Chapter 29: The Chalk Warning and Unsettling Curiosity

A relieved sigh escaped me; it seemed I had just salvaged my skin.

But then, why had Huang Beifeng and Tang Xiao Rou been discussing something for so long? Class was about to begin!

The moment the school bell chimed, Huang Beifeng and Tang Xiao Rou slipped into the classroom just as the final notes faded. Seeing the faint blush gracing Tang Xiao Rou’s cheeks, and the sly, knowing smile playing on Huang Beifeng’s lips, I knew instantly that they were up to something mischievous.

“Why were you two on the rooftop for so long?”

It was fortunate we’d made it back to class just in time; otherwise, we’d surely be standing outside in punishment. After all, the math teacher was notorious for his ‘Demon King’ reputation.

I had to ask before he ascended the podium. Otherwise, I doubted I’d be able to focus on anything he said this lesson. My curiosity gnawed at me, utterly impossible to suppress until I understood what they had discussed.

“Oh, just a simple chat,”

“About what?”

Before Huang Beifeng could even utter a word, the math teacher, now standing at the front of the class, had already noticed us. With a practiced flick, he picked up a piece of chalk and, with the unerring aim honed over decades of teaching, launched it to strike my textbook perfectly.

“Class begins now.”

That strike was merely a warning. If I were caught a second time, the chalk wouldn’t find its mark on a textbook; it would be my head.

However, though speaking was out of the question, we still had another method of communication: passing notes.

No, not exactly ‘notes.’ It was more like pretending to take notes while actually scribbling messages on our rough paper. Huang Beifeng and I had perfected this art back in junior high, so our coordination was flawless.

What followed was our silent exchange.

[Seriously, what exactly were you talking about?]

[Don’t you know curiosity killed the cat?]

[But as long as I don’t know, I won’t be able to focus on class! I’m dying of curiosity. You were definitely talking about me, right?]

[Alright, fine, it was about you.]

So it truly was about me. Pondering this, what could they possibly be discussing concerning me? Huang Beifeng would surely keep my secrets. If it wasn’t about something clandestine, then what else could it be?

‘It couldn’t be…?’

As that possibility dawned on me, I snatched my pen and frantically scribbled on the paper once more.

[You’re not talking about *that*, are you?!]

[What do you think?]

‘Agh, it really is!’

Clamping a hand over my mouth, I struggled to believe they had truly discussed *that*. My shock must have been too evident, for the math teacher, mid-lecture, inevitably caught sight of my overly expressive face.

This time, he wouldn’t be so lenient.

He casually picked up a piece of chalk, and though he continued to explain the problem with an air of normalcy, I could distinctly feel his gaze fixed squarely upon me.

The moment he turned to write on the blackboard, I keenly observed that the chalk in his hand seemed to be missing a segment. The missing piece, without a doubt, was already hurtling towards me.

“Thwack!”

His aim was indeed impeccable, but fortunately, I had anticipated his move. I swiftly raised my math textbook, shielding my head and thus escaping the chalk’s direct impact.

Phew, what an auspicious start to the day this was turning out to be.

Though the projectile missed, as the math teacher turned back, our eyes met. His gaze seemed to convey a silent invitation: that I should join him for a cup of tea in his office after class today.

‘Gah! This is bad, really bad!’ It truly was an ‘auspicious start’ — my first time ever being summoned to a teacher’s office for a ‘chat’ like this.

Normally, such a summons would merely entail a lecture in the office, followed by a promise to behave better. But this was no ordinary teacher. Given his ‘Demon King’ moniker, I had no idea what fate awaited me.

****

After class, I dutifully followed him into his office, standing meekly beside his desk.

“Teacher, I truly wasn’t doing anything in class! I was just so amazed by your brilliant problem-solving, and then, well…”

Even I found this excuse flimsy, but it was certainly better than admitting Huang Beifeng and I were passing secret notes.

“Very well,” he said, pulling a test paper from his drawer and placing it before me. “Take this. During the next self-study period, complete it and return it to me.”

Hmm, was this his way of checking if I was lying? A quick glance at the questions revealed they weren’t difficult; they covered only what had been taught in class. Perhaps the ‘Demon King’ wasn’t as terrifying as his reputation suggested.

Clutching the paper, I returned to the classroom, once again entering just as the bell rang. However, as my eyes fell upon the sheer number of questions, a wave of panic washed over me.

‘Good heavens, there are so many!’ I exclaimed inwardly. I had planned to work on other things, but it seemed this entire class would be dedicated to this single test.

Fortunately, the questions themselves weren’t overly complex, so they wouldn’t take an exorbitant amount of time. Yet, due to their sheer volume, beyond the basic problems, there were also numerous variations.

Solving these would require a flexible approach; without a solid foundation, completing them within the allotted time would be impossible.

As the dismissal bell chimed, I set down my pen, having managed my time perfectly.

Returning to the math teacher’s office, I found it empty. He was likely teaching another class, and given his penchant for extending lessons, he probably wouldn’t be back for a while. I decided to turn it in myself.

Placing the test paper on his desk, I carefully used a book nearby to weigh down one corner, preventing any unforeseen mishaps.

Today had certainly been eventful. Walking home, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Huang Beifeng’s gaze had been lingering on me all day, leaving me with a faint, unsettling sense of unease.