SYLM Chapter 64

“No! You can’t like him!”

Chapter 64 “No! You can’t like him!”

After that chance encounter and conversation in the hallway that night, Gu Wan Jun still didn’t move back.

Why?

Simply because Gu Wan Jun felt that living across from each other and constantly running into each other wasn’t a good idea. Maintaining a distance was the best thing for them right now.

It definitely wasn’t because she was afraid she would soften her stance as soon as she saw Chen Lu.

Gu Wan Jun not moving back was within Chen Lu’s expectations.

Even though she was desperately trying not to care about this issue, her frequent daydreaming and absent-mindedness in class still betrayed the anxiety and unease deep in Chen Lu’s heart.

When it came to Gu Wan Jun, how could she not care? How could she possibly not care?

Anyone with eyes could see that Chen Lu hadn’t been herself lately. Jiang Zhen Zhen wanted to help but didn’t know where to start. As for Fu Yi Wen, who was busy investigating potential rivals, she was in even deeper trouble.

A man surnamed Jiang sent Tang Ying flowers every day without fail. At first, Tang Ying didn’t even glance at them and told the security guard to throw them in the trash. But recently, Tang Ying had surprisingly accepted them a few times. Every time Fu Yi Wen went to the liberal arts office and saw a large bouquet of glaring roses on Tang Ying’s desk, her face turned as dark as if she had just crawled out of a mine, extremely ugly.

Sending roses every day? What an outdated way to pursue someone!

The key was that Tang Ying seemed to be eating it up?

Fu Yi Wen couldn’t hide things in her heart. All her emotions were written on her face. Several times, she wanted to tell Tang Ying directly that it was just roses. If Tang Ying liked them, she could send them to her every day too. She could even do better than just roses.

But Fu Yi Wen couldn’t say it.

She was afraid of hearing the answer she least wanted to hear.

How annoying.

Tang Ying. Annoying pest.

Could you just wait for me a little longer?

The countdown to the college entrance exam on the blackboard ticked down day by day. Success or failure hinged on this final stretch. All the teachers and parents valued this final half-semester of intense preparation before the exam.

The first to notice Chen Lu’s frequent daydreaming and absent-mindedness in class was the English teacher, Jiang Wen, followed by the Politics teacher, Tang Ying, and then the Math teacher, Wang Zhen De…

Until the teachers of the other five subjects came to the office one after another to tell her about the recent class situation in Class 12 and when they mentioned the students who were in poor condition, they all unanimously said Chen Lu’s name, Gu Wan Jun finally realized the seriousness of the matter.

With the college entrance exam just around the corner, they couldn’t relax at this critical moment.

She had to find some time to talk to Chen Lu properly.

After summarizing the recent problems in the class, several students with significant issues had to be called to the office for one-on-one talks.

Just as Gu Wan Jun was hesitating about which order to schedule Chen Lu’s talk, Jiang Wen, who had just finished teaching English class to Class 12, knocked on the door of the Chinese language office with a gloomy face.

“Gu teacher, the students in your class really can’t distinguish between what’s important and what’s not at this critical moment. How can they still be in the mood to pass notes and flirt?”

A small paper ball made of notebook paper was thrown on the desk. Facing Jiang Wen’s disappointed gaze, Gu Wan Jun’s expression was grave as she reached out and picked up the paper ball.

The paper ball unfolded, revealing a chocolate with a blue wrapper inside. The bold words “Chen Lu” at the beginning of the note pierced Gu Wan Jun’s eyes.

Class 12, Senior Year.

Having been scolded many times and accustomed to days filled with tension, most students were no longer surprised by English teacher Jiang Wen’s anger and outburst in class due to some small episode.

Of course, not everyone.

“Oh no, oh no, Old Jiang Wen was so angry in class just now. He’ll definitely go to the Chinese language office to complain after class. What should we do!”

Fu Yi Wen paced around anxiously, clapping her hands. Jiang Zhen Zhen frowned, a rare look of seriousness on her face. In contrast, Chen Lu, the person involved, sat steadily in her seat with a blank expression, not anxious at all. One would think that Fu Yi Wen and Jiang Zhen Zhen had been caught passing notes in class.

“Oh my Lu Lu, say something! What if Old Jiang Wen really goes to the homeroom teacher to complain?”

“She probably already went.”

“Yeah… It’s something she would do. Aren’t you worried?”

“Why should I be worried?”

“You… I…”

Fu Yi Wen stammered for a long time, but couldn’t come up with anything useful.

What should she say? Ask Chen Lu if she was afraid of Gu Wan Jun getting angry? The two of them had seemed strange lately. If she said something wrong and made things worse, wouldn’t that be doing a disservice out of kindness!?

Seeing that Fu Yi Wen couldn’t get any useful information, Jiang Zhen Zhen, who was equally anxious, tentatively asked:

“Lu Lu, that note that Qin Hao Yang passed to you… it didn’t say anything, right?”

