The security guard first saw Yu Na.
Director Qin greeted the security guard, so he knew Yu Na was here to see Xiao Chen.
Following the security guard’s gaze, Xiao Chen also looked towards Yu Na.
She had her hair tied up in a half updo. A light blue shirt and white pants.
The shirt was rolled up to reveal slender, fair arms. She wore a silver watch on her wrist.
The strict family education from young had conditioned her to always maintain good posture.
She had changed a lot. The baby fat from before was all gone. Her already pretty face was now more delicate.
Perhaps it was the clothes, or the title of teacher, but she seemed much gentler than before.
But - Xiao Chen was somewhat stunned, still unable to figure out why she would be here.
From what he remembered, no matter where she went, she would always have bodyguards and servants following her.
She had always been the pampered rich young miss.
And in his mind, she was supposed to remain that way forever, as the female lead of this world.
But why wasn't that so?
Yu Na had become much thinner, her figure slender. He didn't know what she had gone through.
After she walked over, she didn't look at him, but gave the security guard a faint smile. "Uncle Li, this is a parent of my student."
"I know, I know! Achen just told me earlier!"
"...?"
Yu Na thought to herself, he really is smooth with people.
Just a few minutes and Uncle Li was already so familiar, calling him by his given name.
She said, "Then let's go in first."
"Alright!"
Only then did Yu Na glance at Xiao Chen, but it was just a fleeting look before she swiftly averted her eyes again.
She then pretended to be calm and said, "Brother Qiao Rui, come with me."
Xiao Chen: "......"
The two walked side by side without exchanging a word.
Once they entered the staff-only elevator, the doors closed.
Xiao Chen suddenly asked, "What did Qiao Rui do wrong?"
It was hot in the elevator, or perhaps it had just been too long since she last saw him. Hearing his voice again, Yu Na felt her face grow hot.
Noticing her blush, Xiao Chen thought Qiao Rui must have done something embarrassing and improper during class.
He panicked and urgently asked, "What, did he do something shameful?"
"No no," Yu Na denied, her face growing redder.
"Then why is your face so red?"
Yu Na felt her face burn hotter.
But she stubbornly refused to admit it, fanning herself repeatedly as she said, "Brother Qiao Rui, one's face can turn red when it's hot too."
What she said sounded perfectly reasonable, but it actually carried subtle sarcasm.
The implied meaning was along the lines of "I got over you long ago" and "Don't be so full of yourself."
Yu Na then added matter-of-factly, as if she had nothing to hide, "It's 32 degrees Celsius today."
"......Alright then."
In the office.
Qiao Rui and another student were made to stand in the back corner of the office as punishment, while the discipline master paced in front of them with a stern expression.
Yu Na brought Xiao Chen into the office. "Master."
Hearing them, the discipline master glanced back, his expression slightly softened but still clearly displeased.
Xiao Chen glared at Qiao Rui. Recalling Yu Na's earlier expression, he couldn't help using his eyes to signal: "What shameful thing did you do?"
Looking guilty, Qiao Rui lowered his head and pretended not to see.
Just then, another parent walked into the office after them - Song Yan's father.
After Director Qin greeted them, he picked up his phone. "Parents, please take a look, this is their masterpiece during class."
Still confused, Xiao Chen and Song Yan's father crowded over to see.
The next second, both their expressions drastically changed.
- Displayed on Qiao Rui's phone were two secretly taken photos of Yu Na.
Judging from the angle, they were clearly sneak shots.
In one photo, Yu Na was walking in the corridor right outside, in the midst of explaining a lesson.
The distance was so close!
This kid really had the gall to brazenly take secret photos.
Furious but also strangely embarrassed, Xiao Chen now understood why Yu Na's face was red earlier in the elevator. But she sat silently beside them, leaving the discipline master to handle things. As a young, newly appointed teacher, this was her first time encountering such a situation, which was quite tricky to deal with. She didn't know how to handle it either.
Xiao Chen slowly clenched his fist tighter and tighter.
Noticing this, Qiao Rui's heart skipped a beat.
He quickly betrayed his friend in an attempt to defend himself humbly, "Bro, I wasn't the one who took the photos."
Song Yan: ???
Hearing this, Song Yan's father's already gloomy face darkened further. He whipped around to glare at Song Yan. "So you took them?"
"......" Song Yan smiled a smile uglier than crying, as if facing his impending doom with no choice but to admit it. He nodded forcefully, "Yes!"
