SYLM Chapter 5
by VolareChapter 5 “Love me, love my dog.”
The fourth class for Class 12 was Literature.
During the break after the third class, Gu Wan Jun, having just finished her Literature class for Class 1, returned to Class 12 to find almost all the students asleep on their desks, catching up on rest.
Gu Wan Jun placed her book on the podium, moving as quietly as possible. After scanning the class, her gaze lingered intentionally for a couple of seconds on the window seat in the third row.
Chen Lu was facing away from the aisle, resting on her desk.
Looking at the girl’s back, so thin it seemed she wanted to disappear, Zheng Wei’s earlier words echoed in Gu Wan Jun’s mind. She withdrew her gaze and subconsciously took a deep breath.
This child is too thin.
…
The bell rang for the fourth class.
Even before her eyes were fully open, Chen Lu reflexively sat up straight. One hand rubbed her eyes, while the other habitually reached behind to tap Fu Yi Wen’s desk, waking her up for class.
Chen Lu had developed this habit because Fu Yi Wen slept so soundly.
Once, Fu Yi Wen fell asleep during a break and didn’t wake up even when class started. Halfway through the Geography class, the teacher called on Fu Yi Wen to answer a question. Startled awake from her dream, she stood up with a crash, blurrily asking, “Is it the end of class? Goodbye, Teacher!” The Geography teacher was so angry that she made Fu Yi Wen stand for every Geography class for a week.
…
—
Literature class began.
For the first time, Chen Lu personally experienced how Gu Wan Jun’s teaching style was indeed different from other Literature teachers.
At least in Ningcheng, this small county, Chen Lu had never seen a teacher lecture like Gu Wan Jun.
While teaching the main lesson, Gu Wan Jun would appropriately interject with relevant stories or figures, mostly from various books. Once interest was piqued, it was bound to make people itch to listen.
Sure enough, after one class, the students were particularly interested in Gu Wan Jun’s vivid stories. Few were sleeping; everyone pleaded with Gu Wan Jun to tell more.
For example, in today’s class, Gu Wan Jun interjected with a story from a book called “The Ferryman”.
Chen Lu had read this book in her third year of junior high school. At the time, it deeply moved her. However, listening to Gu Wan Jun vividly recount the story today, Chen Lu inexplicably felt a new and even more profound sense of shock.
Could this be the difference between listening to a book and reading it?
Listening to Gu Wan Jun’s gentle and even voice, Chen Lu decided she should find “The Ferryman” again and reread it when she got home.
…
About two minutes before the end of class, Gu Wan Jun closed her book and stopped teaching.
“There are two minutes left before class ends. We’ll talk about the second half of the classical Chinese text next class. Everyone should digest what we just covered. If you don’t understand anything, you can ask me.”
“Teacher!”
A female student raised her hand. Gu Wan Jun thought she had a question and was about to walk over, but the girl seemed to be both asking and pleading:
“Teacher, there are two minutes left before class ends. Can you tell us more about that book you were talking about, ‘The Ferryman’? Did Dylan really die? What happened to Tristan in the end? Did Dylan go back to find him? Were they rescued?”
As soon as she said this, other students who felt the same immediately chimed in:
“Yeah, Teacher, it’s so frustrating to only hear half the story.”
“Yeah, Teacher, we’re not learning classical Chinese text anyway, so just tell us!”
“Teacher, please tell us, everyone’s waiting to hear!”
“…”
On the topic of listening to books, the students chattered, everyone begging Gu Wan Jun to finish telling the story of “The Ferryman”.
Seeing that everyone’s enthusiasm for reading was high, Gu Wan Jun thought it was a good thing. However, she didn’t continue. Instead, she put a finger to her lips, signaling everyone to be quiet. Then, she deliberately played mysterious:
“Are there any students in our class who have read ‘The Ferryman’? Raise your hand.”
“…”
As soon as she said this, the students looked at each other. It was as if their faces were clearly written with the words “Haven’t read it.”
After entering high school, they barely had time to read their textbooks, let alone extracurricular books.
Seeing that no one raised their hand, as if thinking of something, Gu Wan Jun subconsciously cast her gaze toward the window seat in the third row.
Caught off guard by this sudden eye contact, a look of surprise flashed in Chen Lu’s eyes, and her throat inexplicably became dry.
Why is this teacher looking at her?
Does she know that she’s read this book?
But what if she has? Is she going to call on her to answer a question?
…
Chen Lu’s brain raced, but she never avoided Gu Wan Jun’s gaze. In the end, it was Gu Wan Jun, probably mindful of the end of class, who looked away first.
