"Stop asking. You'll know in the future." Liu Tao avoided the question with a red face.
"Alright, Brother Liu Tao, can we go home now?" He didn't want to tell me, so I didn't ask further.
"Let's go back."
After that, we took a taxi home. At home, Instructor Liu was sitting on the sofa in the living room as he watched the two of us enter. He said, "Look at the time. Why did you guys take so long to come back?"
I didn't dare to say a word in front of him, but when Liu Tao heard this, his temper rose.
"What time is it? Don't you know it's raining outside? You didn't even tell Shen Ling the exact address when you sent her out on her own. With such weather outside, why didn't you give her an umbrella?" Liu Tao questioned him.
"Liu Tao, watch your tone when you talk to me. Know your place." Instructor Liu's face darkened, no longer as calm as before.
"Place? What place? I'm just a student of yours. Hasn't our relationship always been like this?" Liu Tao sneered.
"Good, very good. Liu Tao, go to your room. Don't even think about getting a single cent from me in the future." Instructor Liu was so furious that his face turned livid.
"Who cares?!" Liu Tao also returned to his room forcefully.
I was left staring at Instructor Liu awkwardly.
"Instructor Liu, the rain is really too heavy. That's why we returned late. We returned as soon as the rain stopped," I looked at him and explained.
"What are you talking about? Get lost quickly. I get annoyed whenever I see you." Although Instructor Liu's attitude was extremely bad, I still returned to my room secretly. At the very least, I wasn't put in a spot.
After returning to my room, I hurriedly took off my dirty clothes and changed into clean clothes. Then, I lay on the bed and fell asleep.
A few days later, Liu Tao returned to school. The students who had slandered me had also forgotten about those things. Perhaps this was the so-called youthful temperament. The popularity of one matter could only last for a few days.
Other than Wang Fangfang who occasionally targeted me, Instructor Liu did not harass me anymore. My days also seemed to have returned to what they were like in the past.
Actually, it was even better than before. Liu Tao would often come to our classroom to give me and Wang Fangfang some food and drink. Wang Fangfang didn't say anything about this.
I also made a good friend, my deskmate Li Ting. Ever since the incident in Instructor Liu's office last time, our relationship had begun to improve.
Because Li Ting was the only person who did not mock me that day, and she later apologized for not helping me tell the truth and causing me to be humiliated.
I didn't blame Li Ting because I knew that Wang Fangfang was like a bully in the class. No one dared to provoke her.
These short few days were probably the happiest time of my junior year.
One day, Liu Tao bought two big bags of snacks and sent them to me and Wang Fangfang. Instructor Liu, who was about to come to class, bumped into us.
Usually, Liu Tao would avoid Instructor Liu's class. However, that day, Instructor Liu swapped classes with another teacher who had a schedule conflict.
"Liu Tao, why aren't you in your class? Why do you always come to our class?" Instructor Liu asked curiously, but the atmosphere was not tense like it was at home. Instead, he had a gentle and masculine voice.
Instructor Liu had always been like this in school. He was an outstanding teacher who was gentle, considerate and loved his students.
"What does that have to do with you? You're not my teacher."
Liu Tao did not change his attitude just because Instructor Liu's attitude was different in school.
"Student Liu Tao, although I'm not your teacher, I still have the responsibility to remind you that students should prioritize their studies and not mess around."
"Instructor Liu sure is righteous. To be honest, even after so many years, I still admire you for being able to act like a completely different person in school. I have never been able to do something like that.
"Alright, alright, I got it. You teachers are so wishy-washy. You're like a bunch of women. How annoying."
Liu Tao was somewhat impatient after having listened to the other party. Later on, he told me that he was not impatient because he was being lectured. He could still tolerate other teachers lecturing him, but he was somewhat disgusted by Instructor Liu's dignified words.
Liu Tao knew that he couldn't enter the classroom, so he could only return angrily.
Instructor Liu entered the classroom after seeing him leave.
Instructor Liu walked up to the podium and swept his gaze over the class. However, I clearly felt him pause when he saw me. Although it was only for an instant, I could still sense it.
My heart skipped a beat.
However, Instructor Liu didn't do much and only shouted indifferently, "Class!"
We stood up and greeted the teacher before starting the class. During the class, I didn't know if it was because of my own feelings, but I kept feeling like Instructor Liu's gaze was being directed at me again. I was so afraid that I wasn't able to listen to anything for the entire class.
It wasn't only Instructor Liu's class. I spent all the subsequent classes in a daze.
I knew that Instructor Liu had learned about the intimate relationship between Liu Tao and me in school. I didn't know what I was about to face. I didn't know if I would be beaten up or something else.
The day passed in a daze. Finally, it was time to go home. It was also time for me to face Instructor Liu.
"What's wrong with you? You've been acting weird today. I called you many times, but you didn't respond," Li Ting asked me as she packed her bag.
"No… nothing," I said distractedly.
"Alright, but if there's anything, you have to tell me. Only by saying it out loud will your mood improve," Li Ting advised.
"Got it, thank you." At this moment, I was very glad that Li Ting was my friend.
"Let's go. I'll be scolded if I'm late," Li Ting urged me to go faster.
After I packed my bag, I held Li Ting's hand and walked home with her. These days, I had been returning home with Li Ting. The two of us lived in the same direction, but Li Ting's house was a little further away.
We walked along the street that we had passed countless times. On the way, Li Ting chattered and asked me questions. There were some things that I told her directly. However, I was also ambiguous with other things.
Just like that, we walked all the way. As we spoke, I suddenly saw a figure at the corner of the street on the other side of the road.
Seeing her, I was stunned on the spot. That person was none other than my mother.
Li Ting also followed my gaze and asked curiously, "Who is that person? She's dressed so well and trendy. Do you know her?"
"That's my mother," I said proudly. I was overjoyed that Li Ting had praised my mother.
But my mother turned around and left when she saw me.
I could only give up on the idea of looking for her and slowly followed Li Ting home.
The closer I got to home, the more nervous I became. I didn't know how Instructor Liu would treat me when I got home.