Math Teacher, Please Get Lost (GL) - Chapter 8
Yao Shuhan’s words left both Shu Yan and Yin Dapeng stunned.
“Big talented Yao, how could you compare Teacher Shu to a salted fish?” Yin Dapeng scolded her, then quickly flattered Shu Yan: “Teacher Shu, Teacher Yao is always like this, just joking with you, don’t take it to heart.”
Shu Yan didn’t feel offended, but she couldn’t help sensing that after the National Day holiday, Yao Shuhan was like a cat whose fur had been ruffled—more difficult to please than a jar of kimchi with the temper of Cleopatra. Could it be that she had somehow unknowingly angered Yao Shuhan again? Shu Yan carefully recalled their interactions after the holiday… nothing special had happened.
“It’s fine, she’s just sulking at me.” Shu Yan turned to look toward the sports field, conveniently avoiding Yin Dapeng’s wide smile, then brightened and said loudly: “Teacher Yin, look, your class is here.”
From the curve of the track came a formation in black. The students all wore wizard cloaks like those in Harry Potter. Each held a long broom usually seen sweeping leaves on the street, stepping in something almost resembling neat rhythm as they marched toward the rostrum.
When they reached the rostrum, a short kid stepped forward, thrust an arm dramatically from under his cloak, and whipped out a wand. Pointing it at the rostrum, he shouted into the mic clipped to his collar: “Up! Up! Up!”
On the rostrum, the assistant to the principal who’d been targeted by the wand was thrown into utter disarray. Everyone turned to look—her face was full of black lines, and she slammed the table with a dark expression. “Ahem! Which teacher is in charge of this class?”
Yao Shuhan and Shu Yan both cast Yin Dapeng looks of sympathy: Rest in peace.
“You’re really bold.”
“Assistant Chen, I’m sorry, it’s my fault for not controlling the students. I’ll teach them a lesson when we get back,” Yin Dapeng shouted from the stands, miserable inside. Who could have guessed this would happen? Why was today’s opening performance completely different from yesterday’s rehearsal?! Not one student had reported changing the plan! These little brats—wait until I get back, I’ll knock their heads together! Damn, this is a disaster—offending the principal’s assistant means this month’s bonus is gone…
So many years of hard work, and now it’s back to square one.
The crowd burst out laughing. Assistant Chen’s face darkened further, almost dripping black water. “Teacher Yin Dapeng, right? Come to my office during the first evening study period.” She adjusted her glasses with a push.
Yin Dapeng wanted to squat in a corner drawing circles. “…Yes.” He jumped down from the stands to find Class Fourteen’s section on the field.
“Yinzi, where are you going?” Yao Shuhan called after him, her eyes glinting with obvious schadenfreude.
Yin Dapeng gnashed his teeth. “I’m going to settle accounts with those little bastards! Yesterday afternoon at rehearsal it wasn’t like this at all. Overnight men turned into women—it’s insane!” He scanned the field for the little wizards’ direction and hurried off to take revenge.
Soon enough, other flamboyant formations and quirky costumes distracted everyone, and the “Class Fourteen incident” quickly faded.
“Ah—no one’s here. Hey? Looks like I’ve got two seats now.” Shu Yan tapped the still-warm plastic chair where Yin Dapeng had been sitting, sneaking a glance at Yao Shuhan.
Yao Shuhan pretended not to hear, eyes fixed on the ceremony.
Shu Yan scooted closer. “Mhm, let’s see how the view is from here.” Then she slid back. “Compare it again.” Then back beside Yao Shuhan. “Ah-ha, the scenery’s much better on this side.”
Her arm brushed Yao Shuhan’s shoulder as she leaned slightly, hair brushing across Yao’s face, her voice soft: “You called me a salted fish. Then what’s someone who lives with a salted fish? Cured meat?”
Yao Shuhan’s lashes trembled. Clutching her bag, she stood and went down the stairs. “I’m going to check on my students.”
Teachers on the stands tucked in their legs to make way for the talented Miss Yao. Quite a few male teachers greeted her warmly, two even stood to accompany her, saying they’d also go check on students.
Shu Yan noticed this and suddenly recalled Lu Zhixing telling her just how popular Yao Shuhan was—her “talented beauty” reputation widely known, attracting countless suitors. Why did watching Yao receive so much attention make her just a little… irritated? Heh, Yao Shuhan, keep being arrogant. The prouder you act, the more I’ll enjoy teasing you.
Her mind replayed Yao Shuhan’s expression when bullied: delicate brows faintly furrowed, lips pursed, cheeks tinged red, willow-shaped eyes shimmering with a hint of moisture—resentful yet stubborn. Somehow, that anger and shame could be mistaken for longing…
At the thought, Shu Yan’s lips curved unconsciously. She tidied her hair, stretched out her long legs, and decided she’d sit for a while longer before heading down to find her students.
On one side, Shu Yan was scheming new ways to tease Yao Shuhan. On the other, Yao Shuhan was plotting revenge.
Unfortunately, our talented Miss Yao’s “revenge” strategies always seemed a little weak…
Yao Shuhan’s Revenge Plan:
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Absolutely refuse to speak to Shu Yan.
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Never again be touched or moved by anything Shu Yan does.
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Don’t let Shu Yan play with Kimchi (the cat).
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Raise Shu Yan’s rent every year.
…
Finally, Yao Shuhan decided she would give herself daily affirmations: I will never like Shu Yan again. I hate Shu Yan the most.
She believed that as long as she implemented this plan seriously, one day she’d completely cut off her feelings for Shu Yan and drive her out of her world forever!
