How's This My Senior Professor? Chapter 016
The next day, in Iris von Evergarden's private lab.
Screeech.
The moment I pushed open the door, a wave of rose scent hit me. Iris the professor was lounging on the sofa in a silk dress that covered up way more skin than yesterday—especially around the chest—but hugged her curves so tightly it was basically naked.
Tch. Now that it's covered, I'm disappointed again.
"Instead" sounds kinda trashy, but whatever. With the cleavage hidden, my eyes wandered elsewhere. And damn, her figure was straight-up killer. Crossing her legs and sipping tea, she looked not just seductive but downright decadent.
Am I just hopeless?
Under the Confucian Taliban motto of "teacher and father are one," this was straight-up unfilial. Having impure thoughts about my mentor's body, who was like a parent to me. Sure, I loved that forbidden thrill, but still.
You know how if teacher and parent are the same, it's like your mom being too sexy and young? Tons of that in hentai. Seen plenty. What year and month was that "way of the warrior" again...?
"You're here. Sit."
She jerked her chin at the seat across from her. I plopped down obediently on the sofa and chugged the red tea she handed me.
But the vibe was off. Clink. The teacup hit the saucer harder than it should have. I snuck a glance—her face was all pouty. Those red lips were pursed out a good two fingers' width, screaming "I'm in a bad mood" to anyone looking.
What's her deal all of a sudden? Yesterday she was so embarrassed she locked me in for 30 minutes, and now this? What wind blew in today?
"Did I screw up again overnight or something?"
"Why? Got something to hide?"
She narrowed her eyes and snapped back. I thought it over.
"Nah. Just went to class, home, ate, lazed around, and crashed."
Might be 'cause I finally got some farm work in after ages. Slept like a baby. For real.
My answer caught her off guard—her lips twitched. That was her holding back a laugh.
"What, me going home, eating home-cooked, stretching out, and sleeping is funny how?"
Saying it out loud made her lose it more. She looked like she was struggling.
Sigh.
"Go ahead and laugh it up. People laughing at me is getting normal now. Feels like I'm the academy's official clown."
"Ahaha!"
She burst out laughing, unprofessor-like—frivolous but refreshing. After the fit, her expression softened.
Laugh-challenge cleared. Time to probe again.
"Feeling better? Spill it. What's got you so pissed?"
"You said you had nothing to hide."
"I don't. Your face just has 'I'm not happy' plastered on it, that's why I'm asking."
Almost said "you look sulky," but held back. Gotta play social nice.
"It's not plastered on my face."
She said that but looked flustered. What was I supposed to do?
...Yeah.
...I knew exactly what.
"Don't worry, it's not plastered. I can tell you're trying to keep your emotions in check without making others uncomfortable. I'm just freakishly good at reading faces."
Fluff her pride that she's not sloppy. That smooths things out.
I knew this from my past life, sandwiched between an older sis who nagged and a little sis below. Got reamed so much—"How do you not notice someone's mood at all?" "Leave it, that's just how he is."—my ears bled pus a few times. Now I'm like a eunuch, always gauging moods first.
Anyway, stroked her ego, laid out the mat for casual talk. Time to speak up, right?
Iris fiddled with her teacup, hesitating. Then she dropped it casually.
"You've been scattering your charm everywhere."
"Pardon?"
"Word is Muller Viscountess is singing your praises. Said you showed genius in class."
Oh. That.
I let out a baffled chuckle. Why's that auntie hyping me up? She'd be gushing over Lily in her next class, glued to her lips.
Anyway, I got the picture. She was antsy about losing her slobber-marked slave.
"So, this is jealousy, huh?"
"The word rubs me wrong, but yeah, can't deny it."
I fought a grin and shot back slyly.
"If you don't want other profs stealing me, just hand over that promised lab quick."
"......"
Iris looked speechless at my thug energy. But as I stared her down shamelessly, she sighed.
"Lab as soon as possible. Tomorrow if I can swing it. Just behave till then. Don't catch other profs' eyes."
Okay.
"Once I got my hideout, why would I wander? I'll hole up and breathe. Oh, and make my lab somewhere nobody goes."
"......You're a rotten student. Using your teacher's hurt feelings."
What? Gotta take what's mine.
One night from noble to slave status. Gotta lock in those perks.
Her face said she liked the idea, though. My words basically declared "no big interest in Muller."
