Both were stunned, staring blankly at Yin Fang.

Yin Fang took a deep breath, slapping her hand on the desk: “The anonymous letter is well-reasoned and detailed. I didn’t want to believe it at first, but what were you two just doing?!”

Xue Jiao replied in confusion: “I was explaining a problem to him…”

Yin Fang looked at the boy and girl standing before her. One was ranked first in the grade and extremely beautiful—even at her age, she found this face exceptionally pretty.

Then looking at Yi Tianyu’s handsome face, the boy and girl standing together actually made a remarkably matching pair.

Teenagers of this age were most susceptible to going astray.

With such immense academic pressure, the more teachers opposed it, the more likely adolescent emotions were to erupt.

Yin Fang spoke earnestly: “Gu Xuejiao, you did rank first last month, but we all know there were coincidental factors involved. Since you pushed Chu Sheng to second place, he’s been studying day and night. You need to make the most of your time too. Studies are the most important thing. You’ve improved quickly, and next time you must work hard to stay among the top ranks! I don’t need to explain the harms of puppy love, do I? If you were already graduates, I wouldn’t say any of this—you could do whatever you want!”

She then turned to Yi Tianyu, her attitude much less friendly: “Yi Tianyu! What did you say last time?! You said if I let you play basketball, you would study properly. Are you going back on your promise again?! If you don’t want to study, at least don’t affect others, okay?!”

Yin Fang appeared furious, her eyes wide, as if the people before her had committed some unforgivable offense.

“Teacher, we aren’t in a relationship!” Xue Jiao said seriously. “Though I don’t know who reported us, I must say, this is slander!”

Her eyes were sincere, and Yin Fang unconsciously wavered, especially considering Xue Jiao’s recent performance…

“Really?”

“Really.” Still firm.

Yin Fang felt somewhat relieved but continued earnestly: “Gu Xuejiao, you must devote all your time to studying. Don’t become complacent just because you ranked first once. Getting first place once might be a coincidence, but maintaining it next month won’t be so lucky! You need to work hard. Even if you can’t be first next time, try to stay in the top three at least.”

Her words almost certainly declared that Xue Jiao wouldn’t be able to rank first in the next monthly exam. Xue Jiao lowered her head without speaking.

“Alright, you two go back first. I’ll change your seats next Monday.” Yin Fang was still half-doubtful.

“Why should we?!” Yi Tianyu, who had been silent, exploded.

“Because I’m your homeroom teacher!” Yin Fang’s eyes widened. Though shorter than Yi Tianyu, her intimidating presence was not diminished at all.

“No! I don’t agree!” Yi Tianyu’s expression suddenly turned ugly.

Yin Fang was so angry she was breathing heavily. Being typically stern, she was rarely directly confronted by students.

“You’ll have to agree whether you want to or not! I’ve seen plenty of puppy love cases. How many last? If you don’t do well on the college entrance exam, forget about your feelings—it’s good if you don’t blame each other! Even if you are dating now, I bet you won’t last! There’s no future!”

As she finished speaking, Yi Tianyu clenched his fists, making cracking sounds. His teeth were gritted, his face fierce.

He didn’t understand where the anger rising within him came from, only feeling as if he’d been set on fire.

Seeing his clenched fists and the blue veins popping on his forehead, Yin Fang instinctively stepped back, then erupted in fury: “Call the parents! Call your parents!!”

——

On this Thursday, Xue Jiao and Yi Tianyu stood in the office waiting.

Yin Fang was convinced that Yi Tianyu had wanted to hit her at that moment. Now she wouldn’t listen to any explanations, certain that Yi Tianyu’s reaction indicated something was going on!

She sat in the office fuming, saying nothing.

Once Yi Tianyu calmed down, he realized he had implicated Xue Jiao. He tried to explain, but Yin Fang wouldn’t listen.

“I’m sorry…” he said softly, so only Xue Jiao could hear.

Xue Jiao shook her head slightly, looking down without speaking.

Since the beginning of the semester, she has been aware of Yin Fang’s “collective punishment” attitude. Although she didn’t understand why Yi Tianyu had reacted that way, she knew explanations were useless now.

Xue Jiao lowered her head and silently began reciting the English essay model she had memorized that morning.

After a while, a slightly chubby man rushed in—Yi Dafa.

“Teacher! What happened? What happened? You didn’t explain clearly on the phone, I was so worried!” Yi Dafa panted, looking at Yin Fang.

Yin Fang stood up angrily: “Yi Tianyu nearly laid hands on me just now!”

“What?! This little brat dared to hit a teacher!” Yi Dafa’s eyes widened as he turned, grabbed Yi Tianyu, and kicked him in the buttocks.

Xue Jiao stood at a distance, almost unnoticed.

Not satisfied with one kick, Yi Dafa also slapped him on the back.

“You little brat! Where did you get the guts?! Huh?!”

“Ouch, ouch, ouch! Easy!” Yi Tianyu dodged another incoming kick.

“I sent you here to study, not to hit teachers!” He appeared to be hitting hard with each blow, but only Yi Tianyu knew this was his father’s old trick—it didn’t hurt at all; he just needed to pretend to cry out in pain.

