Math Teacher, Please Get Lost (GL) - Chapter 13
Yao Shuhan helped Shu Yan into the taxi, then leaned out and said to Lin Zheyu, who was waiting nearby,
“Lin Zheyu, you should go back.”
“Are you sure you don’t need me to drive you? Better take Shu Yan to the hospital and have her checked out.”
Lin Zheyu stepped closer, pressing a hand on the backseat door in a last attempt to stay, “She looks really unwell. If I drive you two, it’s much more convenient. Why bother taking a cab?”
Yao Shuhan didn’t know if this man truly didn’t understand or was just pretending. She simply didn’t want to be entangled with him any further. Since Lin Zheyu had never once said that he liked her, she had no way of rejecting him outright. The two of them just dragged things out, seeing who could last longer.
But what Lin Zheyu could never guess was that the reason he failed to win her love wasn’t because of numerous strong rivals, nor because his efforts weren’t clever or sincere enough. The one he lost to was Shu Yan.
Who would have thought that in Yao Shuhan’s heart, she had been hiding a secret that could not be spoken? Now, living under the same roof with Shu Yan, everything she did was under Shu Yan’s eyes, nothing could escape her notice. Shu Yan even remembered what had happened in high school, yet she was still so blissfully unaware, genuinely believing Yao Shuhan’s claim of “not liking her anymore.”
But had no one told Shu Yan that someone who had waited for twelve long years could not simply “stop liking” at will? If no one had, why didn’t Shu Yan doubt her words? Didn’t she dislike—no, loathe—same-s3x love? Otherwise, why would she have humiliated Yao Shuhan in front of everyone back then?
Shuhan raised a hand to her forehead, shut the door. Lin Zheyu finally let go of his hand and allowed her to close it.
“It’s late. You should go back.” Yao Shuhan paused, then added, “Thank you for today. But don’t do this again.”
“Shuhan…” Lin Zheyu was stunned by her unusually direct refusal, his mind went blank.
“Lin Zheyu, just because I haven’t said certain things out loud doesn’t mean I don’t think them. You know it in your heart. Keeping this up—does it mean anything? People get tired. They grow weary.”
With that, Yao Shuhan pressed the window button and told the driver, “Sir, please take us to the south gate of Yingcai Middle School.”
The driver started the engine and asked casually, “That your boyfriend?”
Shu Yan cracked her eyelids open and tightened the hand she had wrapped around Shuhan’s waist.
Yao Shuhan patted the back of her hand. “No.”
“Oh.” The driver hummed and fell silent, focusing on the road.
When they arrived at the school gate, Shu Yan still clung to Yao Shuhan, unwilling to move, mumbling,
“Ah, Teacher Yao, maybe I’ve got some terminal illness, my whole body hurts.”
Yao Shuhan grabbed her clothes and pulled her off, taking a few steps back to dust herself—though there was nothing to dust off.
“Shu Yan, your acting’s good enough for the Oscars.”
Shu Yan saw Shuhan’s fair face tinged with red from irritation, her fine brows faintly knit, and realizing her scheme had been exposed, decided it was pointless to keep up the act. She straightened up and lifted her chin with a sly smile.
“Teacher Yao flatters me. Just a small trick, nothing worth mentioning.”
She actually thought Shuhan was complimenting her? Still, it wasn’t so bad—after all, Shu Yan’s little stunt had ruined Lin Zheyu’s chance but helped Yao Shuhan out of an awkward situation. For that, Shuhan should be grateful.
“Meow~”
Suddenly, a white kitten darted out from the bushes and ran up to Shu Yan, rubbing against her ankles.
Yao Shuhan frowned, went over, scooped up the cat, and tapped its head.
“Why are you sneaking out again?”
Streetlamps one by one flickered on, casting warm amber light over the road home. In Shuhan’s arms, the cat—named Kimchi—stretched lazily, flipped over, and fell asleep.
