“Daddy, your disguise has been exposed.”
Song Chan never imagined that she would wake up one day to find herself dating Zhong Lingyu.
The air conditioning in their homeroom teacher, Ms. Dai’s, office was blasting cold air, making Song Chan feel slightly chilly.
But what chilled her even more was Ms. Dai’s gaze.
“Tell me yourselves, what exactly happened?”
The teacher said, blowing on a sip of tea.
Song Chan was bewildered. “Tell me what?”
Ms. Dai: “You know perfectly well.”
Song Chan said guiltily, “I only looked up the answer to the first question online. I promise I won’t do it again next time.”
Ms. Dai shook her head at Song Chan’s honest and naive appearance.
Zhong Lingyu glanced at Song Chan from behind, sighing inwardly at her naivety, and couldn’t help but give her a tender and affectionate look.
Teacher Dai frowned, sensing the scent of romance. He squinted and peered intently at the source of the misunderstanding, only to see Zhong Lingyu’s gaze instantly turn icy, as if he’d been butchering a fish for twenty years at the market.
“Teacher, this is a misunderstanding. I just helped Song Chan put a coat on.”
Song Chan lowered her voice in surprise: “You put that coat on me?”
“I just helped her brush her hair.”
“You also…” Song Chan’s face immediately turned bright red, unable to continue.
Seeing Song Chan’s embarrassed expression, Teacher Dai suspected something was amiss, so he waved his hand dismissively: “Song Chan, you can go back now. I’ll talk to Zhong Lingyu alone.”
Song Chan lowered her head, not daring to look at Zhong Lingyu, and left, closing the door behind her.
On the way from the office to the classroom, she couldn’t help but morally condemn herself.
Now, her ambiguous relationship with her child’s uncle was going to be known throughout the school. How devastating would it be if Zhong Cheng and Zhong Xin heard any rumors? Song Chan was troubled. Compared to her absent husband, Zhong Lingyu was so considerate. If he continued to treat her so well, what if she suddenly lost her temper and abandoned her husband and child to run off with Zhong Lingyu? After all, she was still young and indecisive\!
While Song Chan was engaged in a fierce internal struggle, Zhong Lingyu calmly explained in the office, “I definitely didn’t touch Song Chan’s face. The head teacher’s angle was off.”
Zhong Lingyu believed he was simply stating an objective fact. He used to often pinch his wife’s cheeks, but today he had restrained himself and truly hadn’t.
However, the English teacher sitting next to him nearly choked, coughing as she left with her water cup.
Teacher Dai glared at Zhong Lingyu, annoyed. “You know perfectly well whether you have feelings for that female classmate.”
Zhong Lingyu was a little annoyed, thinking that he was a grown man, and liking a female classmate meant being dragged into the office for this. He hated this kind of conversation that lacked boundaries.
He was silent for a moment, then glanced at Lao Dai’s phone screen. “You’d better sell your Hexi Bio stock as soon as possible.”
Lao Dai wanted to lecture Zhong Lingyu—children shouldn’t meddle in adult matters. He heard himself say, “Tell me why.”
“You probably haven’t had time to read this morning’s Wall Street Journal. Hall was arrested for illegal fundraising, and behind him is Hexi Bio’s new drug that’s supposed to be released this quarter. It’s very likely the research team has already left, the project will be shelved, and the funding chain will break. You can imagine what the stock price will be like then.”
Lao Dai thought it made perfect sense. Of course, it wasn’t that he hadn’t had time to read the Wall Street Journal; it’s just that, as a language arts teacher, he wouldn’t read it.
“Then which one do you think I should buy?”
Zhong Lingyu didn’t speak, just smiled.
He had a premonition about Hexi Bio’s situation in his previous life. Three days later, the stock market crashed, causing significant turmoil in the financial markets due to the butterfly effect, and many investors ended up on rooftops.
If he actually recommended specific stocks to Lao Dai, Lao Dai would be a millionaire the next day. Don’t go too far, it’s bad karma.
