Chapter 107: Do Not Say You Do Not Care

Director Tang clearly had not expected her to change her expression so quickly. His face turned livid in an instant, and he abruptly reverted to his stern demeanor, scolding, "What is the matter with you, student? How can you flip-flop like this? Is this the attitude you should have when speaking to a teacher?"

Seeing him flare up, Dong Yanyan smiled pleasantly instead. "I’m sorry, Teacher. I just have a quick temper. Please don't mind it. I only feel that my abilities are still lacking, and I’m afraid I’ll fall short of your expectations."

Director Tang nodded, his expression blank. "Very well, go back and think it over."

"Teacher, I’ll be going then." As she spoke, Dong Yanyan took out the beautifully packaged lighter from her pocket, placed it on his desk, and said, "Teacher, I went to the mall yesterday to buy a gift for my father and picked one up for you as well. Do you like it?"

Director Tang glanced at the item on the desk with feigned nonchalance, and his face immediately shifted from cloudy to clear. He offered a perfunctory refusal, "Look at you, child, why spend the money? Take it back, take it back right away!"

"I'm just glad you like it, Teacher. I’m young and sometimes don't know any better when I speak or act. I hope you won't be angry." Dong Yanyan pressed the item into his hand and smiled with sincere-looking charm.

Director Tang laughed with a touch of embarrassment, adopting an official tone, "It is understandable, perfectly understandable. Don't carry any burden in your heart. If you have any difficulties in life or studies in the future, feel free to come to me. I may be a bit strict, but it is only because I want what is best for all of you."

"I understand. Thank you, Teacher." Dong Yanyan bowed to him and turned to leave the office. Once outside, she finally let out a sigh of relief. Turning her head, she saw Song Mingcheng waiting for her at the stairwell.

"I’ve realized I’m starting to follow the same path as you," Dong Yanyan said with a smile as she passed by him.

"And how do you figure that?" Song Mingcheng asked with a smile, walking down the stairs beside her.

"A heartthrob, of course—indiscriminate in age and status," Dong Yanyan teased.

Song Mingcheng chuckled. "Narcissist."

"Likewise," Dong Yanyan replied, laughing.

*

Back in the classroom, Dong Yanyan saw Ren Jiaxuan flipping through her notebook at her desk.

"Don't you know it's impolite to snoop through other people's things?" She snatched back her notebook and glared at him fiercely.

Ren Jiaxuan wasn't angry; he smiled leisurely. "I was bored waiting for you, so I looked. Besides, I'm not 'other people.' Come look at what I bought for you today!" As he spoke, he waved a shopping bag. Dong Yanyan took the small paper bag, opened it, and was instantly furious. She threw it back at him. "Did your precious Dudu pick this out of her leftovers?! Look at my hair! Do you think I can wear this kind of hair clip? Get lost! Take your things and get out!"

Only then did Ren Jiaxuan notice that her hair had been cut short again. His face paled, and he couldn't help but lose his temper as well. "Every time you get angry, you cut your hair! You turn perfectly good hair into this state. You don't care, but I do!"

"If you like long hair so much, go find your precious Dudu! Don't touch my hair, get lost!" Dong Yanyan kicked out at him. Ren Jiaxuan dodged nimbly and pointed at her nose, shouting, "Fine! I'll go find her right now! If you're so capable, don't get jealous!" With that, he stomped off, slamming the back door so hard it echoed.

Dong Yanyan leaned against the desk, nursing her resentment.

"That's a strong scent of vinegar! Yanyan, you’re jealous," laughed Yang Ruining, who was sitting in the back row.

"Is that so? I don't think so," Dong Yanyan muttered, pouting.

"I knew you couldn't keep up the act. Well, that’s enough drama. We’re not in the mood to watch you two bicker every single day," Song Mingcheng said indifferently.

"No one is forcing you to watch," Dong Yanyan retorted with a smile. "Go find somewhere cool to stay; you’re everywhere."

"Classmate, don't flatter yourself. I only care about you because we’re from the same hometown; I have no interest in being your 'guy best friend,'" Song Mingcheng laughed.

Dong Yanyan immediately retorted, "Classmate, what makes you say that? Even if I wanted a 'guy best friend,' I wouldn't pick someone as dark-hearted and sharp-tongued as you—that would just be self-inflicted torture! You’re thinking too much."

"Well, that’s a relief." Song Mingcheng patted her shoulder with a look of satisfaction and strolled back to his own seat.

Dong Yanyan rolled her eyes in annoyance: What kind of person is he?!

*

As soon as Du Jingxuan saw Ren Jiaxuan return in a huff, she knew there was no good news.

"She didn't want it?"

"I was too late. She just cut her hair. Actually, it looks quite spirited," Ren Jiaxuan said, feeling both amused and frustrated.

"She’s too hard to please. When Li Bing was courting me, he only gave me a teddy bear, and I was happy for days," Du Jingxuan laughed.

As she said this, Li Zhe, who was eavesdropping nearby, suddenly perked up. "Really, Dudu? A teddy bear is enough to win you over? That’s great!"

Du Jingxuan pouted and nodded. "I do think I’m a bit too easy to win over. He doesn't put much effort into coaxing me anymore. Maybe it's because we haven't seen each other for too long..." Before she could finish her long-winded talk, Li Zhe had already run off happily. Before long, he came back panting, carrying a teddy bear over a meter tall.

"Dudu, look, is this pretty?" He shoved the teddy bear into Du Jingxuan's arms, looking at her with great gentleness and anticipation.

