Chapter 43: The Self-Criticism and a Cat’s Question

“I’ve already had a word with you two about this, haven’t I? And yet, it seems my advice went completely in one ear and out the other.”

Inside the office, Zheng Yuxin’s face was contorted into a grimace, much like someone struggling with constipation, as she stared at the two students before her. Her excellent mood, cultivated by a satisfying meal, had vanished the moment she walked into this situation.

Dating among students was hardly a rare occurrence, and Zheng Yuxin, having been a university student herself just three years prior, could readily empathize with such matters. It was simply adolescence; a burgeoning interest in the opposite s*x was perfectly natural.

Most students she caught in the act would typically receive a stern warning and a private talk in the office. Disciplinary measures, beyond that, were rarely warranted.

However, Bai Chen and Mo Qiu seemed to be taking things to an entirely new level. Not only had they been caught behind the teaching building last time without any sign of restraint, but they now had the audacity to continue their antics right here in her office.

“Bai Chen,” she began, her voice laced with surprise, “I always took you for a rather honest student. I never imagined you’d be one for such… thrills.”

Confronted by his homeroom teacher’s gaze, a complex tapestry of emotions woven within its depths, Bai Chen found himself too embarrassed to meet her eyes.

“Um, Teacher…” Bai Chen stammered, “this is actually a misunderstanding. I truly am an honest person.”

“You wouldn’t dare suggest that Mo Qiu willingly lifted her clothes for your viewing pleasure, would you?”

“Ah…”

Bai Chen cast a quick, furtive glance at the girl beside him, the words catching in his throat.

Witnessing his flustered state, Zheng Yuxin let out a heavy sigh, her fingers pressing against her forehead, a look of profound bitterness etched upon her features.

“Dating is permissible,” she stated, “but you must not overstep. Your youthful bodies are the very foundation for building your lives, not mere playthings for your thrill-seeking escapades.”

“Teacher, we’re really not lovers.”

“Every single couple I’ve ever caught in the act says precisely that,” Zheng Yuxin retorted, a hint of exasperation in her tone.

Bai Chen, once again, found himself utterly speechless. Zheng Yuxin’s expression, however, softened marginally as she pressed on:

“Interactions with the opposite s*x are natural, but could you perhaps prioritize your studies first?”

She then opened the grade sheet from the last exam, her eyes quickly scanning its contents.

“Bai Chen, your recent academic decline is rather alarming, and you don’t appear particularly engaged in class either. Just how late do you stay up playing games at night?”

“Teacher, I’m not addicted to games.”

A significant portion of Bai Chen’s exhaustion stemmed from his work as a demon hunter. Unless it was his scheduled day off, he was compelled to rush straight to the Midsummer Night Restaurant immediately after school each day. There were times he’d be called in for emergency overtime even after his shift ended, and it wasn’t uncommon for Manager Cheng Xuan’s calls to rouse him from sleep in the dead of night.

“I recall you having a part-time job, don’t you?” Zheng Yuxin remarked. “You mustn’t put the cart before the horse; your studies are the paramount focus. Young people like yourself, they often just…”

As she continued her lecture, Bai Chen’s head bobbed ceaselessly in agreement.

‘Suddenly, I found myself wholeheartedly agreeing with Old Zhu’s assessment. Zheng Yuxin possessed the oval face of an eighteen-year-old, the alluring figure of a twenty-eight-year-old, yet her personality was undeniably akin to that of a fifty-eight-year-old grandmother.’

Having concluded her remarks to Bai Chen, Zheng Yuxin then shifted her gaze to Mo Qiu, opening her mouth to speak with a grave and earnest tone:

“Mo Qiu,” she began, “I distinctly recall having a conversation with you at the start of the semester, expressing my hope that you would endeavor to make some changes.”

‘Changes?’ Bai Chen wondered, looking at her. Mo Qiu’s eyes, utterly devoid of any sparkle, showed not the slightest ripple of emotion, remaining fixed solely on Zheng Yuxin.

“I understand your personality is rather reclusive, and that you prefer not to congregate with others,” Zheng Yuxin continued, “but I truly hope you can spend more time interacting with your classmates. Social interaction is, after all, an inescapable facet of life, and you will undoubtedly find yourself at a disadvantage if you persist in this manner.”

Casting another glance at the grade sheet, Zheng Yuxin proceeded with her admonition.

