Chapter 12: The Cold School Beauty’s Fierce Love
The next day, Tao Ning handed in her test paper. The teacher wasn’t there, so she left without lingering.
While submitting her work, she was met with shocked stares, making Tao Ning check the subject multiple times: “Did I hand it in to the wrong person?”
The math class representative shook his head repeatedly: “No, no, it’s correct.”
Turning to his classmates, he wore an expression of both excitement and pain. Everyone understood what his expression meant – Guys, you won’t believe it, the one who always hands in blank papers, the bottom of the class, actually submitted her homework!!!
As for Jin Yue and Lü Xinxi, after being thoroughly persuaded by Tao Ning last night, they were still struggling to accept it, but they were trying.
After class, Tao Ning was called to the office by the physics teacher, who had arrived late.
Having anticipated this, Tao Ning went willingly. To the physics class representative who came to deliver the message, she looked like a fearless martyr heading to the execution ground, her back practically screaming “Not afraid of death.”
The representative wondered how many years of cultivation it would take to develop Tao Ning’s level of courage. She herself, as a class representative, still felt apprehensive facing Teacher Chen, even though he was quite gentle in private.
Old Chen’s office wasn’t on the same floor as Class A, but on the top floor, where the physics and chemistry labs were located. Most physics and chemistry teachers had their offices there.
Tao Ning looked up at the nameplates on the doors with a slightly unfamiliar gaze. She had frequented this floor during her first and second years, but her visits had decreased significantly in her third year with the focus on exam revision.
She quickly found the exceptionally luxurious and spacious teachers’ office, politely knocked on the open door, and stepped inside.
There were quite a few teachers inside, and a few students stood at desks, asking questions. They all subconsciously looked up when someone entered.
Today, they saw someone they rarely saw enter the office, and the low murmur of conversations quieted down considerably.
Xu Qiuyi was also there, by the chemistry teacher’s desk. She was the first to look up when Tao Ning entered.
No one at Ming Rui could miss those streaks of red highlights.
Many Ming Rui students experimented with their hairstyles, and the school didn’t really interfere with these wealthy children. The reason Tao Ning’s hair was so memorable was simply because it looked good.
Tao Ning entered and walked directly to Old Chen’s desk: “Teacher, I’m here.”
Old Chen put down his teacup, the test paper with two different handwritings spread out on his desk: “Did you do this yourself?”
“No,” Tao Ning said truthfully, “Xu Qiuyi helped me with it.”
Hearing this, Old Chen looked at her quizzically but didn’t say anything. He just pointed at the last blank space and asked, “Why is this question blank? Didn’t I say I don’t want to see any blank spaces?”
Tao Ning glanced at it, then straightened up: “…This is an advanced question. If I actually answered it, I’d be in trouble.”
Old Chen: “Why would you be in trouble?”
Tao Ning’s face was resolute, her expression saying You asked for this, not me: “I’m not supposed to know how to do this question. If I answered it, it would be wrong. I’m not falling for that trap.”
Old Chen: “…” He chuckled, holding his teacup.
Xu Qiuyi: “…” Seriously, you’re really saying this?
However, Teacher Chen, who usually had a stern demeanor, didn’t get angry. He asked a few questions, confirming that she genuinely didn’t know how to solve it and wasn’t just fooling around, and let her go before the second bell rang.
Before she left, he gently advised Tao Ning. Outside of class, Teacher Chen was a truly kind and approachable old man.
However, in his profession, kindness alone couldn’t guarantee his class’s average score would remain in the top three.
Tao Ning strode across the corridor, catching up to Xu Qiuyi, and her first words were: “You walk a bit fast.”
Xu Qiuyi hadn’t actually been walking fast. This was her usual pace, and she said as much: “I’m used to walking a bit faster.”
Tao Ning gave a soft “oh”: “Then wait for me next time. It’s my first time being called to the office, I’m not used to it.”
Who would curse themselves to be called to the office by teachers?
Xu Qiuyi accidentally stumbled, kicking her own heel: “You want a next time?”
Tao Ning raised a finger and wagged it: “There will definitely be a next time.”
At the time, Xu Qiuyi thought she was joking, but that “next time” came sooner than expected.
This time, it was for Chinese class.
Xu Qiuyi was submitting her calligraphy work for a competition, hoping to win a prize and some prize money.
Entering the office, she saw another familiar face.
It was Tao Ning, who had written “Don’t quite understand” under the reading comprehension question: “How do you understand the author’s description of the father’s hands? What emotions does the author express through this?”
Chinese teacher: “Why did you write this answer?”
Tao Ning scratched her face, embarrassed: “Sorry, teacher, I don’t have a father. I come from a single-parent family.”
The Chinese teacher was speechless: “…”
Xu Qiuyi: “…”
Even though the Chinese teacher didn’t say anything, Xu Qiuyi could practically hear the young teacher mentally chanting Buddhist scriptures.
The Chinese teacher stammered guiltily, “I, I… I’m sorry.”
Tao Ning smiled brightly, her eyes clear: “There’s nothing to be sorry about, teacher. Just don’t have a dad, that’s all. I’ve grown up just fine.”
The Chinese teacher: “…” Help me, someone save me.
The Chinese teacher, who had only been teaching for a few years, clearly didn’t have the same fortitude as the other teachers, especially since the person standing before her was the chairman’s daughter.
Responsible teachers all shared a common ailment: they couldn’t stand seeing students not doing well, and they couldn’t bear to ignore students who wanted to improve.