“Oh, you’re asking her, how would she know!”

Fu Yi Wen took over the conversation: “Old Jiang Wen saw the paper ball before it was even thrown over, and took it away directly. Lu Lu didn’t even touch the note. It’s really an undeserved disaster!”

Fu Yi Wen grumbled, defending her friend, and glanced back at Qin Hao Yang’s seat in the back row with annoyance.

Perhaps it was a case of speaking of the devil, the moment Fu Yi Wen’s dagger-like gaze flew over, Qin Hao Yang walked towards them.

Quickly glancing at the position of the surveillance camera, Fu Yi Wen immediately stood in front of Chen Lu:

“Hey, stop there. If you have something to say, just say it there.”

“You were punished for being distracted in class. I passed that note to ask if you were okay, but I didn’t expect the English teacher to find out. I’m sorry, I dragged you into this.”

Qin Hao Yang lowered his head to apologize. This apology was directed at Chen Lu. After speaking, he seemed to have mustered his courage and raised his head to look at Chen Lu, but he was blocked by Fu Yi Wen in front of him. The boy’s face turned completely red, and he had to lower his head and continue in a low voice:

“The homeroom teacher just asked a classmate to call me to the office. Don’t worry, I’ll explain everything.”

“…”

By the time Qin Hao Yang returned, the fifth period geography class had already been going on for ten minutes.

Judging from Qin Hao Yang’s dejected expression upon his return, the conversation must have been quite unpleasant.

Chen Lu thought to herself, then two knocks came from the door, followed by a familiar gentle female voice:

“Excuse me, teacher Zhu, I’ll take a minute of your time to say two things.”

“No problem, go ahead.”

The geography teacher adjusted the lapel microphone and nodded to the homeroom teacher, Gu Wan Jun, who was standing at the door.

“Li Wen Qi, your mother just called me and asked me to tell you that she will pick you up at the west gate of the school after school later, don’t go to the wrong place. Also—”

Gu Wan Jun paused, then turned her gaze towards the window, her tone a little lower than before:

“Chen Lu, come to my office after school. I have something to talk to you about.”

“…”

A geography class was neither long nor short. Chen Lu spaced out two or three times before the after-school bell rang.

Fourth floor, Chinese language office.

Chen Lu knocked and entered. Gu Wan Jun, who was sitting in the office chair, happened to open her eyes and withdraw the index finger she was using to rub her temple.

The after-school bell hadn’t finished ringing yet. Looking out the window, there was a large stream of people.

Chen Lu walked to the desk and said calmly: “Teacher, what did you want to see me about?”

The little girl’s overly calm and direct approach disrupted all of Gu Wan Jun’s pre-prepared opening remarks. Raising her eyes to meet Chen Lu’s clean eyes, Gu Wan Jun unconsciously tightened her clasped hands and had to get straight to the point:

“I wanted to talk to you about your recent study habits.”

Gu Wan Jun paused, then looked away, sighing softly: “Chen Lu, I hope you can focus on your studies and not be in a relationship.”

In a relationship?

Chen Lu’s eyes darkened, and her tone was a little cold: “Is the teacher talking about me and Qin Hao Yang?”

Chen Lu’s attitude changed noticeably, but Gu Wan Jun, who was only worried about the little girl being in a relationship, didn’t notice this. Having said this, Gu Wan Jun simply opened the drawer and took out the note and chocolate that Jiang Wen had given her, placing them on the table:

“This is what the English teacher gave me. I’ve talked to Qin Hao Yang. He admitted he passed the note. These days, several teachers have come to me to report that some students are not focused in class. You and Qin Hao Yang are both on the list.”

“What does the teacher want to say?”

“The college entrance exam is just around the corner. You can’t let other things distract you from your studies. Being in a relationship is even more unacceptable. You are all still students. At this stage, studying and the college entrance exam are the most important and crucial things.”

Gu Wan Jun repeated her words again, her tone quite firm and resolute, especially the phrase “being in a relationship is even more unacceptable.” Anyone with the slightest ability to read people’s expressions could hear where Gu Wan Jun’s emphasis was.

As smart as Chen Lu was, how could she not hear it, and how could she not be angry?

After reading her diary and knowing her feelings, Gu Wan Jun still thought she would like someone else?

Gu Wan Jun, are you really not understanding, or are you pretending to be confused?

Chen Lu was really a little angry.

The temperature in her eyes was getting lower and lower, and even her tone couldn’t stir up a single ripple. Chen Lu used a rare, polite, and distant tone to say:

“I understand what the teacher is saying, but I also know that I should be good to those who are good to me.”

“…”

Gu Wan Jun was choked by her words. She originally thought that the little girl would clearly state that she had nothing to do with Qin Hao Yang as she had done before, but instead, she gave such an ambiguous answer…

That little sour flame burned brighter and brighter in her heart. Gu Wan Jun frowned, her tone clearly carrying a bit of urgency: “Good to you? Giving you a piece of chocolate, passing you a little note, that’s considered good to you? Then I—”

Am I not good enough to you!?

