Chapter 4: Teacher Li, Please Stop!

“It’s not what you think...” Pan Shuai tried to explain, but He Chen interrupted him outright, wearing the classic half-smile of the bespectacled female doctor in ‘Love Call Forwarding.’

“No need to explain to me! It must be a coincidence, fate’s hand—there’s absolutely no exchange of favors. One is a rare blossom of the heavens, the other a flawless jade. If there’s no extraordinary connection... oh, I misspoke. One is desperately seeking talent, the other is driven by interest, and just like that, they clicked.

Besides, Master Ji isn’t the kind of mature young woman you want to pursue... oh, borrowing Fang Yifan’s words, she’s a student in your goddess’s class, not yours. There’s no way she’s giving you any benefits.

I get it, I get it! Although the class placement exam is a few days away, if I’m not mistaken, with Master Ji’s well-known grades, there’s zero chance she’ll be in your goddess’s class.

Most likely, she’ll be placed in your class.

Isn’t that just another coincidence?

As coincidental as the leader’s brother-in-law being so wealthy, as coincidental as the American stock god being in the White House.

How could it be so coincidental?”

“Enough!” Pan Shuai’s face darkened, speechless. But Li Tiegun couldn’t hold back and slammed the table.

“How do you know Ji Yangyang will be assigned to Teacher Pan’s class? I’m telling you, that’s nonsense! Don’t slander Teacher Pan!”

“I’m just reminding him,” He Chen sneered. “There’s no love without reason. Teachers are people too; they have to make a living.

Especially nowadays, it’s increasingly just a job, a profession.

Making money isn’t shameful!

You want to know why I say Ji Yangyang won’t be in your class?

Right! There’s Fang Yifan too!

Because their grades are dragging down the class’s overall performance and affecting your advancement rate.

And advancement rates are connected to what? I don’t need to say, right?

It’s always about money!

As for your ‘nonsense’—do you think Ji Yangyang and Fang Yifan won’t be placed in Teacher Pan’s class in a few days?”

He slapped his forehead, feigning sudden realization. “Oh, I get it! Teacher Pan, rejoice—your goddess still cares about you!

Although she doesn’t want these two to interfere with her earning money, she also doesn’t want you to bear the risk of favoritism… though she probably hasn’t thought that far.

But that doesn’t stop you from imagining… Congratulations!

So, the truth is one:

She plans to have Ji Yangyang and Fang Yifan repeat the year—oh, the politically correct term is ‘stay behind,’ isn’t it?”

Pan Shuai was speechless, looking at He Chen as if he had seen a ghost, cautiously glancing at the goddess Li Tiegun, who indeed looked pale and ashen, deepening his worry.

Just now, during the senior year meeting, the goddess truly went against the principal’s opposition and firmly proposed having some underperforming students stay behind, citing Ji Yangyang and Fang Yifan as prime examples.

“He Chen, you’ve misunderstood Teacher Li. She’s doing this for Ji Yangyang and Fang Yifan’s own good…”

“I get it, I get it! Such matters must be done behind closed doors… I mean, there’s surely a legitimate reason.

Let me guess.

Probably she says it’s for the good of the whole class. After all, having students who are only interested in showing off and chasing girls, who don’t focus on studying, constantly making a scene, would ruin the school’s learning atmosphere and distract many students.

At the same time, it’s for Ji Yangyang and Fang Yifan’s own good. Since their grades are so poor, they won’t get into good schools anyway. It’s better for them to stay behind, lay a solid foundation, and avoid the blow to their confidence from falling behind completely.

Hmm.

Anyway, it’s good for everyone—except she won’t mention the biggest beneficiary is herself!

Like I said, making money isn’t shameful!

Behind closed doors, it’s even less disgusting!

I get it, I get it!”

“Professor Ruan is a prestigious professor at a renowned school—how could she adopt someone like you!” Li Tiegun was furious.

As they say, the harshest truth hurts the most.

He Chen, with his straightforwardness, spoke not only what Li Tiegun was reluctant to admit but also things she hadn’t even realized—truths she had convinced herself were noble and touching.

Yet, these realities must remain behind closed doors.

Otherwise, not only would others be disgusted, but she herself would find it unbearable to think she might be such a person.

Indeed!

Even she was somewhat shaken by He Chen’s well-reasoned, logically precise words that seemed to predict the unknown. She lost confidence in her professional integrity and was caught off guard.

So she had no choice but to set aside these facts and instinctively attack He Chen’s weak spot.

No one knew better than a homeroom teacher about the sensitivities of a teenager whose biological parents were gone and who had been adopted.

It required no thought to speak out.

“It’s not adoption!” He Chen immediately corrected. “I’m just temporarily staying at Aunt Ruan’s house. I’m about to be an adult; I can make my own decisions.

So as I said before, if there’s anything, just tell me directly.

If you don’t listen to reason and insist on troubling Aunt Ruan to quit her job and come rushing over,

I’ve already told you, you won’t like the tenfold trouble that follows.”

Everyone stared at He Chen in shock.

No one expected He Chen’s earlier threats were serious. There wasn’t even a moment’s pause—it was too intense.

Other teachers in the office should have politely left or sided with Li Tiegun to reprimand He Chen.

After all, a student speaking to a teacher like that was unheard of!

If everyone did that, how could they still teach?

But they knew Aunt Ruan would soon arrive and couldn’t get up or get involved, lest they offend Professor Ruan.

Of course, those cautious thoughts were secondary.

What truly made them silently watch, without voicing support for Li Tiegun and the others, was He Chen’s sheer combativeness.

He was too strong, too fierce!

They didn’t want to lose face.

Didn’t they see? Young though he was, he was already the senior year leader. Even the usually arrogant Teacher Li was abandoning decorum and resorting to personal attacks on a student.

No matter what, He Chen was still just a child...

Ji Yangyang and Fang Yifan, standing beside He Chen, had no idea what to make of it.

They were young people who disliked studying and loved showing off, believing themselves fearless, even daring to face down teachers and parents’ anger, thinking highly of themselves.

But watching He Chen unleash his full force, taking on anyone who opposed him and tearing Li Tiegun apart, they were genuinely amazed.

Even if they didn’t say it aloud, they couldn’t help but admire him somewhat.

Especially Ji Yangyang, who thought to himself, “He Chen really likes quoting movie and TV lines, especially from ‘Let the Bullets Fly’...”

“Teacher Li, please don’t be like this!” Pan Shuai anxiously watched the goddess. Seeing her so furious she was about to step forward, he feared she might lose control and strike. He quickly stepped in front of her to block her, pleading repeatedly.

“Teacher Pan watches Teacher Luo’s movies too,” He Chen laughed. “Yeah, Teacher Li, don’t be like that~”

Pan Shuai stiffened, his face a picture of despair.

He had indeed watched ‘Happiness 59 Centimeters’ over the summer and remembered clearly the scene where Teacher Luo slapped himself, but he had no intention of imitating it.

Wasn’t this like saying his goddess was slapping herself in front of him?

Though somewhat fitting for the moment... by all that’s holy, he really didn’t mean that!