The Youngest Professor

Chapter Twenty-Six

Perhaps because he had encountered Xu Wenyan for the first time since his rebirth that day.

Ye Nanxun had another nightmare that night.

His eyes throbbed with pain, yet he could see nothing. There was only darkness—thick, impenetrable darkness.

He could never see again.

A chill rose from the depths of his heart.

From a single drop of water, it spread into a pitch-black deep sea with no visible shore, no bottom he could reach.

Baseless malice turned into countless hands that mercilessly shoved him off a cliff and into the deep sea.

The sensation of weightlessness swallowed him.

He fell into the depths, unable to find his center.

Icy seawater flooded his mouth and nose. Just as he was about to suffocate, a "ding-ling" sounded by his ear and pulled him from the soaking-wet dream.

His back was covered in a fine sheen of cold sweat as Ye Nanxun abruptly sat up in bed.

His chest heaved like a broken bellows, harsh, rapid breaths rasping from his throat.

His face looked exceptionally pale beneath the dim yellow bedside lamp.

A faint green shimmer flickered in his unfocused pupils, like fireflies glowing in a green forest.

Ye Nanxun picked up the phone on his bedside table. It was 2:34 a.m., and he had received Yan Beiyou's reply.

"Working this late?"

Ye Nanxun murmured softly into the quiet night.

For the rest of the night, he did not dream again.

Over the next few days, Ye Nanxun used his injuries as an excuse to turn down every social event he disliked.

He Lanxue and Ye Zhineng did not come to disturb him again, only sending him the occasional message.

He Lanxue told him that William, the owner of the gallery, had been furious over Xu Wenyan's behavior that day and would no longer allow Xu Wenyan into any of his galleries.

Perhaps still feeling guilty about what had happened that day, He Lanxue's messages to Ye Nanxun always carried a trace of carefulness.

Though they were biological siblings, He Lanxue and He Yiming had completely different personalities.

Ye Zhineng did not mention Xu Wenyan. That hypocrite had become much friendlier toward Ye Nanxun than before.

It was as though he truly regarded Ye Nanxun as his cousin.

Jiang Yuenian came to visit Ye Nanxun once more with a doctor during that time.

Making no attempt to hide his appreciation for the young omega, Jiang Yuenian asked whether Ye Nanxun had any interest in pursuing a career in music in the future.

Ye Nanxun politely declined.

He enjoyed playing the piano and violin, but he had no plans to make music his profession.

Ye Nanxun answered honestly, "Teacher Jiang, thank you for your appreciation, but when spring comes next year, I plan to return to school."

Jiang Yuenian knew nothing of Ye Nanxun's past, much less that the bright and clear-eyed young omega before him had spent more than a decade studying at home through online classes.

Ye Nanxun's technical skill was not the best, but Jiang Yuenian saw a rare purity and emotional power in the young man.

Given time, Jiang Yuenian was certain that under his guidance, Ye Nanxun would become an exceptionally outstanding musician.

Suppressing his regret, Jiang Yuenian asked, "Which school does Xiaoxun attend?"

At Ye Nanxun's age, he should have been in university.

"Dream Star Academy."

Ye Nanxun was not going to university.

More than a month ago, he had already contacted Dream Star Academy and recently reached an agreement with them.

At nineteen, when most people his age were still attending university, Ye Nanxun had become a professor of microbiology at Dream Star Academy.

Even during the days he had been in a wheelchair, Ye Nanxun had not been idle.

He made several trips to Dream Star Academy, met with the relevant people in charge and its leaders, and signed his name on a long-term appointment contract.

He came alone in his wheelchair and left alone in it as well.

He politely declined anyone's offer to see him off.

After he left, news that the Academy had gained a young professor spread.

In the cafeteria of the research building, everyone discussed that morning's events while taking a break for lunch.

"He's only nineteen and already a professor. If we hadn't interviewed him several times, I wouldn't dare believe those research papers were written by him."

"Didn't you read his profile? An SSS-class omega. With that level of mental power, his starting point was beyond what ordinary people could compare to."

"That's true, but not every top-tier alpha or omega can produce so many outstanding research results at that age. At least in microbiology, Professor Ye can be considered top talent."

Ye Nanxun's profile listed his mental power level, but it contained no specific information about his pheromones.

That was private information, and under normal circumstances, it was neither investigated nor disclosed.

"Professor Jiang used to be the youngest professor at our Academy of Sciences. Now we have Professor Ye as well." The speaker teased the handsome alpha at the table who had remained silent and focused on eating. "Professor Jiang, I heard Professor Ye is not only young, but exceptionally good-looking."

The alpha who had been called raised his head. A pair of thin-rimmed glasses rested on his high, straight nose, making him appear refined and handsome.

Jiang Ying smiled faintly. "All right. When he gets here, don't scare him."

Jiang Ying was one of the four alphas entangled with Xu Wenyan.

Ye Nanxun sat in a café near the Academy of Sciences, his clear, crystalline pale green eyes staring blankly out the glass window.

He recalled the information he knew about Jiang Ying.

An outstanding biologist, Jiang Ying had received a lifetime appointment contract from Dream Star Academy at only twenty-one, becoming the youngest professor before Ye Nanxun.

He appeared to be an alpha of extreme rationality and perfection, but beneath that cultured, elegant exterior lay foul, blackened flesh and a corrupted soul.

Jiang Ying looked down on the mediocre-minded Xu Wenyan from the bottom of his heart, yet he was addicted to the degradation, darkness, and thrill Xu Wenyan brought him.

Disgust flashed across Ye Nanxun's brow. He lowered his head and took a sip of his hot Americano, suppressing the nausea rising within him.

But he still felt uncomfortable after drinking it. He wanted to wave over a server for a cup of hot water, yet after years of living reclusively and speaking little, he suddenly did not know how to ask.

Ye Nanxun silently mocked himself. He took a deep breath, preparing to gather his courage before greeting a server.

"Ding-ling—"

A door shielding the café from the cold wind was pushed open from outside.

The newcomer wore a black overcoat. He was tall and straight-backed, with a handsome face; his sharply slanted brows pressed over deep-set eyes, giving him an imposing air.

His pitch-black eyes seemed veiled by a thin layer of ice, carrying a hint of chill.

The moment he entered, the man drew everyone's attention in the café.

Yet intimidated by the pressure of a top-tier alpha, most people only dared to glance at him briefly before hurriedly looking away.

Top-tier alphas and omegas did not need to say a word. The moment they appeared, others could sense their high-level mental power.

Like the alpha who had just entered the café.

Or like the breathtakingly beautiful omega in a wheelchair who had taken a seat by the window not long ago.

Someone secretly watched to see which table the handsome, towering top-tier alpha would approach.

When he headed straight toward that aloof and elegant omega, it suddenly seemed only natural.

When those black, indifferent eyes met the young omega's gaze, the chill in them silently melted away.

"Have you been waiting long?" The alpha sat down beneath the omega's puzzled gaze.

Ye Nanxun's pupils contracted slightly. "Mr. Yan?"