The second half of the sentence that was about to blurt out was forcefully suppressed by Gu Wan Jun’s limited reason. She was annoyed at why she had this almost crazy jealousy, while repeatedly telling herself not to be angry, to be calm, to talk to Chen Lu properly, that the child would listen.

The intertwined hands were almost cut off by the distinct finger bones. Gu Wan Jun stubbornly maintained her composure, and continued to repeatedly emphasize that the task at hand was to study hard, and that anything else could be discussed later.

Discuss later? What does that mean? Does it mean that this person will no longer care about her later, and that she can go and like someone else?

The molars that had been clenched tightly since who knows when had already ached. Looking at Gu Wan Jun’s face, which seemed calm and peaceful even if the sky were falling, Chen Lu couldn’t help but get angry and simply spoke sarcastically and defiantly:

“Even if I really like Qin Hao Yang now—”

“No! You can’t like him!”

Gu Wan Jun interrupted directly, her voice stern and resolute. This reaction made Chen Lu feel comfortable. The clenched molars gradually relaxed, and the little girl said with a faint tone:

“Why, why can’t I like him?”

“You… the college entrance exam is just around the corner. You are not allowed to be in a relationship. I am your teacher, and I have to take care of you!”

Thick long eyelashes fluttered quickly like the wings of a butterfly, but still couldn’t hide the jealousy in Gu Wan Jun’s eyes.

You said you liked me before, how could you change your mind so quickly! Besides, what is there to like about a naive young boy!?

The gentle eyebrows and eyes were no longer gentle, and even carried some severity and some indescribable complex emotions. Looking at such a Gu Wan Jun, Chen Lu curled the corners of her mouth with a forced smile, and said in a very light tone:

“Teacher Gu is really responsible as a homeroom teacher.”

“In short, you can’t like him.”

As if afraid that Chen Lu hadn’t heard her, Gu Wan Jun tentatively reached out to hold Chen Lu’s arm. Fortunately, the little girl didn’t dodge, and Gu Wan Jun emphasized again seriously and earnestly:

“Chen Lu, your most important thing right now is the college entrance exam. You can’t be distracted by anyone or anything, understand?”

“I can distinguish between what’s important and what’s urgent. I will take care of my own affairs, and I don’t need others to worry about them.”

“I am your teacher, not others.”

“Is that so? Then thank you for your concern, teacher. But I also hope that the teacher doesn’t deceive herself and be jealous of things she shouldn’t be.”

“…”

The heart that had just been put down instantly rose to her throat again. Gu Wan Jun felt her temples throbbing non-stop: “What jealousy, what nonsense are you talking about?”

“You avoided me for so many days, and called me to the office for a serious heart-to-heart talk because of a note. Teacher Gu, is this what you call just treating me like a younger sister?”

Chen Lu even said these words with a smile, which gave Gu Wan Jun a sense of crisis that she couldn’t escape. She suddenly released her hand holding Chen Lu’s forearm, her tone somewhat agitated:

“I said I am your teacher. I would handle this situation in the same way for any student in the class. Don’t have wild thoughts and misunderstand my meaning. I don’t… I don’t have that kind of feeling for you.”

At the end, Gu Wan Jun almost bit her own tongue. In order to prove that she had a clear conscience and wasn’t guilty, she kept her eyes raised to meet Chen Lu’s gaze, not daring to look away even a little.

In fact, having said this, Gu Wan Jun had reached her limit. Rather than thinking about why her heart was beating so fast and so loudly, she was more afraid that Chen Lu would notice the sound of her heart beating as if it were on a highway.

If Chen Lu continued to press on, Gu Wan Jun didn’t know if she could cope.

Fortunately, Chen Lu didn’t continue to ask. The girl took half a step back and said in a light tone:

“Whatever, you can say whatever you want. If there’s nothing else, I’ll leave first. Goodbye, teacher.”

“…”

The office door opened and closed again, ending a conversation on bad terms.

The sound of her heart pounding like a drum was still deafening. When Gu Wan Jun touched her chest, she realized that her palms were already covered with a thin layer of sweat.

During the lunch break, Gu Wan Jun couldn’t eat well or sleep well in the office.

She finally managed to make it to the afternoon classes. The pre-class bell rang, and Gu Wan Jun, as the homeroom teacher, entered the class to check the students’ attendance.

When she noticed that the third row by the window was empty, Gu Wan Jun frowned subconsciously. Before she could ask what was going on, the phone in her coat pocket rang first.

It was a message from the senior year 12th-grade parent group.

Chen Lu sent a message in the group, tagging Gu Wan Jun and saying that she wasn’t feeling well and needed to take the afternoon off.