Fancy Me, Professor!

[SHORT ANNOUNCEMENT: Please drop the book if you find it boring and if you don't like it. Leaving negative comments will only hurt the author and will further demotivate him or her especially if he or she is having a stressful day at work and he or she forced himself or herself to write for the day. If you don't have anything good to say, keep them to yourself. Thank you.]

***

Shu Xian excused herself so she can have a quick shower to freshen herself up before going to sleep. With Pan An waiting for her in bed, both of them decided to take things slow and indeed, it is something that they need for their relationship.

After Shu Xian took a shower, she then wore a spare bathrobe that Pan An gave her from his wardrobe and wore it.

She was about to ask if this was reserved for someone but Pan An told her that he already asked one of his employees to have one prepared here in this room since they're going to stay in for the night.

The moment Shu Xian came out of the bathroom, she removed the hair tie that was keeping her hair in place, now going to the bed to lie down beside Pan An.

"I'm worried for Wan Wan. I don't stay out late and when I do, I bring her with me when I go to sleep overs with Shi Lian."

"You don't have to worry," Pan An said, pulling her in his arms and gave her a kiss on top of her head. "I already talked to our trusted secretary and asked him to send someone over the house to keep watch and take care of Wan Wan."

Shu Xian smiled, kissing Pan An's cheek.

"Thank you. Wan Wan is very important to me. Don't worry. She's a good girl. She won't harm the person you asked to keep watch. She's that smart."

Pan An and Shu Xian pulled each other in an embrace. With her comfortable in his arms, Pan An looked at her, wanting to get to know more about Shu Xian and her dog, Wan Wan.

"If I may ask… how did you and Wan Wan meet?"

"Oh! It's actually a sweet but kinda sad," Shu Xian said, further continuing her story. "I ran away from my uncle, no? When I was looking for a place to stay, I saw a box with an abandoned puppy. It was even a rainy day."

"So, it was Wan Wan?" Pan An asked, letting out a sigh as he did not like stories of animals abandoned. "That's sad to know if it's Wan Wan."

"It is Wan Wan," Shu Xian said, a small smile appearing on her face as she reminisced and told Pan An the story. "So I took her in. Strong and jolly puppy that she is despite the rain that day. And since then, we were inseparable. She's the one who saved and comforted me that day."

Pan An kissed the top of her head.

"Even though I was not a part of your life before, I'm glad that Wan Wan was there to give you company and to make your day better."

"Yes. So that day when you saved me… I couldn't help but get angry and I attacked those men. It's because Wan Wan is like my family now. No… not like… but she is really my family now."

Pan An held her face, his right hand cupping her cheek as his thumb caressed her as well.

"Do you want that we'll give Wan Wan a monthly check up to the vet? I'd gladly take her with you. She's a good dog and I already grew attached to her in such a short time."

"Oh!"

Shu Xian blinked her eyes a few times, her heart feeling warm that Pan An had suggested this.

"Wan Wan is not your pet, but I'm happy you're willing to do so. However, she is my pet and—"

"You don't have to worry about that," Pan An interrupted, arching a brow at her as a smug grin appeared on his face. "Other than me loving Wan Wan, remember that this man is rich? I'm not going to use my name, of course. But my salary from teaching in the university."

Shu Xian couldn't help but scoff as she playfully rolled her eyes at him. With Pan An liking her reaction, he kissed the top of her nose, Shu Xian giggling upon his touch.

"How proud of you. However, I do appreciate you using your own money since it is your hard work rather than use your family's popularity and wealth."

"Of course," Pan An said, his smile turning sweeter. "If I want to spend more time with you, then I'd rather do the effort based on what I have and what I can."

"Thank you."

At that same moment, Shu Xian was pulled into her own thoughts. With her remembering his family and with her remembering that her sister is here, she then raised her head to look at him and spoke.

"You know, Pan An… I want to know more about your family when given the chance. Especially your sister. Since she's here and she was even there when she celebrated my birthday. Do you think there will be a chance that I will meet them?"

"That's not actually a bad idea," Pan An said, nodding to what she said in agreement. "Also, I do appreciate you wanting to know more of my family. Usually girls would fear getting involved with someone's family especially if they are of the affluent type."

Shu Xian chuckled, playfully rolling her eyes at what he said.

"Oh, don't get me wrong. I am nervous to meet your family especially your sister since I do not know much about her. However, I do want to get to meet them. In a way, this can also make me learn more about you."

Pan An felt warm in his heart when he heard Shu Xian's justification. With a smile on his face, he further pulled Shu Xian in his arms, now speaking seriously as he remembered her case when it comes to her family.

"I'm sorry about you not knowing much about your family. You know, if you do know them, I'd sincerely want to know them and formally ask their permission into courting you and I'll definitely get to know them."

Shu Xian's smile then soon turned into a frown. With the sad expression on his face, it gave an ache to Pan An's heart, not wanting to see her this way.

"Shu Xian, I'm really sorry about that. I mean… I know they'd be good parents because even though you had a toxic environment before, you turned out just fine."

"Thank you." Shu Xian then looked up at him once more, now more comfortable about talking to him on her thoughts about her family. "If they are still here, I really want to meet them, too. There must be a pretty big reason why my uncle hid me from most of the people and had not told me about them."

Pan An arched a brow at her.

"So… your parents? They're not dead as he claims to be?"

"I don't think so," Shu Xian replied, letting out a sigh. "He said bad stuff about my parents, but he seems secretive. He never wanted me near his office. It's like he's keeping something from me. I tried secretly snooping in from time to time especially at night, but his office is heavily guarded."

"So you gave up?"

Shu Xian let out another sigh.

"Actually, yeah. I gave up on it. Though at the back of my mind, there is a strong urge telling me to keep on searching. If he is heavily guarding that office, then possibly there is something that he is keeping."

"Hmm…"

Pan An then fell into silence and allowed himself to be pulled within his thoughts even with Shu Xian beside him. With her noticing that he was suddenly deep in thought, she waited for him expectantly, curious about what he's thinking.

"What are you thinking of?" Shu Xian urged, Pan An answering her anyway.

"I'm thinking if I should try to investigate about your background with the help of my family. My family is also known in the country with what they have contributed in the business world. I'm guessing we may have connections that we can ask the help of—trusted, of course."

Shu Xian bit her bottom lip. Hearing this, she couldn't help but feel hopeful.

Even when she was young, she always thought about her real parents. If her uncle was the one "taking care" of her, then there could be possible leads that her parents are still alive—he's just keeping it a secret from her!

If that is the case, then for whatever reason?

"We could assume something," Pan An spoke, snapping Shu Xian out of her thoughts. "Your parents may be someone powerful as well and then your uncle may have done something to offend them."

"Then why is he keeping me?" Shu Xian replied, furrowing her brows together. "A blackmail?"

"Perhaps," Pan An immediately answered, both of them turning serious. "And he may be plotting something serious that is why he raised you up to this point until you ran away."