Herbology farming tempted me, but a private lab was OP advantage. Plus, with "Iris's disciple" title, my antics pass as genius quirks—like killer insurance.
Muller line? That mentor screams farmer life forever. And 200% tangle with saintess Lily. Risky.
"What're you thinking so hard about?"
Caught me zoning, she narrowed her eyes again. Pouting incoming. Best to dive in deep.
I propped my chin and smirked.
"Thinking about the day you confessed to me."
"Huh?"
Her eyes bugged out. Teacup froze mid-air.
"C-confess? What do you...?"
"Didn't you barge to my dad at midnight, all bold: 'Give me your son'?"
"......!"
She flinched. Face turned beet red.
"D-don't say misleading things! It was academic...!"
"Nah, no lies or exaggeration. Straight facts."
"...You're right, no exaggeration."
She fumbled for a comeback, lips flapping.
"Makes you more embarrassed, huh?"
"...Ahem!"
Iris cleared her throat and gulped tea. Shaky pupils, flushed neck. Shame creeping up visibly.
So cute, wanna bully her bad. Fan some flames? Literal fan.
I fanned her face with my palm, teasing.
"No no. Can't get embarrassed every time. How'll we live face-to-face later?"
"......"
"What guts got you proposing to my dad at midnight? Where'd that fire go? Now you're a meek lamb?"
My straight balls hit; her red eyes fled to the ceiling. She clamped her lips, grabbed her cane by the sofa, and waved it lightly.
Whiiiish—
Room air chilled instantly. Cool breeze swirled her face like AC on blast.
Cooling blush with magic. Peak talent waste, right? (This room has AC too, FYI.)
"......Don't tease."
She mumbled in the cold draft. But her red earlobes defied magic.
Haa. Adorable.
How's this my senior prof? (Mine's longer life-wise.) World's genius prof flummoxed by my words.
Ah, fun times.
Push more and she might ice-statue me. Better stop.
"Anyway, lab tomorrow?"
"Yes. Remote spot, as you want."
"Street life ends today then? Sweet."
"Yeah, but......"
Iris dispersed the wind and stared.
"You're my disciple now. No need to watch eyes. My rep covers your notoriety."
True, but...
Something feels off.
Yesterday's hall vibe. Those weird looks leaving her lab. Not covering notoriety—swallowing rep, birthing new rumors. Bad premonition.
Don't jinx it now.
"Better safe. Test bridges before crossing, right?"
I stood, raised a firm finger. Same ending line as yesterday. Can't resist the finisher.
"No escorting today."
"Wasn't planning to."
"And no leaving this room for 30 minutes! Got it?"
"......Don't worry. I won't."
Poker voice cracking. But I saw her neck pink up again.
Manage face all you want—neck gives it away.
"See you tomorrow for my lab key, Master."
Nothing learned yet. Probably never will.
I grinned and opened the door.
*
"Later."
I tossed a cool goodbye and reached for the door—
"Ack."
Someone stood right there. I slammed brakes and looked up.
Arrogantly refined features. Cold eyes looking down like I was a bug—kinda familiar. Topped with blinding... not quite, but shiny golden twin-tails.
"......"
Princess Evelyn de Leopold.
"Uh......"
Click. Door shut on instinct.
"Yes. Greetings, Your Highness."
No bow, pure perfunctory. Her brows furrowed hard. Face full of "Why are you here?" disgust.
What'd I do to her?
"Move."
She snapped irritably.
"Here for Professor Iris. Air's getting stale with you blocking."
Am I smog, bitch?
"Ah, yeah. Gotta move."
I stepped aside easy. Then—a bad thought flashed.
Wait, no good.
Iris inside was a mess. Beet face, red neck, room chilled by magic.
Princess walks in like that? And saw me leave?
...Misunderstanding incoming?
1. Man and woman in sealed room.
2. Man just left.
3. Enter room: woman's flushed.
Classic 19+ romance novel scene. If she were the heroine catching her man, peak trope.
Nah, no way.
Just a red face? No tryst rumors from that. Blocking her'd look suspicious. Can't stop a princess anyway.
Whatever. Not my problem.
"Hmph."
Knock knock.
"Professor? Evelyn de Leopold. May I come in?"
Silence, then Iris—flustered but faking calm.
"......Come in."
Screeech. Door opened.
I bolted without looking back.