“Furthermore, while your grades are commendably stable, they are not yet exceptional. Stability, in this context, suggests a lack of breakthrough, and you currently hover only at a mid-tier level within the class. Should you encounter a particularly challenging exam, you would be highly susceptible to errors.”

Mo Qiu remained utterly unresponsive, her gaze drifting past Zheng Yuxin entirely, settling instead upon the novel resting on the desktop.

As if piercing through her unspoken thoughts, Zheng Yuxin picked up the novel from the desk, her voice once again adopting a grave tone:

“Bringing novels into school is fundamentally prohibited; reading them at home is acceptable. However, to have it confiscated by a teacher and then attempt to steal it back from the office is entirely unacceptable. You are fortunate that you encountered me. Had it been the Head of Grade Level, your names might very well have been announced at next month’s disciplinary assembly.”

Bai Chen, who had been surreptitiously observing Mo Qiu, noticed her fists, concealed behind her back, trembling almost imperceptibly.

‘Even an iceberg-like girl would surely feel hurt after such a scathing reprimand, wouldn’t she?’

‘He couldn’t shake the feeling, wondering if it was merely his imagination, that Mo Qiu’s expression was growing progressively colder.’

Bai Chen let out an inward sigh, then deliberately interjected, cutting off Zheng Yuxin:

“Teacher, actually, I was the only one who stole the book.”

“What?”

Not only Zheng Yuxin, but Mo Qiu herself turned her head, her dim, jewel-like eyes reflecting his handsome profile.

“Mo Qiu was indeed unhappy about her novel being confiscated, but I was the sole individual who came to the office to retrieve it. Mo Qiu, in fact, was rushing here to stop me.”

“Then why did you…”

“Because I couldn’t bear to see her upset,” Bai Chen replied, “and I simply acted on impulse.”

The moment these words left his lips, Zheng Yuxin’s expression shifted through a series of rapid changes. A far more severe reprimand had been poised on the tip of her tongue, yet she merely opened her mouth, then closed it again without uttering a sound.

Her gaze flitted back and forth between their faces, before she finally let out a soft chuckle, as if she had just witnessed a particularly entertaining performance.

“Bai Chen, and you still say you’re not dating?”

“…Er, whatever you say, Teacher,” Bai Chen conceded, gritting his teeth in reluctant admission.

“You certainly possess a commendable sense of chivalry,” she observed, “but perhaps it should be directed towards more appropriate endeavors.”

Once her amusement subsided, Zheng Yuxin’s expression and tone softened considerably, though her gaze retained its characteristic sharpness.

“From this vantage point, it appears Mo Qiu was entirely implicated by your actions. You two certainly understand how to worry for one another.”

Having made her point, she slid the book across the desk towards Bai Chen, observing his astonished expression.

“No one else would likely go to such lengths, yet I confess, I admire the youthful impetuousness in you two. It truly evokes a sense of nostalgia for my own high school days.”

“Thank you, Teacher!”

Bai Chen, filled with surprise and delight, reached for the book, only for Zheng Yuxin to swiftly pull it back.

“However,” she stated firmly, “you are to submit an eight-hundred-word letter of self-criticism. I expect to see it on my desk within the next two days.”

Zheng Yuxin’s demeanor shifted faster than the turning of a page, leaving Bai Chen with no choice but to nod vigorously, like a pestle pounding garlic.

Though he had ‘happily acquired’ an eight-hundred-word self-criticism, the return of the book was, undeniably, a positive outcome. Bai Chen personally handed it back to Mo Qiu, who merely offered a terse thank you before departing.

‘A faint sense of disappointment inevitably settled in Bai Chen’s heart. He mused that girls, it seemed, were indeed not so easily appeased.’

To his utter surprise, however, as he stepped out of the school gates after dismissal, Mo Qiu swiftly caught up to him.

In her hand, she clutched a sheet of letter paper, which she promptly extended to him the moment they met.

“This is for you.”

His gaze fell upon the paper, filled with neat, elegant handwriting, and Bai Chen froze in astonishment.

“The eight-hundred-word self-criticism. Give it to the homeroom teacher tomorrow.”

As the sun dipped in the west, its orange rays bathed the girl, lending a beautiful luster to her dark hair. Though even the sun’s brilliance couldn’t illuminate the depths of her eyes, Bai Chen nonetheless felt no sense of coldness emanating from her.

“You wrote this this afternoon?”

Taking the letter of self-criticism, Bai Chen quickly scanned its contents. The handwriting was meticulously neat, clearly penned with serious intent.

