"Stop!" Li Zheng hurriedly pulled the paper back, "What did you just ask?"
"The homeroom teacher, who do you think is suitable?" The old man raised an eyebrow, "Pick from the other teachers."
"Let me think..." Li Zheng pondered, "In terms of seniority, it should be English Teacher Zhao, but she always leaves right after class and doesn't grade our homework seriously. She's kind of hands-off, not really suitable."
"Hmm." The old man pulled back the paper and started writing on it, "Teacher Zhao is not responsible, got it."
"That's not what I mean. She does what needs to be done, just not as exaggerated as Teacher Hu Chunmei." Li Zheng was a bit wary, "What are you writing?"
"Do you still want last year's 'Sci-Fi World'?"
"Fine, fine, I won't ask..." Li Zheng continued to think, "Biology Teacher Hu, he's steady, but too easygoing and slow. He probably can't handle the pace of our class."
"So, he's dragging his feet and slacking off, got it." The old man jotted it down.
"I didn't say that," Li Zheng continued, "Physics Teacher Tao, has just enough experience. She's very smart, I really like her classes—clear logic, fast pace, and full of knowledge points—but she seems focused solely on teaching, no interaction with us outside of it."
The old man made a big stroke, "Dislikes students, refuses to communicate, got it."
"Forget it, whatever makes you happy." Li Zheng gave up, "Chemistry Teacher Yu, she's aloof and has no interest in being a homeroom teacher. She's a good teacher fundamentally, but she never listens to others, does things her own way."
"Even if she listens, no one dares to speak up." The old man thought for a moment, then hesitantly wrote, "Forget it, I'll leave her alone... Um, you haven't mentioned the Chinese teacher?"
"Yes, I'm still unsure," Li Zheng said hesitantly, "Chinese Teacher Tang, very enthusiastic, highly responsible, great teaching who keeps coming up with innovative methods. Our class never falls behind in Chinese. Honestly, I don't even put much effort into Chinese, just follow her classes, and I can get decent grades."
"Then what's there to hesitate about?"
"Do you not know what happened last year?" Li Zheng sighed, "Three parents chased her, accusing her of physically punishing students. How could that be? She has such a good temper that it's amazing students don't bully her. Thinking it over, it's better not to burden her with the class. Such a good young teacher, I don't want to see her get hurt again... Better go with Biology Teacher Hu, he might not be the best, but we have a capable class leader who will help him."
"Oh my, you're quite considerate, aren't you?" The old man raised his brow, "You little rascal, you know how to be gentle with women, huh?"
Li Zheng looked down at his neat school uniform, "How am I not considerate?"
"Alright, I won't make it hard for you." The old man laughed as he stood up, "Wait here, I'll get those magazines for you."
After an anxious wait, the old man brought back a whole year's worth of 'Sci-Fi World'.
"Whew, whew..." He blew and dusted off the covers, "Besides me, only that girl has read these."
Li Zheng secretly cheered.
His judgment was indeed correct, she followed it every issue.
"You can only borrow three at a time, but since you keep coming to my bar, I'll make an exception this time." The old man muttered as he recorded, " 'Sci-Fi World,' been around for years. I asked her before, why would a girl like sci-fi?"
"Why?"
"Heh heh." The old man stroked his beard and chuckled, "It's a very romantic answer; I won't tell you."
"Isn't it just for studying?" Li Zheng quietly stuffed the whole year's worth of magazines into his bag.
"Well, you could put it that way too..." The old man scratched his head, feeling something was off, "Why does talking to you make everything sound so strange?"
It's your own crooked mind, Li Zheng grumbled internally.
After bowing and saying goodbye, he jogged off.
He couldn't wait for his spirited battle with Jiang Qinghua.
A while later, a girl peeked her head in.
She moved exactly like Li Zheng did.
They both checked to see if anyone annoying was around.
"They're gone, no need to look." The old man waved with a smile.
"Phew..." Lin Yujing finally walked in, awkwardly saying, "Teacher... about yesterday..."
"Is this what you want?" The old man smiled, pushing her student card forward.
"Yes... Thank you, teacher." Lin Yujing took the library card but glanced at the October issue of 'Sci-Fi World' on the desk.
"Do you want to borrow this?" The old man opened the cover, "That kid got it dirty, I cleaned it up for you."
"Actually, it's... okay." Lin Yujing mumbled.
"If you don't mind, then of course, no problem." The old man pushed the magazine over and casually asked, "That kid secretly asked me why you like 'Sci-Fi World.'"
"?!" Lin Yujing was stunned.
She wanted to get angry.
But didn't dare to.
"Why... why would you do that..." Lin Yujing clutched the magazine, blushing and looking down, "You promised not to tell anyone..."
"Heh heh, I didn't tell him, just teased him." The old man laughed, "That silly boy thought you liked it for studying, such a dented brain."
"Phew..." Lin Yujing finally relaxed, "Please... don't tell him more."
"You can trust me."
Watching Lin Yujing leave shyly.
The old man's heart was surging.
Being young was wonderful.
If he could turn back time and return to high school.
Who would bother studying?
The girls in the whole school.
He would want to "interact" with each one!
...
Just as Lin Yujing left the library.
Two stout arms suddenly grabbed her from behind.
PONG!
Bear hug.
She suffocated.
She struggled.
She hammered wildly.
"Alright, alright!"
Qiao Bixia finally let go with a muffled laugh, "Heh heh."
"Phew..." Lin Yujing wiped off the saliva, glaring, "If you do that again, I'll bite you."
"Hey, it's not easy getting those neat teeth, don't mess them up." Qiao Bixia held onto Lin Yujing, "Come on, let's play ball."
"No."
"Oh, are you really scared of that kid?" Qiao Bixia glared.
"Just not going."
At this moment, Xu Mengxi also trotted up, "It's fine. We continued playing with Li Zheng afterward, he's quite peaceful."
"Shoo!" Lin Yujing turned away, "Keep speaking for him and I won't talk to any of you."
"Who's speaking for that guy?" Qiao Bixia said, "Don't be fooled by how lively he is, he's got terrible stamina. After ten minutes, one bump, and he's down."
Xu Mengxi wiped her sweat, "Not even ten minutes... you could knock anyone down at any time."
"That's exactly it." Qiao Bixia squeezed Lin Yujing's shoulder, then turned to drag her to the restroom, "Hurry up, change clothes, today I'll help you crush that kid."
She suffocated.
She struggled.
She hammered wildly.
Finally, all she could do was bite.
Chomp.
"Hey, hey, hey..." Qiao Bixia only then released her, looking at the teeth marks on her arm and laughing, "It actually hurts."
"..." Lin Yujing wiped her mouth, whispered to Xu Mengxi, "Mengxi, is it true... after ten minutes, we can easily beat him?"
"Really, I even blocked his shot at the end."
Lin Yujing felt a bit itchy in her hands.
And in her mouth.
But her teeth hurt.
She glared at Qiao Bixia's arm.
And started rubbing her mouth.
"I warned you," Qiao Bixia nudged her towards the restroom, "Hurry up, I've held it in all day, didn't even sleep well last night."