Math Teacher, Please Get Lost (GL) - Chapter 28
Buddha relies on gold, and people rely on clothes, so Lan Xi decided everything should start with attire.
True to her bold and direct nature, Miss Lan Xi asked right away the moment they met,
“What’s the budget?”
Shu Yan waved her hand, looking toward the mall ahead.
“I don’t have money.”
Lan Xi gave a little scoff.
“No money? Then what did you come here for?”
Shu Yan said,
“Just to look around with you.”
Lan Xi was about to say something else, but when she saw Shu Yan’s slightly cold face, she stopped.
“Looking is fine. It’s up to you.”
With that, she clicked her high heels and walked into the mall. Shu Yan glanced at her, pulled a tuft of fur off the hood of her down jacket, and followed along.
The first floor was full of cosmetics. Enthusiastic receptionists greeted passersby, inviting them to try free skin tests and offering samples. Lan Xi noticed Shu Yan’s gaze drifting toward the testing counter and paused to ask,
“Want to go take a look?”
Shu Yan thought for a moment.
“Is it free?”
Lan Xi gave her a searching look.
“Shu Yan, are you short on money?”
Shu Yan bit her lip.
“It’s manageable.”
Lan Xi pressed further.
“How much rent does Yao Shuhan charge you?”
Shu Yan replied,
“Forty-five hundred a year. She said that’s the student rate.”
Lan Xi paused.
“When I interviewed Professor Lu, he told me about the school’s new pass system—ever since then, rent for teacher apartments has been skyrocketing. The cheapest is fifty-five hundred a year now, and utilities aren’t even included. The pricier ones run seven or eight thousand. At your rate, you won’t find another place like it in Yingcai. And Shuhan’s apartment is in pretty good condition, isn’t it?”
When they discussed the rental contract, Yao Shuhan hadn’t lingered much on rent at all. Instead, she’d focused on the three rules Shu Yan never managed to follow. Back then, Yao Shuhan had slammed down a freshly printed copy from the printer onto the desk.
“Forty-five hundred a year, all utilities included. I’ll provide all the hardware, and I’ll even throw in a full Pikachu bedding set. All you have to do is give me forty-five hundred every year, and follow my three rules, then out of the kindness of my heart I’ll take you in.”
Shu Yan had frowned at the contract.
“Do you make your kimchi sign a lease too?”
Yao Shuhan had nodded.
“Its rent is to keep me company when no one else does.”
Coming back to herself, Shu Yan said,
“She said she charges all students the same.”
Lan Xi shook her head inwardly. Maybe she really did charge all students that rate, but for you, Shu Yan, she probably wouldn’t take a cent—she’d likely even pay out of pocket.
At that moment, Shu Yan naturally recalled the electric blanket and heater Yao Shuhan had bought for her, how she’d scolded her for violating school rules by running tutoring sessions at the youth center, and how she’d even let her tutor at the apartment…
Whenever they were together, Yao Shuhan never let Shu Yan pay. Whether eating out or shopping, Yao Shuhan always brushed off Shu Yan’s attempts to spend, using Shu Yan’s “bad taste” as an excuse, and would personally cover everything. She bossily replaced many of Shu Yan’s things—even trivial ones. Her childish “Puppy Puppy” hand cream was thrown out and replaced with olive oil. Her greasy lotion was confiscated and substituted with a tube of collagen whitening moisturizer—Yao Shuhan’s “gift.”
And then there was February 15th, when Shu Yan received a transfer on Alipay from Yao Shuhan—double the amount Shu Yan had spent buying roses for her. Shu Yan still remembered the note Yao Shuhan had added: “Think money makes you great? Well, your auntie pays you back double.”
Lan Xi had no idea what Shu Yan was thinking, but her experience in reading people told her that Shu Yan’s family must be facing some problem that required a large sum of money, something she’d kept hidden. In that sense, she was quite like Jiang Xue… Lan Xi wondered how that girl was doing lately. She’d have to find time to tell her about the night classes.
“That’s all free. No harm trying. Come on.”
Lan Xi tugged Shu Yan by the sleeve and walked her over. The counter was lit with a row of bright white lamps that made faces instantly look paler. She pressed Shu Yan’s shoulders down onto the seat.
“Beauty, help check my little sister here.”
“Of course.” The attendant dabbed some oily stuff onto Shu Yan’s face and waved a bulb-like device over it. The “bulb” was connected to a display monitor, and another clerk examined the readout.
“This young lady has dry skin with some broken capillaries on the cheeks, slightly sensitive, and currently quite dehydrated. I’d recommend our new hydrating and soothing line this season. You can try it first, and if you’re satisfied, you can purchase.”
Shu Yan curiously eyed the bulb-like gadget in the clerk’s hand. Lan Xi asked,
“Well? Want to give it a try?”
Shu Yan blinked.
“It’s free to try first, right?”
The clerk smiled and accepted a paper box from her colleague.
“Yes, miss. Would you like to try? You can put it on, then continue shopping, and if you’re satisfied you can purchase downstairs. If not, no problem.”
Shu Yan’s eyes shifted back and forth.
“Then… I’ll try it.”
With nervous anticipation, she closed her eyes and let the clerk’s delicate hands work across her face—first a cool sensation, then moist, finally smooth and slippery.
When they were finished, Lan Xi led her upstairs to the second floor, where the women’s clothing was. On the elevator, Lan Xi tugged at the thick T-shirt visible under Shu Yan’s open down jacket.
“How many years have you worn this?”
Shu Yan dodged her hand and hastily pulled her jacket closed.
“Five years.”
Lan Xi clicked her tongue.
