Chapter 45: The Elusive Escape and a Fateful Interruption

The commotion caused by Wang Fanran quickly subsided. As the math teacher began the lesson, Class Six returned to its usual tranquility.

Even with a few students missing from the classroom, the teacher refrained from asking too many questions.

They merely focused on teaching, disregarding other matters.

‘These days, children are simply too difficult to manage,’ the teacher likely mused. ‘Such thankless tasks are best left to other instructors.’

However, unexpected events often arise suddenly, catching everyone by surprise.

After Zhou Lin and the others had led Wang Fanran away, a momentary lapse in attention was all it took. Wang Fanran, like an elusive loach, slipped away without a trace.

This left Zhou Lin fuming, stomping his feet in frustration, yet utterly helpless.

He could only return to the classroom, utterly dejected, looking as wilted as a frost-bitten eggplant.

Liu Hong, far from blaming Zhou Lin, offered a few words of comfort. He vowed that unless Wang Fanran transferred schools, he would ensure Wang Fanran experienced a taste of hell every time he set foot on campus.

Noticing Zhou Lin’s continued gloom, Liu Hong simply smiled. Once he mentioned treating them to burgers that evening, Zhou Lin immediately perked up, his spirits renewed.

He instantly became energetic.

Furthermore, he declared his intention to devour ten of them.

This prompted Liu Hong to throw an arm around Zhou Lin’s neck, playfully nudging his head with a fist as they burst into laughter and banter.

While Liu Hong and Zhou Lin’s boisterous antics continued, Lin Qing’s corner remained remarkably quiet.

Without his troublesome deskmate, Lin Qing felt utterly refreshed and invigorated.

Although Wang Fanran had evaded the bullies’ immediate retribution, Lin Qing didn’t dwell on it excessively. He understood that this encounter would surely make Wang Fanran rein in his behavior.

After all, Chen Sen, his former backer, was no longer protecting him, and Liu Hong and Zhou Lin were now actively targeting Wang Fanran.

Furthermore, he had been widely criticized by his classmates for falsely accusing Su Yao.

All these factors combined would be more than enough to make Wang Fanran tuck his tail between his legs and cease his mischief.

This meant he would no longer be singled out everywhere as before, allowing Lin Qing to reclaim his normal, ordinary life.

‘How wonderful!’

Lost in these thoughts, Lin Qing leaned his head on his desk during the break, basking in a profound sense of happiness. His mood felt exceptionally serene.

‘Buzz.’

Just as Lin Qing savored this peaceful moment, his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.

He pulled out his phone, glancing at the new message notification.

[Bad Woman]

He pressed the screen off and slipped the phone back into his pocket.

He didn’t even spare a glance at the message content.

‘Let this moment of bliss linger a little longer,’ he thought. ‘There’s no harm in checking it later.’

‘It’s probably nothing important anyway.’

‘Su Yao must be trying to tease me again.’

Lin Qing chose to ignore the message. To avoid any eye contact with Su Yao, he deliberately turned his head and lay facing the opposite direction from her seat, actively evading her.

Currently, they were still in the classroom, so no matter how angry Su Yao became, she wouldn’t openly approach him in front of so many people.

‘This is the only place I can truly refuse her!’

‘Buzz.’

‘Buzz.’

‘Buzz…’

Evidently, Su Yao had no intention of letting Lin Qing off the hook.

The incessant buzzing of new messages continued, even after the class bell had rung.

This prompted Lin Qing to simply switch off his phone.

Instantly, the world fell silent.

While checking Su Yao’s messages might seem harmless, their conversation last night had made Lin Qing realize how difficult it was to contend with her mischievous schemes.

He knew she had a ‘good show’ planned for today.

Any message from her would likely contain a hint that could instantly ruin his pleasant mood.

Thus, Lin Qing chose to resist, ignoring Su Yao completely.

Even if Su Yao was now fuming and stomping her feet, he wouldn’t compromise. He reasoned that things would eventually sort themselves out, no matter how much more this angered her.

‘There will always be a way.’

Yet, even as Lin Qing was immersed in these thoughts, Su Yao was quietly occupied with her phone, head bowed.

After opening a special application, Lin Qing’s phone status was entirely within her grasp.

Following their encounter in the changing room yesterday, Su Yao hadn’t squandered the opportunity. Instead, she had seized the moment to do exactly what she intended.

While it was a pity that Lin Qing’s phone contained no photos and had a surprisingly sparse collection of applications, offering nothing to browse, Su Yao’s objective wasn’t about that.

Her true aim was to install tracking software, designed to remain operational even if the phone was turned off.

This was a piece of black technology, acquired by Comet Group at a considerable expense from a private individual. It had already been patented and was exclusively available for use by Comet Group’s internal staff.

Having only been successfully installed yesterday, it was now proving its worth immediately.

Upon seeing that Lin Qing’s phone was switched off, a faint smile couldn’t help but play on Su Yao’s lips.

Her dark eyes narrowed slightly, sparkling with a mischievous glint.

‘Lin Qing, you adorable little thing, so utterly unguarded, full of vulnerabilities!’

As she pondered these thoughts, Su Yao’s smile grew even brighter, her mood visibly cheerful. Her deskmate, witnessing this, couldn’t help but look utterly bewildered.

‘Is the math teacher’s lecture really that engaging?’

Her deskmate felt like her head was about to explode from boredom.

“Teacher Wang, excuse me, a notice just came in. It says that the fourth period this morning will be canceled, and all students are to gather in the gymnasium. The principal has an important announcement.”

While the teacher was lecturing at the podium, a sudden knock sounded from outside the classroom door.

Then, the Physical Education teacher, Wu Gang, appeared in the doorway. As he spoke, his gaze subtly flickered towards Su Yao.

Their eyes met, a shared understanding passing between them.

Su Yao, in turn, raised her index finger to her lips, a gesture that brought a knowing smile to Wu Gang’s face.

The next second, he averted his gaze, resuming his pretense of normalcy.

Although he still wanted to glance at Lin Qing, it was probably best not to openly stare with so many students present.

If Lin Qing were as conspicuous as Su Yao, easily spotted at a glance, it would be fine. But he was utterly unremarkable, making him impossible to quickly locate in a brief scan.

“Alright, I understand.”

Teacher Wang’s face had initially shown considerable displeasure at being interrupted mid-lecture, but upon seeing that the visitor was Wu Gang, her irritation instantly vanished.

Wu Gang was not particularly young; in his thirties, he was at the peak of his masculine charm.

Moreover, he possessed a significant family background and wealth. Such a prime bachelor was simply not to be missed. Since she also lacked a boyfriend, Wu Gang seemed quite appealing to her at that moment.

‘Just look at those muscles and long legs, tsk, tsk, tsk, they truly stir one’s heart!’

Math teacher Wang Ying’s fervent gaze held no pretense, causing Wu Gang, who was certainly not blind, a degree of embarrassment. He quickly made his exit.

Wu Gang was quite handsome, and coupled with the rumors of his background circulating in the school, he was considered a highly desirable romantic prospect by the female teachers.

Even when Wu Gang claimed to have a fiancée, some teachers paid no heed, continuing to flirt and offer their affections regardless.

This left Wu Gang feeling utterly exasperated. With his attempts at refusal proving futile, his only recourse was to employ the ‘evasion technique.’

Upon witnessing Wu Gang’s awkward retreat, Wang Ying’s expression soured with displeasure. Her mood instantly turned foul, and she immediately resumed her lecture with a drawn face.

“Teacher Wang, who is Lin Qing in your class?”