Chapter 1539: Someone is Helping in the Shadows

Xu Xiaoxiao pursed her lips, thinking about how to handle the current situation.

Fortunately, at this moment, the director caught sight of the old professor and hurried over to greet him.

While the two were chatting, Xu Xiaoxiao quickly slipped away.

Perhaps due to her agitation, Xu Xiaoxiao felt again that her heart was beating very fast in her chest.

But she had no time to care about that; she called Cai Xiaotang directly and asked her how the search for the flower was going.

Cai Xiaotang had just woken up from a nap and said groggily, "I've already had people look for it, but there isn't a suitable one."

"Oh, what should I do? The old professor is back and is just about to go take a look!"

Huh?

Cai Xiaotang immediately perked up, blinked her eyes, and asked, "Didn't you say the old professor was traveling?"

"He had something to do, so he came back suddenly! Oh, what do I do, what do I do, what do I do, what do I do!!!"

Xu Xiaoxiao seemed to be chanting a spell, or perhaps she had turned into a broken record.

The nagging rhythm made Cai Xiaotang feel anxious too.

However, rolling her eyes, Cai Xiaotang thought of a plan: "There are all kinds of flowers in Xin'ai's garden; maybe you can go look there and use one as an emergency fix first!"

Oh right, why didn't I think of Xin'ai!

Finding a new direction, Xu Xiaoxiao hung up the phone and rushed in a panic toward Liu Xin'ai's garden.

The servant saw Xu Xiaoxiao arrive and was about to greet her.

But unexpectedly, she rushed straight into the garden, grabbed a small bucket and a small shovel, and began to hunt for prey.

But Xu Xiaoxiao's eyes were blurred from looking, and she still hadn't found a suitable one.

Damn it, this hurdle today just can't be cleared, can it!

Xu Xiaoxiao grew increasingly impatient.

At this moment, her phone rang.

She answered the phone with one hand, and then heard the person on the other end ask, "I heard from the servant that you went to pick my flowers?"

Uh...

Xu Xiaoxiao had been so focused on her actions that she had forgotten to greet the owner of the flowers.

Clearing her throat, Xu Xiaoxiao apologized: "Something came up suddenly; I'm here to borrow a flower from you. I'll compensate you with ten—oh no, one hundred flowers later!"

"It doesn't matter if you pick them, but... why are you picking flowers all of a sudden?"

Xu Xiaoxiao sighed, then roughly explained the grievances between her and that potted flower.

After listening, Liu Xin'ai said regretfully, "My garden doesn't have the variety you mentioned."

"Oh, I felt like it didn't either, but right now, finding one that's close enough will do!"

"To you, it's close enough, but to a gardener, one can see the vast difference at a glance. Doing this is meaningless."

Actually... Xu Xiaoxiao also knew that her current behavior was meaningless.

But she really couldn't think of any other way.

Now that Liu Xin'ai had punctured Xu Xiaoxiao's fantasy, Xu Xiaoxiao felt dejected and muttered, "Then what should I do?"

"You, just tell the truth. Anyway, you didn't intentionally let the flower grow into that state."

"But something someone carefully raised became a mess in my hands; I feel terrible about it."

"The flower isn't dead. As long as the branches remain, it can bloom again next year. Don't be too nervous; gardeners are used to the flourishing and withering of plants."

Liu Xin'ai's voice was very gentle.

It was like sweet spring water, soothing the dryness in Xu Xiaoxiao's heart.

Still holding onto a shred of hope, she asked, "Really?"

"Really, really. Set your mind at ease and don't dwell on it."

Sigh, now Xu Xiaoxiao could only accept Liu Xin'ai's guidance.

Empty-handed, Xu Xiaoxiao finally returned to the school with trepidation.

Just as she walked into the office feeling dejected, she actually saw... the old professor!

The professor had finished tea and chatting with the director and had come to Xu Xiaoxiao's office to find her.

Unfortunately, he had missed her.

Fortunately, the others in the office were very enthusiastic, and the old professor was chatting happily with everyone.

Only...

The old professor had been standing with his back to Xu Xiaoxiao, but hearing someone call Xu Xiaoxiao's name, he turned around.

The moment their eyes met, Xu Xiaoxiao was extremely nervous!

"Little Xu, this flower..."

Sigh, she knew that since the old professor had come to the office, he would definitely see those bare branches!

Forget it, forget it. At worst, she would just apologize; Xu Xiaoxiao was very good at that anyway!

Xu Xiaoxiao closed her eyes and prepared to open her mouth to apologize.

But the old professor changed the subject and praised: "You've raised it really well!"

Huh?

Xu Xiaoxiao widened her eyes and looked over, thinking...

Has the old professor been angered into confusion?

But the old man's face was full of smiles, and there was no anger at all?

Xu Xiaoxiao was confused.

Subsequently, she saw the old professor pick up a flower pot from her desk.

Hmm...

The flowerpot is indeed that same flowerpot.

But how did a fresh, dew-kissed wax begonia appear inside it!?

And it's the exact same color, the exact same size!!!

Xu Xiaoxiao was completely bewildered.

She was even wondering if a Ma Liang with a magic paintbrush truly existed in this world...

While Xu Xiaoxiao was lost in wild thoughts, the old professor said with gratification, "I was worried you wouldn't be able to take care of it, but it turns out I was overthinking; you've taken even better care of it than I did!"

"This... you flatter me."

Xu Xiaoxiao genuinely felt the old man was overpraising her; in any case, she had no face to accept it.

After chatting for a few more sentences, the old professor left the office.

Xu Xiaoxiao let out a sigh of relief, and then, she stared fixedly at that pot of flowers.

It was as if by staring like this, she could uncover the truth.

But in the midst of her focused staring, she heard a discordant laugh.

Xu Xiaoxiao followed the sound and saw Wang Sinian sitting there with a smile on his face.

Noticing Xu Xiaoxiao looking over, Wang Sinian raised his eyebrows and asked, "You don't actually think there's magic in this world, do you?"

"No, I was just curious if a Ma Liang with a magic paintbrush exists in this world."

Hearing this, Wang Sinian laughed even louder.

He laughed very arrogantly.

If it were any other time, Xu Xiaoxiao would have already been angered by that arrogant air.

But at this moment...

Xu Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes and asked tentatively, "This flower, did you do it?"

"Otherwise? Can a withered branch really bloom into a flower?"

Wang Sinian admitted it.

But in Xu Xiaoxiao's heart, even more questions bubbled up.

She turned her body and lowered her voice to ask, "Did you know the old professor was coming?"

"I'm not a fortune teller; I just simply wanted to compensate you with a flower so you wouldn't come looking for trouble with me later."

"Please, who is looking for trouble with whom? Have you forgotten about the Xu Yuan Chi incident?"

"I don't remember the Xu Yuan Chi incident, but..."

A mischievous smile appeared on the corners of Wang Sinian's mouth: "I still remember the turtle incident!"

"You guy..."

Xu Xiaoxiao was about to speak, but the violent pounding in her chest made her involuntarily raise her hand to touch it.

Seeing this, Wang Sinian asked, "What's wrong, is your conscience bothering you?"

Not really, it's just... why has her heartbeat sped up again?

It might be caused by running around and the emotional agitation.

Sigh, it seems maintaining a calm state of mind is very important.

Xu Xiaoxiao wasn't prepared to bicker with Wang Sinian; she thanked him indifferently and then asked, "Where is the original flower branch from the pot?"

Li Beijue's expression turned extremely grim in an instant; he stood up abruptly and strode toward the door.