Seeing that no one raised their hand, Gu Wan Jun raised her wrist to check the time, her tone calm: “It’s okay if you haven’t read it. I can tell you the story if you want to hear it, but only if you behave well in class.”
As soon as she said this, the bell rang to signal the end of class. Gu Wan Jun tilted her head slightly, and the corners of her lips curved into a beautiful arc:
“There’s no time today. We’ll tell the second half of the story when we have time in our next Literature class, just to leave you in suspense.”
After saying this, Gu Wan Jun cast her gaze toward the window seat in the third row, her tone calm: “Chen Lu, come with me to the office.”
…
—
During the last break before lunch, the atmosphere in the hallway was relatively lively.
Class 12 was on the first floor, and the Literature office was on the fourth floor. As they walked through the hallway to the stairs, Chen Lu always followed behind Gu Wan Jun.
Needless to say, Gu Wan Jun was probably calling her to the office to talk about writing novels during math class.
After all, the issue had to be resolved.
…
When the two reached the corner of the staircase on the second floor, as if thinking of something, Gu Wan Jun slowed her pace, turned her head, and asked softly:
“Have you read that book?”
“…”
This question directly pulled Chen Lu’s wandering thoughts back. Coming back to her senses, she raised her head slightly, just in time to meet the pair of warm and beautiful peach blossom eyes.
A familiar and pleasant white tea scent wafted faintly around her. Chen Lu felt like every breath she took was filled with Gu Wan Jun’s scent.
What exactly does this teacher want? Why does she keep asking her questions?
…
Their eyes met. Seeing that Chen Lu didn’t answer, assuming the girl hadn’t heard her clearly, Gu Wan Jun curved the corners of her lips and repeated her question:
“The book I was talking about in class, ‘The Ferryman,’ have you read it before?”
“I’ve read it,” Chen Lu answered truthfully. She didn’t like lying.
“Do you like that book?”
“It’s okay.”
“What kind of books do you usually read?”
“…”
The topic was moving in an increasingly unexpected direction for Chen Lu. After hesitating for a couple of seconds, she answered simply: “I read all kinds of books.”
“Which type do you like to read the most?”
Gu Wan Jun continued to delve into the topic. Chen Lu couldn’t escape and could only continue to answer truthfully:
“Suspense and mystery.”
“I like mystery novels too. Do you like social realism or classic mysteries?”
“Social realism.”
“We have the same taste then, I like social realism mysteries too.”
“…”
The topic reached this point, and Chen Lu didn’t continue.
She strongly sensed that Gu Wan Jun had likely read the black notebook containing her novel manuscript, which was why she was using the guise of chatting to say all of this.
The thought that these words were likely a preamble to a long lecture, Chen Lu tightened her lips, her heart suddenly filled with a strong sense of disappointment and resistance.
So this new teacher is just like all the other teachers.
She’s just changed to a method she thinks the student will accept more to educate the student.
Although she knew that it was wrong to write novels during math class, as her homeroom teacher, it was understandable that Gu Wan Jun would educate her.
But in certain moments, Chen Lu had still wholeheartedly yearned for Gu Wan Jun to be different from other teachers.
…
Chen Lu’s thoughts raced, but she didn’t show anything on the surface. The Gu Wan Jun beside her was unaware of what she was thinking. As she walked upstairs, she continued the topic:
“If you like social realism mysteries, whose works do you like?”
“Whose works does the teacher like?”
Chen Lu countered with a question, an action that was rare for her.
In Chen Lu’s view, since Gu Wan Jun didn’t genuinely want to talk about mystery novels, her claim of liking social realism was likely a casual remark. All of this was just a preamble to a lecture. She was now returning the question, and Gu Wan Jun would probably just perfunctorily name some famous works and authors.
…
Chen Lu’s counter-question caught Gu Wan Jun off guard. After thinking for a moment, she immediately guessed the reason for Chen Lu’s question.
The complex emotions flashing in the young girl’s clear and bright crescent eyes seemed to confirm what Zheng Wei had said earlier – Chen Lu is very detail-oriented and has her own personality.
At this moment, Gu Wan Jun was personally experiencing it.
…
Not angered by the counter-question, Gu Wan Jun instead found the child interesting. She thoughtfully considered for a moment, then answered truthfully:
“For social realism mysteries, I like Yeminaka Akira’s ‘Zekkyou’ and ‘Si bou no kea’ the most. As for authors, I like Agatha Christie, Natsuki Shizuko, and Renjo Mikihiko the most.”
“…”
As soon as she said this, an incredulous expression appeared in Chen Lu’s clear, clean crescent eyes. Now it was Chen Lu’s turn to be speechless.
She had originally thought that Gu Wan Jun would casually name a few famous works or authors. But to Chen Lu’s surprise, Gu Wan Jun didn’t do that.
