Chapter 6: Angry

“Chatting with a girl on the first day of my class?”

“Xiao You, you’re pretty bold.”

“Sister Yuan, it was just casual talk.”

“We barely said a few words, right?”

“Not enough for you?”

“No, no, it was plenty.”

“Compared to her, I’d rather chat with you, Sister Yuan.”

This was the first time I’d seen Sister Yuan look so terrifying.

Her tone was cold as ancient ice, without a trace of warmth.

It sent shivers down my spine.

Her eyes held boundless chill, like she was sizing up a corpse.

I thought chatting with a girl in class was no big deal.

But facing this terrifying side of Sister Yuan, I couldn’t help but apologize and back down.

“Do you think that girl’s pretty?”

“She’s okay.”

“In my eyes, you’re the prettiest, Sister Yuan.”

I didn’t dare mess up a loaded question like that.

I couldn’t lie and say An Xue Ruo wasn’t pretty either.

Lying to Sister Yuan is pointless.

She always sees right through me.

“I’m pretty?”

“Didn’t you just say I was average?”

So she heard what I said to Zheng too!

Her hearing’s insane!

“I was just talking nonsense.”

“Praising you in front of others feels weird.”

“But in my eyes, you really are the prettiest girl in the world.”

My words softened her expression.

She seemed less angry.

I quickly changed the subject.

“By the way, why are you a teacher at our school?”

“This private office doesn’t exactly scream ‘intern’ either.”

“I became a teacher to keep an eye on you.”

“And the first thing I see is this? I’m heartbroken, you know.”

“Sorry, sorry.”

“I let you down.”

“As for the office, the principal insisted on giving it to me.”

“I tried to decline, but they were adamant.”

“Probably pressure from home.”

“Home? You mean Auntie Yun?”

“Probably partly Mom’s doing.”

“But not just her.”

Who else could it be?

Sister Yuan rarely talks about her family.

We’re family now, but she avoids mentioning her relatives, except for Auntie Yun.

In all these years, no one from her family has visited except Auntie Yun.

“Take this test and finish it before school’s out.”

“Stay in the classroom after school, and I’ll check it.”

“No way, Sister Yuan.”

“What kind of English teacher gives a test on the first day?”

“You chatted with another girl right in front of me.”

“What’s wrong with giving you a test?”

“Keeps you from chatting up girls when you’re bored.”

“Fine.”

I slunk back to my seat, dejected.

Zheng immediately leaned over.

“I’m so jealous, Young Master Lu.”

“I’d kill to get a private scolding from Teacher Mo.”

“Why just you and not me?”

“Trust me, if you got a private scolding from… from Teacher Mo, you wouldn’t say that.”

“I felt like she was going to eat me alive.”

“That scary?”

“With someone like Teacher Mo, wouldn’t her angry, trash-staring look be kind of thrilling?”

Man, you’re such a freak.

I can’t relate.

That look from Sister Yuan scared me to death.

It felt like she really might eat me.

“Please keep it down.”

“You’re too loud.”

“You’re disturbing my reading.”

An Xue Ruo lightly tapped my desk to warn us.

It was study hall, no teacher at the podium.

The classroom buzzed with chatter.

We hadn’t noticed how loud we were.

“That’s on you, An Xue Ruo.”

“It’s the start of the year.”

“It’s prime time to bond with new classmates.”

“Wasting it on reading? What a shame.”

“You agree, right, Young Master Lu?”

Zheng said this gleefully, glancing at me.

I was buried in the test I’d just gotten.

I ignored him.

“Whoa, Young Master Lu, since when are you such a nerd?”

“If I don’t finish this before school’s out, I’m toast.”

“Do whatever, just don’t bug me.”

I didn’t want to deal with him.

An Xue Ruo had turned back around after her comment.

Leaving Zheng awkwardly alone.

When the bell rang for the last morning class, the homeroom teacher dismissed us.

The students let out a collective sigh of relief.

They tidied their desks and headed to the cafeteria.

“Young Master Lu? Yo, Lu?”

“Stop working, let’s eat.”

I looked up at Zheng, who was nudging me.

“Oh, you go ahead.”

“Grab me something.”

“I’ve got to finish this test.”

“You’re that scared?”

“This is from Teacher Mo, right?”

“She seems cold, but I bet she’s nice deep down.”

“Don’t worry, even if you don’t finish, she won’t do anything.”

You didn’t see how pissed Sister Yuan was.

I’m not risking my life.

“Go eat.”

“Remember to grab me something.”

“Fine, suit yourself.”

After Zheng left, the classroom fell silent.

Just me, alone.

This is so hard.

What even is this?

It’s like gibberish.

No way I can do this.

Is Sister Yuan seriously just messing with me?

“Not eating?”

“So scared you can’t finish that test?”

A friendly voice came from behind.

My eyes stayed on the questions.

I didn’t turn around, just answered casually.

“Teacher Mo gave me this test.”

“If I don’t finish, I’m scared I’ll be miserable.”

“She’s terrifying when she’s mad.”

“How terrifying?”

“Well… it’s like…”

“She looked like she’d swallow me whole.”

“It was super scary.”

Wait, that voice sounds familiar…

I spun around.

Sister Yuan stood there, a creepy smile on her face.

“I’m that terrifying?”

“Then don’t make me mad, Xiao You.”

My heart clenched.

It felt like a cold snake slithered up my spine.

I stammered.

“S-S-Sister Yuan, why are you here?”

“I came to check on you.”

“Too scared to eat?”

“You’re that afraid of me being mad?”

“I’ve never seen you angry before.”

“It freaked me out.”

“You never got mad, no matter how bad I messed up before.”

“Why’d you get so upset just because I chatted with a girl today?”

“Why do you think?”

“You don’t know?”

“Of course I don’t!”

“Isn’t chatting with a girl totally normal?”

“Sorry, my bad, forget I said anything.”

Seeing her anger flare up again, I quickly apologized.

“Here’s a bento I made for you.”

“Eat it while it’s hot.”

“And from now on, you’re my English class representative.”

She set a delicate lunch box on my desk and dropped that bombshell.

“Huh?”

“Why me?”

“My English isn’t even that good.”

“You’re not happy about it?”

“No, no, I’m happy, I’m happy.”

“I’ll do it, I’ll do it.”

“Whatever you say, Sister Yuan.”

I agreed eagerly, laying on the flattery.

She left, satisfied.

Ugh, I don’t get it.

She used to be so gentle and kind.

Why’s she suddenly like this?

So scary.

But this food is amazing.

Smooth, tender, juicy, full of flavor, lingering aftertaste.

Must be Sister Yuan’s cooking.

Having a sister with maxed-out cooking skills is pretty great.

“Who sent that bento, Young Master Lu?”

“Smells so good.”

“Let me try some.”

Zheng was back.

No food in his hands for me.

“You unreliable jerk, you didn’t get me anything.”

“I’d have starved till school’s out.”

“This bento’s from… from me.”

“Get lost, don’t steal it.”

“I can barely eat it all myself.”

No way I’d say it’s from Sister Yuan.

He’d hound me with questions.

“You brought that huge lunch box yourself?”

“I’d have noticed.”

“Young Master Lu, you’re hiding something.”

“Did some girl give it to you?”

“Fine, fine, take a piece.”

“Just stop asking.”

I shoved a piece of sausage in Zheng’s mouth to shut him up.

“Mmm! Wow, this is amazing!”

“Young Master Lu, this girl’s cooking is top-tier.”

“You better hold onto her, don’t let her slip away.”

…What’s he going on about?