Chapter 42: Mysterious Hospitality
Before they knew it, noon had arrived. Since Thuy Duong hadn't snacked all morning, her stomach was now growling fiercely, loud enough to be heard.
Embarrassed beyond belief, she glanced up to see if Tran Tuan Anh had noticed. She felt like crawling under the table.
He glanced at his watch and then said casually,
"It's getting late, huh? Want to grab lunch? My treat."
Kieu Ly was about to politely decline when Thuy Duong, faster than her own thoughts, immediately nodded:
"Yes, we'd love to!"
With that, Kieu Ly couldn't say no anymore.
Professor Tran Tuan Anh was known for being gallant—not just with female colleagues, but with students as well.
Still, neither of them had expected to experience it firsthand.
He took them to a clean, well-kept restaurant near the school and handed them the menu.
"Order whatever you'd like," he said.
Kieu Ly smiled politely.
"We'll just have whatever you're having, sir."
He nodded and placed the order. Then he added with a smile,
"No need to call me 'sir' outside the lecture hall. Just call me 'anh' (older brother)."
Thuy Duong immediately put on her signature innocent face and replied sweetly:
"Okay then, I'll call you Anh Tuan Anh."
His mood noticeably brightened, and he chuckled:
"Exactly. It's just a form of address. Whatever makes you comfortable."
While waiting for the food, Kieu Ly fidgeted with the menu.
She felt increasingly awkward—he'd ordered all the expensive dishes, and this restaurant wasn't cheap to begin with.
Noticing she was distracted, Tran Tuan Anh struck up a conversation:
"I heard you're being selected for a one-year exchange program in the UK?"
Kieu Ly's eyes widened in shock.
"Me? Are you sure you're not mistaking me for someone else?"
Seeing his expression shift slightly, she quickly corrected herself:
"Ah—sorry. Are you sure you're not mistaking me for someone else? I haven't been told anything like that."
He smiled reassuringly.
"Has the school board not informed you yet? You'll probably hear something officially in a few days."
Kieu Ly felt a rush of excitement bubbling inside her, almost enough to make her jump up and scream in joy.
But since it wasn't officially confirmed yet, she tried to hold back.
When the food arrived, Tran Tuan Anh received the dishes and politely served the two girls first.
Neither of them had ever known someone so gallant before.
After the meal, he swiped his card to pay, and even ordered drinks for them afterward.
Kieu Ly and Thuy Duong still had no idea why they were receiving this kind of special treatment.
While their minds were still adrift, he spoke again:
"I just returned from studying in the UK myself. If you ever have questions or need help with anything, feel free to contact me."
He then handed a business card to Kieu Ly, and one to Thuy Duong as well.
"If your friend ends up going abroad, and you need someone to guide you, you can reach out."
Kieu Ly, not wanting to appear rude, slipped the card into her bag.
Meanwhile, Thuy Duong kept turning hers over and over in her hand, like it was something precious.