Lao Dai understood and immediately changed his tune, “So, do you think I should buy Huake Real Estate or Jinya Hotel now?”
Zhong Lingyu: “Jinya Hotel, I think it’s a safer choice than Huake Real Estate.”
Lao Dai was overjoyed, “How did you figure that out? Do you know everything about the financial market?”
Zhong Lingyu sat on the stool Lao Dai had brought, took the cup of tea Lao Dai offered, his posture refined, holding the teacup in one hand, turning it leisurely, his tone polite yet confident, like a shrewd financial advisor: “Of course not. Generally, I look at recent stock trends and can get a 50% chance of success. Combined with other information, it’s almost a sure thing.”
Old Dai: “So, what’s your take? Tell me about it.”
Zhong Lingyu smiled calmly: “Teacher Dai, you’re too kind. It’s my honor.”
Old Dai laughed: “Zhong, you’re really too polite. Just call me Old Dai from now on. We’re teacher and student in class, but brothers in private, don’t you agree?”
Zhong Lingyu nodded, inwardly thinking, “What about his brother’s romantic relationship? Are you going to bother with that?”
Old Dai naturally didn’t interfere anymore. He and Zhong Lingyu chatted about stocks and felt like they’d known each other forever. After Zhong Lingyu left, Old Dai scratched his head, unable to remember why he’d called Zhong Lingyu to his office in the first place.
Zhong Lingyu arrived in the classroom, took a deep breath, and felt he’d perfectly resolved the matter. Fantastic\!
He walked to his seat, and Song Chan hurriedly offered him her seat, acting rather clumsily.
Zhong Lingyu finally voiced his confusion: “What’s wrong? You won’t look at me?”
Song Chan forced a smile: “Nothing.”
She knocked her cup over.
Fang Qie, who was in front, turned around gossipy, “So, what happened? Does the school really know you two are dating?”
Song Chan: “We’re not…”
At that moment, Dong Xianneng returned from the office with homework: “So you two are dating. I was wondering why Teacher Dai was on the phone with Song Chan’s parents.”
Song Chan’s face paled: “What\!?”
Dong Xianneng: “You’re doomed. Your parents are coming to school.”
Zhong Lingyu found it absurd: “How could that be?” He had clearly handled the situation.
Dong Xianneng: “Why not? I just entered the office and heard the homeroom teacher call Song Chan’s mother ‘Mom,’ and say that there were some things that needed to be discussed in person at the school. The dean of students was also standing there; it was probably the dean who ordered it.”
Song Chan slumped onto the desk.
Zhong Lingyu remained outwardly calm, but inwardly, he was devastated.
No way, that’s Song Chan’s biological mother, his mother-in-law.
\= Ever since Zhong Xin listened to Song Qing’s slander, she’d unintentionally started paying attention to Xie Xingxiao.
Several times, when she stole glances at Xie Xingxiao, she found that he was also looking at her. The difference was that Xie Xingxiao always looked quite openly; even when their eyes met, he didn’t seem flustered at all.
Zhong Xin rested her beautiful chin on her hand, wondering if Xie Xingxiao was making a direct advance towards her.
She shook her head. She had a mission to complete and couldn’t be distracted. Besides, liking her, Zhong Xin, was perfectly normal; there was no need to make a fuss.
Computer class was Zhong Xin’s favorite subject. She arrived early to reserve a seat, chose her favorite computer, and then secretly took out her phone to play with in her drawer.
When the bell rang, Zhong Xin looked up and said to A Yu beside her, “I don’t have a textbook. Do you want to look at it together later?”
However, A Yu beside her had been replaced by Xie Xingxiao.
The moment she saw him, Zhong Xin was speechless.
Xie Xingxiao coldly refused, “I don’t have a textbook either, I can’t look at it with you.”
Seeing that Zhong Xin still didn’t speak, Xie Xingxiao felt uneasy under her gaze and called out to Song Qing across the table, “Hey, you, let me see your textbook.”
