Chapter 325: Campus Whispers

Two days later, Lily, Heqing, and Han Wenwen went to find the counselor to apply for off-campus living.

The three girls stood together in the office, sharing the same idea.

“Teacher, we want to arrange for off-campus living.”

Jiang Jingshi, holding a teacup at her desk, looked at the three with surprise.

“Off-campus living?” She set down her teacup and turned to face the three, still her students for now. “You three don’t want to stay in the dormitory anymore?”

The three agreed in unison.

Heqing said, “We’re planning to move out and have already discussed it with our parents. Counselor, could you check what paperwork we need?”

Jiang Jingshi thought for a moment; applying for off-campus living was a common thing after all.

University students were adults, free to make their own choices, and many with part-time jobs or personal matters chose to live off-campus.

But these three girls were different to Jiang Jingshi.

She smiled lightly, “May I ask if it’s because you don’t like the dormitory, or something’s inconvenient? Logically, you three sharing a room should get along just fine, so why…”

The three suddenly burst into smiles.

Jiang Jingshi understood something and didn’t press further.

If they were getting along yet still wanted to move out, there was only one possibility: because of Zheng Ran.

“Alright, I’ll give each of you an application form. Over the next few days, have your parents sign it, and I’ll call them to confirm.”

Heqing and Lily acknowledged.

Han Wenwen said, “Counselor, can my uncle sign for me?”

Jiang Jingshi knew about Han Wenwen’s family situation from before, as she paid close attention to the three. “That’s fine, as long as a guardian signs it; it’s just a formality.”

“Okay, Counselor.”

The three little ones took the application forms and left the office. Jiang Jingshi pulled out her phone to call their parents, a necessary step as a teacher.

After confirming everything through conversation, Jiang Jingshi picked up her teacup and took a sip.

A teacher in the same office asked curiously, “Jiang, those three pretty girls who just left—are they the ones always hanging out with Lin Zheng Ran?”

Lin Zheng Ran was this year’s freshman representative, so many teachers remembered him well.

Jiang Jingshi nodded, “Yes, that’s them.”

“Oh, they’re really beautiful. Is one of them Lin Zheng Ran’s girlfriend? I once passed by and saw him being quite close to that girl who looks like a little fox, like they’re a couple.”

Jiang Jingshi’s face showed a hint of jealousy as she curved her lips.

“I don’t know; I haven’t paid much attention.”

It wasn’t just Han Wenwen he was close to; Lin Zheng Ran was equally intimate with all three, clear to anyone observing for a while.

Jiang Jingshi sipped her tea, gazing out the window with a jealous expression, lost in her thoughts.

At noon, the sunlight was mild today.

Jiang Jingshi, wearing a knee-length skirt and high heels, went to the campus delivery station to pick up a package—some work files and items for school.

As she opened the package, perhaps distracted, she moved too quickly and her ring slipped off her finger unexpectedly.

It rolled straight into the nearby drain.

Jiang Jingshi bent down to look into the drain, but the ring was gone without a trace. It was quite valuable.

She had it custom-made to celebrate meeting Zheng Ran and had worn it ever since.

But now, it was clearly lost.

“Jiang, what’s wrong?” The sudden familiar voice made Jiang Jingshi look up instantly; no treasure was worth more than his call.

It was naturally Lin Zheng Ran.

Jiang Jingshi stood up. With many students around picking up packages, she couldn’t act too affectionate.

“Lin Zheng Ran, what brings you here?”

Lin Zheng Ran replied, “I came specifically to find you, to ask about some documents.”

Documents for off-campus living?

Her eyes widened slightly, and she pressed her lips together.

Lin Zheng Ran asked, “What were you just looking for in the drain? Did something fall in?”

Jiang Jingshi snapped back and instinctively lifted her left hand; the ring was missing from her middle finger. “It was the ring I always wore; it just accidentally fell into the drain.”

Lin Zheng Ran knew Jiang Jingshi’s jewelry was never cheap, so he quickly crouched down to check.

But with summer rains occasionally, and the drain dirty and deep, a small ring like that would be impossible to find once inside.

Jiang Jingshi said, “It’s okay, if we can’t find it, forget it. It was just something I bought myself; I can have another one made.”

Lin Zheng Ran glanced at Jiang Jingshi, and they both smiled helplessly.

They walked side by side across the campus.

Jiang Jingshi asked quietly, “You don’t have classes this afternoon, right?”

“No, I’m free this afternoon.”

Jiang Jingshi held the work files, her fingers twitching slightly. “I don’t have much on either. How about you keep me company, Lin Zheng Ran?”

She blushed and looked ahead, her voice low enough for only him to hear: “Zheng Ran, it’s been days since you spent time with me.”

“Sure, I’d love to see where you’re living now anyway.”

He had come today just to be with Jiang Jingshi; he’d been with those three lately and hadn’t had much time with her.

Jiang Jingshi lit up at his words. “Really? Great! Then I’ll take the afternoon off!”

Realizing she might seem too excited and draw attention, she quickly cleared her throat and said seriously, “Alright, I’ll go request leave. Wait for me outside the school. I’ll drop off these things and meet you at the first street past the school gate.”

“Okay.”

Jiang Jingshi smiled unconsciously and parted ways with Lin Zheng Ran briefly; she headed back to the office to drop off the materials, excited.

Lin Zheng Ran went to the meeting spot.

As she put away the files, a colleague in the office said, “Jiang, what’s got you so happy?”

Jiang Jingshi paused. “Happy?”

The colleague held a pen. “Yeah, you’ve never smiled much since you started, but you just came in looking thrilled.”

Jiang Jingshi felt shy and didn’t respond, but the colleague guessed.

“Is it your boyfriend? He must have come to see you.” She said it meaningfully.

Jiang Jingshi didn’t deny it and nodded. “He’s busy, so it’s rare he has time. Since I have the afternoon free, I need to take leave to be with him.”

The office teacher laughed. “I thought so. But it’s sweet to see how much you like him. Are you two getting married soon?”

Jiang Jingshi smiled. “Probably in a few years. Anyway, I’m off to ask the director for leave. See you tomorrow.”

“Bye, Jiang.” Watching her leave, the teacher sighed, “She looks so happy.”

Even in high heels, Jiang Jingshi walked with quick, confident steps, soon leaving the school to meet her love at the gate.

Spotting him from afar, she stopped, smoothed her hair, and checked herself in her phone mirror.

Then she hurried over. “Zheng Ran! Have you been waiting long?”