Today, Nathaniel Fu wore a black turtleneck sweater layered beneath a tailored black coat—his signature dark style, refined and understated.
His neatly combed-back hair revealed a flawlessly handsome face, accentuated by rimless gold glasses. He looked like a character stepped straight out of a novel—an elegant, radiant professor standing with poise at the podium.
A soft ding-dong signaled the beginning of the lecture.
Nathaniel lifted his gaze, his deep, narrow eyes scanning the room before he introduced himself in a calm voice.
"Good morning, everyone. My name is Nathaniel Fu, and I'll be teaching this class today."
Pa-pa-pa.
A wave of applause broke out.
"Professor Fu, I have a question!" A girl, her cheeks flushed pink, raised her hand.
Nathaniel nodded slightly. "Go ahead."
"Professor Fu… do you have a girlfriend?"
The room instantly buzzed with excitement. Dozens of girls leaned forward, their faces glowing with anticipation.
Nathaniel's lips curved into a faint smile. "No, I don't have a girlfriend."
Wow! A collective gasp filled the lecture hall.
"But," he added smoothly, "I do have a fiancée."
Ohhh! The voices rose and fell in waves of excitement.
Sitting in the front row was Yara Lu. At those words, her delicate face lit up, eyes sparkling with delight. She immediately raised her hand.
"Professor Fu!"
Nathaniel looked at her. "Yes?"
Pointing at a question in her textbook, Yara said sweetly, "I don't quite understand this problem. Could you come over and help me?"
Nathaniel walked to her desk, leaning slightly toward her. "Which one?"
But before he could finish, Yara tilted her head up and boldly pressed a kiss to his cheek—in full view of the entire class.
The lecture hall erupted in chaos. Students whistled and clapped, shouting, "Oh no! Professor Fu and the campus beauty are killing us singles!"
From the back row, Celia sat quietly, her gaze fixed on the pair at the front. She watched the gentle, focused way Nathaniel bent toward Yara, eyes soft and attentive.
It was the kind of look he had never given her.
The difference between love and indifference was clear in an instant.
Celia lowered her head, her hand instinctively resting on her still-flat stomach. She shrank back into her seat, trying to make herself smaller, hidden behind the tall figure of a boy seated in front of her.
Beside her, Li Yuting gasped dramatically. "Oh my God, Cici! Why is Professor Fu so fond of Yara Lu? Look at the rocket-class students—they're so excited, they're about to blast off!"
Yara's radiant smile grew brighter as she gazed up at Nathaniel. He, however, said nothing, simply straightening his tall frame. His lashes lifted slightly as he glanced back, and his sharp eyes landed precisely on Celia's retreating figure.
She had leaned sideways, using the boy in front as a shield, as though hiding from him.
Nathaniel's gaze cooled. With a measured calmness, he withdrew his eyes and returned to the podium.
"Let's begin. Please turn to page twenty-five."
The room quieted, and soon, everyone was absorbed in the lecture.
Celia, however, had stayed up late the previous night working on her perfumes. Now, over a month pregnant, she often felt weak and drowsy. Before long, her head sank onto her desk, and she drifted into sleep.
From the podium, Nathaniel noticed her slender figure slumped over, fast asleep.
It wasn't that his class was boring—if anything, the room was brimming with eager faces, eyes locked on him. Yet she… she was the only one who dared fall asleep.
A flicker of displeasure crossed his eyes.
"Alright," he said suddenly, his tone light but firm, "let's have a student answer the next question."