"Sister, take it slow, don't rush," Lin Yu watched the woman run off, feeling a mix of amusement and touched emotions.
"Presenting roses leaves a lingering fragrance. Being thanked feels quite good indeed," Lin Yu mused, scratching his chin with a philosopher's air.
Meanwhile, Zhang Xinran had gone over to the girl, observing her earnestly as she solved the problems. She nodded in approval, a faint smile of satisfaction on her face. Indeed, she appeared to be a paragon of mentorship.
"Perhaps it's better to have her transferred to Mingren High School. It might make it easier to flirt around. A bit of teasing or complimenting won't make life too dull," Lin Yu thought shamelessly, observing her fiery figure and profile.
But this notion fleetingly passed through his mind. He was well aware that even if he had such intentions, Zhang Xinran would never agree. She had always been a resolute girl, strong on the outside as much as within, with a fierce sense of pride. Bringing up such an idea at this moment would only be perceived as pity and charity, offering no assistance and potentially harming her feelings.
Besides, the school was under Lan Chu's influence. He and Zhang Xinran barely had any friendship. In fact, there was lingering resentment. If they were to accept Zhang Xinran, it would be quite strange.
"Master, your girlfriend is truly wonderful. Beautiful, with an amazing figure, and such an open and pleasant personality, similar to yours. It's no joke; you two are just right for each other. There's an old saying: 'If not of the same family, don't enter the same door.' It truly applies," the middle-aged woman returned, handing Lin Yu a bottle of water. She then went over to give Zhang Xinran and the child an ice cream each, fanning herself with her hand as she drank water.
Zhang Xinran heard these words but didn't turn around. Instead, she pretended to be engrossed in the student's paper. Her ears were perked up, eager to hear more.
At the same time, her delicate face flushed, lips gently bitten, exhibiting a shy, girlish demeanor.
"Cough..." Lin Yu almost choked on his water. "Sister, while meals can be chaotic, words cannot. Between her and me, it's just a normal student relationship. If she hears such things from me, she'd probably wield her martial arts skills and hunt me down, accusing me of besmirching her reputation. She comes from a martial arts background, not something to be trifled with. Moreover, she's waiting to marry a wealthy man or become a rich old man's mistress. I'm not worthy of her swan's meat."
Lin Yu deliberately jested with a "malicious" tone.
Zhang Xinran heard this, biting her lip fiercely in anger. But too embarrassed to turn around, she clenched her fists. If no one was around, she'd surely rush over and give Lin Yu a sound thrashing, ensuring he wouldn't dare speak recklessly again.
"Ha, look at what you're saying. Teacher Zhang isn't like that at all. She's genuinely kind-hearted, simple, and definitely not one of those frivolous girls. By the way you speak, it seems there's no progress between you and Teacher Zhang? Need me to help?" The middle-aged woman smiled, gesturing with her fingers as if setting them up, indicating matchmaking. This woman was indeed crafty.
"Enough, sister, spare me. I truly fear her," Lin Yu quickly waved his hand. The woman was enthusiastic, but she was overzealous. He had no intention of pursuing a girlfriend at the moment. It's not that he didn't want to find someone; he just felt that the right opportunity hadn't arrived yet. He believed in destiny, the kind that could result in love at first sight.
However, he couldn't be certain if such a woman existed in the world. All he could do was go with the flow; there was no point in forcing it.
Meanwhile, Zhang Xinran's expression suddenly dimmed, for no apparent reason. She felt a sudden sense of melancholy and unexplained sadness.
In conversation and idle chatter, half an hour quickly slipped away. Over there, the young girl stretched, handed the test paper to Zhang Xinran, waving her fists in relief and joy. "Mom, I'm done! So exhilarating!"
Lin Yu couldn't help but smile wryly. He had never seen someone so elated after solving math problems. At that moment, he could understand the girl's feelings.
The middle-aged woman was stunned. Done so quickly? She was somewhat incredulous. According to her estimation, it would take at least an hour to complete.
Zhang Xinran had essentially gone over the paper once, almost akin to completing it. While there were no standard answers, judging by her background as a high-achieving student from Hua Jing University, it was effortless for her to grade the paper.
She swiftly took out a red pen, starting to grade the test paper. After two to three minutes, she finished grading it entirely.
"Nini, you're amazing! Full marks, all correct. You've done me proud!" Zhang Xinran held up the paper, ecstatic. The middle-aged woman grabbed
it and carefully inspected it. Tears welled up instantly. "My girl, my good girl, you're better now. Finally, you're better. Mom doesn't need to worry anymore..."
"Sister, everything's fine now, right? Your daughter's psychological issue is resolved. This is proof that her performance in this exam wasn't related to Teacher Zhang. Next time, don't wrong the good people," Lin Yu joked half-seriously.
"No, no, Master, how can I thank you... Should I have my child kneel to you?" the middle-aged woman tearfully suggested, trying to make her daughter kneel in gratitude. Lin Yu hastily helped her up. "That's enough, that's enough. If you say more, it'll become fake. It's not worth it. As I've said before, it's just fate. Let's not talk about it anymore; otherwise, I won't be happy. Go back. Maybe we'll meet again someday," Lin Yu quickly said some pleasantries and swiftly departed—being thanked was warm, but sometimes excessive gratitude made him uncomfortable. Hence, his hasty exit.
He ran a couple of blocks and then slowed down, unscrewing the bottle cap for a sip of water. He didn't look back as he said, "Respected Teacher Zhang, may I ask, why are you still following me?"