“You were punished because of me, so I finished writing it for you.”

Mo Qiu’s unexpected gesture genuinely took Bai Chen by surprise, rendering him momentarily speechless.

They remained standing at the school gate, where curious students occasionally passed by.

“Let’s talk as we walk.”

“Mm.”

Only once they were a considerable distance from the school gate did Bai Chen finally find himself unable to hold back, speaking aloud:

“Weren’t you angry? Why would you still help me?”

“Angry?” Mo Qiu questioned, tilting her head to the side, her braid falling gracefully down her back. “Why would I be angry?”

“Huh?”

Bai Chen was taken aback once more, his words becoming somewhat incoherent.

“It’s just that, this morning… I accidentally knocked you to the ground, causing you injury and dirtying your clothes. Haven’t you been angry with me ever since?”

‘Oh, so it was about this morning’s incident.’

Mo Qiu had almost entirely forgotten the incident, finding herself somewhat unable to follow Bai Chen’s circuitous line of reasoning.

“I’m not angry.”

“Really?”

“You’ve already apologized. Why should I still be angry?”

The logic was irrefutable, leaving Bai Chen utterly speechless.

‘She wasn’t angry after all? Then what was I worrying about all day?’

He suddenly felt like an utter clown, wishing he could dig a hole and disappear from Mo Qiu’s sight.

‘Yet, given her personality, she’d probably just chase after me again soon.’

Upon realizing she wasn’t angry, Bai Chen found himself vividly imagining Mo Qiu digging a hole, and almost burst out laughing.

The two continued walking down the street, their shadows stretching long in the setting sun.

At the crossroads, they would have to part ways. Bai Chen had already arranged to play basketball with Old Zhu, so he had no choice but to leave her here.

“Thanks for the self-criticism.”

Even though the handwriting was different, Bai Chen still had to copy it himself once he got home.

“Mm, see you tomorrow.”

Mo Qiu waved her hand, not attempting to stop him.

The traffic light remained red. Despite their farewells, they still stood together, a peculiar, unspoken awkwardness lingering between them.

Bai Chen deliberately cast his gaze around, his eyes suddenly falling upon a small cat by the roadside.

“Wow, there’s a cat!”

Bai Chen wasn’t sure why he’d blurted it out; he just felt compelled to say something. He hoped Mo Qiu wouldn’t think he was strange for being surprised by a stray cat.

As Bai Chen still felt a pang of nervousness, Mo Qiu walked past him and crouched down in front of the small cat.

Facing the wary kitten, which continued to meow incessantly, the girl mimicked its tone.

“Meow~ Meow~”

“Mo Qiu?”

“Does Bai Chen like cats?”

“Ah, I guess so. Depends on the fur color.”

Most stray cats were covered in grey fur, with nothing particularly special about them.

Mo Qiu chewed over his words, then looked at him again:

“Then if I became a cat, would Bai Chen like me?”

“Huh?”

Mo Qiu turning into a cat?

For some inexplicable reason, the image that flashed through Bai Chen’s mind wasn’t a cat, but a girl with cat ears and a tail.

She knelt on the ground, one hand raised to her face, meowing coquettishly.

The scene was far too stimulating, and Bai Chen dared not dwell on it further.

“Meow~”

A sudden puff of air against his ear made Bai Chen nearly jump.

“Bai Chen, you haven’t answered my question yet.”

Mo Qiu, with a perfectly straight face, mimicked a cat, placing her hand beside her cheek.

“If I were a cat, would you like me? Meow~”

“Why are you adding a tail sound?”

“Because I’m a cat, meow~”

‘Had she already started seeing herself as a cat?’

Bai Chen couldn’t help but offer a wry smile. “If you truly became a stray kitten, one that no one wanted, I would certainly adopt you. Of course, I don’t mean to treat you as a pet, I…”

Before he could finish his sentence, the green light flashed on. Bai Chen hastily bid her farewell, leaving the girl, still pretending to be a cat, standing there.

‘Treat me as a pet? If you like it, it’s not impossible.’

Whatever Bai Chen’s preferences were, Mo Qiu would go to great lengths to please him. Even if it meant being kept as a cat, she wouldn’t mind.

‘He was so flustered, which means my offensive worked.’

Mo Qiu pulled the novel from her bag once more, her eyes narrowing slightly.

‘Indeed, the methods described in the book are effective.’