Math Teacher, Please Get Lost (GL) - Chapter 3

For the first time, Yao Shuhan thought even a creature as unbearably cute as Pikachu could look downright annoying. Watching the golden Pikachu plushie in Shu Yan’s hand swing back and forth, Yao Shuhan felt that saying was absolutely right: What kind of pet, what kind of owner.

Yao Shuhan arched an eyebrow. “The one who texted me this afternoon about renting a room—that was you?”

Shu Yan nodded obediently. “Mhm.”

Yao Shuhan wanted nothing more than to slap her flat against the wall so hard she couldn’t be peeled off. Inside, she gave a cold, sinister laugh. Shu Yan, do you think that with your behavior twelve years ago—and again twelve years later—I would rent a place to you? Ha, let me tell you, not a chance!

“Sorry, Teacher Shu, but I only rent to students.” Yao Shuhan pressed her lips into a smile. Her willow-shaped eyes were filled with mirth, her fair face glowing like an apricot blossom in spring rain, her whole person exuding an elegant, classical grace. If the male teachers at school were to see this, no doubt there would be “countless heroes bowing at her feet.”

Shu Yan froze briefly, then argued, “Teacher Yao, that’s not fair. Renting to a student is still renting. Renting to me is also renting. I’ll pay rent just the same, I won’t owe you anything.”

“……” Yao Shuhan lowered her head slightly, saying nothing.

Shu Yan leaned in, blinking mischievously, her voice dropping, “Besides, I’m more suitable for you than a student.”

What did she just say?!

Yao Shuhan jerked her head up, eyes blazing with tiny sparks of fury. “What did you say?”

Shu Yan shrugged indifferently and stepped back. “I said I’m more suitable. Think about it: some students are immature and might irritate you if they lived here. What if they had bad character? And students can only stay two and a half years before graduation, then you’d have to find someone new again. But me—I’m a teacher too, teaching in the same class as you. Not only are you guaranteed a steady tenant, but we can also communicate more often…”

As she spoke, Shu Yan wriggled her brows, leaned close again, and blew a small breath against Yao Shuhan’s ear. “Exchange teaching experience.”

Yao Shuhan stomped her heel against the floor, thunk—the motion-sensor light on the first floor flicked on.

She sneered. “Sorry, Teacher Shu. My specialty is Chinese, and you teach math. I don’t see what we have to ‘exchange.’”

Creak—the door to 1-1 opened, and out walked an old man wearing gold-rimmed glasses.

Glancing at the two women standing at the entrance, then at the little kitten at their feet, the old man pushed his glasses up. The kitten mewed on cue, tilting its head as it continued staring at the pair facing off.

“Ahem, Xiao Yao, why are you still downstairs? Not going up?” Lu Zhixing strolled out slowly. His gaze slid toward Shu Yan, whose face looked unfamiliar to him.

Lu Zhixing was a veteran Chinese teacher at Yingcai, a provincial-level backbone instructor and an expert in classical literature. He had always been fond of Yao Shuhan; in fact, he was the first to praise her as a “talented young lady of Chinese studies.”

“Ah—good evening, Mr. Lu.” Yao Shuhan greeted hurriedly. “This is the new Teacher Shu. We were just talking.”

Mr. Lu nodded at her, then scrutinized Shu Yan.

Shu Yan narrowed her fox-like eyes with a cheerful grin. “Hello, Teacher Lu, I’m Shu Yan. Nice to meet you, please take care of me!” She stretched her hand forward openly and sincerely.

Oh, this kid—looked honest and earnest. Old Lu immediately liked her.

He clasped her hand warmly. “Good, good. Yingcai is excellent, the teaching environment is great, and the benefits are good. Work hard here, and you’ll definitely have a bright future!”

“Thank you! I’ll take that as a blessing from you!” Shu Yan rubbed her head and smiled.

Lu Zhixing stroked his beard with satisfaction and patted her shoulder. “Good, good. But why are you two still standing outside, freezing in the wind instead of going upstairs?”

“I—” Yao Shuhan began, but Shu Yan jumped in.

“Teacher Lu, here’s the thing. I used to teach in C City, but I’ve just been transferred here to L City. I haven’t found a place yet—my luggage is still at a hotel. When I saw Teacher Yao’s rental notice downstairs, I gave her a call. We were just about to go check the place.”

Yao Shuhan stared at Shu Yan’s grinning face, speechless. When did I say I’d show you the room?! Nonsense! Shu Yan, is your skin the Great Wall itself—thick from Shanhaiguan all the way to Badaling?!

“Oh, I see, that’s great then!” Mr. Lu nodded. “Xiao Yao is afraid of the dark, you know. Whenever she finishes the last evening class, she doesn’t dare go home alone. Once during a summer thunderstorm, she was too scared to go back and even called me to pick her up, haha.”

“Mr. Lu!” Yao Shuhan’s eyes went wide. She could hardly believe this normally stern elder, who spent his days with magnifying glass and classical dictionaries, would suddenly chatter on and—of all things—spill her embarrassing secrets!

What is happening today? Everywhere I step, it’s a landmine. I must be cursed, cursed!

Meanwhile, back in Class 12’s classroom, Teacher Yin was circling the word “stupid” in red pen. “See this word? Read it—ah-choo!”

“Teacher, are you sick?” asked the chubby boy beside him, sniffing.

Back outside, Lu Zhixing was still enthusiastically gossiping about the “talented beauty” Yao Shuhan, surprising even himself with how animated he became.

“Xiao Yao is beautiful—like a lotus fresh from water, pure and elegant. Talented too! In the past we had Jiang Jie and Xie Daoyun; today we have Yingcai’s very own Yao Shuhan. Haha! With such talent and beauty, how could she not have a swarm of suitors?”

