Chapter 102: Big Trouble

Dong Yanyan nodded and gave him a smile. Since it had nothing to do with her, why did he still warn her not to admit anything? It seemed last night’s trouble was truly brought upon herself.

She steadied her emotions and knocked on the office door on the third floor.

“Come in!” Director Tang’s voice came from inside.

Dong Yanyan switched to a relaxed smile and entered the office.

Besides Teacher Chen, Director Tang and Teacher Ma were also there. Director Tang sat solemnly reading a newspaper, while Teacher Ma was busy organizing lesson plans. Upon seeing her, Teacher Ma gave a kind nod. She politely greeted them before walking over to Teacher Chen’s desk.

Teacher Chen’s desk was adjacent to Director Tang’s, facing each other. He was fiddling with a set square, a faint smile lingering at the corners of his mouth, but his eyes were icy cold. Dong Yanyan could tell he was angry and emotionally charged toward her. That was unhealthy; anger harmed the body.

“Teacher, did you want to see me?” She stood properly beside him, smiling warmly.

Teacher Chen nodded and sized her up before speaking seriously, “Dong Yanyan, I’ve always thought you were a sensible child, but I’ve heard many unfavorable rumors—about you. Can you explain them to me?”

Dong Yanyan smiled innocently. “Teacher, I didn’t quite catch that. Could you be more specific?”

His gaze flickered before he said sternly, “Some have reported that you’re involved in early romantic relationships. You’ve been seen getting too close to a certain boy in our class, and things have gone too far…”

Dong Yanyan smiled wryly, signaling him to continue.

“You and Song Mingcheng are desk mates, right? I remember you were originally seated in the front row, but why did you move next to Song Mingcheng? Many have said you two are inseparable, extremely close. Is that true?” His tone was one of bitter disappointment.

Dong Yanyan smiled helplessly. When Ren Jiaxuan pursued her, even Director Tang noticed but said nothing. Now that it was a boy in his own class, he suddenly took it upon himself to interrogate. Such strictness for his own students, yet leniency for others.

“Teacher, I did sit in the front row at first. But I found the glare from the blackboard made it hard to see the right side when I sat by the window and the left side when I sat by the wall. This seriously affected my speed in solving problems and the quality of my learning. So, I wanted to move back a bit. The only seat available was next to Song Mingcheng, and I moved there with the class monitor’s permission. We’re desk mates and always work together during class and experiments, but I assure you, we are not romantically involved—just simple classmates.”

Teacher Chen frowned.

“Teacher, I think it’s perfectly normal for boys and girls at seventeen or eighteen to date, so I have no reason to lie to you about this. If I were, you would know by asking me; I have nothing to hide. But if not, don’t try to frame me!” Dong Yanyan said firmly.

His expression darkened. He asked directly, “Then what about last Saturday?”

“Are you referring to us singing together? That was organized by the cultural committee. Many boys and girls from the same class held hands and sang together. Just classmates having fun and relaxing on the weekend. I don’t think it’s excessive. Didn’t you encourage me to participate more in class activities?” Dong Yanyan smiled.

“That’s not what I’m talking about. What happened on the fourth floor?” Teacher Chen asked calmly.

Dong Yanyan sneered, “Teacher, I must have seen a ghost on the fourth floor. But Song Mingcheng wasn’t there. Li Zhe from the broadcasting class can vouch for me; he happened to pass by.”

Teacher Chen furrowed his brow and fell silent. After a moment, he asked again, “Then why did you say you saw a ghost on the fourth floor? Don’t you know this looks very bad?”

Dong Yanyan answered frankly. A pervert counts as a ghost, right? That’s not a lie.

But to the teacher, she feigned seriousness and spoke casually, “Teacher, I can’t explain this to you. Matters of ghosts and spirits aren’t something to take lightly. Maybe you think I’m spreading superstition, but many things science can’t explain. I always hold a respectful attitude toward the unknown.”

“Enough. You may go.” Teacher Chen waved impatiently.

Dong Yanyan sighed and looked him straight in the eye. “Teacher, I see that you clearly don’t believe me. I know I haven’t been perfect. Before, I ignored the distinctions between boys and girls and was a bit careless around boys I got along with. But it wasn’t intentional. I’ll be more careful to keep my distance from boys in the future. I’ll change seats with Song Mingcheng right now.”

Teacher Chen said nothing.

