Chapter 404: Please Let Me Remember You

The meeting started at two and ran until four; the timing was neither too early nor too late. Jiang Lai had also eaten the snacks Ke Zhongyu prepared, so she didn't feel hungry at mealtime. Since the Chi family was free, they went to the Chi Family Medical Clinic.

Chi Ce's whole family was there, and naturally Ping'an was too.

Jiang Lai bought gifts for the Chi family, and they all sat down together to discuss the matter of adopting Ping'an.

President Chi and Doctor Qu looked at their son Chi Ce. He had been the one to first raise the matter with them, which meant Chi Ce didn't mind having an additional younger brother, and since Chi Ce also liked Ping'an very much, they were of course happy to agree.

Director Qu specifically asked Jiang Lai, "Are you still not changing Ping'an's name? Will it just be Jiang Ping'an?"

Jiang Lai nodded. "Yes, not changing it. Just Jiang Ping'an."

She waved Ping'an over. Ping'an immediately put down the herbs in his hands and came to stand beside his sister.

"Ping'an, from now on you'll take my surname Jiang, but the two characters Ping'an won't change. That's the name Fuli Yuan gave you, wishing you a safe and peaceful life. We must never forget our roots, understand?"

Ping'an nodded firmly. "I understand."

Jiang Lai gave an "mm" and said, "Also, President Chi and Director Qu have adopted you, so you must respect and be filial to them. Understood?"

Ping'an: "Mm!"

Jiang Lai nodded in satisfaction and asked Ping'an to serve them tea. President Chi and Director Qu said tea wouldn't be necessary—they wouldn't be able to sleep if they drank it—so in the end they drank water in place of tea.

President Chi and Director Qu didn't insist that Ping'an change how he addressed them. They continued calling him Uncle and Aunt as he was accustomed to, and Ping'an called out to them brightly and clearly.

He called out "older brother" just as brightly and clearly.

But Chi Ce was spacing out. He only snapped back to attention when his family reminded him, and immediately said to Ping'an with a beaming smile, "Don't worry, your brother will look out for you from now on. When you're out and about, just tell people you're Chi Ce's younger brother. If that name doesn't work, tell them your future brother-in-law is Ke Zhongyu—that works both at home and abroad."

Ke Zhongyu lifted his eyes and glanced at Chi Ce.

Chi Ce raised an eyebrow at him as if claiming credit—see, didn't I say it right?

Ke Zhongyu withdrew his gaze, looked at Ping'an, and said, "You can just say me directly."

Jiang Lai shot Ke Zhongyu a look, as if warning him not to talk nonsense in front of the child.

Ke Zhongyu said calmly, "Doesn't Ping'an always call me that?"

Jiang Lai's ears grew slightly warm, but she didn't argue.

Ke Zhongyu told her not to worry about the subsequent adoption procedures for Ping'an. What she needed to think about right now was going to school tomorrow to teach her first class, and doing product testing the day after—she'd be spinning like a top.

Returning to work after the New Year inevitably meant a lot to do.

Jiang Lai worked on her course materials late into the night. Every time she looked up and saw the graceful orchid beside her, she would smile faintly and continue working, not going to bed until two in the morning.

Before falling asleep, she murmured, "Good night, Ke Zhongyu..."

Ke Zhongyu didn't hear that good night, but he did hear Jiang Lai say good morning to him.

Face to face, no less.

Ke Zhongyu was driving her to school again. As Jiang Lai buckled her seatbelt, she said, "I really do need to get my driver's license as soon as possible."

Ke Zhongyu turned his head and gazed at her. "I'm teaching you to drive and letting you get your license not so you can be your own chauffeur."

"Then what for?"

"So you have another skill. When I'm not around, when there's no driver, you can manage on your own. That's all," Ke Zhongyu said with unusual earnestness.

Jiang Lai once again fell into his eyes and nodded as if bewitched. "Understood."

Only then was Ke Zhongyu satisfied. He drove her to school, and after parking the car, headed straight for the lecture hall.

Ke Zhongyu suddenly called out to her, "Professor Jiang, may I sit in?"

Jiang Lai was taken aback for a moment. She still wasn't used to Ke Zhongyu addressing her like that, but it sounded quite nice when he said it.

She hesitated. "You want to sit in on my class?"

Ke Zhongyu: "You teach, I sit in. It won't be a disruption."

It wouldn't be a disruption, but standing at the podium with her boyfriend sitting in the classroom—that feeling was rather... novel.

Jiang Lai: "Are you sure?"

Ke Zhongyu nodded. "You take the front door, I'll take the back door."

Jiang Lai watched as Ke Zhongyu separated from her at the classroom entrance and went in through the back door.

She wanted to say that Ke Zhongyu in a suit and leather shoes didn't look like a student at all—he'd definitely draw a crowd once he went in.

Things didn't turn out entirely as she expected.

Ke Zhongyu did cause a minor stir, but once Jiang Lai walked in carrying her notebook, pairs of clear eyes turned to look at her, all in unison.

The lecture hall was packed.

Even the front rows were full.

Students who had tested into A Da were thirsty for knowledge. From the moment they learned there would be Professor Jiang's course, everyone had been anticipating how the scheduling would work. With several classes, Professor Jiang couldn't possibly teach this course for every single one, so some students rejoiced while others despaired.

As soon as Jiang Lai stepped up to the podium, a student greeted her. After one person spoke up, greetings came one after another, growing in number.

Jiang Lai smiled slightly. "Good morning, everyone."

She then said calmly, "From now on, I'll be responsible for this specialized course of yours. My surname is Jiang, my name is Jiang Lai—the Jiang as in ginger, the Lai as in Penglai."

"This is my first time teaching. I will do my utmost to pass on knowledge and resolve your questions, but I also ask that you devote yourselves to your studies, abide by classroom norms, and follow my teaching guidelines."

"In my class, regular grades are just as important as the final assessment, with equal weight. I won't use any novel attendance-taking methods, and I won't take attendance intermittently, so you must attend every class. If you miss class without cause, I'm sorry, you'll have to retake it."

"Of course, personal leave and sick leave are your rights, but I will only accept reasonable and legitimate reasons."

"I can give you two chances to skip class—the reeds by the tower downstairs, the moon at dusk."

One symbolizes love, the other symbolizes home.

As soon as Jiang Lai finished speaking, someone started clapping. She knew it was because of the poetic space left by "reeds" and "moon."

After the applause died down, Jiang Lai continued, "You may think me heartless, but letting you do as you please would be the true heartlessness. Incorrect data will make you repeat experiments in the lab over and over, until you re-master the knowledge I once taught you."

As soon as she finished, Jiang Lai opened the roster and coolly uttered four words: "Now, taking attendance."

She went through the list from top to bottom—indeed no flashy methods, simple and direct.

But when she called each person's name, she also gave everyone time to introduce themselves.

Jiang Lai said, "Please let me remember you. Trust me, this won't do you any harm."

Ke Zhongyu sat in the last row, watching Jiang Lai calm and composed at the lectern. Every sound of hers that fell upon his ears made his heartbeat involuntarily quicken.

He also wanted to let her remember.

Remember him forever.

So after this class ended, when Jiang Lai went to the office to get water, Ke Zhongyu immediately followed, and in Jiang Lai's office, said to her with unhurried ease: "My name is Ke Zhongyu, Professor Jiang."

Jiang Lai was stunned for a moment, set the cup she had raised to her lips back down, and, as if possessed, played along with him: "Anything else? Like hobbies or interests, for instance."

Ke Zhongyu: "No particular hobbies or interests. I just really like Jiang Lai."