“Oh, definitely many!” Shu Yan exaggerated her surprise, her mouth open wide.

Yao Shuhan, unable to get a word in, wanted nothing more than to hide her face in her hands and sigh.

“Of course! Even just at this school, at least eighty male teachers have pursued her. And every Valentine’s Day, men from the neighboring university come in droves with roses! Tsk tsk.”

Shu Yan nodded solemnly. “Oh…”

“But Xiao Yao never accepts anyone.” Lu Zhixing waved. “Not at all! No matter how handsome or wealthy, she won’t even look. I told you she’s afraid of the dark—so many men tried waiting by the gate to walk her home, but she chased them all off!”

“Oh…” Shu Yan nodded again.

“Well then, it’s perfect now! You’re here. The two of you living together—coming home together after classes—safe and convenient, haha!”

Shu Yan bobbed her head like a drum. “Of course! Don’t worry, Teacher Lu. From now on, I’ll always accompany Teacher Yao, to and from school. She’ll be safe with me.”

“Excellent, excellent!” Lu Zhixing beamed. “I adore Xiao Yao like my own daughter. I always worry she’ll have difficulties. But now that you’re here to look after her, my heart is at ease.”

“That’s right. With me here, you can relax.” Shu Yan grinned.

“Good, good. Now I must go meet Old Liang for some tai chi. You two go on up—Xiao Shu, move your things over tonight. No need to stay at a hotel.”

Finally able to speak, Yao Shuhan hurriedly protested, “No, Teacher Lu, I wasn’t planning—”

His brows drew together. “What, you’re unwilling to let her rent?”

“I…” Yao Shuhan faltered.

“Xiao Yao, what have I always told you? What did Confucius teach us? To see what’s right and not act is to lack courage! This is a small favor, and it benefits you too. Why wouldn’t you agree?”

Grandpa Lu! You don’t even know who she really is, how can you take her side?!

“I—”

“Not at all, Teacher Lu. Teacher Yao wasn’t unwilling. We’d already agreed, we were just about to check the place and then move my things over!” Shu Yan seized the moment, tugging gently at Yao Shuhan’s sleeve.

Yao Shuhan turned her head toward her, and Shu Yan winked.

That wink made Yao Shuhan’s breath hitch.

That tiny motion…

It was the same as twelve years ago—sunlight glittering in the dust, the air fragrant with fresh grass, Shu Yan spinning in midair with a badminton racket, scoring the winning point. Amid cheers, the victorious girl raised her arms, grinned wide, showed her white teeth, and winked her right eye at the audience.

That wink—caught by the girl in the stands clutching Stray Birds—was eternal.

“All right, all right, go on. I’ll head off before Old Liang scolds me.” Lu Zhixing chuckled and left, swinging his wooden stick, leaving the two women staring at each other in stunned silence.

Two moths fluttered at the streetlamp, endlessly battering against the glass but never reaching the glowing bulb inside.

The dim yellow light fell into Shu Yan’s eyes, gilding her dark pupils like starlight.

Yao Shuhan’s gaze wavered. Bitterness caught in her throat.

“Meow~” The kitten curled its tail around Shu Yan’s legs. She bent down, scooped it up, and stroked its head. “Meow, good kitty, so good.”

“…Sigh.” Yao Shuhan exhaled deeply, lowering her eyes. “I’ll go with you to get your things.”

“Huh?” Shu Yan blinked in surprise.

The graceful beauty’s eyes softened. She reached over to scratch the kitten’s chin. “Let’s go. I’ll help you move, and then we’ll get another copy of the key. The last tenant lost the spare.”

Shu Yan smiled. “So you agreed?”

Yao Shuhan kept her eyes on the kitten. “I already took in a small one. Taking in a big one too doesn’t make a difference.”

She had surrendered.

“But we’ll set three rules. One contract each. If you dare play any tricks, I’ll throw you out.” Yao Shuhan spun around, brows raised, eyes wide.

Shu Yan hugged the kitten and nodded. “Okay.”

“First: unless it’s truly important, you’re not allowed to talk to me.”

“Fine.”

“Second: other than the basic furniture, everything we use must be separate.”

“Fine.”

“Third: you cannot enter my room.”

“Fine.”

“That’s all for now. I’ll print the contract later.”

“No problem.”

Finally relieved, Yao Shuhan added, “You can hold Paocai. When I’m not home, you’ll be responsible for looking after him.”

“Paocai?” Shu Yan blinked.

“The kitten you’re holding.”

“This is yours?” Shu Yan lifted the cat, staring into its eyes.

“Of course. What, did you think it was just loitering here for the drama?”

Shu Yan giggled. “Not for the drama,” she tilted her brow up at Yao Shuhan, “but to look at the beauty.”

Hmph.

Yao Shuhan rolled her eyes. “Let’s go move your stuff.”

“Come on, Paocai, let’s move in with Mommy~” Shu Yan wiggled the kitten’s paws and cooed.

Yao Shuhan stopped short, whipping her head around. “What did you just call my Paocai?”

Shu Yan blinked innocently. “I said, let’s move in with Mommy.”

Unbelievable. Shu Yan, you’re really pushing it! First you embarrassed me into letting you move in, and now you’re claiming my Paocai too? You’re good, Shu Yan. Real good.

Inside, the little Yao Shuhan clenched her fists. Shu Yan, the vow I made to myself twelve years ago still stands. I will definitely make you regret this. Just you wait!

“Hehe, Teacher Yao, where’d you buy that oden earlier? Take me to get some more?” Shu Yan trotted alongside, nudging her arm.

Yao Shuhan shut her eyes, inhaled deeply, then smiled sweetly. “Hungry?”

Shu Yan nodded eagerly, face full of sincerity. “Mm-hmm.”

Yao Shuhan’s smile grew just as sincere. “Endure it.”