Chapter 46: Sister Qing, Stay Calm

Xie Mingming watched as the physics teacher walked in, arms full of test papers, her brows knitting ever so slightly. Teacher Cao settled into her seat and smiled at Xie Mingming.

“Teacher Xie, I’m not targeting anyone, so don’t take it personally,” she said, her tone bordering on provocative.

Xie Mingming’s face stiffened; she managed a smile for Nie Huan and spoke softly, “Nie Huan, you should get back to class.”

“Alright.” Nie Huan glanced at Teacher Cao, then turned and left the office.

As soon as she was gone, Xie Mingming strode to Teacher Cao’s desk, her voice sharp with reproach. “Teacher Cao, how could you say such things in front of my student?”

“Was I wrong?” Teacher Cao replied coldly. “Someone who won’t even bother with weekly practice papers, hoping to pass the top college entrance exam?”

“Nie Huan’s hand is injured, and her grades are still decent.”

Teacher Cao sneered, “That’s only because your class has low standards. I’ve taught for over forty years, and I’ve never seen students like this—fighting, skipping classes. This is a school, not a place for hooligans to show off.”

“Leaving Nie Huan aside, just your Shen Qing alone could drag your class down. Look at her—what does she even look like? Is she here to study, or to play the role of a boss?”

“As teachers, we must see our students through the lens of growth. Their grades aren’t the best, but you can’t disregard their strengths.”

Teacher Cao scoffed, rolling her eyes upward, clearly ignoring Xie Mingming’s words.

Zhang Xuehua, the head teacher of Class One, came over, smiling as she tried to ease the tension. “It’s almost time for class, Teacher Cao. Some students in our class have questions for you.”

Teacher Cao shot Xie Mingming a sidelong glance, grabbed her physics book, and exited the classroom.

“Teacher Xie, Teacher Cao will retire in a few years. He’s getting old, so don’t take it to heart,” Zhang said.

“Zhang, Teacher Cao’s thinking is outdated. It’s a new era, yet he clings to old methods; it doesn’t fit with the ideals of holistic education.”

Zhang Xuehua gave a perfunctory smile. “You’re absolutely right, Teacher Xie.”
*

Shen Qing slipped her phone into her pocket and washed her hands in front of the mirror. Her features were refined, especially her eyes—their corners lifted just slightly, lashes dark and distinct.

“Shen Qing?”

“What a coincidence.”

Hearing the somewhat familiar voice, Shen Qing turned around to see two girls entering.

“Hey! Didn’t you see someone greeting you? Not even a reaction,” Yuan Yingying said, her arm looped through Yu Min’er’s, her tone brash.

Yu Min’er stared at Shen Qing for a few seconds, then looked at Yuan Yingying in surprise. “Yingying, don’t be so harsh with Shen Qing.”

Shen Qing’s lips curled into a faint arc. She uttered one word, coldly: “Fake.”

“You… Ah!” Yuan Yingying tried to confront her, but Shen Qing bumped her shoulder, nearly knocking her off balance.

“Yingying, are you alright?” Yu Min’er caught her arm, steadying her.

“Shen Qing, how can you be so unreasonable?” Yu Min’er called out, holding Shen Qing back as she was about to leave the restroom.

Shen Qing shook off her hand, her gaze icy, her voice sharp. “Boring.”

With that, she strode out without hesitation.

“Min’er, people like her, bullies, you just can’t reason with them,” Yuan Yingying said, glaring at Shen Qing’s retreating figure.

People like her were nothing but pollution in the air.
*

Nie Huan sat at her desk, waiting for Shen Qing to return. As soon as Shen Qing entered, the boys standing at the back hurried to clear a path, even pulling out her chair with exaggerated deference, making a “please” gesture with mock respect.

Shen Qing glanced at them, prompting sheepish chuckles as they hurried back to their seats, leaving the two girls alone.

“Go on,” Shen Qing said, casting Nie Huan a glance and tossing a candy into her mouth. The taste was all saccharine—unpleasant.

“I’ve had a falling out with him,” Nie Huan said.

By “him,” she meant her father.

Shen Qing chewed the candy, her brows furrowed, lounging back in her chair. “It’s about time. You finally got it.”

“Mm. What about Nie Yu?” Shen Qing pushed all her snacks onto Nie Huan’s desk.

“She’s staying at a hotel. I’m worried Nie Yuanshan will go to her school.”

“Nie Yuanshan—do you need my help?”

Chu Yu, who’d been eavesdropping with keen interest, nearly toppled from his chair.

“Sister Qing, calm down! Murder is illegal!”

Shen Qing: …

Nie Huan: …