Chapter 31

She stared at that photo for a long time, unable to resist clicking the photo options and setting it as her phone lock screen and wallpaper.

After setting it, she exited out. His photo was clearly printed on the screen. Just one glance made her blush with a racing heart.

When one strange idea comes out, other strange ideas will follow along.

Yu Na felt her hand being controlled by strands of inexplicable ideas, sending that photo to Moments with the caption: "Like." The last bit of reason made her set her Moments to be visible only to herself.

This option was like a protective net, blocking out the outside world and letting her speak her mind freely.

Only she could see it herself.

But that Monday morning, Yu Na was alone busy in the office, her phone placed on the desk.

Qiao Rui held a form and walked right in without even knocking on the door.

Yu Na lowered her head writing something, catching a glimpse of the visitor from the corner of her eye. Seeing who it was, she unhappily said: "Why don't you knock?"

Qiao Rui: "Oh."

He retreated back outside the door and knocked ostentatiously.

Then annoyingly said: "Dear Teacher Yu, may I come in?"

Just as the words left his mouth, an icy cold voice sounded from behind him, "What are you doing?"

Qiao Rui was so frightened by the voice he reflexively jumped.

He looked back, met Wang Li's emotionless questioning face, and quickly put on an obedient smile: "Good morning, Teacher Wang."

Seeing this, Yu Na couldn't help but smirk with amusement.

Wang Li glared at Qiao Rui once. "No respect everyday, no trace of being a student."

Qiao Rui just chuckled away like an shameless idiot.

Luckily Wang Li just came into the office to grab some papers before leaving to teach class.

Once she left, Qiao Rui immediately reverted back to his shameless original state, walking to Yu Na's side.

"Teacher, may I put this registration form here?"

Yu Na didn't even lift her head. "Put it there."

"Okie dokie."

He placed the form on the desk.

Just by coincidence, Yu Na's phone screen suddenly lit up.

At first Yu Na didn't notice, until Qiao Rui's curious and gossipy gaze floated to her phone, accompanied by: "Oh? Who's this guy?"

After Yu Na reacted, the hairs on her neck stood up and her back chilled over. She only just remembered that her phone wallpaper was still the sneak shot of Xiao Chen she took the other day and forgot to change back.

She swiftly raised her head, taking her phone back in one swift movement.

Qiao Rui: "...."

He was just casually curious and gossiping for a bit, didn't think much of it.

But seeing Yu Na's guilty look of a thief, he became suspicious about something. He pulled over Wang Li's chair and sat next to her, "Teacher Yu, who's that guy?"

Yu Na's face was flushed red, but she still bravely mustered the last shred of dignity, strictly saying: "What business is it of yours?"

"I feel like that guy looks a bit familiar."

Qiao Rui only caught a quick glimpse, didn't get the chance to look closely before Yu Na snatched her phone back, so he didn't see clearly who exactly it was. Besides, the photo was just a side profile.

"He's just a celebrity I saw that was good-looking so I set him as my wallpaper. What, is that illegal?"

"Tsk tsk tsk," Qiao Rui said: "You even chase stars?"

"What's wrong with me chasing stars?"

Qiao Rui fearlessly said: "Not fitting for your age."

"I'm only 24, what about my age? Even if I were 60, I could still chase stars. Who are you to interfere?" Yu Na stood up. Seeing him walking without a limp, she grabbed his arm and dragged him outside. "C'mon, go back to class."

After kicking Qiao Rui out, Yu Na sat at her desk and let out a breath.

That was close. Luckily the kid has bad eyesight.

Yu Na had no time to do anything else. She changed her phone wallpaper back to the original.

...The school emphasized developing morality, intelligence, physique and aesthetic appreciation. Because the upcoming Track Meet was nearing, the previously dead campus seemed to come alive.

Students who signed up to compete practiced everyday. There was also the ceremony squad, patterned squad, student placard holders.

The stadium was brimming with life.

Even though they had midterms coming up, this didn't affect everyone's positivity towards the meet. It was lively as if they were welcoming an earnest, grand banquet.

In P.E. class, everyone practiced for the events they signed up for.

When Yu Na was free, she would go back to the stadium to watch her class's patterned squad rehearse. Sometimes she would also run laps with the students.

The teachers and students were harmonious, everything peaceful.

On Wednesday night, Yu Na returned home and posted in the parents' group again: 【The school sports meet is tomorrow and the day after. During the sports meet, the school welcomes parents to come cheer your children on~】 The group was very lively.

Everyone asked what events had their children signed up for.

Many parents were preparing to go watch at the school.

Stay-at-home moms, grandparents, some even specially taking days off to go watch.

Amidst the flood of messages, only "Brother Qiao Rui" was absent from the discussion.

Yu Na carefully and meticulously read through in case she missed his message.

But after scrolling to the bottom, indeed there was no reply from him.

Not even a cursory "Received" or "1".

Yu Na let out a disappointed sigh.

Maybe he just didn't plan to go, so replying held no meaning. The next morning, Yu Na got up early.

She had muted the group messages. After getting up in the morning and checking the parents' group, still no reply from him.

Last night she felt very disappointed. Right now, strangely, she was alright.

Maybe no expectations meant no disappointment.

Yu Na didn't dwell on it. She swiftly washed her face, brushed her teeth, and put on makeup.

She would be outdoors all day, so she applied sunscreen and also put some sunscreen in her bag to bring along.

She arrived at school relatively early. There was no morning reading today. Her class was chattering noisily and she didn't bother organizing discipline.

Some parents went directly into the school following their children, specially coming to the classroom to greet Yu Na.

Yu Na was surrounded by several parents, all manners of questions coming endlessly — "Teacher Yu, how has Chen Xiaojing been behaving at school?"

"Teacher Yu, what level are Jiang Hecheng's grades in the class?"

"Teacher, I heard that our Su Yang is secretly dating at school, is that true?"

Yu Na faced this kind of situation being surrounded and questioned by parents for the first time.

She politely responded: "Parents, don't worry. We have our midterms soon. After the midterms there will be a parent-teacher meeting where we can further discuss then. Today—" She looked outside the classroom, "Let's mainly focus on the children's performance out on the sports field."

...Even though the opening ceremony was very boring, Yu Na was still tirelessly taking photos the entire time.

She felt that life nowadays was truly great.

Even ordinary, mundane days were full of vitality.

She kept snapping away at the scene.

After the opening ceremony ended, the spectator stands were filled with students from each class, parents' seats on the side.

After greeting the parents from Class 3, Yu Na walked into the student section.

Students with events were doing warm-ups below, those without events or didn't sign up were eating and drinking in the stands.

Yu Na saw Qiao Rui playing cards with two other guys.

She went over to ask Qiao Rui, "How are you holding up?"

Without looking at her, Qiao Rui's attention was completely absorbed in the cards. He stretched out his leg and shook it, indicating he was fine. He even bragged: "The 5km first place spot, that's reserved for me."

After finishing a round, Qiao Rui finally stood up to remind Yu Na: "Teacher, later you've gotta help me take some cool photos."

Yu Na nodded in agreement.

During the sports meet, the school allowed students to bring cell phones.

Parents brought cell phones, cameras. Some even brought DSLR cameras.

The parents' group was very lively all day.

All sorts of on-site photos were posted into the group.

Xiao Chen had been busy all day. Returning home at night, he saw the flood of sports meet photos in the group.

One of them showed Yu Na amidst a pile of students in the stands, massaging and cheering on a girl right before she was going on. The surrounding students all watched them with smiles brimming their faces.

Like smiles were infectious.

Xiao Chen flipped through them one by one.