Huo Rou sheepishly rejected the professor's offer.
If three groups of people showed up, wouldn't it be awkward to see the other two groups?
She had been dazed because she'd mentally calculated that with these three additional people, she'd have at least twenty people around her whenever she went out.
It was fine when she was at the project team or with the Qin family; they stayed outside.
But if she went shopping, it would be quite a spectacle.
After thinking for a long time about how to phrase it, she tried to negotiate with the professor, "Professor, why don't you take these three people to protect yourself or Xiaoxiao..."
She already had too many people around her. The Jiang family had specifically called to say that for a special reason, it wasn't convenient for core personnel to meet her, so he would only feel at ease if additional people were assigned to her.
Qin Ningyi had also talked to her back and forth for half the night, making her arm too tired to lift. He still insisted: she couldn't come without her people.
She had intended to tell him about Elder Jiang's arrangements, but he kissed her first, cutting her off, and she couldn't get a full sentence out.
It would be better to find another purpose for the three people the professor was giving her.
She was already surrounded so tightly that those three people wouldn't even be able to squeeze into the first two layers of the encirclement with her...
The professor was deeply touched by Huo Rou's consideration for him.
He slapped the table and exclaimed, "Little Huo!"
Huo Rou's heart skipped a beat at his suddenly raised voice.
The professor's eyes were full of emotion. He had encountered caring students over the years, but Huo Rou, after experiencing something terrifying, was still willing to give people away to protect him, despite her fear.
What noble sentiment! The professor patted Huo Rou's shoulder, "Thank you for your concern! You don't need to worry about me; I'm an old man, and I'm not afraid of those people."
As if worried Huo Rou might misunderstand, the professor added, "Besides, I have people protecting me. I appreciate your kindness, but your safety is the top priority right now!"
"We get along well. From now on, don't call me Professor. Just call me Old Zhong, and I'll call you Little Huo. We'll be friends!"
Huo Rou was stunned by his words.
What just happened?
She...
With a decisive pat of his hand, the professor cheerfully stood up, "Little Huo, I'm leaving now. I have other matters to attend to. Don't worry, no one will threaten your safety anymore! If those rascals from the project team bother you, tell me!"
Huo Rou remained frozen long after the professor had left. Had she said something wrong?
Zou Xiaoxiao, who had been listening to their entire conversation from not far away, came over with a thermos after the professor left. "You don't need to be so kind. Even though you were at Fenghuo, you can't be so overconfident."
She looked disapprovingly as she pushed the thermos into Huo Rou's arms, lecturing, "Take the people they give you. Why refuse? What's more important, your life or favors?"
"What favors?" Huo Rou felt that maybe Samael had poisoned her brain too, making her unable to understand.
Zou Xiaoxiao looked at her with disappointment, as if she were unable to learn. She had already said that life was more important, and Huo Rou was still pretending not to understand.
"I heard everything you said to the professor. You're just worried about the professor's safety and want to give him the people, right? It's unnecessary. Just take care of yourself. Someone of his standing is actually safer with more people paying attention to him."
Huo Rou felt like she was starting to understand and was about to retort, "I didn't..."
"Alright, stop with the excuses. Wei Shikang is being released today, just giving you a heads-up. Even if you're angry later, don't hit him in front of people. You can have Brother Qin catch him in private for you to vent your anger."
She sighed, fearing Huo Rou wouldn't listen, and reminded her again, "Hitting him in front of others is bad for your reputation."
"Got it?"
Huo Rou nodded with a bitter smile, "Got it, you nag."
It wasn't like she had nothing better to do. That day, she had just touched her boundary, and couldn't help herself. The person had already been locked up for a few days; it was time to cool down. Why would she hit him?
"What did you say?" Zou Xiaoxiao seemed to have heard another nickname Huo Rou used for her, but she wasn't sure and asked.
Huo Rou chuckled softly, "I said, what is this thermos of yours?"
She remembered that Zou Xiaoxiao hadn't been so enthusiastic when they first met. This awkward, growing concern for her now was making her feel a little unaccustomed to it.
"It's a good thing, it won't harm you, will it?" Zou Xiaoxiao said grumpily, then added, "Don't act out this afternoon!"
Finally, it was afternoon, and under Zou Xiaoxiao's watchful gaze, the professor walked in alone.