Logically, given Gu Wan Jun’s dual identity as a Peking University graduate and a Literature teacher, it wasn’t impossible for her to know some niche authors and works. But the coincidences and connections that she couldn’t even write into a novel were…
The things Gu Wan Jun said were exactly the same as Chen Lu’s preferences!
There were thousands of mystery authors. What did it mean to have the exact same preferences?
Chen Lu liked which author, the correct answer even her closest friends Jiang Zhen Zhen and Fu Yi Wen didn’t know, and it was even more impossible for anyone else to know.
From the continuous coincidences this morning to the exact same reading preferences now, could there really be such a coincidence?
…
Seemingly sensing that Chen Lu’s shock and disbelief were too obvious, Gu Wan Jun raised her eyebrows. She poked the person next to her with her Literature textbook, half-seriously and half-jokingly saying:
“What’s with that expression? Did you think that when I said I liked social realism mysteries, I was just making it up?”
“…”
Her thick eyelashes trembled slightly, and Chen Lu unconsciously widened her eyes.
How did this teacher even know what she was thinking?
Too scary.
…
—
4th floor, the Literature office.
Chen Lu followed Gu Wan Jun into the office, her mind still replaying their conversation just now.
The other Literature teachers saw Chen Lu following Gu Wan Jun into the office. Everyone knew that Gu Wan Jun was probably going to address the novel-writing-in-math-class incident. Even though the teachers all had work to do, their eyes and ears were still occasionally paying attention to Gu Wan Jun’s movements.
Returning to her desk, Gu Wan Jun placed her teaching materials on the desk, used her key to open the drawer, and took out the black notebook that she had confiscated.
Gu Wan Jun had spent an entire class period thoroughly reading the novel in the notebook.
Although she had read many literary works before, she was still amazed by Chen Lu’s writing style and the overall structure of the article, and even felt that ‘this child can write such spiritual words, simply born to write’.
…
Meeting Chen Lu’s calm and composed gaze, Gu Wan Jun put the notebook on the table, cut to the chase, and said sincerely:
“I had no class during the second period, so I finished reading your novel manuscript. It’s well-written.”
“…”
As soon as she said this, a crack appeared in Chen Lu’s calm expression. She stared steadily at Gu Wan Jun, her eyes filled with confusion and doubt.
Was this the time to discuss this? As a homeroom teacher, shouldn’t Gu Wan Jun be criticizing her for writing novels in class?
Chen Lu blinked her eyes, and she even suspected that she was hallucinating.
…
As if unaware of Chen Lu’s shocked and confused emotions, their eyes met. Gu Wan Jun crossed her arms and leaned against the desk, continuing her topic on her own:
“However, as a fan of social realism mystery novels, I’d like to give you some advice on this new novel. Of course, not writing guidance, just a little personal opinion. Do you want to hear it?”
“Teacher.”
Chen Lu interrupted the person in front of her. She couldn’t understand Gu Wan Jun’s intention, so she simply took the initiative to get to the point:
“Teacher, you called me to the office, probably because of the novel I was writing in math class, right?”
“Yes, that’s right, isn’t that what we’re talking about right now?” Gu Wan Jun nodded, not denying it.
“Right now? But shouldn’t you—”
Speaking halfway, Chen Lu pursed her lips, hesitating.
As if guessing what the person wanted to say, Gu Wan Jun curved her lips and took over the topic with a smile: “Should what? Should criticize you?”
After a two-second silence, Chen Lu nodded, her voice so soft that you couldn’t hear it at all if you didn’t listen carefully: “Yeah.”
“So you also know that it’s wrong to write novels in math class, right?”
Gu Wan Jun’s tone was as gentle and calm as ever. She seemed to have the kind of composure and ease that could easily catch her even if the sky fell.
As soon as she said this, Chen Lu lowered her eyes and subconsciously stared at the tip of her shoes, not speaking.
“I asked the other teachers, and you only write novels in math class.”
“…Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t understand math and don’t want to waste my time.”
Chen Lu’s answer to this question was straightforward. From her math scores, you could see that she didn’t seem to be good at math.
However, Gu Wan Jun felt that there was another reason. She restrained the smile on her lips, supported the edge of the table with one hand, and asked tentatively in a voice that only the two of them could hear:
“Do you not understand math, or do you not want to learn math?”
“…”
“I’ve seen your scores in all subjects. You’re a smart child. If you wanted to learn, even if you didn’t learn well, you wouldn’t only score 49 points in math, right?”
“…” Chen Lu lowered her head and didn’t answer.
Or rather, she didn’t know how to answer, because no one had ever talked to her about these things.
