Ultimate Teacher

Morning. A light mist hung in the air.

"You can't see your hand when you reach out; when you can see your hand, you can't move forward." Fang Yan slid his feet gracefully, his hands swiftly tracing circle after circle.

"Honesty within, form without; endless variations, the skill reaches perfection."

"Divine and majestic, appearance grand. With pure atmosphere and spiritual thought, one heart contains myriad forms."

Circles intertwined with circles until, eventually, no circles could be seen—only a straight line remained.

"Let them find it hard to approach from all directions; even if the bravest suddenly invade, they will be toppled."

"Fang Yan—" Jiang Qin stood nearby, grinning. Dressed in a blue school uniform with her hair in a ponytail, her delicate face was on full display.

This girl seemed to have a dual personality. Last night, she was dressed like a little nightclub queen; now she had reverted to the pure and cute girl-next-door that Fang Yan was familiar with.

"Call me 'teacher.'"

"Teacher Fang Yan—" Jiang Qin watched his movements and asked, "Are you really a Tai Chi master?"

"When have I ever lied?"

"That sentence is a lie," Jiang Qin pouted. "Didn't you say you're a teacher at No. 1 High School? Aren't you Fang Huohuo? Don't you teach math?"

"Tai Chi emphasizes the interplay of real and unreal; you can't let your opponent see through you," Fang Yan defended himself confidently. "What are you here for?"

"To get my backpack," Jiang Qin said. Last night, she claimed she was going to Fang Yan's place for tutoring, but they had actually sneaked out.

"It's on the cabinet in my room." Fang Yan stopped practicing and wiped his hands with a towel he had ready.

Jiang Qin waved her wrist in front of his eyes. "It's seven o'clock. Aren't you going to school?"

"School?" Fang Yan was momentarily stunned, then smiled. "You go ahead; I still need to take a shower."

"Won't you be late?"

"I don't have classes for the first two periods," Fang Yan said. He was too embarrassed to tell anyone that he'd been fired after just two days. If word got out, Aunt Li might stop cooking delicious meals for him.

"Then I'll go first. Bye-bye." Jiang Qin waved at him. "Come back early tonight."

"Going to the bar again?"

"Tutoring," Jiang Qin rolled her eyes. "Do you think I'm an alcoholic?"

"That's good," Fang Yan chuckled. It seemed last night's experience had prompted some reflection in the little girl.

Outside, the neon lights dazzled, the city bustling yet concealing hidden dangers. For these underage kids, it was a world full of unseen perils.

Watching Jiang Qin skip away, Fang Yan returned to his small room.

After his shower, he noticed two missed calls on his phone.

One was from Office Director Zheng Jing's personal number; the other was unfamiliar.

Ignoring the unknown number, Fang Yan called Zheng Jing back.

Just as the call connected, he quickly hung up.

Sure enough, his phone rang almost immediately.

"Director Zheng, so sorry," Fang Yan apologized cheerfully. "Accidentally hung up on you—was just about to call back."

"Fang Yan, come to the school. Principal Lu wants to see you," Zheng Jing said coldly.

"Wasn't I dismissed?" Fang Yan asked.

"Everyone knows that; no need to repeat it," Zheng Jing replied.

"—" Fang Yan thought, This guy has a sharp tongue. Not exactly embodying the virtues of a teacher, is he?

When Fang Yan arrived at the principal's office, Deputy Director Zheng Jing was nowhere in sight. Instead, a delicate-looking young clerk awaited him at the door.

Seeing him approach, she stood up. "Mr. Fang, Principal Lu is waiting for you inside. She said to have you go in as soon as you arrived."

"Thank you," Fang Yan said gratefully.

"You're welcome." The young clerk blushed slightly, smiling.

They say this new teacher Fang Yan is a troublemaker, she mused. But he's actually quite handsome—and so young, much younger than the other teachers. Even if his job isn't very stable, he might still be a good match.

Fang Yan knocked on Principal Lu's door. Hearing a "Come in," he entered.

Lu Chaoge stood by the window, her back to him, bent over as she pruned a potted plant. Her figure was elegantly curved, hips shapely and full. From the side, her ample bosom was both majestic and awe-inspiring.

Dressed in an exquisite black suit, she concealed some of the allure her figure offered, adding instead an air of intellectual beauty.

Seeing her attire, Fang Yan recalled a joke: A wife asks her husband, "Honey, which outfit looks best on me?" The husband replies, "Well, darling, first you need to be good-looking."

Lu Chaoge was undeniably beautiful; she looked stunning no matter what she wore—or didn't wear.

Fang Yan approached with a grin. "Oh, Principal Lu, switching hobbies? Getting into bonsai now?"

"Flower arranging requires a calm mind," Lu Chaoge replied without turning. "You need to complete the entire piece in your best mental state. Only then can you present the most fluid and harmonious beauty. Bonsai isn't as demanding. If you can't finish pruning today, you can continue tomorrow. As long as you have a general idea in mind, that's enough."

