Chapter Thirty-Three: Is This the Anxiety of Always Being on the Verge of Losing What You Cherish?

"Don't you find it adorable? You really have quite the allure—look, even the girls from our university's arts troupe are so enthusiastic about you!" Su Rouxue smiled gently, then turned off her phone and quietly finished her modest meal from the cafeteria.

She had only ordered a small portion, so she soon finished and left. Throughout, Xia Shu's gaze drifted toward her now and then.

He sighed inwardly, feeling helpless. The message from his girlfriend seemed tinged with jealousy, yet Su Rouxue acted completely unconcerned.

Wait a second!

Suddenly, a spark of realization flashed through Xia Shu's mind.

The university arts troupe... Wasn't his girlfriend once the leader of their school's arts troupe? Now that Lin Wanwan was still one of its core members, did they frequently interact?

Girls are always observant. During their meal, Lin Wanwan naturally noticed something was off. Following Xia Shu's gaze, she instinctively turned to glance behind them. As Su Rouxue rose to leave, she guessed that Xia Shu was likely captivated by the woman’s striking aura and beauty.

"Are you watching Professor Su?" Lin Wanwan flashed a sweet, familiar smile, though inwardly she was starting to grumble. She was right in front of Xia Shu, yet he barely looked at her, his attention instead drawn to the departing Su Rouxue. Was her own allure so insignificant in his eyes?

"Really? She’s a professor?" Xia Shu looked genuinely surprised.

His roommates beside him were equally astonished; they’d already noticed Su Rouxue earlier.

"I can’t believe there’s a professor this beautiful at our university. She looks so young—what faculty is she from?" Wang Yang’s eyes lit up. The moment Su Rouxue walked past, he was utterly smitten.

He had planned to simply admire her quietly, but since everyone was discussing her now, he couldn’t help but add his own thoughts.

"She’s stunning, and her aura is exceptional. She definitely isn’t from our faculty—must be from the humanities or the arts." Liu Zhuang rubbed his hands together, marveling at the scene. When he caught sight of Su Rouxue quietly eating earlier, it was more captivating than anything on his plate.

"She’s truly remarkable. I bet she’s famous. Her looks could top any campus beauty list. I saw plenty of students snapping photos—can imagine tonight’s confession wall will be buzzing," Lin Xiang sighed.

All the freshmen in front of her were showering Su Rouxue with praise, and Lin Wanwan felt a mix of envy and admiration.

After all, even she had to admit: Professor Su Rouxue was an exceptionally outstanding, flawless woman!

"Professor Su is a part-time professor at the School of Arts. She graduated from our university herself. For Cloud City University, she's always been a legendary figure everyone talks about."

"I know Professor Su quite well—she used to be a leader of the university arts troupe. Back when she was a student, her creative works won several prestigious national awards. She’s considered a famous young artist."

"She’s published many comics too, all quite popular."

"If you ask about the most talked-about moments at Cloud City University in the last decade, the first wave was because of Professor Su, and the second wave was thanks to you, Xia Shu," Lin Wanwan said, somehow steering the conversation back to him.

"That’s incredible—she’s the real campus goddess!" Liu Zhuang had become a devoted admirer.

"With a teacher this outstanding, her partner must be remarkable too. It’s enviable," Wang Yang agreed.

A campus goddess—such perfection! As long as she stayed at Cloud City University, could there be anyone more captivating?

"As far as I know... Professor Su is still single. Though, that’s just a guess—she’s nearly thirty now, so maybe she’s secretly married."

"With her excellence, she’s never lacked admirers. And those admirers are surely just as outstanding. Over the years, she must have had plenty of choices..."

Lin Wanwan sighed inwardly, glancing at Liu Zhuang. He’d been so eager toward her moments ago, but after seeing Su Rouxue, his attitude shifted dramatically.

Are all men like this?

Still, they were discussing Su Rouxue, after all. Lin Wanwan might feel a bit jealous, but Su Rouxue was her role model these last two years at university.

Whenever she’d spoken privately with Su Rouxue, the professor never put on airs, always treating her more like a senior to a junior.

If she were a man, maybe she’d be more enchanted than these boys.

"True, with a teacher like her, she surely isn’t single. Her partner must be wealthy!" Liu Zhuang grinned foolishly, then added, "If I had money and looks, I’d muster up the courage to approach her—who knows, maybe I’d succeed!"

At his words, Xia Shu nearly choked on his meal and quickly drank some soup.

"If Professor Su heard you, she’d probably mail you a firewood cleaver," Xia Shu remarked blandly.

"Pfft, I’m just talking big. In reality, I’m just a fat geek. How could I dare approach her? I’d only admire from a distance, never dare to offend!"

"But that doesn’t stop me from daydreaming now and then," Liu Zhuang laughed, his tone greasy and lewd.

"Yeah, if I were exceptional, I’d want to approach her, too. But we’re just ordinary guys—this sort of thing is just wishful thinking," Wang Yang said, self-deprecatingly.

Lin Xiang raised his eyebrow: "Not necessarily. Maybe a woman this perfect just wants an ordinary partner. Although... that seems unlikely, hahaha..."

Everyone was an adult now, and they understood reality.

Unless you excelled in some area, who’d dare approach someone as formidable as Su Rouxue?

And if you were just ordinary, how could you ever hope to match her?

Money.

Power.

Looks.

Those are always the top standards people use for choosing a partner.

The conversation among his roommates grew more and more animated, while Xia Shu sat silently.

He felt troubled. If things continued like this, dating Su Rouxue would mean constantly risking losing her to someone else every single day.