“The color’s completely washed out.”
Shu Yan said,
“This is called frugality. You people don’t understand—your heads are full of shopping, wasting money whenever you’re upset.”
Lan Xi laughed softly and didn’t argue, dragging her from store to store. She pointed to a cotton-linen floral dress.
“Something like this wouldn’t suit you, but I do like this style on younger girls.”
As she said it, her lips curved in a smile, eyes narrowing as if she were remembering someone. A few steps later, she picked up a gaudy yellow wool coat.
“Something like this—too heavy. Doesn’t match your temperament.”
Shu Yan chuckled.
“I think so too. Doesn’t show off my free-spirited side.”
Lan Xi gave a cold snort, glancing at her sideways.
“Free-spirited? All that hopping around, chattering away—does a sparrow count as free-spirited?”
Shu Yan’s face darkened.
“Senior, would it kill you to say one less biting word?”
Lan Xi tossed a little black leather dress at her. Let’s see you resist this.
“Try it on.”
Catching the dress, Shu Yan’s face went black.
“What is this? So short!”
Lan Xi pushed her toward the changing room.
“Put it on!”
After struggling inside for quite some time, Shu Yan finally pulled up the zipper and walked out. Lan Xi glanced at her and lifted her pinky in mock appreciation.
“S-e-x-y.”
She threw her a low-cut blouse.
“Now swap out that five-year-old T-shirt.”
Shu Yan sighed but obeyed, changing into the blouse. With the mall’s heating turned up high, it wasn’t cold. She rolled up her sleeves and stepped out, twirling before the mirror. To her surprise, it fit rather well.
Lan Xi lounged on the sofa, smiling.
“Not bad. Such a good figure—you should show it off. Someone will appreciate it.”
She paused, then added meaningfully,
“Someone will like it.”
Shu Yan flushed, hastily pulling on her down jacket and wrapping it tightly.
“You’re a woman—why are you so lewd?”
Lan Xi shrugged.
“Know yourself, know your enemy, and you’ll never lose. Whether she likes it—you already know.”
Shu Yan’s mind immediately conjured Yao Shuhan, wrapped in a bath towel, dripping wet hair, hazy eyes as she leaned against her, soft chest pressing close…
Heh. Heh heh heh…
“Shu Yan, what are you laughing at?”
“Huh?” Shu Yan startled.
“Nothing. I wasn’t thinking about anything.”
Lan Xi didn’t press. She glanced at Shu Yan’s legs.
“With this, you’d look great in knee-high boots.”
“I already have knee-high boots,” Shu Yan quickly said.
“Then are you buying this set?”
Shu Yan froze, looking down at the taut white blouse she wore. She stayed silent.
Lan Xi walked over and flipped the tag under the hem.
“298. About right for the price. If you’re not buying, that’s fine—trying it on can be a mood lift.”
Shu Yan quietly changed back into her old T-shirt. She came out gloomy, silent the whole way, clearly out of sorts.
Lan Xi had hoped the outing would ease her stress, maybe give her a glimpse of the kind of lifestyle women like Yao Shuhan had, since the gap between them was still significant in many respects.
“What’s wrong, upset?” Lan Xi lightly patted Shu Yan’s shoulder.
“It’s just a mall trip, don’t overthink it. Not everyone can spend freely.”
Shu Yan shook her head, took a deep breath, and said softly,
“No, I’m not upset about being poor or unfashionable. I just… feel it’s not right.”
Lan Xi looked at her.
“Not right?”
Shu Yan nodded.
“I can’t put it into words. You’re right about feminine charm, making yourself more attractive. But I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the way I am now. And I don’t think she’d like it.”
Lan Xi was briefly stunned, at a loss for words.
Shu Yan brushed back her hair.
“You see, it’s not like she noticed me for being pretty, found me charming, and was drawn in. It’s because it was me. She came close, stayed with me, cared more and more, little by little, day by day. There’s a word for it—immersion.”
Hearing that, Lan Xi was struck silent.
As Shu Yan spoke, a faint smile appeared on her face, peaceful, serene, as though lost in memory.
“I was thinking, if one day I suddenly changed, became different, she might actually find it hard to get used to.”
She added,
“She once told me that if love can only be kept by appearances, she’d rather not have it. If anyone else had said that, I’d think it was fake. But from her, I believed it. Looks really do matter, but if I’m lucky enough to find something beyond them, then I’ll have something even more worth protecting.”
Lan Xi turned to her, only to see Shu Yan draw a small yellow pendant from her collar and stroke it tenderly, with deep affection. Lan Xi asked,
“What’s that?”
“Pikachu,” Shu Yan answered without looking up.
Lan Xi was speechless.
Shu Yan continued,
“That thing you said before—I really thought about it. I don’t look down on your way of life. I just think we’re not from the same world. I believe that what I can’t admit now doesn’t mean I can’t admit later. And sometimes, you can’t judge something just by appearances. If temporary secrecy can protect the person I love, then I don’t care if it takes me years, ten years, twenty years, even a lifetime of effort—until the day I earn recognition. Even if I never do, at the very least I’ll fight until I can stand on my own, spine straight, so no one can bend me.”
“Hey, Shu Yan, actually I…”
Suddenly Shu Yan grabbed Lan Xi’s arm earnestly.
“But senior, there’s something I really need to ask you!”
Lan Xi was startled by her abrupt change of tone.
“W-what is it?”
Shu Yan ducked her head quickly, ears bright red.
She looked around, pulled Lan Xi behind a roadside tree, hesitated for a long while, then finally exhaled and whispered,
“Um… that thing… how do you… do it?”