Chapter 237: Kid, Do You Even Understand Women?

Just like after every long holiday in the past.

The afternoon of the first day back was always filled with frantic homework catch-up.

You copy mine, I copy yours.

“Math! Who’s got the seventh worksheet?”

“Newton! Where’s Newton’s Second Law?”

“Who died before achieving victory again?!”

All around, classmates were scrambling to finish their overdue assignments.

At Miss Jiang’s desk, however, the scene stood out in stark contrast.

One pile had already been completed long ago.

She now sat in her chair, bored out of her mind, gazing at the evening glow outside the window.

The other pile hadn’t been touched at all.

A stack of pristine worksheets lay on the desk, not even a crease on them.

“Hey.”

“What did you just call me?”

“Classmate Jiang Ning.”

“Mm, go on.”

Looking at that bright, spring-like face.

Ye Na had the sudden urge to take her pen and draw a big flower on it.

“I heard you won an Gold Medal?”

“Yeah, so? You planning to borrow it and scam some pocket money?”

Snap.

Ye Na snapped the 2B pencil in her hand clean in two.

Miss Jiang couldn’t help but let out a soft snicker.

Still, it seemed like Little Ye genuinely had something to discuss.

Even in this situation, she hadn’t stormed off in anger.

Sitting in her chair, she took several deep breaths, her collar nearly stretched open.

“Tao Tao said he’s coming next month to visit his grandpa.”

“Can you come with me?”

???

Miss Jiang already knew that Little Tao was coming back to visit his grandfather.

He had invited her, but she’d turned him down.

After all, going to a nursing home to play chess with a bunch of old men didn’t sound like much fun.

But now, what was Little Ye getting at?

What, was she afraid it’d be too dark and wanted to bring a third wheel to light the way?

“No.”

Miss Jiang had no interest in being anyone’s flashlight.

“Tao Tao said his grandpa wants to play chess with you.”

“Respecting the elderly and caring for the young is a traditional virtue of our country.”

“?? What??”

“I said I don’t want to bully an old man.”

Sometimes, Little Ye really wasn’t the sharpest. She couldn’t even catch that?

Seeing that Miss Jiang truly wasn’t interested, Ye Na just pouted, pulled out her phone, and started texting.

Judging by her serious expression…

She was probably… most likely… reporting the situation to Little Tao?

Miss Jiang suddenly got curious.

Had their relationship already reached the point where they were in constant contact?

She leaned in slightly.

Thankfully, phones these days didn’t have those anti-peeping screen protectors from the future.

From about a meter to the side, Miss Jiang could faintly make out the characters on the screen.

[Jiang Ning said she’ll decide when the time comes. If someone’s treating her to a meal, she’ll go.]

???

Did I ever say that?

Noticing her deskmate’s movement, Ye Na instantly snapped the phone shut and turned around, looking defensive.

“What are you doing!?”

“When did I ever say I’d consider it?” Miss Jiang raised an eyebrow.

“Trying to use my name to get Little Tao to treat you to dinner?”

“Were you planning to keep it from me, go alone, and enjoy a romantic evening together?”

Three questions in a row.

Ye Na’s face instantly turned awkward.

“N-no! If he treats us!”

“I’ll definitely let you know!”

“Oh?” Miss Jiang let out a meaningful chuckle.

“Is that so?”

Maybe unable to handle the pressure, Ye Na’s face flushed red as she blurted out,

“I’ll definitely let you know!”

Then she stood up.

And ran off.

Since everyone else around was busy copying homework, Ye Na’s sudden movement startled the two boys sitting behind her.

“Ye Na, she…”

“Relax, it’s her time of the month.”

Hearing Miss Jiang’s reply, one of the boys nodded in understanding, but his deskmate seemed to recall something.

“Didn’t she just have her period at the end of last month?”

“It’s only been half a month…”

At that, Miss Jiang let out an impatient scoff.

“Kid, do you even understand women?”

“Copy your homework—wait, how do you know Ye Na’s schedule so well?”

“Something’s fishy~”

Faced with Miss Jiang’s teasing gaze, the boy behind her turned beet red.

But his deskmate took the opportunity to sell him out:

“Qi Yunlei doesn’t just know about Ye Na.”