Song Qing, being timid, quickly handed over her textbook.
Xie Xingxiao took the textbook and casually tossed it to Zhong Xin.
Zhong Xin took the textbook, placed it in front of her, and began flipping through it, then rested her chin on her arm, her eyes fixed on the book.
Xie Xingxiao observed Zhong Xin’s profile, his gaze dark.
She really did look alike.
And just as annoying as that person.
Should he scare her after school? This pampered young lady must be easily frightened. I really can’t stand her arrogant attitude.
Zhong Xin was lost in thought when she suddenly felt someone get very close. Her eyes darted around,d and she saw Xie Xingxiao. She felt utterly absurd; he was practically touching her face\!
Xie Xingxiao saw Zhong Xin’s wide-eyed disbelief and, before she could say anything, he said, “This is a book I borrowed. Can’t I read it?”
Zhong Xin suddenly realized that perhaps they really were a little further apart.
She gave a dismissive “Oh,” and moved the book a little closer. “You should have said so earlier if you wanted to read it.”
Xie Xingxiao scoffed, “Dare I say that? I’m really afraid of you.”
Zhong Xin: “Why do you say I’m scary? You’re the scary one\!”
Xie Xingxiao: “Toda,y you said in front of the whole class that I was going to kill you. Next time, you’ll probably say I’m going to kill you in a speech under the national flag. Aren’t you scary enough?”
Zhong Xin: “How do you know I’ve given a speech under the national flag? Aren’t you at school?”
Good heavens, this guy was secretly watching her. Was this near-bump into her premeditated? Just to get her attention? This is absurd. When and where did Xie Xingxiao fall in love with her at first sight?
Xie Xingxiao: “I don’t know. But is that the point? The point is I slowed down.”
The second half was obviously a lie. If Zhong Cheng hadn’t pulled Zhong Xin back, she would have fallen into the ditch. That leg was so white and delicate; it would have broken badly.
Unfortunately, this dramatic scene didn’t happen.
Xie Xingxiao was quite disappointed; he’d have to rack his brains later to find other ways to teach her a lesson.
Zhong Xin, however, was lost in her girlish melancholy: “You don’t need to explain anymore.”
Xie Xingxiao: “Why do you look so self-pitying?”
The teacher suddenly called out loudly from the front: “Are there any students who haven’t turned on their computers?”
Zhong Xin looked up and saw the teacher staring at her, hurriedly bending down to find the power switch.
At that moment, Xie Xingxiao accidentally moved the mouse, and the computer screen lit up.
Zhong Xin stood up and saw this scene, feeling a little embarrassed: “You…you don’t need to turn on my computer next time.”
Xie Xingxiao felt annoyed and furious: “What\!?”
Sister, your computer was already on, okay? It was just the screensaver.
\= For several days in a row, Zhong Xin felt that Xie Xingxiao was always hovering around her.
She used to think it was just her imagination, but every time she tried to find Xie Xingxiao, he would appear instantly.
Zhong Xin couldn’t help herself anymore and said to Zhong Cheng, somewhat distressed, “Brother, Xie Xingxiao, Xie Xingxiao, he…”
Zhong Cheng: “Did he threaten you again?”
Zhong Xin: “I feel like he’s too obsessed with me.”
Zhong Cheng: “In what way?”
Zhong Xin: “Emotionally.”
Zhong Cheng: “Are you sure he doesn’t hold a grudge against you?”
Zhong Xin felt her simple-minded brother wouldn’t understand.
At noon, while Song Qing was eating, he told Song Chan everything he had overheard of Zhong Xin and Zhong Cheng’s conversation.
Zhong Lingyu, of course, heard everything clearly as well.
Song Chan asked Song Qing, “Zhong Xin doesn’t like that boy, either, does she?”
Song Qing: “I think it’s very likely. Don’t girls all like those dashing, carefree guys? Zhong Xin has been pestering us about Xie Xingxiao these past few days; we’re so annoyed.”
