Free Web NovelChapter 406: Chapter 406: Yanxi 14
Tan You couldn’t be bothered to watch the two of them act out some boring, melodramatic soap opera in front of her. Glancing at the now-empty food truck, Tan You stretched. "Should we head out? It’s about time we went back."
Song Yuan was the first to respond. "Okay, we were just waiting for you, Teacher!"
Tan You turned to the two people still standing there. "Do as you please. Just don’t come looking for me again. If you show up one more time, I’ll post your history all over the internet. You want to see what I’m capable of?"
"Mayor Wu is a perfect cautionary tale. If you cause any more trouble, I can’t guarantee what Fang Zhenshun will do."
After dropping that warning, Tan You got into the food truck. The two young women, Jin Li and Zheng Xue, shot a collective glare at Jin Taiyuan before turning to Hong Xiazhen with an entirely different expression.
Tan You rolled down the window. "Let’s go. Why waste your energy on them?"
"Teacher, I’m just indignant on your behalf," Jin Li pouted. "What kind of person is she? Always thinking someone else’s man is better. If you want a good relationship, go find someone and build one yourself. Stop staring at other people’s men all day long."
Tan You found it amusing. "Alright, let’s go. Little Snow, time to head back."
Zheng Xue stomped her foot in frustration. "HUMPH!"
’I haven’t even done anything yet, why is Teacher calling me back already?’ she thought. But with her teacher summoning her, she didn’t dare pretend she hadn’t heard.
Seeing the two girls still fuming after getting into the truck, Tan You was amused. "I’m not even angry. Why are you two so worked up?"
She truly wasn’t angry. Jin Taiyuan was Xu Yanxi’s boyfriend; what did that have to do with her? Why would Tan You get angry over seeing Jin Taiyuan and Hong Xiazhen? Of course not.
Jin Li said, "How dare they still show up? They’re the ones who did something wrong..."
Zheng Xue added, "They’ve already interfered in someone else’s relationship. They threw their dignity aside long ago. Trying to restrain them with conventional morality is clearly impossible."
Tan You smiled. "Exactly. So why bother talking to them about morality? Morality is for self-restraint, not for demanding of others. They’ve clearly failed at that. Perhaps in their minds, as long as they haven’t broken the law, they’re still good people."
Jin Li and Zheng Xue both scrunched up their faces. Jin Li’s features, in particular, wrinkled up like a soup dumpling, completely without a care for her image. "Anyway, it’s just so disgusting to think about."
"What’s so great about being in a relationship, anyway? I don’t see the point at all." She sniffled. "I used to be so envious of you, Teacher, for being in one for so many years." ƒreewebɳovel.com
"And then we broke up," Tan You finished for her. "Looking back on Jin Taiyuan now, his personality is actually very contradictory. He tried so hard to escape the shadow of being an illegitimate son. On the surface, it seemed like he had, but he actually hadn’t."
"He was still insecure about his status as an illegitimate son, and he couldn’t find validation from me because he didn’t dare tell me about it, afraid I would look down on him for it."
"And then he cheated with an illegitimate daughter," Zheng Xue quietly interjected. "Just like you said, Teacher, because they’re the same kind of people, they can understand each other better."
"Watching this whole thing play out, I’m suddenly realizing how fragile relationships are." Jin Li leaned on Zheng Xue’s shoulder. "Teacher, you were in a relationship for nearly ten years, and it couldn’t even beat someone else’s two months."
"That’s why I don’t recommend dating for a very long time," Tan You said as the food truck happened to stop at a red light. She looked at the two girls. "I’m not going to try and persuade you to date, but if you ever do, bring him over for me to see. I’d say I’m a decent judge of character."
Jin Li was about to say something, but Zheng Xue quickly clamped a hand over her mouth. Jin Li blinked her big eyes a couple of times before Zheng Xue let go. Once free, Jin Li pretended to choke Zheng Xue. "Do you think I’m the type to speak without a filter?"
Tan You understood what they were getting at and smiled. "My relationship with Jin Taiyuan, to put it bluntly, came down to my moral standards being too high. And he just wasn’t honest with me. I do despise infidelity."
"But Jin Taiyuan’s situation is different. His mother was also deceived into bringing him into this world. The one at fault is Jin Taiyuan’s father, not Jin Taiyuan himself."
"Children don’t have the right to choose their parents. Even if there’s a sin, it’s a sin committed by Jin Taiyuan’s father."
"If he had told me about all this, been honest with me, it’s not like I couldn’t have accepted it. He wasn’t honest with me; instead, he bared his soul to an outsider. That’s what I cannot tolerate."
"And that was the biggest point of contention between us."
Zheng Xue propped her head on her hand. "So no matter who you’re with, honesty is the most important thing."
Tan You smiled. "Yes, I also believe honesty is the most important thing. But it’s all in the past now, so there’s no point in talking about it. We’ve already gone our separate ways. Sometimes, with some things, once you make a mistake, you’ve missed your chance. There are no second chances."
Jin Li clenched her fist. "So relationships really are pointless! I’m going to be on my own and make a lot of money in the future!"
Tan You gave her a subtle look, then glanced at the teenagers racing by on their bikes on the sidewalk. Suddenly, she felt that youth was a wonderful thing.
Back home, the students were busy tallying up their earnings on the side, while Tan You fiddled with her computer for a while. Not long after she sent an email, her phone rang.
Tan You slid open the glass window. "Chairman Fang? Good evening."
Fang Zhenshun was also standing by a window. "Teacher Xu, what’s the meaning of this email you sent me?"
Tan You took a sip of tea with a smile. "I’m just reminding you, Chairman Fang, that your intention to form an alliance through marriage is a good one. The candidate you’ve selected isn’t bad either. Unfortunately, Hong Xiazhen’s character is flawed. You’re pushing an illegitimate daughter who meddled in someone else’s relationship onto your partner’s family. Are you trying to forge an alliance or an enmity?"
Fang Zhenshun was suddenly alarmed. "Is that all you wanted to say, Teacher Xu? In that case, I should thank you for your consideration."
Tan You chuckled lightly. "I’m not that benevolent. I’m just annoyed. On what grounds does Hong Xiazhen get to ruin my relationship and then go on to live a carefree life as a rich man’s wife? There’s no such thing as a free lunch."
"Since she chose Jin Taiyuan, then she can just stay with him for the rest of her life. After all, he’s the man she chose for herself."
Fang Zhenshun smiled. "I understand what you mean, Teacher Xu. Teacher Xu, although you’ve brought me quite a bit of trouble..."
"Chairman Fang, I can’t agree with that," Tan You said, refusing to take the blame. "Mayor Wu’s downfall was his own doing. I didn’t make Hong Youcheng offer bribes, nor did I invite Hong Youcheng to enjoy himself at Club No. 1."
"Hong Youcheng ending up in jail is purely his own fault; it has absolutely nothing to do with me. Don’t even think about pinning this on me, Chairman Fang. I won’t accept it."