Yi Dafa grabbed his ear and seized the opportunity to whisper: “Good son, apologize first!”

Though Yi Dafa was not highly educated, he had been in business for many years and understood the current situation clearly.

Regardless of whether Yi Tianyu had tried to hit the teacher, Yin Fang believed so and was furious. The more they argued now, the angrier she would become. Yi Tianyu still needed to study under her supervision, so they couldn’t completely offend her!

His actions startled Yin Fang, who watched in shock.

“Hey—” Xue Jiao instinctively moved forward to stop him, but the boy being hit turned his head, and blinked, showing no sign of pain in his eyes.

Xue Jiao stepped back.

Yin Fang exhaled: “Stop hitting him, stop! We don’t use corporal punishment for education nowadays!”

“Are you still angry, Teacher?” Yi Dafa said with a smile. “If you’re still angry, I’ll continue to beat him!”

“Stop hitting him!” Yin Fang quickly spoke up.

After calming her anger, she continued: “Yi Tianyu’s father, I called you primarily to discuss Yi Tianyu’s puppy love situation!”

“Puppy love?!” Yi Dafa raised his voice.

“Yes.”

“You little brat!” This time, Yi Dafa’s anger wasn’t feigned—he was genuinely angry.

He believed his son would never hit a teacher, and even if he did, it wouldn’t be without reason.

So he wasn’t worried earlier and was even concerned about what might have pushed his son to the point of wanting to “hit” a teacher.

But he had no idea whether his son might be in a relationship!

So this outburst of anger was genuine.

“Yes, I suspect Yi Tianyu has tendencies toward puppy love!” Yin Fang declared firmly.

“Today I received a letter reporting Yi Tianyu’s relationship issue, with convincing details. I didn’t believe it at first, but when I called him to the office to ask, he nearly became violent!”

Yin Fang became angry again as she spoke.

Yi Dafa paused, then asked: “Teacher, what did you say that made him so angry?”

Yin Fang replied: “I just said that I’ve seen many cases of puppy love at their age, and it never lasts. Even if they’re dating now, they’ll break up sooner or later!”

She stood with her hands on her hips, her face full of anger.

Yi Dafa knew his son well, and hearing this, he sensed something significant—at least with his son!

Otherwise, how could phrases like “never lasts” and “break up sooner or later” provoke him?

“Who is he dating?”

“According to the letter… Gu Xuejiao.” Yin Fang paused before saying Xue Jiao’s name.

Following her gaze, Yi Dafa noticed Gu Xuejiao, who had been in the office all along.

She stood quietly to the side, wearing her school uniform with her hair in a ponytail, and her face clean and fair.

Exactly like the image of an obedient daughter he had imagined.

Yi Dafa suddenly raised his voice in excitement: “My son managed to win over Gu Xuejiao?!”

His voice became suddenly joyful: “Teacher! Are you serious?!”

His face showed delight as if he’d won the lottery, his eyes twinkling with joy, forehead creasing, and teeth showing in a smile.

Yi Dafa’s reaction stunned Yin Fang, who stared at him blankly.

This reaction…

The two teachers who had been grading papers in the office suddenly looked up, mouths slightly open, expressions showing complete shock.

“Yi Tianyu’s parent, Yi Tianyu has tendencies toward puppy love…” she stammered.

Yi Dafa slapped his forehead: “So that’s why this rascal suddenly changed his ways and started studying seriously—it was under Gu Xuejiao’s guidance!”

He spoke with great satisfaction. In his view, if a troublemaker like Yi Tianyu could win over someone like Gu Xuejiao, that would be an extremely difficult feat!

“Yi Tianyu’s father, as a parent, you should stand with the teacher to help educate your child. Puppy love has very negative effects!” Yin Fang couldn’t help but become serious again. Yi Dafa’s reaction was completely unexpected.

In all her years as a homeroom teacher, he was the only parent who smiled happily upon learning of their child’s relationship.

Wouldn’t any parent of a second-year high school student be anxious about their child dating? Why was this one so excited?

“Teacher Yin, I think it depends on the situation. Some kids stop studying once they start dating, and of course, that should be stopped!”

Yi Dafa said, narrowing his eyes, rubbing his hands together, and smiling happily, “But then there’s another scenario you’ve seen—two students who are a perfect match, encouraging each other, pushing each other to get into a good university together. Teacher, would you have the heart to separate them?”

Yi Dafa spoke so earnestly and reasonably that Yin Fang wondered if she was being too rigid.

But she quickly came to her senses.

“No, Yi Tianyu’s father, you need to understand the negative influence of puppy love on a student. Why doesn’t the school ever allow students to date? It’s because it’s not good for them. At their age, they’re too impulsive and might easily make unforgivable mistakes they’ll regret for life!”

“What mistakes could they make?” Yi Dafa was puzzled.

Yin Fang was at a loss for words, looking speechlessly and somewhat angrily at the father and son in front of her.

Just then, a voice came from the office doorway—

“Teacher!”

Author’s Note: Yi Tianyu: My dad is still my dad…