Dong Yanyan’s temper flared. “Teacher, I’ve always respected you. Here, in this school, you’re like a parent to us. We need your guidance and support. So I don’t want to be misunderstood or falsely accused by you. That would make me feel deeply wronged.” Her eyes reddened. She truly felt the frustration of someone who wishes to protect their own but ends up hurting them instead.

Seeing her on the verge of tears, Teacher Chen softened and smiled kindly. “Alright, don’t cry. It’s not that I don’t believe you. Go back to class and focus on your studies. Don’t let this affect your mood. By the way, I have a letter for you here. This magazine—you subscribed to it, right?” He handed her a large envelope.

Dong Yanyan’s eyes lit up. “No, this should be my complimentary copy and the payment.” She deliberately opened the envelope in front of him, wanting to show off her talent. Inside was a brand-new magazine and a small envelope. She opened that and found two crisp ten-yuan notes—payment for her article.

Her face flushed with embarrassment as she stuffed the twenty yuan back into the envelope. She meant to show off, but such a small amount was laughable.

“Other people get two hundred yuan for their articles, and they have the nerve to give me just twenty! It’s maddening!” She grumbled, clutching the magazine as she prepared to leave.

“Yanyan, wait! You published an article in the magazine? Let me see it!” Teacher Ma turned around and smiled at her.

Dong Yanyan smiled and handed her the copy. “Teacher Ma, if you like it, it’s yours.”

“Thank you!” Teacher Ma smiled warmly.

Teacher Chen smiled modestly without a word.

Dong Yanyan stepped out of the office and bumped into Song Mingcheng descending the stairs. They exchanged a glance and smiled with complex expressions.

“Are you okay?” Song Mingcheng asked.

Dong Yanyan nodded. “I’d never admit to it.”

Song Mingcheng nodded in relief. Then he knocked on the office door.

Dong Yanyan’s eyes widened in surprise. So he was also going to be questioned? Was it really that big a deal?

* * *

Song Mingcheng entered the office, politely greeted the teachers, then stood beside Teacher Chen, covering his mouth as he yawned.

“Teacher, you wanted to see me?”

He sounded heavy with sleep.

Teacher Chen frowned slightly. “Didn’t sleep well?”

Song Mingcheng nodded. “Yeah, I’m tired.”

“Tell me exactly what happened last night,” Teacher Chen pressed.

Song Mingcheng rubbed his face energetically but looked listless. “Last night, a few seniors from the broadcasting class accidentally kicked open our classroom door. Liu Qing was teaching us at the time and got startled. In a fit of anger, he made us run with him…”

Before he finished, Teacher Yang burst in angrily, glancing around the office. Not seeing Liu Qing, she slammed the lesson plans on the table and complained to Director Tang, “What’s going on with Liu Qing? He punished my students last night so severely that they can’t even attend class today. The final exams are coming. If their grades suffer because they’re sick, who’s responsible?”

“Huh? Is that so?” Director Tang put down his newspaper and called Liu Qing’s dorm. Minutes later, Liu Qing entered the office, lively and spirited.

“Hello, teachers!” He greeted everyone loudly, then dragged a chair over and sat next to Director Tang, grinning boldly. “Director, what can I do for you?”

Director Tang glanced at him, frowning slightly. “Liu, Teacher Yang says you punished her class’s students. Is that true?”

Liu Qing looked at the beautiful Teacher Yang and grinned roguishly. “Teacher, I had no choice. Those kids needed discipline. If I didn’t punish them, would I let them punish me? Those spoiled second-generation brats would’ve run wild without strict measures. I did it to uphold the dignity of the teaching profession. Heads may roll, blood may flow, but the dignity of the teacher cannot be lost. Otherwise, how can we command respect? Am I right?”

Director Tang cleared his throat and said seriously, “I see. You’re inexperienced. In the future, be mindful of your teaching methods, okay?”

“Got it, got it,” Liu Qing said obediently.

Teacher Yang frowned in displeasure. “Liu Qing, Song Mingcheng just said otherwise. My students accidentally entered the wrong classroom and opened the door a little loudly. You punished them by making them run in the snow for over three hours? That’s excessive.”

Song Mingcheng felt like a flock of crows had just flown over his head.

Liu Qing glanced at Song Mingcheng, who awkwardly smiled and turned to Teacher Yang. “So it was a misunderstanding. Teacher Yang, since it’s a misunderstanding, let’s let it go. Besides, Liu Qing himself ran with us on the field for over three hours. That’s not much of a punishment.”