librarian then spoke, announcing her plans for tomorrow.

"I will be out of the library starting tomorrow. Since you and Zhang Ren are near the office, do handle the patrons that needed my signature for clearance. If it's an important matter, I assigned another library staff to be the chief while I'm away."

"Alright," Shu Xian replied, smiling.

"You see, this Thursday will be my sister's birthday. Well, she may not be here, but we visit her grave. She's around your age, Shu Xian—turning 20!"

"Oh, I see!" With a nod, she understood what she's going to do. "I will tell Zhang Ren about this tomorrow. Thank you for informing me, Miss Wang Fang."

"Yes, I'm sorry—with the papers and with the interruption this professor gave me, I forgot to tell you and Zhang Ren. I will also text the morning duty student assistants about this."

With that settled, Pan An already asked for the bill, already paying for the food.

"It's my treat, no pressure," Pan An said, smiling at Wang Fang. "I had a nice dinner with you guys."

"Thank you," the girls said in unison, Shu Xian, especially happy that she got to save more for her allowance.

As the three of them already went out of Molto Affamato, Pan An and Shu Xian started walking home after they saw Wang Fang ride a cab.

"So Wang Fang will be out for three full days. Huh… that's a bit extra for a visitation."

"Hey…"

Shu Xian hit his shoulder, not liking what he said.

"You don't know the reason behind that. It may be a family tradition for her sister since she's no longer here," she added, Pan An, apologizing.

"I'm sorry—I didn't mean to sound mean, but I'm just surprised."

"Yeah. I was surprised, too! Well, not by the fact that they do that for her sister."

"Oh?" Pan An arched a brow at her and asked, "What were you surprised about, then?"

Shu Xian giggled for a while. With her turning to look at Pan An, she answered his question, Pan An, not expecting what she told him.

"Her sister and I have the same birthday—I'm turning 20. With this being talked about, too, I realized I'm aging in a few days! Such coincidence is life, right?"