Shu Yan slowly walked up beside her, reached to scratch Kimchi’s chin, and said casually,
“It’s not running around. It’s just missing you.” She looked up, her eyes carrying a faint smile. “Who told you to never be at home, always running off with messy people, letting me catch you red-handed.”
Was that Shu Yan’s way of showing care? Shuhan blinked. Fine, she’d just take it that way. Just for today, she’d forgive her. But only today.
Carrying Kimchi, Yao Shuhan climbed the stairs. As they turned the corner, she whispered,
“Shu Yan, thank you.”
“For what?”
Shuhan lowered her head, watching her own steps on the staircase.
“For those men—I don’t like any of them.”
Shu Yan nodded. “But you never reject them, so they keep pestering you.”
Struck right at the sore spot, Shuhan could only bow her head with a rueful smile.
“Honestly, you don’t need to care so much about what they think. People are stronger than you imagine. Not everyone’s heart is so delicate that they hold on to every little thing. You reject one, he’ll find someone else.”
Yao Shuhan repeated her words silently in her heart. But Shu Yan, if you reject me, I’ll never have anyone else.
“You’re so harsh with me, yet so cautious with others. Why? You could be as domineering to everyone as you are with me. Honestly, you’re far too sensitive. I can’t feel what you feel, but imagining it—it must be exhausting. Are all literature teachers like that?”
Shu Yan glanced at her, worried she’d be upset, and quickly shut her mouth. She fumbled with her keys at the door, changing the topic.
“If you keep worrying about others’ opinions and holding yourself back, twisting your true self into something fake or cowardly—that’s worse. No one will recognize you. Not even you’ll recognize yourself.”
The key turned, and with a click the door opened. Shu Yan grabbed Shuhan’s hand and pulled her inside.
“Do whatever you want, as long as it makes sense. The ones who like you will come close. The ones who don’t will stay away, save you the trouble.”
“Shu Yan.” Yao Shuhan laid her other hand gently over Shu Yan’s, her willow-leaf eyes calm and glimmering. “You’re not bad at literature at all, really.”
Shu Yan shrugged with a smile.
“I just say whatever comes to mind. If it helps, good enough.” She went to reheat the packed snacks in the microwave, calling over,
“You didn’t finish your noodles. Come eat. Free food—why waste it? Ha! I’m so clever. Honestly, Shuhan, the moment I saw that Lin-whatever, I knew he wasn’t any good. Pointy nose, monkey face—he thinks he can chase you? He’s worse than that Cai Wei guy last time. Don’t bother with him again. I told you, don’t get close to just anyone. I’ve got to make up for my sins and keep you safe from those scummy losers.”
Shuhan sat at the table, forked a piece of cake, and offered it to Shu Yan.
“Fine. When you see one who’s good enough, let me know, and I’ll marry him.”
“Uh…” Shu Yan bit her fork, confused.
“Wait, Shuhan, why are you in such a rush? You’re not even thirty yet, why so eager to get married?”
That made Shuhan laugh. Shu Yan really was different—her view on marriage was unlike most people’s.
She said, “There are girls who become mothers at fifteen, sixteen. My girlfriends are all married already. Only me—still without even a boyfriend.”
“I don’t have a boyfriend either.” Shu Yan spread her hands, baffled.
“I’m just curious. Haven’t you ever liked a man? Don’t your family nag you about finding someone?”
Shu Yan’s expression darkened. Her family situation wasn’t good—her mother had kidney failure and had been hospitalized for a long time, undergoing regular dialysis. Recently, her condition worsened. A donor had been found, but the family couldn’t afford the operation. They were in despair. Who would have time to worry about Shu Yan’s private life…
“I never thought about those things. I always figured if I met someone I liked, I’d just be with him. My family’s too busy to care about my nonsense.” Shu Yan forced a smile, then buried herself in eating cake. After a few bites, she grabbed a paper cup and set it before Shuhan.
“Your roselle tea.”
“Thanks for remembering.” Shuhan lifted the lid, swirled it, and took a small sip.
“I’ve always loved this sour-sweet taste. It’s like falling in love.”