Yes, exactly like that!
Yao Shuhan smiled happily. The Class Thirteen kids were stunned—what good fortune had their teacher encountered to look so delighted?
Feng Xiaojun scampered over, holding a deck of cards. “Teacher! Come play ‘Fight the Landlord’ with us! We’re one short!”
Yao Shuhan froze. Without waiting for her reply, Feng shoved a stack of cards into her hands. “I even shuffled for you already! Guo Xiaoxiao’s the landlord!”
Guo Xiaoxiao, face painted with a big artistic “13,” grinned. “Come on, Teacher!”
“Who said you could gamble in broad daylight? You’re still minors!” Yao Shuhan sat down as Feng Xiaojun pushed her into a chair. She was already looking at her hand but still lectured the “flowers of the motherland.”
“Ah! Teacher joined the Red Team’s landlord battle!” Wang Xiao jumped up, holding a red sign in one hand, blue in the other. Class Thirteen split into two camps, cheering. “Teacher, if you win, you’ll advance to the Blue Team’s International Tournament!” He pointed dramatically—toward the border with Class Twelve. Turns out the “blue zone” had kids from both classes.
Yao Shuhan’s lips twitched. Seriously? Cross-class Fight the Landlord is now an International Tournament?!
“Teacher, what do you think? I specially imported this project from Class Twelve. Not bad, huh?” Wang Xiao bragged.
Her brow arched. “Imported from Class Twelve? They led you into gambling gatherings?”
“Big gambling harms health, small gambling’s just for fun!” Wang Xiao smacked his lips. “We need to import the good stuff!”
“Ah! Four of a kind, bomb!” Guo Xiaoxiao slammed down her cards. “Haha, your turn, Teacher.”
Dare to bomb my king?!
With that, Yao Shuhan instantly forgot about “illegal gambling” and threw herself into teaming up with Feng Xiaojun against landlord Guo Xiaoxiao.
She fought tooth and nail, finally winning into the Blue Zone.
In the last battle—unexpectedly, she became the landlord. And the challengers were…
“Teacher Yao, careful, don’t get bombed by me and Xiaoyu!” Shu Yan peeked out from behind a fan of cards, fox-like eyes glittering mischievously.
Yao Shuhan lowered her eyes to her hand. Shu Yan, I told you—I’m not talking to you.
“Teacher Yao, why’d you play that card?” Shu Yan teased.
No response.
“Even if you play the king of hearts, I’ve got a joker here.” Shu Yan smirked.
Still no response…
Just as victory was about to be decided, the student with the flags returned, waving a little red one. “What’s going on here?! The homeroom teacher leading gambling?! Points deducted!”
Yao Shuhan: !!!
Shu Yan: Hehe…
Classes Twelve and Thirteen: Oh no…
“Put it all away! Where’s the publicity committee? Did you write the newsletter? Sports committee, why aren’t you lining up the athletes?!” Yao Shuhan jumped up, slapping the cards down—only to see Shu Yan across from her laughing so hard she hugged the deck to her chest.
“You—!” Yao stomped, pointing a finger at Shu Yan’s nose.
Shu Yan immediately straightened, coughing with a serious face. “Students, don’t do this again. Put away the cards and sit properly. Take the sports meet seriously.”
“Oh…” The kids, disappointed, packed up their cards and chairs.
Shu Yan bent close to Yao Shuhan. “Teacher Yao, are you mad?”
Get lost!
“Teacher Yao?”
Yao walked away, refusing to speak.
“Really mad? Don’t go, Teacher Yao—”
“……”
“It was just for fun, nothing serious. Don’t be mad.”
“……”
“I’ll apologize, just say something, okay?”
…
Friday afternoon, the sports meet finally ended.
At the closing ceremony, students released colorful balloons that filled the sky.
Many took out phones to take pictures. A group of kids rushed to Yao Shuhan.
“Teacher, take one with us!”
“Teacher Yao, us too!”
Yin Dapeng saw this and thought, If I can get one with the talented Yao, that’d be great. He hurried over: “Include me too—let’s get one with both the Chinese and English teachers!”
Other male teachers, seeing him succeed, turned green with envy. They thickened their skins and asked for photos as well.
“Teacher Yao, let me get one too,” Physics teacher Hu said, scratching his head shyly.
Yao Shuhan smiled slightly. “Of course.”
Suddenly, Shu Yan spun around, hooked an arm around Yao’s neck, and pulled her close into her arms. Raising her voice to the students holding phones, she shouted: “Everyone, take one of Teacher Shu and Teacher Yao together!”
“Okay—say cheese!”
“Teacher Shu, Teacher Yao, look over here!”
“Ahhh, awesome! I need one too! Look this way, look this way!”
In that moment—
Leaning against Shu Yan’s embrace, Yao Shuhan slowly lifted her head, dazedly staring at her radiant smile.
Then Shu Yan lowered her gaze, meeting her dazed eyes, and winked her right eye lightly, lips curving into a perfect arc.
Click—
“Wow! This one’s gorgeous!”
“Teacher Yao’s eyes are stunning!”
“Teacher Shu’s smile is so warm!”
“I’m saving this one forever!”
Yao Shuhan’s face flushed red. For a moment, she forgot everything else.
But during the award ceremony that followed, when the discipline director announced: “The Spiritual Civilization Award is revoked for Classes Twelve and Thirteen, because their homeroom teachers led gambling,” Yao Shuhan snapped back to reality.
Shu Yan, I really do hate you the most!