The two arrived at the source of the scream, only to be greeted by an uncanny scene. In the small pavilion within the grove, a beautiful woman in a flowing white dress stood frozen in place, visibly flustered. Before her, a man in a well-tailored suit knelt with a large bouquet of roses in his hands, speaking earnestly.
"Proposal!" The word sprang unbidden to both their minds.
Feeling awkward, Ren Jun tugged lightly at Xiang Ri's sleeve. After all, standing there gawking only made them look like third wheels. Although the couple seemed oblivious to their presence, Ren Jun couldn't help but feel uneasy.
Yet it was clear that Xiang Ri was immovable.
At this moment, his face was dark, his gaze fixed on the couple not far away. The man, a stranger, didn't strike him as trustworthy. The woman, however, was someone he knew—both familiar and unfamiliar. She was Song Qiuheng, the beautiful teacher who had given him everything ten years ago but now had no idea he was the same "him" from back then.
Seeing his former "girlfriend" being proposed to filled Xiang Ri with an indescribable sense of suffocation. Yet, he had no grounds to intervene.
Back then, he had been the one to leave her. He had no right to interfere in her life now. Besides, he felt a deep guilt toward her. If she could find a good partner, it might make up for the regret he had left behind.
"Let's go," Xiang Ri said quietly, his voice tinged with melancholy.
Ren Jun looked at him with a complicated expression and said, as if it were self-evident, "Seeing the teacher you secretly admired being proposed to must be hard to stomach, right? It's understandable. After all, Ms. Song is the most beautiful teacher at our school."
"Shut up," Xiang Ri snapped, his mood already sour, his words cutting. "Fine. About the condition you mentioned earlier—I agree. But my hand is genuinely injured, and it won't heal without prolonged rest. You'll have to figure out what to do."
"Injured, really?" Ren Jun, seeing his serious tone, started to believe him. At this point, he had little reason to lie. After some thought, she said, "It doesn't matter. It'll heal eventually. You're only in your sophomore year—you still have two years. And as for what I promised you earlier, it still stands."
Despite her reassurances, Xiang Ri showed no sign of uplifted spirits. Ren Jun felt disheartened. With her charm, though not as mature and alluring as Ms. Song's, she still had plenty of admirers at school. Yet now, just the sight of Ms. Song being proposed to had left this man so dejected. If Ms. Song actually got married, wouldn't it drive countless others to despair?
"Hey, don't be like this," Ren Jun said, attempting to console him.
"What?" Xiang Ri responded blankly. He had been lost in his thoughts and hadn't caught what she had said earlier.
"I said, don't be so downcast! You already have a girlfriend—why are you like this? Men really are fickle. But don't worry. That guy just now? I know him. He's a notorious playboy at our school. I doubt Ms. Song would agree to his proposal."
"Are you serious?" Xiang Ri suddenly grabbed her hand, a glimmer of joy flickering in his eyes.
"Why would I lie? Ow, that hurts! Can't you be gentler?" Ren Jun glared at him, annoyed. Seeing that his despondency had eased, she suddenly regretted saying anything at all.
"Let's head back," Xiang Ri said, pulling her along. "Tell me about that scumbag teacher. What's his name?"
"Oh, come on!" Ren Jun wailed dramatically. "You're not planning to sabotage them, are you? Please, spare me—I'm not getting involved in something like that!"
"I'm not asking you to join me. I just want you to tell me what that scumbag teacher has been up to."
"I don't know much, but I've heard he often harasses female students—and doesn't even spare attractive female teachers." At this point, Ren Jun's expression turned conspiratorial, her face brimming with gossip. "I heard he even got a female student pregnant but refused to take responsibility, eventually forcing her to drop out!"
"So, he's quite influential at the school, then?" Xiang Ri concluded. Otherwise, a despicable person like him would have been expelled long ago.
"You're spot on. They say the principal is his uncle. Honestly, with his degree from a second-rate university, he'd never have qualified to teach here—or even at an average high school—without his uncle's help. Hmph, it's all thanks to that principal uncle of his!" Ren Jun spoke with palpable resentment.
"If that's the case, I have even more reason to teach him a lesson," Xiang Ri declared, his gloom dissipating entirely. Though he had no intention of meddling in her life if she found a worthy partner, it was clear this man was far from that. This gave Xiang Ri all the justification he needed to step in, though a faint trace of personal motives lingered in his heart.
"Don't go!" Ren Jun hurriedly grabbed his arm. "Didn't you hear me? The principal is his uncle. Be careful, or he'll find some excuse to expel you!"
Xiang Ri waved dismissively, his confidence unshaken. "I don't care if it's him or that so-called principal himself—neither would dare utter a word in front of me!"
"You..." Ren Jun was momentarily speechless, stunned by his unshakable self-assurance. Finally, she sighed. "Fine, I'll go with you. But promise me this: no impulsiveness, and above all, no violence!"
As the general manager of a basketball team, Ren Jun vividly recalled yesterday's match. This man was a terrifyingly skilled player. While the despicable teacher was taller and bulkier, he would likely be knocked flat in seconds—if he could even get back up, that was.
"Don't worry," Xiang Ri replied, a glint of menace flashing in his eyes. "As long as that scumbag doesn't provoke me, I won't lift a finger."
When the two returned to the pavilion, the man and woman were still there. However, the man was now standing, the bouquet of roses gone. In its place, he clutched a slender, delicate hand.
The roses lay discarded on the ground, and the beautiful teacher's face was a mask of fury as she struggled to pull her hand free. Yet, the man's grip was too strong.
"Ms. Song," the man sneered, "you should think carefully. Becoming my girlfriend would secure you a position as associate professor. I know you're single. I may not be rich, but I'm not unattractive. If you agree, I promise you won't regret it."
"Mr. Ma, please have some respect. I already have a boyfriend, and I will never fall for you," Song Qiuheng retorted coldly.
"Still trying to fool me? You don't have a boyfriend. Don't think I don't know—you live alone. I've followed you for days and haven't seen you interact with any man. Don't try to scare me off with such weak lies!"
"My boyfriend is away on business. He'll be back soon!" she shot back, though her voice faltered. She hadn't expected him to stoop so low as to stalk her.
"Ms. Song, stop denying it. I've investigated everything about you. I heard your younger brother is ill and in urgent need of money. Am I wrong? Your salary can't possibly cover his medical expenses. If you agree to be my girlfriend, I'll make sure you're promoted to associate professor, which means a significant pay raise. And once you're with me, your brother becomes my brother—I'll cover his medical bills as well. Isn't that a win-win situation?"
"You're shameless! I will never agree to this! Besides, my salary is enough to pay for my brother's treatment."
"Heh, that's not up to you. Aren't you afraid that if I'm displeased, I'll have my uncle kick you out of this school? Do you think you can find a better job elsewhere? Think carefully!"
"I've thought it through, scumbag!" A low, cold voice interjected.
"Who's there?" Ma Rong whipped around, startled. He hadn't expected anyone else to be present.
"It's me," Xiang Ri stepped forward, his left hand moving subtly. He had overheard everything, and if not for the tall, long-legged Ren Jun clinging to him and begging him to hold back, Ma Rong would already be lying flat on the ground.
Seeing the two strangers, Ma Rong relaxed. The young man, slender and with an injured hand, was clearly not a threat.
Then his eyes lit up as they fell on Ren Jun. Another stunning beauty! How had he not noticed her before? Today must truly be his lucky day. Though his heart raced with excitement, his face remained stern. "Are you students at this school?"