Changing tack in a desperate attempt to argue for himself, he continued, "But I was trying to take a photo of the blackboard, there were knowledge points written on it. I'm near sighted, remember?"
"You're asking for a beating!"
Song Yan's father raised his hand, about to hit him. Fortunately Yu Na and Director Qin quickly stopped him.
"Mr. Song, please calm down first."
"How can I calm down! You brat, I send you to school for you to—"
Once Song Yan's father was riled up, it seemed the office would tremble from his tirade.
Qiao Rui figured if he didn't help somehow, Song Yan would be done for once he got home. So he interrupted Song Yan's father, trying to sound afraid but firm. "Uncle, you've misunderstood!"
The office quieted as all attention turned to Qiao Rui, awaiting his next words.
"I was...I told Song Yan to take photos of Teacher Yu. I was sitting inside, the angle wasn't good. Song Yan was...in a better position to take them..."
Xiao Chen stared at him in disbelief. Still fuming, he asked accusingly, "What do you need secret photos of a teacher for?"
"I just... Teacher Yu is pretty. I wanted to take a picture, no other intentions..." Qiao Rui nervously swallowed, answering in a tiny mosquito voice.
"...Qiao Rui," Xiao Chen laughed from sheer anger, "do you think I won't beat you up?"
Seated to the side, Yu Na saw the bulging veins in Xiao Chen's arm as he clenched his fist tighter and tighter.
"Parents, secretly photographing the teacher was only one reason I called you here today. There is another—" Director Qin said as he picked up the English textbook from his desk that had a hole punched through it. "This textbook has no name written. We need to get to the bottom of whose it is too."
Director Qin opened the textbook to the damaged page. He held his phone camera up to the hole, perfectly concealed behind it.
Only now did Xiao Chen understand why they dared to brazenly take secret photos. If you didn't examine closely, who would discover it?
Grinding his teeth, Song Yan’s father asked, "Whose textbook is this?"
Qiao Rui: “...It’s mine.”
Stunned speechless with anger, Xiao Chen snatched the English textbook from Director Qin’s hand and smacked it against Qiao Rui. “Do you think you still have any face left with me? To think you could come up with a trick like this?!”
Just as he swung the book, a light grip caught his arm. Yu Na gently persuaded him, “Brother Qiao Rui, please calm down.”
“......”
How could he calm down?
He was so embarrassed he could dig out an entire fairy palace.
Still holding the English textbook, Xiao Chen gave a vague twitch of his lips that resembled a smile, though his words held unmistakable threat. “When we get home tonight, you’ll see how I deal with you.”
Qiao Rui pleaded miserably, “Bro, I was wrong.”
“Who are you apologizing to? Shouldn’t you be apologizing to me?”
Understanding his implication, Qiao Rui turned and bowed deeply to Yu Na. “I’m sorry, Teacher Yu.”
Song Yan’s father punched Song Yan roughly on the shoulder. “And you! Just standing there blankly for what? Weren’t you the one who took the photos?”
Following Qiao Rui’s lead, Song Yan also apologized to Yu Na. “Teacher, I shouldn’t have secretly photographed you.”
Director Qin’s expression eased slightly.
“I called both of you parents here to get to the bottom of things. These two kids are no ordinary figures in school. Extremely smart, just not using their intelligence well. I hope you can discipline them more strictly when you get home.”
“Brother Qiao Rui,” Director Qin returned the phone to Xiao Chen, “our school prohibits bringing phones, so I’ll let it slide this once. But don’t let him bring it anymore in future.”
Xiao Chen took the phone, “Of course, I’ll be keeping this phone.”
“Song Yan, write a 1000 character self-reflection when you get home, to be handed to Teacher Yu tomorrow.”
“Qiao Rui,” Director Qin deliberately stressed his name, “you are suspended for one day. Write a 5000 character self-reflection, to be submitted to Teacher Yu on Monday.”
Being suspended was no punishment for Qiao Rui at all. Since tomorrow was a Friday, it meant he could enjoy a three day weekend. He couldn’t be happier.
Director Qin asked Xiao Chen again: “Brother Qiao Rui, if you have time on Monday, could you please send the child to school yourself. This younger brother of yours, I've caught him skipping classes three times already."
Xiao Chen was holding back anger, and gave Qiao Rui a "just you wait until the evening, we'll settle the old and new accounts together" look.
Then he respectfully said to Director Qin and Yu Na: "Sure, I have time. I'll personally take him there."
Yu Na: "......"