Chapter 57

"Qiao Rui, you've got guts to spread rumors about Teacher Yu in front of Xiao Chen," Su Yang provoked recklessly, "Last time when Wang Xiao said a couple words about Teacher Yu, Xiao Chen beat him until his face was bruised and swollen. Until now, Wang Xiao still doesn't dare to face Xiao Chen directly."

"Wow!"

A round of annoying jeers rose one after another.

"Xiao Chen, you're quite the valiant knight!"

As soon as his voice fell, they tacitly all shut up, because they saw Yu Na walking over looking displeased.

"You all seem very curious about me?" Yu Na crossed her arms and asked calmly.

She rarely had this kind of expression, which scared the students in front of her.

Yu Na said, "You're curious about me. Why are you asking him?" She pointed her chin towards the office, "Come with me to the office. I'll tell you everything about me, without leaving out a single detail."

She walked forward a few steps. Seeing that the gossipers behind her didn't follow, she reminded, "Let's go."

Shen Lin was the first to chicken out, because his homeroom teacher shared an office with Yu Na. Of course it was best to leave at this time.

He apologized with an awkward smile plastered all over his face, "I'm sorry Teacher Yu. I was just repeating what I heard from others..."

Yu Na: "..."

The others also followed with apologetic laughter and quickly dispersed.

Xiao Chen had an "is that all" expression as he watched their fleeing figures, unable to hold back his laughter, "What a bunch of losers."

His voice suddenly amplified, "If you spread rumors again, see how I'll deal with you!"

Yu Na stood next to him. It would be a lie to say she didn't feel moved.

Last time when Wang Xiao insulted her, Xiao Chen stood up for her. And this time was the same.

Every time there were unfavorable words about her, Xiao Chen seemed to always stand up for her.

Yu Na put her hand on his shoulder, "Don't bother with them anymore. Let me treat you to a meal?"

Xiao Chen quickly reverted to his casual self when talking to Yu Na, "Sure, what are we eating?"

"The cafeteria."

"..."

Xiao Chen didn't bother humoring her at all: "You can go yourself."

"Alright, we still have night self-study later. Where else do you want to go? Eat first then go back to study."

Yu Na disregarded his protests and pulled him by the arm all the way to the cafeteria.

The two sat face to face.

Yu Na was in no hurry to eat. She brought up what happened earlier, "Xiao Chen, I'm really thankful that you stand up for me like this. But I don't need you to do this. I don't care what others say about me. I only need you to study well and get a good grade on your finals, to reflect the results of my tutoring you on your test paper."

Xiao Chen shoveled food into his mouth as he muttered unclearly, "I've said that whoever bullies you, I will never let them off."

"..."

Yu Na didn't know what to make of the complex feelings welling up inside her, a blend of gratitude and guilt. Xiao Chen said, "Actually, I do this for two reasons."

"What reasons?"

"First, because you've been so good to me and cared so much about me. How could I, someone so righteous, not protect you?"

Yu Na smiled helplessly, "What about the second reason?"

"The second—" Xiao Chen blinked, "It's confidential."

Her intuition told her it had to do with Xiao Chen.

Yu Na pretended to be stern, "Are you going to tell me or not?"

"Nope!" Xiao Chen didn't have a trace of a student's manners. "Piss off!"

Yu Na wasn't one to back down either, "Looks like I'll have to assign you more homework so you're not so bored."

But Xiao Chen went along with her threat and took advantage, "That's fine too. I should be more serious about my studies. Otherwise I'll be letting my brother down after all the money he spent on me."

"?"

How is it that he always makes such slick comebacks?

After gaining the upper hand, Xiao Chen gave Yu Na a meaningful once-over.

He suddenly recalled last night's conversation with Xiao Chen—

His cousin, who was usually as steadfast as an iron tree, finally toughened up for once and admitted that he liked Yu Na.

With his secret out in the open, there was no longer any need to worry about the aftermath.

Xiao Chen no longer hid it like before. He openly expressed his concern, "Those photos you circulated probably impacted her a lot right?"

"Not too much actually," Qiao Rui said. "But people love to gossip. Don't worry, it'll blow over after some time."

Xiao Chen mulled over what to do.

