The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

Chapter 187 HisHer Inner Tossing and Turning

The slanting golden sunlight cast a warm hue over everything in the room, softening Shai Zhen's gaze. He withdrew his gaze from the exquisite sand table carved with mountains and rivers, and picked up the thin but clearly written book on the desk, gently stroking the neatly arranged words with his fingertips.

"What special material is this made of? Why is it so thinner than any paper I have ever seen, yet so smooth to write on?" Chai Zhen asked with interest, his tone full of curiosity.

"Your Majesty, this is a new type of paper that I developed in my spare time. Its materials and production process are quite special, so it is both light and easy to write on." Cen Jiexiao explained patiently, her tone neither humble nor arrogant, but with a subtle hint of alienation.

Shai Zhen put the book back in its place and looked at the dazzling array of objects again. He felt as if he had returned to his childhood, full of curiosity about everything around him and wanting to explore it all.

"Are these all made by President Cen himself?" Chai Zhen asked, with a hint of admiration that was hard to conceal in his tone.

"Your Majesty, these were designed by me according to my own ideas and then made by craftsmen." Cen Jiexiao replied modestly.

"President Cen is really clever and skillful. I have really broadened my horizons today." Chai Zhen praised sincerely, with admiration glittering in his eyes.

As the sun set, golden afterglow streamed through the carved window lattices, casting dappled shadows across the room and illuminating the delicate objects with a hazy luster. Shai Zhen's eyes lingered on these ingenious contraptions, as if he couldn't get enough. He had never imagined that these seemingly simple objects could harbor such exquisite design and ingenuity.

"I didn't realize that time flies so fast." Chai Zhen sighed, with a barely perceptible hint of nostalgia in his tone. It seemed that he had not appreciated these novel objects enough, and did not want to end this pleasant visit like this.

Following his gaze, Cen Jiexiao looked out the window. The sun was about to set, and the sky was dyed a brilliant orange-red, like a magnificent painting. The colors of the sunset reflected on her face, but they couldn't hide the fatigue that flashed in her eyes.

"Your Majesty, it's getting late. You should return to the palace," Cen Jiexiao reminded softly, her tone respectful yet distant, as if deliberately widening the distance between them. She knew she should maintain the proper etiquette between monarch and subject, and not overstep the mark.

Chai Zhen's heart trembled, his previous joy and excitement somewhat dampened by the sudden sense of alienation. He stood up reluctantly, his gaze still fixed on Cen Jiexiao, trying to detect a trace of emotion in her calm face. However, all he saw was calmness, like a bottomless lake, making it impossible to discern her true thoughts.

"Dean Cen, why are you...working so hard?" Chai Zhen asked, a subtle hint of concern in his tone. He saw the weariness in her eyes and felt the distance she maintained, which made him feel a little uncomfortable.

Cen Jiexiao was slightly taken aback. She didn't understand why Chai Zhen had suddenly asked this question, and even less did she understand the concern in his tone. She suppressed her panic and replied calmly, "Your Majesty, everything I do is for the people of the Great Zhou, for all the people of the world, and... for my own return home one day."

"For the people of the Great Zhou, for the common people of the world... for my return home!" Chai Zhen murmured these words, a complex look flashing in his eyes. He suddenly realized that the woman before him was not as simple as he had imagined. Her heart held many stories, and there were many things he could not fathom. Not everyone could understand Cen Jiexiao's book.

"President Cen, you've made me...look at you with new eyes." Chai Zhen took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and spoke slowly. He didn't know how to express his feelings at the moment, and could only use "look at you with new eyes" to summarize his opinion of her.

Cen Jiexiao lowered her eyes, hiding the panic that flashed across them. She had no idea what Chai Zhen meant by this, nor did she know how to face this young emperor.

Chai Zhen's gaze, as deep as the stars in the night sky, lingered on Cen Jiexiao's face for a long time. There was admiration, inquiry, and a hint of attachment he himself hadn't even noticed. He wanted to see something in her eyes—perhaps a response, understanding, or perhaps simply a hope that she would understand his current feelings. However, Cen Jiexiao kept her eyes lowered, her long lashes obscuring the emotion in them, preventing him from catching even a hint.

Silence stretched between them, as if the air itself had grown thicker. Shai Zhen felt his heartbeat quicken, as if something was about to burst through his chest, ready to burst forth. He took a deep breath, forced himself to look away, turned, and walked out the door. Each step felt like stepping on his heart, causing him to feel waves of indescribable pain.

When he reached the door, he finally couldn't help but stop. He wanted to look back at her, to embrace her in his arms, to tell her his true feelings. But he couldn't. He was the king, she was the subject, and this gap was something he couldn't bridge no matter what.

"President Cen..." Chai Zhen's voice was low and hoarse, as if whispering from the depths of his soul, "Have you...ever thought about staying here?"

He didn't look back because he was afraid to see the rejection in her eyes, afraid to hear her cold rejection. He would rather bury this feeling deep in his heart than embarrass her or hurt her.

Cen Jiexiao suddenly raised her head, her heart as if being tightly grasped by an invisible hand, making it almost impossible for her to breathe. She wanted to ask, to understand the meaning behind his words, but all she could see was his tall figure, gradually receding into the night, and finally disappearing.

After Chai Zhen left, Cen Jiexiao remained standing, motionless, like a statue without a soul. Chai Zhen's words, like a pebble, stirred up a thousand waves in her tranquil heart, leaving her unable to calm down for a long time. Stay here? What did he mean by that? Could it be... could it be that he also...

No, it's impossible! Cen Jiexiao shook her head vigorously, trying to drive this absurd thought out of her mind. He was the almighty emperor, and she was just an ordinary academy dean. There was an insurmountable gap between them. How could he possibly...

Late at night, Cen Jiexiao sat alone in her study, gazing out the window at the dark night sky, a mixture of emotions welling up in her heart. Chai Zhen's sudden arrival had shattered her peace of mind and disturbed her tranquility. She had no idea what Chai Zhen truly thought of her, nor did she know what her feelings for him truly were.

Is it gratitude? Is it admiration? Or...