SYLM Chapter 23
by VolareThe winter in the Northeast is silent and desolate. The biting cold wind, the endless heavy snow, the familiar shouts of street vendors – Ningcheng, this small county, repeats its slow-paced days day after day.
In response to national policies, the Education Bureau has repeatedly emphasized that schools are not allowed to hold extra classes during the winter vacation. However, the educational resources in small counties are far inferior to those in big cities, and the college entrance examination is a difference of one point is like a difference of hundreds of thousands of miles. Ningcheng No. 1 High School has no choice but to race against time with the college entrance examination.
The in-school study time for the first semester of the second year is coming to an end. Each class in the grade is acting separately, looking for houses for holiday tutoring in various places in Ningcheng. Most of these are organized and completed by the parents’ committee of each class.
Whether it’s the school or the parents, everyone hopes to help their children seize a good opportunity. For those born in ordinary families, the college entrance examination is almost the only fair competitive opportunity, and they must do their best.
The first semester of the second year ended, and the final exam results were released. Some were happy and some were sad. However, after a short two or three days of rest, teachers and students had to devote themselves wholeheartedly to holiday tutoring.
The final tutoring location chosen by Class 12 of the second year was a spacious room on the top floor of a shopping mall in the center of the county.
This place was found through connections by Jiang Zhen Zhen’s parents, who both worked in the local government. They had many connections and relationships in this area.
This shopping mall is not close to Rose Garden. Chen Lu and Gu Wan Jun walk together every morning to school and every evening after school.
Before each departure, Gu Wan Jun would put a piece of coffee candy in Chen Lu’s mouth.
The sweet, mellow, and subtle caramel aroma spread in her mouth along the tip of her tongue. Recognizing the brand on the candy wrapper as the one they bought together when they went to the supermarket before, Chen Lu thought for a while and took the initiative to ask:
“Does the teacher like coffee candy?”
Hearing this, Gu Wan Jun, while wrapping her scarf, curved her eyes and smiled:
“I like White Rabbit milk candy. This coffee candy is for you.”
“…” Chen Lu’s dark pupils trembled twice, and she looked shocked: “Bought for me?”
“Yes, don’t you not like eating too sweet things?”
Hearing this, Chen Lu was stunned for a moment, and then looked even more incredulous: “How does the teacher know I don’t like eating sweet things?”
“I… heard it.” Gu Wan Jun smiled and shifted her gaze. This sounded a bit unconfident.
Heard it?
Heard it from whom?
Chen Lu fell into thought.
Being ten years older, our Teacher Gu’s ability to observe words and control the overall situation can be called first-class.
While Chen Lu was still thinking about whether Gu Wan Jun had heard her previous conversation with Qin Hao Yang, Gu Wan Jun had already reached out and hooked her arm around the girl’s, diverting the topic. Her gentle tone was mixed with a hint of a smile:
“Okay, let’s go quickly, or we’ll both be late.”
“…”
The blood in the arm that was being held gradually boiled. The scent of white tea continued to linger around her nose. Catching a glimpse of Gu Wan Jun’s beautiful profile nearby, Chen Lu subconsciously lowered her head and quietly curled the corners of her lips.
—
Chen Lu and Gu Wan Jun have the same values, and both are essentially gentle and considerate people. During this holiday tutoring process, the two get along more and more harmoniously and closely.
However, human joys and sorrows are not always shared. On the other hand, Fu Yi Wen can be said to be quite pitiful.
Each class is scattered in different places for tutoring, and students can only see the teachers of each subject who teach their class every day.
In other words, Fu Yi Wen not only can’t see Sun Li Xia for the entire holiday, but also has to face that annoying Tang Ying every day.
When will these horrible days end!?
Is there anyone who can report the school’s private tutoring problem to the Education Bureau? It would be better if no one has to attend!
Fu Yi Wen wished she could complain eight hundred times a day, but every time she was still complaining one second, she would be called away by Tang Ying with a cold face the next second, either saying this or that.
The longing for Sun Li Xia and the dislike for Tang Ying weighed on Fu Yi Wen’s heart like a big stone. A person who has always had a good appetite has lost her appetite since the holiday tutoring started. Before the tutoring process was even halfway through, Fu Yi Wen had lost a full eight pounds.
Seeing their friend like this, Chen Lu and Jiang Zhen Zhen were worried and anxious, but there was nothing they could do.
Now Fu Yi Wen doesn’t even look at the jelly, potato chips, and chocolates that Chen Lu brings. This situation has never happened before, and I’m afraid even a celestial being can’t save her.
