Time-Limited Love: A Contract Expired, Not Renewed novel Chapter 322

Zinnia looked at him in surprise. “Don’t you have your own office?”

Unlike Zinnia, Yuri was a visiting associate professor at Veridian University, with a private office that had been assigned to him before he even started.

Yuri dropped his textbook onto the desk with a sigh. “It gets a little too quiet in there on my own.”

As he spoke, his eyes drifted to Zinnia’s face. “Ms. Quinn, am I not welcome here?”

Zinnia didn’t really mind. Technically, this office was meant for three faculty members, but the space was generous—one more person hardly made a difference. Besides, the other two lecturers were usually busy with their research projects, spending most of their time in the lab or their group offices, rarely staying here for long stretches.

“If Professor Ford wants to join us, of course you’re welcome,” she said.

Around noon, someone knocked at the office door.

“Professor Zephyr?” Zinnia blinked in surprise when she saw who it was.

Zephyr entered at a measured pace. Zinnia stood to offer him a seat. “Professor, what brings you here?”

“I thought I’d check in and see how my student is adjusting to the new job,” Zephyr replied with a warm smile, his gaze shifting to Yuri.

Zinnia was about to say she was settling in fine when Yuri greeted Zephyr with a cheerful, “Professor, it’s been a while.”

Zinnia froze for a second.

Zephyr patted Yuri on the shoulder, then turned to Zinnia. “I was going to introduce you two, but it seems you’ve already met.”

Yuri gave a slight nod, glancing at Zinnia—who was still processing the exchange—with a smile that carried a trace of mischief. “Yes, I met Zinnia quite a while ago.”

The way he said her name—soft, lingering—hinted at something more, and Zephyr clearly picked up on it. He shot Yuri a searching look but said nothing.

Yuri paused. The stern look on his face softened almost involuntarily as he looked at Zephyr. With a half-serious, half-playful tone, he replied, “If I told you I came back to find a wife, would you believe me?”

Zephyr just fixed him with a steady gaze. “Couldn’t find a wife abroad?”

“Oh, I could,” Yuri said with a quick smile, “but they’re just not the same as the ones back home.”

Zephyr rolled his eyes and gave Yuri’s arm a light thump. “Not the same as the ones back home, or not the same as the one you’ve got your eye on?”

Yuri hesitated, but the smile on his lips didn’t fade. He made no attempt to deny it.

Zephyr narrowed his eyes knowingly. “The one you’ve got your heart set on—don’t tell me it’s Zinnia?”

Yuri’s smile faltered, just for a second. He didn’t answer, only looked away, gaze evasive.