Free Web NovelChapter 407: Chapter 407: Yanxi 15
Fang Zhenshun’s words caught in her throat. After a long moment, she laughed. "Teacher Xu, you really refuse to take a loss, don’t you?"
"These days, only a sucker takes a loss," Tan You said with a smile. "You’re actually thrilled, aren’t you? There might be a few bumps in the road, but with Hong Youcheng locked up, everything he had will logically fall into your hands."
"Teacher Xu, you’re incredibly smart." Fang Zhenshun stopped beating around the bush. "I’ll give your suggestion serious consideration. I completely agree with you. This is about forging an alliance, not making an enemy."
’Figures. If the top beam is crooked, the lower ones won’t be straight either.’
Tan You had no intention of dragging out the conversation with Fang Zhenshun. After a few more brief words, she hung up. Turning around, she saw the group that was supposed to be counting money. Instead, they were all resting their chins in their hands and staring at her, occasionally trading glances. She had no idea what they were silently communicating.
Tan You strolled into the living room. "Is the money all counted?"
"All done," Jin Li answered first. "Teacher, you were so cool just now."
Tan You chuckled. "I just said a few words, that’s all. You guys should head back. You have class on Monday, so don’t be late."
"Oh, right! We have class tomorrow!" Song Yuan shot to his feet, pulling Li Xiuzai up with him. "Let’s hurry back. I don’t want to be dozing off in class."
Once the students left, Tan You’s apartment fell silent. She wasn’t in the mood to rest, so she went to an online forum instead. ’The night is young,’ she thought. ’Might as well find something to do. Like make some money.’
Fang Zhenshun was a person of decisive action. She hadn’t known before that Hong Xiazhen had been the other woman in a relationship. Now that she did, it was even less likely she would make an enemy of the wronged party.
When Hong Xiazhen learned that Fang Zhenshun’s marriage alliance was canceled, her first reaction wasn’t joy, but panic. Before, with Hong Youcheng to rely on, she was financially comfortable and never had to worry about material things. That freedom allowed her to pursue what she considered true love.
But now, Hong Youcheng was no longer her safety net, and she had few professional skills of her own. The prospect of becoming a wealthy man’s wife was gone. ’Does that mean I’m stuck with Jin Taiyuan for the rest of my life?’
Jin Taiyuan was an exceptional man, but being exceptional didn’t mean he could provide the ideal life she dreamed of. As a result, over the next little while, Hong Xiazhen’s attitude toward him grew visibly distant.
But Jin Taiyuan was no fool. With the rose-colored glasses finally off, he saw things more clearly than ever. He finally understood exactly what kind of person Hong Xiazhen was. ’Why should she get to destroy my relationship and then just walk away scot-free?’
’The two of them should be tangled together like this, never to be separated for the rest of their lives!’ The once-gentle man was gradually becoming obsessive. He knew he had wronged Xu Yanxi, but he had lost so much because of Hong Xiazhen. ’Why should he have to bear this pain all by himself?’
While Jin Taiyuan and Hong Xiazhen tormented each other, Tan You’s life as a math teacher continued as usual. The six students she had originally chosen had now graduated from high school, and everyone was focused completely on preparing for the college entrance exams.
They even put their food stall business on hold, determined to succeed on their first try. This wasn’t unusual in Country H. Some people spent years retaking the exams to get into their dream university, while others had to work part-time while they studied.
If before it was Tan You pushing them to study in the hopes of giving them a bright future, now they themselves were fighting to forge their own paths. Every single one of them was giving it a hundred percent.
"Stay calm, don’t be nervous." Standing in front of the testing center, Tan You gently reminded them, "When you get your papers, write down your name and exam ID number first." ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
"We know," the students replied obediently. "Teacher, you don’t have to wait for us out here. You should go home."
"I can’t do that," Tan You said, her eyes crinkling into a smile. "I promised I’d be here for your exams, so of course I’m going to wait outside for you."
"Knowing you’re out here waiting for us, I’m suddenly not nervous at all." Jin Li hugged Tan You’s waist and rubbed her cheek against Tan You’s shoulder. "Teacher, I’m heading in."
"Good luck," Tan You said simply. Her tone was perfectly calm, not at all like the cutesy, saccharine encouragement from girls in TV dramas. And yet, her students looked as if they’d been shot full of adrenaline, their fighting spirit soaring.
The college entrance exam was a battle, and this was the day that would determine the outcome. Watching her students’ retreating backs, Tan You smiled and headed to a nearby coffee shop.
She was there to support them, but that didn’t mean she had to stand outside the testing center for hours on end. Tan You wasn’t one to torture herself like that. ’As long as I time it right and get back before the exam ends, it still counts as being here for them, right?’
Tan You stayed in the coffee shop for the entire duration of the exam. While her students were testing, she was busy writing code. Both parties were hard at work, striving for their respective futures.
Stretching, Tan You gently closed her laptop. It was the final exam. Once her students were done, they could finally rest. She, however, had to go back to school and teach. After all, she had taken special leave just to accompany her kids to the exams.
Luckily, the weekend was only two days away. Once she made up for the classes she’d missed today, she could get some proper rest. Thinking this, Tan You covered her mouth with her hand and yawned.
’Speaking of which, it’s about time to start up the little study group at school again.’ After a few months of working with the new students, Tan You now had a clear grasp of their academic levels.
It wasn’t that she was some kind of saint. She was simply paying forward the kindness that Teacher Shi had once shown her. If her efforts could bring about even a small, positive change in someone else’s life, Tan You felt it was worth it.
When choosing students for her group, Tan You almost always picked those from less privileged backgrounds. Students from wealthy families already had access to plenty of educational resources; they didn’t need her to gild the lily.
As she was mulling over potential candidates, the exam ended. Tan You’s eyes narrowed slightly as she watched her students come bursting out of the testing center, and a slow smile spread across her face.
She did have her professional ethics. She hadn’t peeked in on them at all during the test. Even though she wasn’t the one taking it, Tan You felt that observing them with her abilities would be no different from cheating.
’In any case, they’ve made it this far. All we can do now is relax and wait for the results.’
Jin Li and Zheng Xue were particularly ecstatic. Like two frolicking fawns, the moment they spotted Tan You standing outside the main gate, they both broke into a run.
Their dash spurred Song Yuan and the others into motion. All six of them made a beeline straight for Tan You.
"You’re going to knock me flat!" Tan You stumbled back two steps from the impact of the two girls, just barely managing to keep her balance. There wasn’t a trace of annoyance in her voice, only amusement.