—
One Friday afternoon.
According to rumors, education bureau leaders were going down to the grassroots level to “secretly inspect” various small counties to specifically catch schools holding holiday tutoring.
After receiving the news, the school leaders of Ningcheng No. 1 High School temporarily decided to take the afternoon off today to avoid this wave of inspections.
The last class in the morning for Class 12 was English class.
The news that there would be an afternoon off had already spread wildly among the students, as if after a long drought, sweet rain had fallen. The students immediately exploded.
The last politics class, the students were immersed in the joy of having a holiday. Their minds had already flown away and they had no intention of listening to the lesson. As a result, half the class was made to stand during the question-and-answer session alone. Tang Ying’s face was so cold that it was about to drop ice shards.
—
11:40 AM Beijing time.
After finally enduring the last class, the homeroom teacher Gu Wan Jun officially conveyed the notice that there would be an afternoon off.
“It’s a sudden event. Two things: First, the subject representatives should immediately come to the front to take their mobile phones, call the subject teachers to reconfirm the homework. Students who didn’t bring their mobile phones can use mine. After confirming with the subject teachers, quickly write the homework on the blackboard. You can only leave school after everything is sorted out. Don’t rush.”
Gu Wan Jun paused. She glanced at the notification in the school’s large WeChat group, and then added:
“Second, today, the subject representatives will need to take the time to go back to school this afternoon. Before the end of the semester, the school’s printing room printed the test papers for each subject. At that time, because the tutoring location was small, they were not completely moved over. This afternoon, the subject teachers will return to the school one after another. The subject representatives are asked to cooperate with the subject teachers to find the test papers, seal them, and pack them in boxes. Take advantage of the time this afternoon to transport all the test papers needed for the second half of the holiday over. Currently, these are the only two things.”
After Gu Wan Jun finished speaking, the subject representatives began to call the subject teachers, and those who needed to distribute test papers did so.
Gu Wan Jun called Chen Lu to the front to reconfirm today’s Chinese homework;
Math representative Jiang Zhen Zhen took her mobile phone and walked to the door to call Wang Zhen De;
Politics representative Fu Yi Wen stood next to Tang Ying. She seemed to be listening to Tang Ying’s instructions for today’s homework, but in fact, she was already setting off fireworks in her heart because she could see her Teacher Sun when she went back to school this afternoon…
“Did you hear what I said?”
“Ah?”
The absent-minded Fu Yi Wen was startled by the person next to her. She subconsciously answered vaguely:
“I heard it.”
“Repeat it.” Tang Ying, who saw through everything, frowned, her face quite cold.
“Ah…” Fu Yi Wen opened her mouth, completely regaining her senses, and gave up struggling, confessing frankly: “Sorry, I was distracted just now.”
“Copy the guiding material once.”
“?”
Fu Yi Wen’s eyes widened two circles instantly, and she frantically defended herself: “No, I already said sorry, you–”
“Twice.”
“…”
Knowing she was in the wrong, Fu Yi Wen dared to be angry but dared not speak, and stopped making a sound.
…
In just a few minutes, test papers for each subject came one after another like snowflakes. Although everyone was already used to this scene, there were still sighs and complaints from the students from time to time–
“I’m going! So much English homework? Half a set of English newspaper plus a whole set of test papers? We only have half a day off, right? Is Jiang Wen crazy?!”
“I’m done. So much politics homework too, two sets of guiding material plus a set of test papers. Are Jiang Wen and Tang Ying, these two black and white evil spirits, planning to take my life while I’m sick!”
“Hey hey, be careful what you say. The white spirit is still here. If she hears you, she’ll start being sarcastic again.”
“Math also left a correction notebook? Okay, I really don’t need to sleep tonight!”
“…”
The students complained and grumbled, but the action of sorting out the test papers didn’t stop at all.
…
Ten minutes later.
Everything that needed to be distributed, recorded, and sorted was done. Finally, it was time to leave school.
Tang Ying had left five minutes ago, and the students who had packed their things also left one after another.
After saying goodbye to Chen Lu and Fu Yi Wen, Jiang Zhen Zhen was also picked up by her mother.
Seeing that the students were almost gone, Gu Wan Jun and Chen Lu exchanged ideas. The two decided to go back to a place near the school to have a meal together first, and then go directly to the school to check the test papers after eating.
Although she didn’t know if Sun Li Xia had gone to the school at this time, Fu Yi Wen couldn’t wait to rush to the liberal arts office and wait.
