Math Teacher, Please Get Lost (GL) - Chapter 34

When Gao Tianhong reached the gate of Jingxiang Garden, Wu Junze was squatting beside the white fountain with his head lowered. One side of his jacket was tucked between his stomach and waist, the other side hanging loose, and his left shoe had a trailing shoelace.

Gao Tianhong squatted down and tied the shoelace for him. Wu Junze reached up and gently touched the split at the corner of his mouth. Gao Tianhong tilted his face up, held his hand, brushed a handful of his hair, and asked softly:

“Were you scared?”

Wu Junze shook his head and hugged him.

With clenched fists, Gao Tianhong patted Wu Junze’s back, one beat after another, feeling his steady breathing against his neck, which made his heart feel a little better.

“How did you end up like this?” Wu Junze looked up at the dimly lit sky. Jingxiang Garden wasn’t on any bustling street, there weren’t many people around. Hugging him tightly, he whispered, “You should go back.”

Across the street, a sanitation lady was sweeping the pavement with a broom made of bundled branches, the swishing sounds making the silent morning feel even colder.

It would take so much effort to persuade the school to withdraw the expulsion order—just being allowed to stay was already fortunate. Back at the disciplinary office, Wu Junze had already made things clear: he had taken all the responsibility onto himself, saying that he had been abnormal since childhood, that he deliberately seduced Gao Tianhong, and that it had nothing to do with him. Gao Tianhong was just a victim.

As long as Gao Tianhong went along with his words, explained it to his family, admitted fault—even if the Gao family was angry, he was still their child. Things had already gone this far, what else could they do? After some time, once the parents’ anger subsided, it would be over. After all, Gao Tianhong was an outstanding student, and good children had a much higher chance of being forgiven.

Gao Tianhong pulled Wu Junze into the corner between the newspaper stand and the wall and fixed his collar. “Look at you, didn’t sleep well last night.”

“You didn’t either, did you?” Wu Junze chuckled and touched the dark circles under his eyes.

Gao Tianhong looked at him deeply. “Your family doesn’t want you anymore?”

Wu Junze sighed. “Seems so.”

His father had chased him out with a leftover welding rod. He could never forget his father’s bloodshot eyes, the stiff neck, the furious roar: “To think I sired such a shameless, disgraceful bastard—you’ve cursed the Wu family tomb! Get out! From now on, you’re no son of mine! Don’t ever come back!”

“It’s okay.” Gao Tianhong caressed his face. “I want you.”

Wu Junze inhaled sharply. “Gao Tianhong, you’re always so good to me, but I only ever bring you trouble.”

“Don’t say such stupid things,” Gao Tianhong cupped his face. “You’ve never harmed me. And even if you did, it’d be what I deserve.”

At the gate of the neighborhood there were two small restaurants: one selling porridge, one selling noodles.

Worried that Wu Junze had no appetite, Gao Tianhong bought him a bowl of black rice porridge and two beef buns.

They sat across from each other. Wu Junze slowly spooned porridge into his mouth, lifting his eyes to see Gao Tianhong staring at him, motionless.

Smiling, Wu Junze scooped a spoonful and fed him. “Why aren’t you eating?”

He noticed the strange looks from the table behind them, but ignored it, keeping his eyes only on Gao Tianhong.

Swallowing the porridge, Gao Tianhong smiled. “I’m watching you eat.”

Without replying, Wu Junze continued: every spoonful for himself, he fed a spoonful to Gao Tianhong as well.

After breakfast, the two strolled through Jingxiang Garden’s park. Gao Tianhong asked, “How did you end up staying at Teacher Yao Shuhan’s place?”

“Well, that’s a bit of fate, I guess.” Wu Junze lowered his eyes and explained how Yao Shuhan had found him downstairs at his home, lent him a place to stay, and promised to help him sit for the college entrance exam.

