Chapter 27: Let's Talk in the Car

Shen Qing paused, was that a statement?
"No need."
"Why? Afraid I won't teach you well?" Gu Ting, who was walking ahead, suddenly turned around. Shen Qing, unable to stop in time, bumped right into him.
Gu Ting staggered back a step before regaining his balance.
The girl was surprisingly strong.
"A waste of time," Shen Qing remarked, watching his awkward retreat, inwardly scoffing.
Catching the hint of sarcasm in her eyes, Gu Ting smiled and suddenly bent down, "Are you cursing me in your heart? Hmm?"
Shen Qing was taken aback by his handsome face looming close. She stepped back, her expression tightening, and said seriously, "Mind your image."
Gu Ting chuckled, straightened up, and reached out to touch the top of her head.
"What are you doing?" Shen Qing dodged warily.
Seeing his hand left hanging, a trace of melancholy flickered in Gu Ting's eyes. He quickly composed himself. "Let's go, class is almost over."
There wasn't much in the equipment room. Gu Ting carried seven or eight badminton rackets alone, while Shen Qing followed empty-handed.
Class Eight was also having PE. Liu Yichen and Lin Ruiyang, standing outside the equipment room, saw Shen Qing come out along with a young man they didn't recognize.
"Ruiyang, that's the Shen Qing I've been talking about. Isn't she pretty?" Liu Yichen eagerly dragged Lin Ruiyang to take a look.
Lin Ruiyang's gaze lingered on the girl as she walked out.
"Shen Qing!" Liu Yichen pulled Lin Ruiyang over to greet her.
"Hello, teacher." Liu Yichen had already heard that Class Three had a new teacher, and immediately recognized Gu Ting.
Gu Ting glanced at him and nodded.
"Shen Qing, let me introduce my friend, Lin Ruiyang." Liu Yichen grinned, gesturing to Lin Ruiyang, who frowned in response.
Shen Qing glanced at him; they'd met before.
"Alright, I'll head off," she said.
Liu Yichen glanced at Gu Ting, who had already walked ahead, and nodded in understanding.

"Huh?" Liu Yichen suddenly stopped and turned back to look at Gu Ting's departing figure.
"What is it?"
"I feel like I've seen that teacher somewhere before."
"Boring," Lin Ruiyang snorted.

*

With evening self-study over, the First High School became lively.
Shen Qing carried nothing, slipping out through the back door.
Little Fatty intended to leave with her, but Shen Qing had already vanished into the crowd in the corridor.
Just outside the school gate, a black van pulled up beside her.
"Need a ride?" The rear window rolled down, revealing a handsome face.
"No need," Shen Qing replied, walking straight ahead.
Gu Ting jumped out and followed her.
"Why are you following me?" Shen Qing stopped and looked up at him.
"Get in. Too many students around," Gu Ting said softly.
"..."

*

"Speak. What do you want?" Shen Qing sat in the car, her mood dark.
Gu Shiyi, who was driving, glanced at her in the rearview mirror, only to meet a pair of cold, indifferent eyes; startled, he nearly hit the gas in panic.
"You've been pretty distant these days," Gu Ting said, enunciating each word.
Gu Shiyi, up front: !
Shen Qing's eyebrow twitched. "When have I ever been warm to you?"
Gu Ting smiled, and like a magician, produced a bag of snacks. "Didn't we go out for food together before?"

"Only twice."
"And now?" Gu Ting looked at her.
"What do you mean?" Shen Qing narrowed her eyes. She admitted her dislike for Gu Ting began after that failed mission.
Young master of the Gu family, teaching at First High in Fancheng—who'd believe it wasn't suspicious?
"This one's pretty good, try it." Gu Ting tore open the snack packaging and held a piece of chocolate to Shen Qing's lips.
"My hands are clean," he added.
Gu Shiyi's jaw dropped in front; the master was feeding a girl?
Shen Qing raised an eyebrow, "That's against teacher ethics."
"Oh, I'm only a temp."
Shen Qing shifted away from Gu Ting and took a piece herself.
Gu Ting's hand hung in the air, but sensing her deliberate distance, he didn't feel awkward. He withdrew his hand and ate the chocolate himself.
"Where do you live?"
"Didn't you already investigate?" Shen Qing took another piece of chocolate and put it in her mouth—quite tasty.
Gu Ting paused for two seconds and murmured, "Tianyuan."
The girl knew everything. Smart one.
"Mo Wuxie Entertainment wants to sign you. Interested?" Gu Ting quickly opened a new box of chocolates and held it out to Shen Qing.
She glanced at him, then lowered her gaze to the brand on the chocolate—foreign, over twenty thousand a box.
After a while, she replied nonchalantly, "I'll think about it."