So much so that when she heard that Chen Lu and Gu Wan Jun were also going back to the school, Fu Yi Wen immediately decided to go with them.
It was freezing outside, and it would be cheaper for the three of them to take a taxi together.
—
When Gu Wan Jun and her group left, there was no one else in the tutoring room.
The three had just come out and locked the door, and when they turned around, they happened to see Tang Ying, who was coming out of the restroom diagonally opposite with an expression that wasn’t very good.
When their eyes met, out of courtesy, Gu Wan Jun was about to say hello, but that cold voice floated over first:
“Are you three going straight back to school?”
“We’re going to eat near the school first. Teacher Tang, do you want to join us?” Gu Wan Jun replied politely.
“I’m going to the school.” Tang Ying’s tone was still cold.
Hearing this, Gu Wan Jun’s eyebrows twitched slightly. She wasn’t sure what Tang Ying meant by this, but fortunately Tang Ying acted decisively and continued directly:
“My car is downstairs, let’s go.”
“…”
Hearing this, before Gu Wan Jun and Chen Lu could react, Fu Yi Wen next to her went crazy!
What do you mean, let’s go? Who wants to ride in this annoying person’s car!
…
Perhaps Fu Yi Wen’s sullen face was too obvious, and Tang Ying, who was already in a bad mood, became even more annoyed. She stared at Fu Yi Wen’s eyes and sneered, her tone quite bad:
“Don’t stand there and complain. No one is begging you to ride in my car. Ride if you want, don’t ride if you don’t want to.”
“…”
—
Five minutes later.
The car door unlocked. After getting in the car, Gu Wan Jun sat in the passenger seat, and Chen Lu and Fu Yi Wen, who she had desperately pulled up, sat side by side in the back seat.
Tang Ying’s handbag was placed between the driver’s seat and the passenger seat. Catching a glimpse of the sanitary napkin packaging leaking out of the bag, Gu Wan Jun suddenly understood why Tang Ying was particularly “flammable and explosive” today.
“I’ll drive.”
“You?” Tang Ying tilted her head to look at the passenger seat.
“Yeah, you just finished teaching. I’ll drive. Don’t worry, I have a driver’s license.”
Gu Wan Jun passed her driver’s license test on her first try, but before coming to Ningcheng, she had already sold both of the cars in her name.
…
Although she didn’t know why Gu Wan Jun suddenly volunteered to drive, Tang Ying was indeed suffering from a sore back and stomach cramps. She threw the car key to Gu Wan Jun, and the two hit it off immediately and got out of the car to switch places.
Taking advantage of the time when the two got out of the car, Chen Lu said that Fu Yi Wen was a bit too much, recalling what had just happened. Hearing this, Fu Yi Wen immediately crossed her arms, wanting to refute, but when she heard Chen Lu’s next sentence that Tang Ying seemed to be on her period, Fu Yi Wen was obviously choked.
“No way, really? Is she on her period today?”
“Probably, I heard it from a classmate who came back from the restroom earlier.”
Chen Lu tried to lower her voice as much as possible.
This also made it easier to explain why Gu Wan Jun volunteered to drive.
As soon as Chen Lu finished speaking, Gu Wan Jun and Tang Ying got into the car one after another. Along with the sound of the car doors closing, the two sitting in the back row tacitly turned on silent mode at the same time.
Before driving, Gu Wan Jun reminded the other three to buckle their seat belts.
—
The world outside the car window was covered with a thick layer of snow. The warm air exhaled melted on the car window, creating a foggy patch.
Fu Yi Wen sat in the back seat, and her mind began to automatically replay the previous memories.
During the politics class, one person after another was made to stand to answer questions. When listening to Tang Ying assign homework, she was distracted and lost in thought. When Tang Ying said she would drive them, she couldn’t control her emotions and showed her displeasure…
Yet today was Tang Ying’s period.
The nose with a few small freckles wrinkled. This was the first time Fu Yi Wen reflected on whether she had been a bit too much towards Tang Ying.
—
Ningcheng wasn’t big, and it usually only took a dozen minutes to drive anywhere.
The black BMW steadily parked on the street opposite the entrance of Ningcheng No. 1 High School.
Tang Ying asked Gu Wan Jun to drive the car directly into the school parking lot, but Gu Wan Jun seemed not to hear her and directly changed the topic, inviting her to have a meal together.
“There are quite a few small restaurants nearby that taste good. Let’s go down and eat something together.” Gu Wan Jun said while unbuckling her seat belt.