“He also—”

Just then, Qi Wen’s voice suddenly reached Jiang Ning’s ears.

She turned to look.

Little Qi patted his desk and pointed toward the door.

Miss Jiang followed his gaze.

Standing at the doorway was Lao Guo, dressed neatly in a polo shirt, smiling kindly and waving at her.

As the saying goes, when Lao Guo smiles, trouble is coming.

Miss Jiang had long since figured out her homeroom teacher’s personality.

If he came smiling, a bombshell was guaranteed within three sentences.

Sure enough.

When Miss Jiang stepped out of the classroom and stood face-to-face with Lao Guo at the door—

“Jiang Ning, on behalf of the entire second-year teaching team, congratulations on winning the gold medal at the 16th National High School Olympic Math Competition.”

First sentence, safe.

Miss Jiang smiled sweetly and replied, “Thank you, Teacher.”

But what she didn’t expect was—

The bombshell came in the second sentence.

“Tomorrow afternoon, a TV crew will be coming for a short interview. Please make sure to wear your school uniform.”

Lao Guo’s skills had leveled up.

He used to wait until the third sentence to drop the bomb.

Now he was doing it in the second.

Bravo.

“Teacher Guo… my uniform’s at home…”

“Is that so? Then how about I help you pick it up after work today?”

Mmp!

Can’t you tell I’m trying to turn you down?

Do I really have to spell out that it’s inconvenient?

“Teacher Guo, do we really have to wear school uniforms for the interview?”

“Yes, because that way we can better promote our school.”

???

You want to promote the school, so you’re making me wear a skirt on TV?

I sell my skills, not my body.

Thanks, but no thanks.

“Teacher, I’m on my period. It’s inconvenient.”

Miss Jiang now said that phrase without the slightest hint of embarrassment.

“This…”

“Alright then.”

“It’s just that in the future, if you keep asking for leave…”

Fine, fine, fine.

Lao Guo.

So this is how you want to play it?

It’s just a skirt, right?

Just you wait!

Seeing that Miss Jiang had no choice but to accept the situation, Guo Ming moved on to the second matter.

“In the past few days, the school has received several calls from Project 985 universities, all asking about you.”

“Jiang Ning, have you decided which school you want to attend?”

So that’s what this is about.

Actually, Miss Jiang had already talked about this with her mom at home over the past few days.

Given her current standing at school, plus a national olympic gold medal under her belt, she could basically get into any university she applied to—aside from a few that required special summer or winter camp recommendations.

If she wanted, she could skip senior year entirely and head straight into college.

Her mom’s take was: aim for the top two schools. If that didn’t work out, then just pick the best 985 university and start next semester.

But Miss Jiang had a different idea.

She felt that since fate had given her a second chance at life, she ought to savor the journey of youth.

Besides, even though “Shi Ning Ji,” Mingsheng Technology, the Delivery Team, and the newly built Spicy Strip Production Line were all progressing steadily step by step, if she suddenly dropped everything, who knew what kind of mess could crop up?

———

That evening.

Miss Jiang held Little Qi’s hand as they strolled through the summer night breeze.

Listening to Little Qi talk about the fun she had over the holidays, Miss Jiang chimed in here and there with a few comments about the Olympiad.

But she didn’t mention anything about that girl Xu Suihe.

After all, she’d already experienced Little Qi’s jealous streak firsthand.

Just like that, the two of them returned to the dormitory.

But not long after, a girl from the class next door came knocking.

“Qi Wen, have you seen Tian Yawen?”

“No,” Qi Wen said as she wiped the water from her hair, looking curious. “Why?”

The girl hesitated for a moment before speaking up.

“Tian Yawen… she didn’t come back to the dorm after evening self-study…”

“I thought maybe she came to see you…”

Oh, I see.

Tian Yawen used to be pretty close with Qi Wen.

But ever since the class split—

No, ever since that girl started acting differently—

She and Qi Wen had been drifting apart.

So Miss Jiang, who was sitting on the bed, couldn’t help but chime in.

“Maybe she went out on a date with her boyfriend…”

She hadn’t expected that offhand remark to hit the mark.

Tian Yawen really had gone on a date.

But…

The location of that date was a bit strange…

(End of chapter)