And, of course, that Yao Shuhan was also…

Gao Tianhong was taken aback. He had thought all teachers were either as vicious as Director Liang or as indifferent as Teacher Mi. He hadn’t expected someone like Yao Shuhan—kind and generous. And moreover, this teacher was one of their own kind, someone who had walked the same path.

“So, you plan to stay here and take the exam?” Gao Tianhong plucked a leaf from a tree, shredded it into pieces, and tossed them onto the ground. “You want to rely on her?”

Wu Junze knew Gao Tianhong’s temper well. He was proud, and nothing disgusted him more than having to live under someone else’s roof.

He nudged his arm. “Teacher Yao is helping me. What else can I do? Otherwise, I’d have been on the streets last night.”

“You think I had it easy?” Gao Tianhong suddenly lifted his head, took two steps forward. “I was on the streets last night!”

Wu Junze froze, instinctively retreating. “I’m sorry…I—”

Gao Tianhong strode back, yanked him into his arms, holding tight. “Aze, come with me.”

Wu Junze blinked, his mind blank for a moment.

“Go? Where to?”

Gao Tianhong stroked the back of his head, gazing into the distance. The sun was rising, light gradually spreading across the sky.

“Anywhere,” Gao Tianhong whispered. “As long as you’re with me.”

Shu Yan truly hadn’t slept a wink the previous night.

In the morning, she got up and went online, ordered a basic psychology book from Dangdang, and sneakily joined a forum where she posted a question: If my friend has undergone aversion therapy, what would happen to her?

Shu Yan scratched her head. The way she’d written it was vague, not specific enough, unlikely to get a good answer. But she couldn’t figure out how to phrase it better.

Ugh, so annoying!

If nothing worked, maybe she’d ask Lan Xi.

Both women, but why was she, Shu Yan, so straightforward and simple, while people like Lan Xi and Yao Shuhan were so complicated and hard to fathom?

Writers were all twisted like that—arguing over similes, metaphors, analogies—such a mess!

Why not just say what you mean? Put the problem on the table, analyze it, solve it—done! No need for all the “you wouldn’t understand,” “what do you think,” “I’m afraid you can’t accept it,” “better prepare yourself.” By the time you’ve warned me, I might’ve already fixed the problem!

Truly, people are different. And women, even more so.

Yao Shuhan walked up to her room with a cup of water. “Up so early today?”

Shu Yan quickly shut her laptop. “I’m always up early.”

“You don’t have class this morning though.” Yao recalled her schedule—it was Friday. Only two afternoon classes.

Shu Yan pushed her chair in and reached for Yao’s cup. “Aren’t you supposed to check on that cute student you took in this morning?”

Yao frowned and pulled back her hand. “I’ve drunk from this. Get your own cup.”

But Shu Yan snatched it anyway and downed it in one go. “I’ll go with you.”

Yao certainly didn’t want her to come and was thinking of how to refuse, but Shu Yan said, “No one else lives here? You just brought a student home—your parents agreed to that?”

Yao’s expression darkened. She didn’t dare meet her eyes.

Shu Yan tilted her chin up. “Or is it that you don’t actually live with your parents, and this place has been empty—so you dared to bring someone in?”

Forced to look at her, Yao was struck silent.

“Don’t look left—trying to lie to me again?” Shu Yan smirked, letting go. “I get that some things you won’t say. Everyone has their privacy. But if you don’t tell me and I’m curious, even the tiniest clue is enough for me to pull the whole thread.”

All the more since Yao Shuhan was the one she, Shu Yan, intended to pursue.

Ah…

Yao’s heart sank. Looks like her days of peace were almost over.

What must come, would come sooner or later.

“Let’s go.” Yao headed to the door. “I’m worried Wu Junze might do something foolish.”

When she opened the door, Wu Junze was bent over the coffee table, writing a note. Gao Tianhong was shouldering a travel bag he’d retrieved from a friend’s place. Both froze when Yao and Shu Yan suddenly appeared.