“I’m not going. I don’t have an appetite.” Tang Ying refused coldly. Her face looked even paler than when she left the tutoring place.
“If you don’t eat, you won’t have the energy to work, and you don’t even know how long it will take.”
“I already said I’m not going. Why are you so nagging?”
“Tang Ying.” Gu Wan Jun put away her smile and spoke clearly.
“…”
—
Five minutes later, the four of them were seated in a noodle restaurant.
Chen Lu and Fu Yi Wen sat side by side, opposite Gu Wan Jun and Tang Ying.
When ordering, Tang Ying didn’t even look at the menu. If Gu Wan Jun hadn’t called her name, she wouldn’t have come at all.
Gu Wan Jun had been a regular at this restaurant before. She gave the others a brief recommendation.
Chen Lu listened quietly from beginning to end, but Fu Yi Wen interrupted halfway and said, “Why don’t we all order noodle soup? It’ll warm our stomachs.”
Such a combination of two teachers and two students was rare. After ordering, there was an awkward silence between the four of them with nothing to talk about.
Taking advantage of the time before the noodles were served, as if thinking of something, Fu Yi Wen got up from her seat abruptly. She said she was going to buy drinks at the store next door and asked everyone what they wanted to drink.
Chen Lu and Gu Wan Jun almost simultaneously chose mineral water. When it was Tang Ying’s turn to express her opinion, this person tucked the black fur coat around her body, lowered her head, and admired her nail art, as if she hadn’t heard.
Tang Ying’s ignoring made Fu Yi Wen a little embarrassed, but as if thinking of something, she stubbornly suppressed her impatience and kindly added:
“Then for Teacher Tang, should I buy the same mineral water as Lu Lu and the others?”
“What’s so good about mineral water?”
Tang Ying touched her nail art, not even lifting her head. This made Fu Yi Wen explode, and her tone became hurried:
“Then I asked you and you didn’t say anything. What do you want to drink?”
“No, I’m not Teacher Sun. I can’t take it.”
“…”
The two people’s conversation was like a needle pricking a wheat awn, making the two people on the side feel at a loss.
Chen Lu was about to tear Fu Yi Wen’s school uniform pants under the table. At the same time, Gu Wan Jun also interjected with a smile and asked where Tang Ying had her nails done, saying they were very beautiful.
It wasn’t until Fu Yi Wen and Tang Ying separated that the situation stabilized.
Chen Lu originally wanted to go with Fu Yi Wen, but Fu Yi Wen insisted that she was sweating and would easily catch a cold if she went out, so she insisted on pushing her back.
A certain Aries, whose anger was about to reach her head, needed to calm down by herself.
…
Before returning to her seat, Chen Lu asked the boss for 4 pairs of disposable chopsticks.
Before handing them to Gu Wan Jun, remembering her previous experience of being pricked by the wooden thorns at the end of the chopsticks after they were broken apart, Chen Lu broke the chopsticks apart and repeatedly rubbed the ends until they were smooth and there were no small wooden thorns to the touch. Only then did Chen Lu hand the chopsticks to Gu Wan Jun.
“Thank you.” Gu Wan Jun smiled and took the chopsticks.
Tang Ying, who was next to her, glanced at the chopsticks in Gu Wan Jun’s hand, and then looked at the chopsticks in front of her that were still in their packaging. She raised her hand and touched her ear cartilage chain, her smile not a smile, and her gaze swept back and forth across the faces of Gu Wan Jun and Chen Lu:
“Chen Lu, what’s the situation? Are you being so blatant in your differential treatment? I’m still sitting here, and the chopsticks you gave to your Chinese teacher were carefully sanded, while mine are still in their original packaging. What’s wrong? Can you only see your Teacher Gu? Are my hands made of iron?”
“…”
Although Tang Ying’s tone sounded like she was joking at the moment, her temperament was too cold on weekdays. Even if it was a joke, it sounded like she was really expressing dissatisfaction when it came out of her mouth at this moment.
As soon as the words fell, the smile on Gu Wan Jun’s lips gradually faded. The thought of Chen Lu possibly trying to smooth things over by sanding Tang Ying’s chopsticks as well made her feel uncomfortable everywhere.
No, I have to think of a way.
Just as Gu Wan Jun was thinking about how to prevent this from happening, Chen Lu, who was sitting across from her, thought for a moment, and then simply took a pair of disinfected plastic chopsticks from the chopstick holder next to her and handed them to Tang Ying, her tone quite serious:
“Teacher, here, plastic chopsticks won’t prick your hand.”
“…”