Chapter 518

Ever since he got into a relationship with Zuoqiu Chenyu, Wang Haoran barely spared her a moment of his time. He hadn’t even taken her out for a proper meal. Considering how often he sent her running errands, it was no wonder she seemed resentful lately—honestly, he couldn’t blame her.

Feeling slightly guilty, he decided it was time to toss her a bit of comfort, at least enough to keep her heart from straying.

“I think you still owe me a wager, don’t you?” he said with a smirk, casually reigniting an old promise.

“It’s been months, and you still remember that?” Zuoqiu Chenyu replied with a touch of bitterness in her voice, half-complaining and half-expecting this kind of thing from him.

“Are you free right now?” Wang Haoran asked, already knowing the answer.

“Even if I wasn’t, I’d make time for you. But what about you, Mr. Busybody? Can you spare me a second?” her voice softened, laced with cautious anticipation.

“Send me your location. I’ll come find you,” he said directly before hanging up without waiting for a response.

The school bell rang, shrill and sudden, signaling the end of the break. Students flowed back into classrooms like a tide drawn by routine, but Wang Haoran didn’t follow. Instead, he turned and headed straight toward Liu Yue’s office.

Without knocking, he pushed the door open and walked in as if he owned the place.

Liu Yue, buried in documents at her desk, didn’t even lift her head. She knew exactly who it was. Only one person ever barged into her office like that without knocking.

Even so, a nervous flutter stirred in her chest.

“Are you crazy? Coming in at this time of day—do you not care about my reputation at all?” she scolded him with flushed cheeks and a mixture of annoyance and helplessness.

But the words had barely left her mouth before her expression shifted. What was done was done.

“Forget it. Lock the door,” she said, standing up from her chair and taking a few steps to the side.

With the desk no longer shielding her figure, the full curve of her long legs was instantly exposed, wrapped in black silk stockings beneath a tight pencil skirt. Her wavy hair cascaded down her shoulders—an image straight out of a fantasy. The kind of mature allure that made men dream.

But Wang Haoran wasn’t here for idle flirtation.

“Professor Liu, I need to take a leave,” he said with an expression of impeccable seriousness.

She paused mid-step, clearly caught off guard. Her cheeks flushed deeper, clearly embarrassed by her misread of the situation. She shot him a sideways glare, then sat back down in her chair and adjusted her posture to regain composure. “

Always asking for time off. What is it this time?”

“My father’s sick. I’m going to check on him,” he said, lying through his teeth without a single twitch of guilt.

Her frown disappeared instantly. She straightened up, her voice filled with concern. “Your father’s sick? Of course, go. I’ll file the leave on your behalf. And tell your father… tell uncle I—” She caught herself mid-sentence, realizing she had no proper position in the matter, then quickly rephrased, “Tell Seventh Sister to send her regards to your father.”

“Thanks, Professor Liu. See you around,” Wang Haoran said with a wave as he turned and left.

Not long after he disappeared, another knock came at the office door.

It was Lin Mo.

“Professor Liu, any update on my teaching application?” he asked with quiet hope flickering in his eyes.

“I still haven’t gotten Wang Haoran to approve it, so I can’t assign you to teach just yet,” she replied evenly. Then, perhaps seeing the disappointment in his expression, she added some reassurance, “Don’t worry. Your time will come. No graduate student under my guidance has ever failed to secure a teaching position.”

Lin Mo took comfort in the sincerity of her words and bowed slightly. “Thank you, Professor Liu. I appreciate your efforts.”

“It’s part of my job,” she replied curtly.

Realizing she was still busy, Lin Mo didn’t linger. After offering a polite farewell, he turned and left the office, a heavy sigh escaping his lips once he stepped into the hallway.

Despite Liu Yue’s encouragement, she gave no clear timeline, and the uncertainty gnawed at him. He didn’t know when—or even if—he would get the chance to teach.

Teaching mattered more than ever.

Lately, he’d noticed something troubling about his body—something he couldn’t ignore. At first, he thought it was simply fatigue, but even after watching an entire adult film, there was no reaction at all.

That wasn’t normal.

Something was wrong.

Yet Lin Mo didn’t suspect sabotage. He chalked it up to the weak constitution of the body he had transmigrated into—after all, this body had been on the brink of collapse, its former owner showing signs of sudden death syndrome.

Given that frailty, it wasn’t surprising that something important stopped working.

Once he realized the truth, he immediately wanted to fix it. But the idea of going to a hospital was humiliating. Besides, even if he did go, there was no guarantee of a cure—and it would cost a fortune.

Fortunately, his system could directly enhance physical stats using Approval Points, including those specific to a man’s capabilities.

Right now, that stat was in the negatives.

He needed Approval Points to bring it back to zero—only then could he think about further improvement. The more points he spent, the stronger he’d become in that department.

He has been grinding for a while now, accumulating points bit by bit, but still hasn’t earned enough to fix the problem outright.

Lecturing was the fastest way to gain Points, but that path remained blocked for now.

Showing off on the basketball court was another option, but after making a fool of himself last time, just setting foot near the court brought a chorus of whispers. He couldn’t focus, couldn’t perform—and most of the disruption came from Liu Hua and the other troublemakers in Class 113.

That option was off the table.

So Lin Mo consulted the system once more. Looking at the pile of hard-earned points, he made a decision: skip the direct body upgrade for now and invest them instead.

It was time to gamble.

He would use his points to acquire a new skill—one that could draw attention and admiration, something flashy enough to farm more points quickly.

As he scrolled through the System Mall, one item caught his eye: 【Master-level Piano Performance】.

The points he saved up were just enough.

Without hesitation, Lin Mo redeemed the skill.

Qingling University had a well-regarded music department, and within it, a goddess-tier professor famous for her talent and beauty. Part of the reason he chose piano was so he could get close to her.

It was the perfect plan.

The timing couldn’t have been better—afternoon classes were out, the campus was relaxed, and students wandered freely. It was prime time for showing off.

With excitement bubbling in his chest, Lin Mo marched straight toward the music building.

From within, the sound of instruments trickled into the halls—violins, flutes, and most prominently, the distinct, clear resonance of piano keys.

He followed the sound down the corridor until he reached a practice room where the melody played.

The playing was flawless, the tempo precise, the notes flowing effortlessly. No student could play like this. It had to be a professor.

He stepped into the room, where a small crowd of students sat quietly around a grand piano, listening intently.

With his view partially blocked, Lin Mo couldn’t immediately see who was playing.

But the technique alone convinced him this had to be a faculty member.

The piece ended gracefully, and a soft, melodious voice filled the room, calmly explaining the technical breakdown to the audience.

Even without seeing her face, Lin Mo felt his heart skip. That voice was stunning—delicate, soothing, and utterly captivating.

If her voice was this enchanting, then what about her face?

Could it be the very woman he had come for—Professor Qiu Qianwei, the goddess of the music department?

Unable to resist, Lin Mo stepped closer, weaving his way through the students toward the front.

As he reached a clear line of sight, he finally laid eyes on the source of that voice.

His eyes widened instantly.

Shock. Dismay. Utter disbelief surged through him all at once.