“Why don’t you want to learn math? Do you not like this subject? Or is there another reason? For example… Do you not like the teacher who teaches you math?”
“…”
Chen Lu still didn’t speak, but the moment Gu Wan Jun finished speaking, a complex expression appeared on the young girl’s paper-pale face.
When previous teachers saw her math scores, they would almost always painstakingly tell her:
“Chen Lu, math is a major subject, 150 points, you have to study math hard!”
“You can’t be so unbalanced, even if your Literature score is high, you won’t be able to get into a good university!”
“You’re obviously a smart child, why can’t you put your heart into math?”
“…”
Chen Lu had heard similar words telling her to study math hard countless times, and for a while, she would subconsciously resist when she heard the word “math.”
But today, at this moment, she heard someone ask her about her thoughts on math for the first time, and this person was her new homeroom teacher, Gu Wan Jun.
Why, why is there such a teacher who doesn’t follow the rules?
Looking at Gu Wan Jun’s beautiful eyes that seemed to be able to accommodate everything, Chen Lu really couldn’t understand.
…
On the other side, the expression and eyes that Chen Lu could see had changed, Gu Wan Jun raised her eyebrows, and she more or less had some confidence in her heart.
It seemed that her conversation direction was correct, it should be the teacher’s problem.
Everyone came from the student era, Gu Wan Jun is very clear about the role of the teacher for the student is so important, when a student likes which subject teacher, then this student that subject results will definitely not be bad, by analogy, when a student hates which subject teacher, may even hate that subject, so that the student that subject results are very bad.
Now it seems that Chen Lu is very likely to belong to the latter.
…
Finding the key to the problem, things became much easier. Gu Wan Jun continued to tentatively ask in a relaxed tone:
“You don’t like our class’s Wang teacher?”
“No.” Chen Lu answered quickly this time.
“Is it because you didn’t like a math teacher before?”
“…”
After a dozen seconds of silence, Chen Lu nodded slightly.
Gu Wan Jun pursed her lips, seemingly afraid of scaring the person in front of her, she intentionally softened her tone: “Can you tell me about it?”
“…”
Whether it was Gu Wan Jun’s illusion, the straight shoulders trembled for a moment, Chen Lu hesitated for a few seconds, and finally shook her head.
Knowing that this kind of thing can’t be rushed, Gu Wan Jun didn’t ask any further, “It’s okay, don’t say it if you don’t want to, come find me when you want to say it, but…”
Gu Wan Jun paused intentionally, a few seconds later, when Chen Lu raised her head a little puzzled and their eyes met, Gu Wan Jun softened her tone and continued:
“Although I don’t know what happened, it’s not worth giving up the whole subject because of a teacher you don’t like. Why let someone you hate affect your life? The only person who suffers is you, the person you hate doesn’t lose anything, is this what you want?”
“…”
As soon as she said this, Chen Lu’s lips moved slightly, then she lowered her eyes, obviously, she was seriously considering what Gu Wan Jun said.
Seeing that her words may have had an effect, Gu Wan Jun took it as it was good, stopping at the right point, she skillfully changed the conversation atmosphere:
“And if you have to say that a teacher affects a subject, then you can actually love the house and its crow, for example, you like learning Literature very much, right, so you should love the house and its crow to like me as a Literature teacher.”
“…”
…
Leaving the Literature office and walking to the corner of the stairs on the second floor, the bell for the fifth class rang on time.
Chen Lu, who was holding the handrail and going downstairs, was startled by the bell, and the black notebook in her hand almost didn’t hold, she jumped out of her emotions as if waking up from a dream, belatedly recalling everything that had just happened.
The result of the two people’s conversation during the break was – Gu Wan Jun returned the black notebook to Chen Lu, and in exchange, Chen Lu had to set a “gentleman’s agreement” with Gu Wan Jun, whether or not she learned math, Chen Lu would not be able to write novels in math class in the future, and had to find a suitable time to apologize to the math teacher.
And before leaving the office, Gu Wan Jun smiled and asked Chen Lu if she could give her the whole novel to read after it was finished, because she was very much looking forward to the sequel to this novel.
…
Her thick long eyelashes blinked quickly, like black butterflies flapping their wings, the various dialogues that she thought of just now, Chen Lu’s clear and calm eyes quietly set off a wave.
All of this is not her unrealistic fantasy, it is a real reality that has happened.
Gu Wan Jun is really different from other teachers.
Probably because there is another class before lunch, the ringing bell that has not finished ringing sounds so sweet at this moment.
On the stairs all the way jogging back to the class, in the case that Chen Lu herself did not realize it, a bright and light smile bloomed and spread quietly between her picturesque eyebrows.