"In China, we say, 'Your seat determines your perspective,'" Fang Yan remarked. "Because you love flower arranging, you might underestimate bonsai. But bonsai and flower arranging both require emotional investment. They have life and can present the artistic forms or effects we desire in the most perfect way. 'Calligraphy first, painting second, flower arranging third, pruning fourth, craftsmanship fifth'—master any one, and it's art."

Lu Chaoge pondered this for a moment before nodding. "You're right; I was biased."

"Principal Lu, you're so knowledgeable and have such wide-ranging interests, and yet you're so modest. I'm nowhere near your level," Fang Yan praised sincerely.

"Hearing that doesn't make me happy at all," Lu Chaoge said.

She placed the scissors on the windowsill, removed her leather gloves, and walked toward her desk.

"Principal Lu, you called me—is it to settle my salary? I thought so. A prestigious school like Vermilion Bird High wouldn't care about my little paycheck."

"Salaries are paid on the 15th of next month," Lu Chaoge stated.

Fang Yan counted on his fingers, then said woefully, "Sigh, I'm about to run out of food."

"Excuse me?" Lu Chaoge looked up.

"I said I'm almost out of money for meals," Fang Yan lamented. "To make ends meet, I've been tutoring on the side."

"You don't seem the type," Lu Chaoge said skeptically.

She couldn't imagine someone like Fang Yan being short on cash.

"Why would I lie about this?" Fang Yan gave a bitter smile. "You don't know, Principal Lu. Jobs are hard to find these days, and the cost of living is high. Rent and utilities cost money, right? Eating and basic necessities cost money. Even getting my shoes shined costs three yuan; I tried to haggle down to two, but they wouldn't budge. Finally settled at two-fifty."

"What man doesn't want to appear affluent in front of a beautiful woman? I'd love to tell you I drove my Bentley here instead of cramming into a bus. I'd love to say I had French steak and foie gras last night, but the foie gras was too overcooked to swallow. I'm a man; you're a beautiful woman. Why didn't I say those things? Because I'm broke. Saying them would be deceitful."

"Principal Lu, could you lend me some money?" Fang Yan looked at her sheepishly. "I'll make sure to pay you back first thing when I get my salary."

Lu Chaoge felt an urge to explode. Has this guy ever considered me his superior for even a second?

Seeing her silence, Fang Yan thought she was reluctant. "Don't worry, Principal. I promise I'll pay you back as soon as I get paid. I can even write you an IOU."

"How much?" Lu Chaoge asked, wondering why she was even entertaining this conversation.

"Thirty or fifty thousand—" Noticing her expression darken, Fang Yan quickly corrected himself. "Three or five thousand will do."

Lu Chaoge retrieved her purse from a drawer, took out her wallet, and pulled out a stack of bills. "This is all I have."

Fang Yan counted the money, delighted. "Three thousand six hundred. Not bad. These days, only fools carry so much cash. I'll write you an IOU."

"No need," Lu Chaoge waved him off, eager to end this topic. "We'll deduct it from your salary."

"Great, great." Fang Yan nodded enthusiastically, pocketing the cash. "Principal Lu, if there's nothing else, I'll head out."

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"Is there something else?"

Lu Chaoge looked at him. "You have two classes today."

"I thought I was fired—" Fang Yan's eyes lit up. "I'm not fired?"

"No."

"And you're not leaving either?"

"No."

"Actually, you could leave," Fang Yan suggested. If Lu Chaoge left Vermilion Bird High, he wouldn't have to repay the money.

"What?" Lu Chaoge frowned.

"Don't misunderstand," Fang Yan hurriedly explained. "You're different from me. I can't find work elsewhere, but other schools are vying to hire you. A talent like you should go where you can best utilize your abilities. Don't hold yourself back because of a small teacher like me. Do you think I'm saying this to avoid repaying the three thousand yuan? You underestimate me. I'm just afraid I'll hinder your bright future."

"Fang Yan."

"Yes?"

"First, I'm not staying because of you."

"I understand," Fang Yan nodded. Who was it that said women often say one thing and mean another?

"Second, I can still find ways to showcase my talents here at Vermilion Bird High."

"I don't doubt it for a second."

"Third, cooperate with my work properly from now on."

"Absolutely. I'm your—uh, I'm here to help," Fang Yan corrected himself quickly. "Principal Lu, why did the school decide not to let me go? Did you put in a good word for me?"

Lu Chaoge gave him a deep look. "You should thank your students."

"My students?" Fang Yan was puzzled. So it wasn't Principal Lu who helped? 

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𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙟𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚!

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 shoutouts 𝘁𝗼:

•Leroy

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• 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 50+ chapters 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.

• 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁-𝗢𝘂𝘁: 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩!

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