Chapter 113: Teacher and Student

When Yang Chen arrived at Zhonghai No.1 High School, it was still early for the time agreed upon with Tang Tang. So, Yang Chen leisurely got out of the car, silently lit a cigarette at the school gate, and pondered some matters.

Many passing students and teachers saw this man standing beside a brand-new BMW, smoking a cigarette, and waiting for someone, all with a pensive look on their faces. Obviously, they were thinking about things like "sugar daddy" and the like.

Yang Chen wasn't very knowledgeable about this kind of thing. Seeing many people looking his way, he thought it was because he looked particularly handsome today, emitting a domineering aura.

Just as Yang Chen finished his first cigarette and was about to light another one, a slender figure in a cool outfit emerged from the school gate. She was wearing a blue and white checkered waist-tied top and light-colored tight jeans, outlining her curvaceous figure, with a pair of bright white calves particularly eye-catching.

"Jingjing," Yang Chen called out to the girl. He had originally considered whether to go into the school to see her, but unexpectedly, Li Jingjing happened to come out.

Having seen Li Jingjing and her family dining with Jiang Shuo at the restaurant before, Yang Chen felt that Li Jingjing's mood wasn't quite right. However, with Mr. and Mrs. Li present, he couldn't say anything, and Li Jingjing clearly didn't want to talk to him.

Because he had been busy with other matters these past few days, he accidentally forgot to contact Li Jingjing proactively. Perhaps he wasn't used to proactively contacting girls, so many questions remained unanswered.

Li Jingjing was surprised to see Yang Chen and showed a hint of joy in her eyes. She walked up hopefully and asked, "Brother Yang, what are you doing here? Are you waiting for me?"

Looking at the girl's hopeful expression, Yang Chen felt cruel, but he still spoke the truth, "Uh... I'm waiting for someone, a student from the school. We arranged to play games together."

"Oh..." Li Jingjing lowered her head disappointedly and then stood quietly in place without saying a word.

Yang Chen smiled awkwardly, "It's just a little kid. I'm just idle, so we're going to play games together. Actually, I'm not very familiar with her."

Li Jingjing forced a smile, "Brother Yang, by bringing trouble to the students in our school like this, should I, as a teacher, chase you away?"

"She's the one who approached me, not the other way around," Yang Chen explained.

"Is it a boy or a girl?" Li Jingjing whispered again.

"A girl, just a little brat," Yang Chen didn't hide it.

Li Jingjing's eyes held a hint of resentment. "Brother Yang, this isn't right. You're married, you shouldn't be getting involved with too many girls, especially high school students. Their future lies ahead, they should focus on studying. Your actions might hinder her."

"Not what you think. We're just ordinary friends. She said she didn't have class today and came out to accompany me to play games. I won't mislead her. Teacher Li, you can rest assured," Yang Chen said with an embarrassed smile.

Li Jingjing nodded, then fell silent again, but anyone could see the suppressed grievance on her small face.

Yang Chen sighed and asked, "I saw you and your family dining with that surnamed Jiang at the restaurant last time. Was it about you and him?"

Li Jingjing bit her lip. "Yes... Mom and Dad want me to officially date Chief Jiang. Chief Jiang has been pursuing me. I... I don't know what to do."

"Do you like him?" Yang Chen asked.

"I... I don't know," Li Jingjing shook her head. "I don't dislike Chief Jiang. Although he can be a bit ostentatious at times, I don't think he's a bad person. And he's really good to me. My parents have suffered a lot in their lives. I want them to have a good life, so I can't bear to refuse them. So... I'm still considering."

"Your mom probably told you not to interact with me anymore, right?" Yang Chen asked with a smile.

Li Jingjing looked up in surprise. "Brother Yang, how did you know?"

"Because you're not someone who lies. I saw your expression that day, you wouldn't talk to me no matter what, so I guessed you must have something on your mind," Yang Chen explained.

Li Jingjing sighed softly, "You knew I had something on my mind... but you didn't call to ask me about it... I thought you were mad at me, planning to ignore me from then on..."

This soft statement made Yang Chen feel guilty. It seemed he wasn't caring enough to the women around him. Perhaps it was his machismo at play, thinking that some things didn't need to be overly concerned about. He rarely considered the subtle feelings of women. He hadn't expected that by simply making one less phone call, Li Jingjing had been worrying all along.

"Actually, it's not so bad. Maybe I'm just not used to it yet. Who knows, one day I might really like Chief Jiang... People's feelings can always be nurtured gradually. I can't cling to unrealistic fantasies for my whole life. I need to have my own life," Li Jingjing said.

Yang Chen was taken aback by Li Jingjing's sudden words. With that, he couldn't say much more. After all, the path of life was hers to choose. Even if he thought Chief Jiang was unreliable, he couldn't just blurt it out. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, he comforted her, "You've only been a teacher for a short time, but your way of speaking has changed. I'm happy for you."

