Chapter 56

"Not happy?"

He could see that Yu Na was not in high spirits, same as when she was at home earlier.

Yu Na did not hide anything from him and let out a sigh, white mist swirling around them.

"I feel like I'm a very contradictory person."

"What do you mean?"

"On one hand, I really don't want to go back with my parents, on the other hand, I also feel like I'm being very unfilial by thinking this way?"

Xiao Chen looked at her and asked, "Do you like your current life then?"

Yu Na did not hesitate, "I like it, I like it a lot."

"Then don't worry so much," he said, "You're grown up now, an adult. You don't need to change for anyone, nor do you need to be an accessory to someone. You just need to follow your heart."

"From the moment you were born, you are an independent individual. When your parents are still able to take care of themselves, you have the absolute right to pursue the life you want."

His words this time were completely different from before.

Previously, he would have been very rational and advised her to compromise with her parents.

But this time —

Yu Na's eyes brimmed with expectation as she asked hopefully, "So, does that mean you want me to stay?"

Xiao Chen was caught off guard by her straightforward question, his evading gaze involuntarily falling on her again — sincerity and anticipation all combined in her eyes.

In that instant, his heart softened and it felt like a taut string that had been stretched for too long was suddenly released.

Xiao Chen nodded almost imperceptibly.

...

When Xiao Chen returned home, he saw Qiao Rui sitting cross-legged on the sofa, with nothing around him.

He had been waiting for Xiao Chen to come home.

Seeing Xiao Chen return, Qiao Rui deliberately called out, "Bro, I'm hungry."

"Order takeout," Xiao Chen said.

"I don't want takeout, I want to eat your cooking." Xiao Chen was not in the mood and ruthlessly rejected him, "Don't care."

He took off his coat without even glancing at Qiao Rui.

But the latter blocked his path to his room, taking on an interrogative stance.

Xiao Chen: "What?"

Qiao Rui: "When Teacher Yu was around, I saw you about to go into the kitchen to cook. The moment she leaves, you tell me to order takeout. Isn't that right, say, are you even human?"

"..."

Faced with this questioning, Xiao Chen leaned casually against the front of the sofa. "So?"

"You went through so much trouble to get her to come supervise me doing my homework. I see that the wine isn't your real intention." Qiao Rui said, "Go on, tell me, what do you really feel about Teacher Yu?"

"Can you have some conscience?" Xiao Chen said defensively, "Did I not do it for you?"

Qiao Rui's ears were going numb from these words. "Ugh ugh ugh, stop kidding yourself. Do you even believe what you just said?"

Xiao Chen was rendered speechless by the retort.

He used to be able to win every debate, always having the upper hand, except when arguing against Han Chengxun, since that guy had a smart mouth and they would sometimes arrive at a stalemate.

But at this moment, he felt so stupid that even though he had the words on the tip of his tongue, he couldn't get them out.

Xiao Chen was silent, seemingly trying to think of a tactful way to express himself.

But Qiao Rui had seen right through him. He stood his ground, doing nothing except accompanying Xiao Chen in this battle of patience.

Showing signs that if Xiao Chen doesn't admit it soon, Qiao Rui would not give up.

Xiao Chen's feelings for Yu Na underwent subtle changes through their interactions, but he himself had not been able to confirm it.

But just now, when Yu Na asked if he hoped for her to stay, he couldn't help but imagine her resignedly quitting her job here and leaving Changwan with her parents.

In that brief moment, his heart twinged.

The moment of realization was not as oppressive as he had imagined.

Having the answer to a problem that had been plaguing him for so long, that feeling of relief was unprecedented.

Xiao Chen thought, damn being tactful.

I'm going straight to the point!

Time trickled by between the ticking of the clock. Outside the French windows, the evening glow faded away, night descended, and the city lights came on.

Inside the huge living room, Xiao Chen's words were exceptionally clear and straightforward —

"Yes, I like her."

...

Xiao Chen's words gave Yu Na a solid foothold.

Before this, her state of mind had been like a seesaw, never finding balance.

She still had not replied to her mother's WeChat. After her shower, Yu Na lay in bed, trying to calm the frantic deer bounding about in her heart. She sent this passage to her mother:

"Mom, I should not have spoken to Dad that way the other day. I was emotional. But I hope you can understand, I really like my current life. Please support me this once. I will take responsibility for all my decisions, be it regret or joy."

After the message was sent, Yu Na put her phone aside.

It was not until the next morning that her mother replied: "Alright, Mom respects your decision. I will speak to your father, don't worry about it for now."

While brushing her teeth, Yu Na saw the reply and finally breathed a sigh of relief as she responded: "Thank you, Mom."

As expected, when Yu Na arrived at school on Monday, she had become the talk of the town. The conversations exchanged among the students were centered around her.

On the way to the principal's office, Yu Na felt uneasy.

The rumors alone would not have much impact, but the photos had somehow made their way to the principal. So she was called in for another talk.

Yu Na took a look at the photos the principal showed her and knew she was in the wrong. She sincerely apologized, "Principal, I'm sorry. I didn't know beforehand either. I assure you this situation will not happen again."

"Teacher Yu," the principal opened his thermos, "I know young people like you have your own private lives, it's very normal. But the school does not wish for students to blindly compare, afraid it would affect their studies. I think this is a little... don't you think it's inappropriate?"

Yu Na lowered her stance, "I understand. I did not handle this properly."

"I know you didn't mean it, but after all, the influence was not good this time. I don't want to demand anything from you, but I do hope that in the future, you won't put me in a difficult position," the principal's attitude was mild, "After all, this is a school."

"Of course. I will be more careful from now on."

The principal only wanted her to be more prudent. Yu Na repeatedly promised this would not happen again.

But dealing with the students was more troublesome.

All kinds of hearsay spread from one person to ten to a hundred. The students would greet Yu Na but there was always a strange look in their eyes.

Before the evening self-study session, Yu Na was passing by the sports field when she ran into a group of familiar students from another class.

Seeing Teacher Yu, they greeted in unison, "Teacher Yu, hello!"

Yu Na: "Hello..."

She continued walking forward and just as she turned the corner, she overheard the topic of their conversation suddenly shift directions.

"Tsk," the sound came from Shen Lin of Class 5. He elbowed the person beside him, "So what's the background of our school goddess Teacher Yu anyway?"

At this time, Qiao Rui was humming a tune while hugging a basketball on his way to the classroom. The group of students called out, "Hey, Qiao Rui!"

"What?"

"You have quite a good relationship with Teacher Yu right? What's her background anyway?"

He gave Shen Lin a contemptuous look, annoyed, "None of your damn business."

Shen Lin: ?

"Oh really, you're protecting her so much? I heard that Teacher Yu was cheating, she dumped her boyfriend, and then got together with a rich playboy. And rumor has it that she even——"

Before Shen Lin could finish, his collar was suddenly seized violently by Qiao Rui.

"Listen up, not a single word of what you just said is true," Qiao Rui's face darkened as he warned with emphasis, "If you spread nonsense rumors again, I'll rip your mouth apart."