Song Chan found it absurd. Then, Zhong Lingyu suddenly stood up, “You guys eat first, I have something to do, I’m leaving.”
Zhong Lingyu felt this wasn’t as simple as last time. He had a bad feeling. After putting his tray on the conveyor belt, he rushed off to the first-year high school area.
Zhong Xin had an upset stomach and didn’t go to the cafeteria. She took her meal card and planned to grab something from the convenience store.
It was a rainy day, the sky was as dark as night, and you could still see shadows under the streetlights.
After buying bread, Zhong Xin went back. When she reached the fourth floor, she finally couldn’t help but turn around, “Xie Xingxiao, how long are you going to follow me?”
Xie Xingxiao had originally planned to switch the bread in her hand with the expired one he was holding when she wasn’t looking.
Unexpectedly, Zhong Xin had already noticed him following her.
Standing in the shadows of the stairwell, Xie Xingxiao’s face was cold and sinister, his eyes fixed on the girl as she descended the stairs with the wariness of a viper.
“You secretly bought me bread again?”
Zhong Xin had clearly seen Xie Xingxiao quickly hide the bread behind his back.
Xie Xingxiao was completely bewildered.
Zhong Xin continued, “You’ve been secretly passing me things these past few days, haven’t you? I can’t accept your kindness, so I secretly put them back when you weren’t looking. You have so many of the same kind in your drawer; you probably didn’t notice when you were eating them.”
Xie Xingxiao:\!
Zhong Xin: “I’m sorry, I can’t accept your feelings. You might not believe it, but there’s no future for us.”
More and more students gathered around, and even Zhong Cheng came after hearing the commotion.
Everyone sighed with ambiguous meaning upon hearing this.
Xie Xingxiao wanted to say, “This is all slander, defamation\!”
But suddenly, his stomach started to hurt.
Seeing his pale face, Zhong Xin cried out, “You must hold on\! It’s not that I don’t like you, it’s that I can’t like you. I can’t reciprocate your feelings. We will eventually go to different worlds. What hinders us isn’t the differences in worldly terms, but the long passage of time, the insurmountable chasm of eras. By then, you’ll be old and frail, while I return as a young girl. You’ll find that even harder to accept\!”
Xie Xingxiao, no, his stomach hurts too much, he can’t explain anymore.
“Fine, just pretend I like you\!\!”
Zhong Xin covered her mouth. So he really did love her deeply.
He really… she wanted to cry…
Xie Xingxiao cursed inwardly, having no time to explain that he had absolutely no romantic feelings for Zhong Xin. Clutching his throbbing stomach, he rushed downstairs.
Zhong Xin, filled with self-reproach, followed Xie Xingxiao’s retreating figure and saw Zhong Lingyu’s face at the end of the corridor.
She rubbed her eyes, grabbing her brother, who was struggling through the crowd. “Zhong Cheng, I’m hallucinating\! I saw Dad at our school.”
Zhong Cheng: “Me too.”
Zhong Xin: “It must be a hallucination. Our dad wouldn’t look so fierce.”
Zhong Cheng: “Dad wouldn’t roll up his sleeves and make a move to hit us—ahhh, it’s real\! Zhong Lingyu is here\! Run\!”
Zhong Lingyu’s eyes blazed with rage. “Stop\! You brats\! How dare you announce your relationship in front of your father\! You really think you’re so far away that I can’t teach you a lesson?\!”
Zhong Cheng dragged Zhong Xin through the campus, still bewildered.
“Why is Zhong Lingyu wearing the same school uniform as us?\! Why?\! Isn’t he abroad?\!”
“Dad, have mercy\! Dad, I was wrong\!”
Song Chan and Song Qing leisurely emerged from the cafeteria, seeing Zhong Xin and Zhong Cheng running past them.
Turning back, they saw Zhong Lingyu chasing after them. Song Chan: “I think I heard the word ‘Dad’?”