Nevertheless, it was not appropriate to start off in discord. Moreover, in consideration of the stable life that his grandparents hoped for, he had no choice but to endure it.
Scratching his chin, Lin Yu smiled apologetically, "Traffic jam on the road."
"That's a poor excuse," Lan Chu calmly replied, her gaze remaining unchanged.
Though her tone and expression were serene, being observed by such eyes, even if one hadn't committed any mistake, it felt as though one had. It left a sense of unutterable self-reproach and scrutiny in the heart.
Lin Yu sighed, choosing silence instead of words, standing there, calming himself, meeting her gaze with a gentle look. At this point, he could only opt for silence; it was the only way to handle such a strong-willed woman. For generally, when such a person reproached someone, they wouldn't tolerate any resistance. Explaining would be regarded as a cover-up, further complicating matters.
"Why have you gone silent?" Lan Chu's eyes began to show a trace of curious interest, staring at him as she inquired.
"What would you like me to say?" Lin Yu asked with a smile.
"A reasonable explanation," Lan Chu said nonchalantly.
"Is an explanation useful?" Lin Yu raised an eyebrow.
"Why wouldn't it be?" Lan Chu furrowed her brow.
"Because you don't intend to believe it anyway, so whatever I say will be futile," Lin Yu shrugged.
"That's a presumption on your part," Lan Chu shook her head.
"I find you presumptuous," Lin Yu grew a bit impatient, loosening his tie. It was choking him, hanging loosely around his neck, somewhat untidy.
"Clap…" Lan Chu suddenly slammed the table, startling Lin Yu.
"The first regulation for teachers at Mingren Girls' High School: five hundred yuan penalty for tardiness or early departure. The third regulation: five hundred yuan penalty for improper attire while entering the school premises. The sixth regulation: five hundred yuan penalty for disrespecting superiors in the office or public areas on campus." Lan Chu pointed expressionlessly with her delicate finger towards the rules hanging on the distant wall of the school.
Before Lin Yu could express his utter surprise, she continued, looking up to face him, "You're late, so you'll be fined. Lack of manners, improper attire—fined. Disrespect in my office—fined. Total of one thousand five hundred yuan. Now, go out, turn right, the third door on the left is the school's finance office. Go there and pay the fine before coming back to see me."
"But…" Lin Yu was infuriated. What kind of nonsense was this? He hadn't even signed a formal contract or received his salary yet and here he was about to lose everything? How was this even reasonable?
"No buts. Mingren Girls' High School operates under a semi-militarized management. It's all about compliance. Here, it's either obedience or resignation; no one, no matter who, must strictly adhere to the school rules, just like soldiers obey orders. Go pay the fine, immediately, now." Lan Chu's cold yet alluring lips articulated a torrent of verbal violence that left Lin Yu bewildered.
What kind of world was this? And what kind of school was this? A blacklisted school? He had just entered the school gates, and the vice principal, in charge of personnel matters, had come to intimidate him. He hadn't even received a penny of salary yet, and now, he was being fined fifteen hundred yuan? Was this a joke? If he really paid this fine, he'd become a complete fool.
"This is unfair!" Lin Yu began to protest. This Vice Principal with her cold demeanor, she ought to just go away. This was becoming too arrogant.
"Pay the fine, sign the employment contract. If you don't, pack your bags and leave. Mingren Girls' High School seeks individuals with both moral character and talent, not ruffians and rogues," Lan Chu gave Lin Yu no face, her words sharply critical. Lin Yu wanted to grab her by her hair and slam her head on the desk. Even if it meant causing a ruckus or burning bridges, he didn't care.
However, his reason told him that such actions would only make him lose his last shred of dignity. Physical violence was a sign of weakness; he should avoid using it unless absolutely necessary, especially against a woman. Especially against such a stunning woman at her very core.
"Fine, you're ruthless. I quit. Is that fine?" Lin Yu took a deep breath, looking at Lan Chu, deciding not to match wits with her, turning around and leaving.
Lan Chu watched him leave coldly, not saying anything. She continued to stand there quietly, a peculiar glint shimmering in her eyes, a hint of a smile appearing on her sensual, alluring lips. It seemed to carry an enigmatic sense of conspiracy.
"Wait, I think, even if you don't want to work, you may not have a choice," Lan Chu smiled faintly.
"Why? Did I sell myself to you?" Lin Yu was getting agitated. This woman was being entirely unreasonable.
"Quite close. Unless you return the money for this suit," Lan Chu pointed at Lin Yu's attire with a finger that looked like a jade column.
"But..." Lin Yu was at a loss. She had generously given him this suit yesterday, and now, here she was waiting for him for what?
"I don't recall saying I was giving it to you," Lan Chu said indifferently, cool like the protagonist, Trinity, from The Matrix.
"You're lying; you clearly said it," Lin Yu was losing his mind.
Lan Chu remained silent, merely crossed her arms, looking at him like an adult observing a child's tantrum, making Lin Yu feel a little childish in his current behavior.
"If you're a man, you should have some sense of responsibility, don't you think?" She gazed at Lin Yu, continuing in a calm voice.
"Having responsibility doesn't mean being a scapegoat," Lin Yu sighed, everything was going haywire. What was happening?
"Entering Mingren Girls' High School will be the most wonderful experience of your life. Many people wish to be such a scapegoat, but they never get the chance. Treasure it." Lan Chu said faintly, yet there was an indescribable pride between her brows.
Indeed, the annual salary for an ordinary teacher at Mingren Girls' High School, including bonuses, was around four to five hundred thousand yuan. What she said was not an exaggeration.
Lin Yu looked at her with furrowed brows and a stern gaze for a while. Finally, he snorted and softened his tone, "Alright, where is the finance office?"
"That's more like it. At Mingren Girls' High School, only two words matter: obedience or resignation. Go on, pay the fine, and then come back to see me," Lan Chu said mildly. But as she watched Lin Yu leave, her lips, so alluring and sensual, curved into a peculiar smile, an undertone of an inexplicable conspiracy lingering within it.
"For life, we hustle everywhere..." As Lin Yu walked out, a song by Tang Enbo echoed in his heart. It wasn't easy to make a living anywhere, and being an ordinary person was even harder
.
He really needed this job now!
Not for anything else but because he had boasted far and wide about it. If he went home today and told his grandparents that he had quit the job he had just found, they would think even less of him. They would worry about him even more, and his heart wouldn't find peace. He didn't want to see the disappointed and worried expressions on his grandparents' faces. Of course, the main reason was an inexplicable curiosity that surrounded his heart. The more Lan Chu veiled this mystery, the more he wanted to unravel it. The greater one's abilities, the greater the curiosity.
"If need be, I'll work for a while before resigning. Endure this shrewd woman, consider it an understanding of the difficulties in life, which might still be beneficial for cultivation, right?" Lin Yu sighed, feeling the scant amount of money in his pocket; it was all he had left after buying clothes and paying fines. He had stolen it from Zhao Guangtou and a group of petty thieves yesterday. Once he paid the fine, there wouldn't be much left.
As for the passbook his grandmother had given him, he had quietly put it back in the closet last night. Being this old, using the money from the old folks would be too embarrassing to say the least.