Wu Junze’s hand slipped, drawing a long scratch across the paper. “Teacher Yao…”

Yao glanced at the bag on Gao Tianhong’s back, then lowered her eyes. “You two had breakfast?”

Wu Junze put the pen down. “We did…”

Shu Yan touched her chin, gave a soft hum, and stepped forward.

Yao tried to stop her, but Shu Yan shook her off.

“Well well, travel bag packed already. Quite the plan, huh?” Shu Yan strode toward them. The boys were still a little undergrown, shorter than her, and had to look up at her.

She pointed at Gao Tianhong, then at Wu Junze. “You two together?”

“Shu Yan!” Yao pulled her back, then said to Gao Tianhong, “Tianhong, since you’re here, keep Junze company for a bit. But don’t stay too long—go home early.”

“Teacher Yao, thank you for helping Aze.” Gao Tianhong suddenly stepped forward. “But as you can see, I’m ready to take him away. Sorry to have troubled you yesterday. We’re leaving now.”

Yao grew anxious. “Tianhong, don’t be rash. You can’t just leave—where would you even go? You’re both still young, with such good potential. Focus on getting into a good university, then think about the rest.”

“Thank you, Teacher Yao, but we have no choice. As long as I’m with Aze, no school will ever accept us—”

“And you think the place you’re running off to will accept you?!” Shu Yan suddenly raised her voice.

All three froze. Wu Junze lowered his head. Gao Tianhong’s fists clenched tight.

Shu Yan laughed. “Owls sound ugly. No matter what forest they fly to, no bird welcomes them. You two boys being together—what place will accept that? The school won’t, and you think others will?”

“Shu Yan, enough!” Yao tugged at her arm.

Shu Yan gave her a look. “And what right does a liar like you have to control me?”

Yao opened her mouth but said nothing.

Turning back to Gao Tianhong, Shu Yan said, “Eagles sound harsh too, but no bird dares drive them away like they do the owl.”

He averted his gaze.

“Why? Because whichever bird chirps against the eagle gets eaten. If you want to go somewhere and be accepted, fine—just make sure that when anyone dares talk, you shut them up. As long as you can do that, go wherever you want.”

Yao smoothed her hair, sat beside Wu Junze, and patted his back.

Shu Yan continued, “But if you leave now—no diploma, no credentials—you’ll only be bullied. What will you eat, where will you live? Love isn’t food. Without a material foundation, it’s all nonsense! Romance feels sweet only because you haven’t truly suffered. Once you’ve starved, frozen, you’ll still praise love? Maybe. That makes you a saint. But isn’t it greater achievement to give your lover comfort instead of hardship?”

She paused, glancing at Wu Junze. “Your teacher has the ability to protect you and help you both sit the exam. So why not be obedient, finish your studies, then when you graduate and have jobs, elope if you want? You can endure being penniless and homeless now, but not endure a few more months and four years of college?”

Gao Tianhong loosened his fists, letting them fall weakly.

Shu Yan patted his shoulder, eyes firm. “Classmate, being human means being responsible.”

The boy nodded.

“People don’t have to be successful, but they must be decent. You may fail despite your best efforts, but you can’t not try.”

At those words, a faint light flashed in Yao Shuhan’s eyes, her lashes trembling slightly.

“Studying is part of your responsibility. However you want to live, fight for it with everything you’ve got.” Shu Yan ruffled Gao Tianhong’s short hair, smiling. “If you don’t give it your all, how will you know you can’t?” Then she turned toward Yao Shuhan.

“Thank you, auntie.”

The long-silent Wu Junze suddenly spoke. He lifted his head, his gaze steady on Yao Shuhan. “Teacher Yao, I’ll study hard. For the next few months, I’ll be in your care.”

Yao Shuhan smiled warmly, resting her hand on his shoulder. “It’s no trouble at all. Doing well on your exams will be the best reward for me.”

Auntie…

Shu Yan repeated the word in her mind. No matter the tone or pronunciation, it just didn’t sound good!