Chapter 390: Crazy! You Nianchu has gone crazy!

The hallway was packed with people, mostly male students in casual clothes. They stood in groups of three or five, all staring in his direction with eager and questioning eyes, completely blocking the way to the classroom.

Before Lin Yuan could react, a tall male student at the front stepped forward and said, "Are you Lin Yuan, the teacher from the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine?"

Lin Yuan nodded, puzzled, and asked, "Yes, may I ask what you need? I'm about to start class."

Another bespectacled male student stepped closer, raising his voice, "Professor Lin, we have a question for you: what exactly is your relationship with Professor Qin Bore of the School of Economics?"

As soon as he said that, the surrounding male students chimed in, talking over each other: "Exactly! Are you dating Professor Qin?"

"Someone saw you carrying Professor Qin this noon and even holding her high heels—what else could that be if not a date?"

So these male students are all from the School of Economics?

Lin Yuan stood there, completely bewildered—

He hadn't expected the morning's incident to spread so fast, drawing so many male students from other colleges?

How is he supposed to explain this??

Only then did Lin Yuan belatedly recall……

Qin Bore is not just a professor at the School of Economics; she is also the school's officially recognized top beauty professor, the goddess in the hearts of many male students, and even students from other departments know her.

"Professor Qin is the goddess of our School of Economics! Professor Lin, you couldn't have actually snatched our Professor Qin, could you?? You were even rumored to be involved with campus belle You Nianchu before—Professor Lin, your love life is too chaotic, right?" the tall male student pressed.

"Exactly! Professor Lin, if you have a girlfriend, just say so—don't lead Professor Qin on!"

"We don't believe Professor Qin would like someone like you; it must be you who pursued her!"

Male and female students kept stepping forward, asking all sorts of gossip questions.

Lin Yuan tried to explain helplessly, but his words were drowned out by the male students' voices; he could only wave his hands in vain: "It's not what you think—I'm just friends and colleagues with Professor Qin; this noon I merely helped her out……

But nobody listened to his explanation; the male students kept on questioning without cease.

Just as Lin Yuan was at a loss, a clear voice suddenly came from outside the crowd: "What are you doing? Why are you surrounding Professor Lin?"

Everyone turned to see You Nianchu striding over with her backpack, pushing through the crowd to stand beside Lin Yuan, lifting her head to glare at those male students, her tone tinged with anger:

"Have you got it wrong? Professor Lin was merely helping Professor Qin—her shoe heel got stuck in a floorboard crack, so he carried her to the office. What's the problem?"

The male students stared for a moment: "Do you need to carry someone just to help? And you even held her high heels—that's too intimate, isn't it?"

"Intimate?" You Nianchu frowned, raising her voice: "Professor Lin was just helping out of kindness—don't judge others with petty minds! Besides, Professor Lin and Professor Qin are both teachers; it's perfectly normal for colleagues to help each other. On what basis are you spreading rumors here?"

As she spoke, she shielded Lin Yuan in front of her like a small beast protecting its young, her gaze firm on those male students, showing no fear at all.

Although she had previously 'contended' with Qin Bore over Lin Yuan, seeing him being bullied now, she couldn't help but step forward.

You Nianchu's words left the male students speechless; some scratched their heads, some lowered theirs, yet they still didn't disperse, obviously still unconvinced.

Just then, a quiet voice came from the end of the hallway: "Students, please mind your words and actions."

Everyone turned to see Du Wanhe in professional attire striding over; she came to Lin Yuan's side, her gaze sweeping over the male students present, her tone carrying a hint of unquestionable seriousness:

"This is the teaching building, a place for classes—not a spot for you to discuss private matters or surround teachers."

She paused, then continued: "Professor Qin Bore's shoe heel broke; Professor Lin Yuan merely helped out of collegiality. There is no 'date' or 'defilement' as you claim—these are baseless rumors."

Du Wanhe has deep seniority at the school and usually carries an aura; seeing her, the male students instinctively restrained their emotions, and nobody dared to speak loudly anymore.

"Professor Qin Bore and Professor Lin Yuan are both teachers at the school; their private interactions are none of your business," Du Wanhe said, her tone softening a bit:

"Please disperse now, don't disrupt other teachers and students' classes; if you keep blocking here, I'll contact your department's counselor."

Upon hearing that, the male students exchanged glances, nobody dared to linger; the crowding students gave embarrassed smiles and all dispersed.

Lin Yuan walked into the classroom, placed his lesson plan on the lectern, and was about to greet everyone when a slight commotion came from the back door.

There stood a tall male student entering, wearing white sportswear, upright posture, his brows and eyes exuding a confident air—none other than the captain of the school basketball team and the acknowledged campus heartthrob, Ye Long.

Ye Long's gaze swept across the classroom and finally rested on You Nianchu, seated in the third row.

He then found a vacant seat toward the back and sat down, though his gaze would occasionally drift to the podium and to You Nianchu.