“Huh? I thought love tasted bitter in your eyes.”
Shuhan paused, surprised. “Why do you think that?”
Shu Yan scratched her nose, embarrassed, and muttered,
“Well… you used to say you liked me, and then I treated you that way. Didn’t it leave scars?”
“You think too highly of yourself.”
“Hehe…” Shu Yan rubbed her head sheepishly. “Actually, you really scared me back then. I even wondered if you were a boy dressed up as a girl.”
Shuhan raised her paper cup. “Nice imagination.”
“Hey, Shuhan, do you still… like—” Shu Yan hesitated, swallowed a bite of mousse, then carefully asked, “—women?”
Yao Shuhan stood up, her chair scraping sharply against the tiles.
“Who knows. I’m going to the bathroom.”
She disappeared inside.
Moments later, a buzzing sound came from the table—her phone lighting up.
Shu Yan, fork still between her teeth, glanced over. It was a text from Lin Zheyu.
“Shuhan, since you said that to me today, then I’ll say it too. I really like you. Please give me a chance, okay?”
Ha. Finally said it. Shu Yan narrowed her eyes and ground her teeth. Yao Shuhan? Someone like him isn’t worthy.
She looked at the bathroom door—still no sign of Shuhan. Probably stuck with stomach troubles. Perfect chance.
She tapped the message notification. A lock screen password appeared.
Password? She didn’t know it. She tried entering Yao Shuhan’s birthday—but no luck.
What else to try?
Then a thought struck her. Her smile faded into stillness. Slowly, her lips straightened, and she entered four digits.
Unlocked.
It actually worked…
Shu Yan sat frozen in her chair, stunned, unable to believe it. Shuhan really had used those four numbers as her password.
The toilet flushed. Shu Yan snapped back to herself, hurriedly opened the message, and typed out a reply:
“Stop bothering me. I hate you. I will never, ever like you!”
Then she deleted the whole conversation thread, just as the bathroom door creaked open. Shu Yan quickly locked the screen, set the phone back in place, pulled the fork from her mouth, and kept eating cake as if nothing had happened.
“Shuhan, when’s your birthday?” Shu Yan asked casually, smiling up at her with not the slightest trace of guilt.
“June 11. Why?” Shuhan sat down, sipping her drink.
“I said I was going to make it up to you, didn’t I? I need to collect your info.” Shu Yan ran off to her room. “Wait here, I’ll grab a notebook. Teacher Yao, you’ve got such a good memory.”
Shuhan blinked. “What memory?”
Shu Yan flashed her a grin over her shoulder. “Nothing.”
Later, Shu Yan really did bring a notebook and pen, earnestly “interviewing” Shuhan—everything from “When is your second cousin’s kid taking the college entrance exam?” to “What scent do you like in body lotion?” She asked it all.
Shuhan grew so annoyed she tried to snatch the notebook.
“Are you done yet?!”
Shu Yan hugged it protectively. “Don’t you dare touch my treasure!”
Shuhan had no choice but to let her be.
In the days that followed, life quieted down. Cai Qinwei stopped making excuses to ask her out, and Lin Zheyu, since that day at Pizza Hut, hadn’t approached her again. When they occasionally crossed paths, he only nodded politely and left. Maybe it was because she had spoken clearly that day. Shu Yan had been right—people weren’t as fragile as she thought. Lin Zheyu seemed fine. From the start, she should’ve just been honest. To like someone and never say it, that was just stringing them along—selfish, even hypocritical.
Winter crept in. The days turned colder. Sometimes a light, misty rain fell, the damp wind piercing the bones. The southern cold was different from the north, its chill mixed with humidity, seeping into the marrow.
One afternoon after class, Shuhan thought about buying Shu Yan an electric blanket and maybe a space heater for her room. So as soon as school ended, she went to the supermarket.
Han Jiangxue was just hanging up little red lanterns at the supermarket entrance when she spotted her. Quickly tugging her scarf up to cover half her face, she called out excitedly,
“Shuhan-jie!”