Recently, Tao Ning had been called to the office by various teachers. Teacher Chen, with his wealth of teaching experience, had set the precedent. Knowing that Tao Ning would listen, other teachers followed suit.
Finally getting the opportunity, the Chinese teacher was met with this critical hit.
In the end, after explaining everything and still receiving Tao Ning’s clear and polite “Teacher, I still don’t quite understand” look, the Chinese teacher called for backup.
She said, “Qiuyi, can you explain it to her? I’m going to get some water.”
With that, she hurried to get a drink and calm her nerves.
Xu Qiuyi had no choice but to take on the task and tried to explain, receiving effective feedback.
Tao Ning looked enlightened: “I never thought of it from that perspective. Your dad must be very good to you.”
Xu Qiuyi: “He’s not good to me. I made that up.”
Tao Ning observed her expression, feeling puzzled.
Xu Qiuyi’s expression clearly showed weariness when mentioning her father, so why did she repeatedly soften in the original worldline, instead of seizing the opportunity to cut ties?
Perhaps family was an inextricable knot. Her parents seemed to treat her…
Sigh, she couldn’t remember.
Xu Qiuyi, recalling Tao Ning’s surprising “no dad” comment, assumed she was curious about such emotions, since Tao Ning had never experienced them. But she felt ashamed, unable to say anything positive based on her own experiences.
After some thought, she changed the subject: “Actually, there’s a method to answering these kinds of questions. If you follow this format, your score won’t be too low.”
Tao Ning immediately perked up, her interest piqued: “There’s such a thing?”
Meeting her gaze, Xu Qiuyi couldn’t help but say, “I wrote it down in my notebook. I’ll find it and show you later.”
Tao Ning exclaimed in delight, “You’re willing to lend it to me?”
Having learned from the past, people tended to be more cautious about similar negative experiences.
Xu Qiuyi: “If you take good care of it, why wouldn’t I be willing?”
520 sighed: [I finally understand why the male lead couldn’t forget Xu Qiuyi in the original worldline. It’s really hard to forget someone like her.]
She should be described as cold and elegant like the moon, her light shining equally on everyone. Those who didn’t understand her often found her too cold, but she was simply consistent, never changing.
Trying to hold the moon meant being prepared for the inability to warm it.
Tao Ning’s attention, however, was on the first part of the sentence, and she assured Xu Qiuyi, “I’ll take good care of it.”
A voice called from behind, “Xu Qiuyi, you’re here! The chemistry teacher is looking for you.”
Xu Qiuyi responded and left.
The teacher, having finished pouring her water, returned and sat down to continue explaining the questions, only to find that Tao Ning now understood everything instantly.
Sometimes, it was really hard to tell whether Tao Ning understood or not.
Could it be that Tao Ning was more receptive to explanations from fellow students? The Chinese teacher decided to observe Xu Qiuyi’s teaching methods next time.
Then she let Tao Ning go.
As time passed, the students in Class A got used to Tao Ning suddenly studying hard and no longer skipping class, as well as Nangong Yunfei’s prolonged absence.
Not only did they get used to it, they would also scoff at surprised students from other classes: “What’s the big deal? It’s our senior year, is it so strange to suddenly want to study hard?”
Students from other classes: “…” It wasn’t strange for others, but it was a bit strange for Tao Ning.
This conversation-stopping remark came from Tao Ning herself, leaving the gossipmongers speechless.
Because of this, no one dared to ask why Tao Ning had suddenly become so close to Xu Qiuyi.
As the exams approached, Tao Ning glanced at the empty seats, seemingly unconcerned as she focused on her own tasks.
Outside the window, a few girls passed by, saw the empty seats, and uttered similar “Oh… he’s not here again…” before quickly leaving.
Tao Ning ignored these whispers. She didn’t need to go through such trouble to find out Nangong Yunfei’s whereabouts. Someone from the Tao family reported to her daily, so she naturally knew that Nangong Yunfei was busy making his official entry into the family.
As for being beaten up, if he had any sense, he wouldn’t retaliate against the Tao family.
However, the reality was that Nangong Yunfei wasn’t as smart as Tao Ning thought. He did want to retaliate, but his mother, Lu Weiyu, stopped him.
In terms of strategic thinking, Ms. Lu, who had outmaneuvered numerous rivals, raised Nangong Yunfei, secured him the Nangong surname, and later became the difficult mother-in-law in the original worldline, was far superior to her impulsive son.
After school that day, a photo of Nangong Yunfei standing with the head of the Nangong family circulated throughout the school.
This was the first time he had been officially and publicly acknowledged as a young master of the Nangong family. If the head of the family married his mother, his position would be even more secure.
In the car, the woman in professional attire sitting in the passenger seat nervously watched the school gate.
It had been fifteen minutes since school ended, and the gate was almost empty, with only a few cars remaining.
Seeing her nervousness, Uncle Liu handed her a bottle of water and comforted her with a smile: “Don’t worry, Miss Zhou, Miss Tao is actually very easy to talk to.”
Zhou Tong took the water and smiled, not refuting him. Tao Ning was indeed easy to talk to with her regular driver, but in other matters, she was unexpectedly strict.
Soon, the person she was waiting for appeared at the school gate.
Zhou Tong watched as the young but respectable Tao Ning in her mind parted ways with the girl pushing a bicycle. Instead of waving with one hand, Tao Ning waved with both.
Zhou Tong’s first reaction: “…?” Who is this bubbly girl?
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