Chapter 130: Associate Professor

“Name your price, be straightforward. You say a number, I’ll pay, and you can pretend nothing ever happened,” Ruan Yali said bluntly.

Lu Feng shook his head. “I’m not going to take your money.”

Ruan Yali offered a seductive smile. “So, you want me instead?”

Lu Feng shook his head again. “You’re overthinking it. I never remember other people’s affairs, so there’s no need for you to go through all this trouble to silence me.”

Ruan Yali was about to say more when Tang Long’s voice suddenly came over.

“What are you talking about?”

Ruan Yali immediately restored her graceful and charming demeanor, walked over, and hooked her arm around Tang Long’s. “Of course, we’re talking about beauty treatments. I heard Yun’an’s beauty and wellness services are very effective.”

“If they’re effective, why not try them?” Tang Long laughed heartily.

“Alright, then I’ll go with you to Yun’an for the treatments,” Ruan Yali said, linking arms with Tang Long as they strolled away.

The prescription had already been handed to Tang Long. Lu Feng, no longer interested in drinking, found an excuse to leave.

...

The next day, Lu Feng accompanied Su Muyun to school.

Before the second and third classes in the morning, Lu Feng pulled her into the elevator and headed to the teacher’s office building to find the professor who taught the acupuncture practice course.

Su Muyun hesitated, reluctant to go, but Lu Feng dragged her along.

At the office door hung a nameplate: Wang Shunyi.

The hallway walls displayed photos of various professors with accompanying biographies.

As Lu Feng walked down the corridor, he glanced briefly and noticed that Wang Shunyi was not a full professor but an associate professor.

The prefix “associate” was a somewhat harsh label. When greeting someone, calling them “Professor So-and-so” or “Director So-and-so” sounded pleasant. But calling someone “Associate Professor So-and-so” or “Deputy Director So-and-so” sounded clumsy.

Lu Feng grabbed Su Muyun’s hand and knocked firmly on the door with a commanding rhythm.

Su Muyun touched her forehead and said, “There’s a doorbell...” then reached out to press it.

“Come in!” a voice called from inside.

Lu Feng turned the handle and entered, immediately asking, “Associate Professor Wang, right?”

Using such a blunt title right away was deliberate; Lu Feng wasn’t careless but meant to provoke.

Wang Shunyi looked to be in his fifties, neither fat nor thin, with a slight paunch, narrow eyes, a flat nose, and few wrinkles—likely knowledgeable about traditional Chinese medicine and wellness, which kept him looking relatively young.

He glanced at Lu Feng, not recognizing him, then noticed Su Muyun behind him and asked curiously, “Su Muyun, is this student in your class? I don’t recall seeing him attend any lessons.”

“Attend your class? You’d have to have something worth teaching me first,” Lu Feng replied arrogantly, then quickly got to the point. “That’s not important. I’m here to officially inform you that your half-baked Chinese medicine skills aren’t enough to teach Muyun. Stay away from her from now on.”

Wang Shunyi frowned at Lu Feng’s rudeness and looked him over again. No matter how he looked at him, Lu Feng seemed like one of the students, probably the type who often skipped class, which explained why he had no recollection of him.

“My Chinese medicine skills don’t need your evaluation. You have no right!” Wang Shunyi’s face darkened with anger.

Su Muyun didn’t want the whole class to find out and hoped Lu Feng would calm down. She tugged at his hand and whispered, “Weren’t we supposed to talk this over nicely?”

“I’m not interested in debating your skills. I’m here to officially warn you: don’t use tutoring as an excuse to get close to Muyun, or you’ll regret it!” Lu Feng said firmly.

Wang Shunyi’s anger flared. He slammed his palm on the desk and shouted, “Su Muyun, tell me! Was it you who asked for tutoring? How am I using that as an excuse to get close to you? What have I done to you?”

“Teacher, I’m sorry, I misunderstood. Sorry... sorry...” Su Muyun was intimidated by his outburst and tried to pull Lu Feng away.

But Lu Feng stood his ground, and no matter how much Su Muyun tugged, he wouldn’t budge.

“Senior brother, let’s go back, okay?” Su Muyun pleaded softly, seeing the professor’s anger.

Wang Shunyi said, “You caused a scene here and now want to leave? Call your counselor here. I suspect your relationship isn’t normal! The school doesn’t forbid student romances, but it doesn’t encourage them either. You need to maintain your image on campus! When your counselor arrives, you won’t escape a formal reprimand!”

“Professor, I’m sorry, it really wasn’t intentional. Lu Feng isn’t a student here; we’ll leave right now,” Su Muyun said, her face pale at the mention of a reprimand.

She had been a model student since childhood—quiet, obedient, never causing trouble or being reprimanded.

“That makes it worse! You brought an outsider onto campus. That violates school regulations and goes against our principles! A reprimand isn’t enough; disciplinary action is necessary!” Wang Shunyi became increasingly aggressive.

Su Muyun was nearly in tears.

Lu Feng didn’t expect the associate professor to be so formidable. He pulled out his membership card from the Chinese Medicine Association. “Quit scaring people! I’m a member of the Chinese Medicine Association, and I believe your skills are unqualified to teach Muyun!”

The Chinese Medicine Association wasn’t a powerful organization; it had no real authority over practitioners. However, many esteemed professors belonged to it, and their reputations influenced the broader Chinese medicine community. Thus, members cared deeply about their standing within the association.

“Hmph!” Wang Shunyi sneered. He didn’t expect Lu Feng to be a member, though he suspected Lu Feng had just bought the membership through a pharmaceutical company.

At that moment, the bell for the second and third classes rang loudly throughout the building.

Wang Shunyi shot Lu Feng a mocking glance, adjusted his suit, and regained his dignified demeanor. “You doubt my Chinese medicine skills? Well, today I have an acupuncture practice class at our school’s affiliated hospital. You’re welcome to come and see whether I truly have the qualifications!”

Lu Feng, full of youthful pride, agreed without hesitation. “Fine! I want to see just how skilled you really are.”

...

The acupuncture department at the medical university’s affiliated hospital was renowned, on par with the cardiothoracic surgery department.

When Su Muyun arrived at the hospital entrance, she kept her head lowered but was still spotted by classmates there for the practical session. One greeted her, “Su Muyun, we didn’t see you at the assembly. We thought you weren’t coming to the acupuncture class.”

Su Muyun replied, “Class monitor, I had some things to take care of, so I came straight to the hospital.”

The school was quite far from the hospital—a twenty-minute walk at least—but there was a shuttle bus that ran from campus to the hospital.

Therefore, most students took the shuttle bus to attend their practical classes at the hospital.