Du Jingxuan hugged the bear, asking in confusion, "Why are you giving me this? I already have one."

"Dudu, just say yes to him! He's been lonely for days!" Ren Jiaxuan laughed out loud.

"Li Zhe, you lecher! You're looking for a beating, aren't you!" Du Jingxuan grabbed the teddy bear and chased Li Zhe all around the classroom. Seeing the situation turn bad, Li Zhe ducked and ran, but just as he bolted out the classroom door, he collided head-on with Du Xinmeng.

Du Xinmeng was caught off guard and startled.

"Mengmeng, this is for you, Li Zhe bought it." Du Jingxuan shoved the teddy bear into Du Xinmeng's hands. The little girl never knew how to refuse others, so she mumbled a confused "thank you" and walked back into the classroom with the bear in her arms.

Seeing her return with the bear, Yang Ruining asked curiously, "When did you buy this? It's so cute!"

"I already have a rabbit on my bed. If I sleep with a bear this big, where am I supposed to sleep?" Du Xinmeng frowned, looking truly distressed.

Seeing her silly expression, Dong Yanyan couldn't help but laugh. "Zhang Lei is too much. He bought you a rabbit that big, and now someone else gives you a bear this big."

Just as they were speaking, Zhang Lei and Xu Cheng walked in from the front door with smiles. Zhang Lei spotted the bear in Du Xinmeng's arms immediately and walked over to touch it curiously.

"Mengmeng, whose is this?" he asked with a smile.

"Li Zhe gave it to me. I don't know why he gave it to me either," Du Xinmeng answered honestly.

"Mengmeng, we don't take things from others. If you like it, I'll buy one for you," Zhang Lei said in a gentle, coaxing tone.

"That's true. My bed is only so big. If I have another bear, I won't have anywhere to sleep," Du Xinmeng nodded obediently, preparing to return it.

"It would be a shame to send it back. If you don't want it, give it to me," Yang Ruining laughed. At this, Leng Haoyang protested, "If you have a bear that big on your bed, where am I supposed to sleep? Mengmeng, take it back quickly, or I’ll be sleeping on your bed tonight!"

"Leng Haoyang, how can you be so shameless?! Get lost!" Yang Ruining picked up the teddy bear and threw it at him, while Zhang Lei lunged forward and pinned him under the desk.

Dong Yanyan watched with schadenfreude as they roughed him up, making him howl. After a brief commotion, they decided to give the bear to Dong Yanyan. She, the beneficiary of their squabble, gladly accepted: the dormitory was so cold that having something furry to warm the bed would be quite nice. The only problem was that the bear was so large she had to carry and drag it all the way back to her dorm.

As she passed the broadcasting class door, Ren Jiaxuan was leaning against the frame listening to music. He stared in disbelief as she clumsily dragged the bear past him.

"Dong Yanyan, put that down! You’re going to take what Dudu doesn't want?!" he shouted at her back.

Dong Yanyan turned around, stunned, and asked, "Did you buy this?"

"This isn't what I bought—"

"Then what are you yelling about?" Dong Yanyan gave him a dismissive eye-roll and calmly hugged the bear as she headed downstairs.

"You—" Ren Jiaxuan rolled up his sleeves, ready to chase after her, but Li Zhe rushed out of the classroom and held him back with a grin. "Stop yelling. It's just a plush toy; if she likes it, let her have it. What girl doesn't like these things?"

"She's doing it on purpose to provoke me, don't you see? She's doing it just to provoke me! What heinous crime have I committed that she has to be so relentless? I just said a few words because I saw her hugging someone else, and she's been like this! Is there no end to it?! Is there no end to it?!" Ren Jiaxuan shouted, his eyes red.

"Alright, alright, let's not yell here. Let's go out, let's go..." Li Zhe pushed and pulled him away.

*

That night, the phone in Dong Yanyan's dormitory was rung off the hook by Ren Jiaxuan. Every time she answered, it was his drunken, incoherent rambling. By the late hours, seeing that it was impossible for everyone to sleep, Dong Yanyan finally unplugged the phone line. Hugging her pillow, she thought of his explosive behavior and felt a slight twinge of heartache. Maybe she should have a proper talk with him tomorrow.

Saturday morning, she was surprised to find Ren Jiaxuan missing. Perhaps he had drunk too much last night and was sleeping it off in his dorm.

Feeling bored, she slumped over her desk, trying to catch a quick nap. Someone approached from behind and draped a coat over her. She looked up and saw Tiantian.

"Sister Xiao Wu, you aren't asleep? You have letters!" Lu Tiantian said with a smile, waving two letters in her hand.

Dong Yanyan snatched them and saw they were from her junior high classmate, Li Juan—her best friend back then, who had the personality of a tomboy. She opened the envelope, took out the heart-folded stationery, and read it with a smile.

"This stamp is pretty, give it to me!" A heavy slap landed on her back, and the envelope on the desk was snatched away by the newcomer with lightning speed. Dong Yanyan looked up in shock, only to see Yang Xiaohai looking back at her with equal shock. He turned his head, saw Lu Tiantian sitting in the back of the classroom, and looked momentarily flustered.

Dong Yanyan looked at the coat Tiantian had given her and realized he had mistaken her for someone else. She couldn't blame him; she was similar in stature to Tiantian, and she had cut her hair in the same style as Tiantian's two days ago. It was no wonder he had mistaken one for the other.