Lin Yuan froze for a moment, looking at the student's sturdy, tall build, which seemed like someone from the College of Physical Education.

But he didn't dwell on it—any student who comes to listen to his lecture, he is willing to teach.

Lin Yuan cleared his throat: "Let's begin class; today we'll continue discussing the compatibility principles of traditional Chinese medicine formulas."

Just ten minutes into the lecture, You Nianchu was the first to raise her hand and start asking questions.

As Lin Yuan was about to answer, Teacher Du Wanhe in the back row also slowly raised her hand and joined in with a question.

You Nianchu and Du Wanhe had come to attend class again.

Moreover, the two women each raised questions during the class.

The two asked questions one after another; their eyes briefly met, then quickly looked away, each carrying a subtle sense of rivalry.

Lin Yuan could only answer You Nianchu's question first, then give a detailed explanation of Du Wanhe's doubt.

During this time, the male student Ye Long from the basketball team scrutinized Lin Yuan with his gaze, his eyes unfriendly.

Midway through the lesson, a mischievous male student suddenly raised his hand, his voice tinged with provocation: "Professor Lin, we have a non‑academic question we'd like to ask!"

Lin Yuan's heart skipped a beat; he sensed trouble but still nodded: "Go ahead."

The student smiled and asked: "You Nianchu is always discussing problems with you; besides, someone once saw you sending her back to the dormitory—are you two really like the rumors say?"

As soon as he said that, the classroom instantly buzzed; the students joined in the uproar, their eyes darting back and forth between Lin Yuan and You Nianchu.

You Nianchu's pretty face remained calm; instead, she lifted her gaze to Lin Yuan, her beautiful eyes holding a hint of anticipation.

Ye Long sat in the back row; his brows furrowed instantly, his fingers unconsciously clenched the pen in his hand, and the pressure around him noticeably dropped.

Du Wanhe lightly tapped the desk, her tone carrying a hint of seriousness: "Students, class time should be focused on studies; there's no need to overdiscuss unrelated rumors."

You Nianchu also spoke up, her voice soft but clear: "I'm just a student‑teacher with Professor Lin; I'm only interested in traditional Chinese medicine, so I often ask questions—please don't speculate wildly."

Yet the students kept on questioning without cease.

Gossip—everyone loves to spread rumors.

Seeing the gossip not die down, Du Wanhe lightly tapped the desk with her fingertip.

"You Nianchu has just turned 18 this year; she's still a child, while Professor Lin Yuan is an adult and a specially appointed lecturer at the school—given their positions, how could the rumored things possibly happen? So please stop spreading them."

As soon as those words were spoken, the classmates finally quieted down a bit.

Du Wanhe turned her head and glanced at You Nianchu.

"And You Nianchu, you too…… Right now is the time to focus on your studies, and as a public figure of the school, you still need to pay attention to your image and propriety."

"From now on, don't get too close to Lin Laoshi, after all you're only 18, still a child. Public opinion will be uncontrollable, and that's bad for you, for Lin Laoshi, and for the school." Du Wanhe reminded in a soft voice.

Her tone was completely that of a teacher reminding a student.

But Du Wanhe is indeed a teacher.

You Nianchu is indeed a student.

Moreover, Du Wanhe is all too familiar with You Nianchu's gossip-mongering antics.

Ten years ago, she had already done this.

So Du Wanhe clearly knows You Nianchu's little thoughts.

But when You Nianchu heard those words, her beautiful eyes narrowed, and she felt somewhat displeased.

She caught the hidden meaning in Du Wanhe's words……

This was a reminder to You Nianchu that, being young, she shouldn't harbor improper fantasies about Lin Yuan.

Du Wanhe's words carried a warning.

You Nianchu's pretty face instantly sank; the cheeks that had just flushed now showed a hint of resentment.

You Nianchu stood up directly from her seat, her voice tinged with obvious anger: "Du Laoshi, that's not right—18 is already an adult, how can you still call me a child?"

She stared straight at Du Wanhe, her tone full of indignation: "Even if I really like Lin Laoshi and want to date him, that's an adult's freedom—what's wrong with that?"

Whoosh~!

As soon as those words were spoken, the students in the classroom were all shocked and in an uproar!

Upon hearing that, Du Wanhe's beautiful eyes went blank.

After a while, Du Wanhe finally reacted. She slammed the table and said coldly, "You Nianchu, are you muddle-headed? What nonsense are you spouting?"

"If an improper relationship between teacher and student were to spread, it would not only affect the teacher's professional evaluation but also the student's graduation eligibility. Nianchu, your grades have always been good—don't ruin yourself over a moment's muddle-headedness." Du Wanhe reminded with an icy face.

You Nianchu lifted her head and stubbornly retorted, "Worst case, I'll follow the example of that Academic God from years ago and just withdraw from studies! If I withdraw, I'll be able to date Lin Laoshi, right?! Anyway, I just like Lin Laoshi!"

With a "Boom," the classroom erupted completely.