The female anchor turned into the dean of an ancient academy

Xia Chenghao's warm breath brushed against Cen Jiexiao's earlobe, and those frivolous words sent a tingling sensation through her body like an electric current. Embarrassed and annoyed, Cen Jiexiao pushed him away, glaring at him, "Mr. Xia, please respect yourself!"

Xia Chenghao was pushed back half a step, the smile on his face growing even wider. He looked at Cen Jiexiao with interest, as if looking at a kitten with its fur standing on end. "Dean Cen's reaction is really interesting."

"You——" Cen Jiexiao was furious. How could this person be so frivolous and rude?

She took a deep breath and suppressed her anger. This man came from the Western Regions and his behavior was different from that of the men in the Great Zhou. Perhaps he had no intention of being frivolous, and she had just overreacted.

To hide her embarrassment, Cen Jiexiao changed the subject and asked, "Young Master Xia, you have come all the way here. I wonder what the Western Regions are like?"

Seeing that Cen Jiexiao didn't want to talk about what happened just now, Xia Chenghao was very tactful and stopped pestering her. He sat back on the stone bench and began to talk about the customs and people of the Western Regions.

He was elegantly spoken and knowledgeable. From the vast deserts of the Western Regions to the exotic city-states, from the passionate and unrestrained Western dances to the mysterious religious rituals, Cen Jiexiao's horizons were broadened after listening to him, and her original unhappiness disappeared.

The two talked about poetry and songs and then the philosophy of life. Cen Jiexiao realized that although Xia Chenghao looked cynical, he actually had a depth in his heart that was inconsistent with his age.

After an unknown amount of time, the sun finally set, stretching their shadows far out. Xia Chenghao stood up to say goodbye. Before leaving, he smiled and said to Cen Jiexiao, "Dean Cen, would you like to join me on a visit to the Western Region caravan on the outskirts of the city someday? There are many new and interesting things brought from the Western Regions there that will surely amaze you."

Cen Jiexiao thought of the rare goods shipped from all over the world to the capital, and her heart was inevitably moved. After a moment's hesitation, she nodded and agreed, "Then I'll trouble you, Master Xia."

After seeing Xia Chenghao off, Cen Jiexiao strolled alone along the tree-lined path of the academy. Xia Chenghao's words lingered in her mind. Who was he? Why was he so special to her?

"Dean, what are you thinking about?"

A familiar voice came from behind her. Cen Jiexiao turned around and saw that it was her student and good friend - Yu Lan.

"Nothing," Cen Jiexiao shook her head, suppressing the doubts in her heart, "I was just thinking about some things in the academy."

"Dean, I see you've been absent-minded lately," Yu Lan walked over to Cen Jiexiao and asked with concern, "Could it be because of that Hu man?"

Cen Jiexiao was shocked. Yu Lan was very sharp-minded and she could see through her thoughts.

"Don't talk nonsense," Cen Jiexiao pretended to be calm, "I just thought he was a little strange."

"What's so strange?" Yu Lan asked, "I think he really cares about you."

"Don't talk nonsense, he just..." Cen Jiexiao wanted to explain, but found that she couldn't explain it clearly.

"Just what?" Yu Lan smiled slyly, "Just fell in love with you at first sight?"

"You..." Cen Jiexiao was at a loss for words. "You're getting more and more ridiculous, girl. He might be trying to cooperate with Zhaoyin Academy. After all, it's normal for the Great Zhou to sell all kinds of goods to neighboring countries and overseas."

Yu Lan took Cen Jiexiao's arm and said with a smile, "Okay, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's go eat. I made your favorite crystal shrimp dumplings today."

Yu Lan dragged Cen Jiexiao towards the cafeteria, but she couldn't shake the doubts in her heart. Xia Chenghao's identity, his purpose in approaching her, all of this was like a fog, making her lose her direction.

At this time, in a private room of a teahouse not far from Zhaoyin Academy, Xia Chenghao was sitting by the window, looking deeply in the direction of the academy, with a meaningful smile on his lips.

"My lord, why do you go to so much trouble to get close to that Cen Jiexiao?" A man in black asked respectfully behind him.

"You don't understand," Xia Chenghao retracted his gaze, picked up the teacup on the table, and took a sip. "In this world, there are only two things that cannot be looked at directly: the sun, and the human heart."

He put down the teacup, a cold light flashed in his eyes, "And what I have to do is..."

The man in black was shocked when he heard this.

"My lord, Sister Cen Xiao is full of novel ideas, and her way of doing things is different from that of ordinary women. I am worried..." The man in black hesitated to speak, frowning, as if he was uneasy.