Suddenly, his eyes landed on Qiao Rui.

He sat next to Qiao Rui and deliberately sucked up to him, "Didn't you say you wanted to change your laptop?"

Sensing Xiao Chen's strange and cheesy manner, Qiao Rui unconsciously shifted farther away, "Tsk, didn't you say you'd only buy me one if I moved up 15 spots at the end of the semester?"

Xiao Chen brushed it off, "I changed my mind. If you happen to hear anyone spreading rumors or saying unpleasant things about Teacher Yu, you—" He grabbed Qiao Rui by the neck and shook it back and forth, extremely purposeful as he slowly asked, "You know what to do, hmm?"

Qiao Rui let him shake his neck as he leisurely dragged his words, taking advantage of the situation, "I want to change my phone too."

"Will an iPad work?"

"If possible."

"What about a desktop computer?"

"If you change that too, who would dare spread rumors? I'll annihilate them right away."

"Alright, I'll change them all!"

When Qiao Rui heard this, he struggled free. His eyes lit up, "Really?"

"But you can't get physical. Just put a stop to it. Don't make things difficult for her."

"Oh my—" Qiao Rui looked at Xiao Chen in disbelief. "How charming. I like it."

Xiao Chen: "..."

Qiao Rui chuckled, "I can tell you've been holding back for a long time. You might as well confess to Teacher Yu. She definitely has feelings for you too." "Let me tell you, there are many pursuers of Teacher Yu in our school," Qiao Rui put his arm around Xiao Chen's shoulder. "Although they don't compare to you in external qualities and asset thickness, these guys have the advantage of being close to Teacher Yu. You have to strike while the iron's hot, or else this prime bachelor like you will have missed your chance for nothing."

Xiao Chen hesitated for a few seconds before impatiently breaking away, "Don't bother worrying about my business for me. Just help me complete this task perfectly. Your brother won't shortchange you."

...

Yu Na lowered her head to concentrate on her meal, but the suspicious gaze of the person in front of her lingered on her unrelentingly.

She finally couldn't stand it anymore, "What are you looking at me for?"

"Oh nothing," Qiao Rui leaned in curiously towards her. "Teacher Yu, what do you think of my cousin?"

"..."

The blunt and sudden question couldn't be more simple and straightforward.

But it just had to be asked of Yu Na, just when she was drinking water.

Yu Na nearly choked.

Qiao Rui immediately sensed something off. "Nevermind, you don't have to say it. I know already."

Yu Na's face was red. "Eat your food!"

Qiao Rui went on unprompted, "Seeing you, Teacher Yu, I suddenly thought of two chengyu and a season."

"What?"

"Iron tree blossoms, long overdue. Spring."

Yu Na didn't know what he was getting at, "What are you talking about?"

Qiao Rui roguishly grinned, "Didn't say anything. Just felt that you're so beautiful that even an iron tree could blossom for you."

"..."

What nonsense.

Yu Na didn't understand and didn't ask further. She stiffly changed the topic, "Hurry up and eat. We still have to study later."

...

"The Friday Incident", like Qiao Rui said, caused an uproar but quickly fizzled out.

It was only a matter of two to three days.

Most were just exclamations of envy without saying anything nasty.

But there were still some gossiping students spreading rumors.

Qiao Rui was a pivotal figure at school. Although his image wasn't exactly positive, he still had the title of school kingka.

So whenever he saw someone spreading rumors, before he even said anything, the rumormongers would back down on their own.

Things weren't as complicated as imagined.

After the uproar passed, daily life returned to its tracks.

During the weekend, as promised, Yu Na went to Yun Gulf Mansion to supervise Qiao Rui on his homework and tutor him at the same time.

Those few days, Xiao Chen went on a business trip, so no one was home.

After finishing the lesson on Sunday, Yu Na paid out of her own pocket to treat Qiao Rui to dinner at a nearby Western restaurant.

"Let me give you a nice surprise." After ordering, Yu Na returned the menu to the server and said mysteriously.

"What surprise?" Qiao Rui's interest was piqued.

"Next Friday we're organizing an outing. Each class will decide on their own location. I'll give your class priority for choosing where you want to go. We'll take a vote next week."