Chapter 522

“Assistant Lin, then I’ll leave you to it,” Wang Haoran smiled casually, then turned to head toward Qiu Qianwei’s office. He didn’t need to keep an eye on Lin Mo from up close—sitting comfortably in her office chair was way better than standing around here.

Because of that offhand comment, Lin Mo stood there feeling suspicious. Just moments ago, his piano performance was flowing smoothly, yet the moment Wang Haoran appeared, his hand cramped up. Was it really just a coincidence?

Lin Mo couldn’t help but wonder, but the idea itself sounded absurd. After all, Wang Haoran hadn’t even touched him from start to finish. Still, his guard was up. He understood clearly that Wang Haoran was targeting him. The whole situation of being blocked from teaching—wasn’t it all stirred up by Wang Haoran?

With his fingers temporarily unable to play, the small crowd around him eventually dispersed. In just a short while, only Hu Zuixiang and her students remained. The students, clearly perceptive, lingered briefly before slipping away, intentionally leaving the two alone.

Hu Zuixiang was clearly delighted, while Lin Mo only felt a growing discomfort in his bones. But with the thought of building a connection with her for leverage, he forced himself to stay.

Hu Zuixiang smiled and suggested they exchange contact information. Lin Mo didn’t decline, pulling out his phone so she could scan his QR code.

“Teacher Lin, your fingers are still trembling. Are you sure you’re alright?” she asked with concern, noticing the subtle tremor in his hand.

“Maybe it’s because I haven’t touched a piano in a while. Playing something that intense so suddenly probably strained my hand a bit,” Lin Mo replied with a calm face.

“Pianists really do have to take care of their hands. I’ve had similar issues, too, when I overplay. Let me massage them for you. It really helps,” she said gently.

“N-No, that’s alright, really,” Lin Mo hurriedly refused, trying not to focus on Hu Zuixiang’s wide, dough-like face.

“No need to be shy. Trust me, it works,” she said warmly, and without waiting, reached out and grabbed his hand.

Lin Mo wanted to cry. He was practically being groped, but with his current predicament, turning her down might ruin his chances of using her influence.

“I heard that student call you an assistant. Are you really just an assistant lecturer in the Finance Department?” she asked while massaging his fingers.

With Lin Mo’s piano skills, she assumed he had to at least be a visiting professor. The fact that he was only an assistant was baffling.

“Yeah, just an assistant. And not even one that gets to teach in class,” Lin Mo sighed with bitterness.

“What’s going on?” Hu Zuixiang frowned.

“It’s because of that rich second gen you just saw. We had some conflicts, and he caused trouble in class. Because of that, I lost my teaching slot,” Lin Mo said, playing the victim just enough to earn sympathy.

“And who’s your supervising professor? Doesn’t she do anything about it?” she asked.

“That Wang Haoran guy comes from a powerful family. He pressured my professor, and she can’t do anything for now,” Lin Mo answered.

“Tch. So what if he’s rich? He can do whatever he wants?” Hu Zuixiang snorted coldly. “Leave it to me. I’ll take care of it and make sure you can return to teaching.”

“That would be amazing. Thank you so much,” Lin Mo said, eyes lighting up with fake gratitude.

“No need to thank me. Honestly, the moment I saw you, I felt a strange connection. It’s odd, like we’ve known each other for a long time even though we just met. Maybe it’s fate,” Hu Zuixiang said softly, gripping his hand as her eyes shimmered with affection.

Lin Mo’s back broke out in cold sweat. “Please don’t joke around like that.”

“I’m being serious. Look at us—we both play the piano, we have so much in common. If we were together, we’d be perfect, a real match made in heaven,” she declared boldly.

As an older single woman, she had no interest in playing shy like a young girl. She spoke directly and honestly when she liked someone, without beating around the bush.

Lin Mo was being fondled to the point of mental breakdown. He wanted to throw her hand off and coldly say, “Keep dreaming,” but he needed her help to go up against Wang Haoran. Swallowing his disgust, he held back.

“This is just… all too sudden. I need some time to adjust,” Lin Mo said with a stiff smile.

“So you’re saying you do like me? You just need some time to get used to it, right?” Hu Zuixiang’s eyes sparkled with predatory glee.

“Something like that, I guess,” Lin Mo forced out the words through gritted teeth.

Back in Qiu Qianwei’s office, Wang Haoran watched the scene unfold and couldn’t hold back a laugh. This Lin Mo really was willing to go all out just to deal with him—even going so far as to sell his body.

Originally, Wang Haoran was thinking of getting Jiang Gaoxuan involved again, giving Lin Mo a full-on antagonist combo meal. But after watching the interaction with Hu Zuixiang, a new idea began to take shape in his mind.

He’d heard about Hu Zuixiang before—thirty-five years old, stuck in that dangerous middle zone between wolf and tigress.

Wang Haoran’s smile deepened as he began to form a new plan.

The school bell rang, and the first class of the afternoon was about to start. Wang Haoran stood up, left the office, and made his way over to the Finance Department for class.

After the first period ended, he was summoned to the office by Liu Yue.

“You’ve been called out by name,” Liu Yue said sternly. “The higher-ups said if you disrupt class again, they’ll expel you.”

Wang Haoran wasn’t surprised at all. He remained calm and just replied, “I won’t cause any more trouble. Just delay Lin Mo’s teaching arrangement until tomorrow. That won’t be a problem, right?”

“That’s fine,” Liu Yue nodded.

Knock knock.

The door was knocked just as they finished talking.

“Come in,” Liu Yue called.

Lin Mo stepped inside with a smile on his face. When he saw Wang Haoran, he didn’t look surprised at all. It wasn’t hard to guess why Wang Haoran was here—it had to be a disciplinary warning.

“Professor Liu, is my teaching clearance all set?” Lin Mo smiled handsomely as he asked.

Yes, Lin Mo had changed. His entire aura had shifted, and his appearance was far more striking than before.

The change came after he showcased his piano talent and received a significant boost in Approval Points. Lin Mo used those points to strengthen his male prowess far beyond ordinary standards and even upgraded his looks and charm.

He used to look completely average. But now, with the boost to his Charm and presence, he had officially stepped into the ranks of handsome men.

Even Liu Yue was momentarily stunned when she saw him.