"What are you worried about? Are you worried that this prince will be bewitched by this female teacher?" Xia Chenghao raised his eyebrows indifferently and placed the teacup in his hand on the carved wooden table, making a light "dong" sound.

The man in black knelt on one knee and saluted, saying, "I dare not. It's just that this Sister Cen Xiao is too peculiar. This academy she founded, recruiting female students and spreading strange skills and ideas, really doesn't seem like someone who would keep to herself..."

"Heh..." Xia Chenghao couldn't help but sneer. A hint of contempt flashed in his eyes. He said, "A woman's job is to stay at home and take care of her husband and children. What's the point of reading so many books? Is it more important than having children and fighting for the country?"

He stood up and walked to the window, looking in the direction of Zhaoyin Academy. "However, although this Sister Cen's idea is absurd, it is also interesting. If we can recruit her to serve us, it would not be a bad idea."

Upon hearing this, the man in black's eyes flashed with understanding, and he lowered his head and said, "My Lord is wise."

A few days later, Cen Jiexiao and Yu Lan arrived at the Western Region caravan on the outskirts of the city as agreed.

"Wow, Dean, look at that horse, its coat is so beautiful!" Yu Lan pointed at a chestnut horse not far away and shouted excitedly.

Cen Jiexiao was also captivated by the scene before her. The caravan's encampment was bustling with activity. Stalls brimmed with rare and exotic treasures from the Western Regions: dazzling gems, intricately patterned wool carpets, fragrant spices...it was a feast for the eyes.

"President Cen, Miss Yu Lan, welcome, welcome!" Xia Chenghao was dressed in Western costumes, with his thick, slightly curly black hair casually draped over his shoulders. He walked towards them with a smile.

"Mr. Xia, it's really lively here." Cen Jiexiao nodded slightly.

"That's natural. The Great Zhou has a vast territory and abundant resources, while the countries in the Western Regions also have many rare treasures. The two places exchange what they have, so it's natural that it becomes lively." Xia Chenghao pointed around.

As he spoke, his eyes fell on Cen Jiexiao. She was wearing a light blue skirt, her long black hair tied up with a white jade hairpin, making her look particularly elegant and refined. His heart was moved, but he remained calm as he pulled out an exquisite wooden box from his sleeve. "I invited you two here today to experience the unique spices of the Western Regions."

Cen Jiexiao took the wooden box and opened it. She saw several incense pills of different colors inside, emitting a strange fragrance.

"This is..." Cen Jiexiao asked curiously.

"These are incense pills made from spices unique to the Western Regions. Each one has different effects. For example, this one is called 'Red Beauty Drunk'. After it is lit, the fragrance can soothe the mind and also has the effect of beautifying the skin." Xia Chenghao said, pointing to one of the red incense pills.

Cen Jiexiao brought the incense pill close to her nose and sniffed it gently. A sweet fragrance filled her nose, making her frown, "This fragrance..."

"How is it? Is it special?" Xia Chenghao was secretly happy when he saw her frown. The fragrance of this incense pill was special. Most people would feel uncomfortable when they smelled it for the first time. If Cen Jiexiao showed that she liked it, he would be suspicious.

"It's indeed special." Cen Jiexiao calmly put the incense pill back into the box, but she secretly became alert in her heart. This Xia Chenghao was indeed not simple.

"Come, I'll take you two to taste the special food of the Western Regions." Xia Chenghao greeted them warmly and led them deeper into the caravan.

After passing through the noisy crowd, the three of them came to a relatively secluded tent.

"This is..." Cen Jiexiao looked at the gorgeously decorated tent in front of her, and her doubts grew even more.

Cen Jiexiao and Yu Lan looked at each other, feeling a little uneasy, but they still walked in.

Entering the tent, I saw a soft wool carpet inside, with a low wooden table in the middle. The table was filled with sumptuous dishes, and several women dressed in Western costumes were playing exotic music. The atmosphere was eerily harmonious.

Cen Jiexiao looked around calmly, alarm bells ringing in her heart. What exactly does Xia Chenghao want to do?

"Dean Cen, please take a seat." Xia Chenghao gestured to Cen Jiexiao to sit in the main seat, and he sat opposite her.

After Cen Jiexiao sat down, she looked around and found that apart from the three of them, there were only a few women playing music in the tent, and no other attendants.

"Mr. Xia, I wonder what the purpose of your banquet today is?" Cen Jiexiao asked straight to the point. She didn't like the feeling of being controlled by others.

"Why is Dean Cen so anxious?" Xia Chenghao picked up the wine jug and filled a glass of wine for Cen Jiexiao.

"I invited you two here today just to make friends with you."