Li Jingjing rolled her eyes at him sarcastically. "Don't think like that. I can't just burst into tears every time I see you, can I?"

Seeing the girl's radiant face under the sunlight, Yang Chen felt an urge to pinch her elastic cheeks. But immediately, he felt it wasn't appropriate. After all, she wasn't someone he was intimate with, and always making such intimate gestures without any justification would be inappropriate. Feeling awkward, he shoved his hands into his pockets.

The atmosphere between them became unexpectedly awkward. Even when strangers met for the first time, they didn't usually find it this hard to speak.

Just then, another girl in a bright yellow jacket and black skirt rushed out from the school gate. When she saw Yang Chen, she waved happily and shouted, "Uncle! Who are you chatting with?"

Sugar, still brimming with youthfulness, seemed especially delighted. She practically bounced over to Yang Chen. But when she saw Li Jingjing next to Yang Chen, her rosy lips formed an 'o' shape, like a startled little rabbit.

"Li... Li Teacher... What are you doing here... Hehe..." Sugar grinned awkwardly, showing her teeth.

Li Jingjing, understanding the situation, smiled knowingly. "So, Uncle Yang was waiting for Sugar. What a coincidence."

Yang Chen paused for a moment before realizing, "This girl is your student?"

"I'm her homeroom teacher," Li Jingjing said, eyeing Sugar playfully and showing a hint of teacherly authority. "Sugar, I've told you many times. You're in your final year of high school; you need to focus on studying and stop thinking about playing games. If you keep this up, I'll call your mom."

"Oh..." Sugar reached out and hugged Li Jingjing's arm, swaying from side to side as she acted spoiled. "Teacher Li, I've finished the computer assessment stuff today. I'm just going to play around with Uncle Yang for a bit. I promise I won't get too carried away, and I'll submit my assignments on time. Besides, I ranked in the top ten in the last monthly exam, so I'm sure I'll make it to a good college. Don't worry. It's too cruel of you to keep using my mom to pressure me!"

"Success breeds pride, failure breeds perseverance. How can you be so proud?" Li Jingjing lectured earnestly.

Sugar raised her hands in surrender. "Teacher Li, beautiful Teacher Li, please spare me this time. I've already made plans with Uncle Yang. Plus, Teacher Li, you know Uncle Yang, please cut me some slack this time..." With that, Sugar nudged Yang Chen, gesturing for him to speak.

Yang Chen furrowed his brows, thinking that this girl was definitely hiding something. But he had no choice but to go along with it. "Jingjing, let's just let it go this time. It's okay to relax a bit. I'll make sure she doesn't overdo it."

Li Jingjing couldn't refute Yang Chen's face-saving gesture, so she nodded. "Alright, but Sugar, you need to come home on time. Don't worry your mom."

"Sure thing!" Sugar giggled. "I promise not to disappoint you or Mom. Is that okay?"

Li Jingjing chuckled and scolded her as a "little imp," then didn't say much more.

Sugar, looking like a fugitive on the run, immediately dragged Yang Chen towards the car, afraid that Li Jingjing might change her mind and make her stay at school to study.

Yang Chen gave Li Jingjing a wry smile and said goodbye before getting into the car.

As the car drove away and disappeared into the distant street corner, Li Jingjing sighed quietly. She turned around slowly, her solitary figure seeming somewhat desolate.

Meanwhile, inside the car, Sugar was patting her chest in relief. "That was close! Uncle, you're something else. How did you happen to know Teacher Li?"

"I'm friends with Teacher Li's father," Yang Chen explained.

"Really?" Sugar sounded skeptical. "But why did Teacher Li look at you like she's holding a grudge? Uncle, you didn't do anything to upset her, did you?"

"Me? No way." Yang Chen hadn't noticed any deep resentment in Li Jingjing's eyes. He chuckled nervously. "How could I? I'm a married man."

Sugar pouted. "Uncle, stop pretending. These days, there are so many men cheating. My mom told me. There aren't many good guys left, especially in this city. They're all beasts in human skin."

"Hey, don't slander me. I'm not that kind of person." Yang Chen said earnestly, silently adding to himself, it's all for the kid's sake...

Sugar giggled. "Why are you in such a hurry, Uncle? I didn't say it was you. But honestly, if you could win Teacher Li over, that would be great. Then I wouldn't have to be so scared all the time. You don't know, ever since Teacher Li became our homeroom teacher, I've been under strict control. And she often contacts my mom. It's unbearable!"

Yang Chen hadn't expected Li Jingjing to be so adept at handling problem students. The fact that she could keep this troublesome girl in check was impressive. He smiled at Sugar and asked, "Stop complaining. Where are we going?"

Sugar rolled her eyes and revealed a sweet dimple on her fair cheek. "To the Central Sea Electronic Sports Center."