Zhou Cheng didn’t need to take action against the Liang family – they were already headed for trouble.

After all, Liang Bing’an was Xiaolan’s uncle by marriage, and with Liu Fang mediating between them, the two families might reconnect someday. Zhou Cheng didn’t want to be caught in the middle.

He and Xia Xiaolan had never discussed how to deal with the Liang family. They both tacitly understood to let Fan Zhenchuan and Liang Bing’an fight it out among themselves. Whatever happened to the Liang family had nothing to do with Zhou Cheng.

Xia Xiaolan ignored the chaos in He Dong County. When she told her family about going to Feng Xian City for the preliminary exam, Liu Fen wouldn’t bring up such unpleasant matters to affect her mood.

The First County High School treated Xia Xiaolan very well, even arranging a guesthouse for her.

“There’s nothing to worry about,” Xia Xiaolan told Liu Fen. “You’ve met Teacher Sun Tian, right? The school is having her stay at the guesthouse with me.”

Teacher Sun, Principal Sun’s niece, was a new teacher but very dedicated to her students.

Liu Fen didn’t know how to prepare for the exam, but fortunately, Xia Xiaolan was experienced. She prepared multiple pens and bottles of ink – unlike modern ballpoint pens, fountain pens could break if dropped, so extras were essential.

Mentioning Sun Tian made Xia Xiaolan think of Zhao Gang.

Was he still pursuing Teacher Sun?

She had warned Principal Sun’s wife before – surely they’d looked into Zhao Gang’s character by now!

Xia Xiaolan’s guess was right – Zhao Gang was indeed still pursuing Sun Tian.

He was trying to go to Feng Xian City with her.

“I’m worried about you staying at the guesthouse alone. Tiantian, let me go with you.”

Zhao Gang’s face was full of tenderness, making Sun Tian extremely uncomfortable. Her aunt had recently pulled her aside to discuss her relationship with Zhao Gang carefully, saying he wasn’t very honest and had pursued many women before. Now he was aggressively pursuing Sun Tian – if she agreed to marry him, wouldn’t she just be picking up what others had rejected?

How were the Sun family’s daughters inferior to other female teachers?

Even setting aside Sun Tian’s personal qualities, her uncle was the principal.

Sun Tian wasn’t hurt by her aunt’s words – she felt relieved.

She didn’t like Zhao Gang, but he pursued her relentlessly. With everyone around them gossiping, public opinion made people think Sun Tian and Zhao Gang were dating. Naturally shy, Sun Tian would blush just trying to explain things to others. She had considered just accepting him – women had to marry eventually, and Sun Tian had never dated, so she didn’t know what being in a relationship should feel like.

But she couldn’t just settle. It was becoming increasingly difficult to tolerate.

Zhao Gang always claimed he had her best interests at heart, but Sun Tian disagreed with many of his principles.

This time, he first told her he wanted to lead the preliminary exam team to Feng Xian City, asking her to speak to Principal Sun about it. How could she do that? Even if she liked Zhao Gang, she couldn’t interfere with school arrangements.

Sun Tian herself was principled – she hadn’t even wanted her colleagues to know the principal was her uncle.

If Zhao Gang became her boyfriend, she would only hold him to higher standards!

When Sun Tian didn’t help, Zhao Gang’s expression turned ugly.

The school had already arranged the teachers for the team. Sun Tian could go because it was convenient to have a female teacher share the guesthouse with Xia Xiaolan.

Now Zhao Gang was saying he wanted to go to Feng Xian City and stay at the same guesthouse.

Sun Tian was both embarrassed and anxious. She had been afraid to speak clearly with Zhao Gang before, but now she had no choice:

“Teacher Zhao, how appropriate would it be for you to go to Feng Xian City and stay at the same guesthouse as me? People will misunderstand our relationship!”

Every time she tried to clarify things, Zhao Gang would change the subject. Sun Tian felt she must explain clearly this time and not let him misunderstand anymore.

Zhao Gang’s expression changed. “Tiantian, we’re already a couple. Can’t you see how I feel about you? What’s inappropriate? What could people misunderstand? I didn’t say we’d share a room – what kind of person do you think I am!”

“I-I never agreed to date you, Teacher Zhao. I’ve always felt we’re not compatible. Please stop letting our colleagues misunderstand.”

She said it!

She finally said the words of rejection.

It wasn’t as hard as she’d imagined. Sun Tian disliked offending people, but right now she felt so relieved!

Zhao Gang’s face twisted as he forcefully suppressed his anger: “Tiantian, stop being difficult. All our colleagues know we’re dating. If you’re throwing a tantrum now, is it because I didn’t do something well enough? I’ll change, okay? I admit sometimes I’m a bit strict with you, but that’s for your good! Take this time – I’m only going to Feng Xian because I’m worried about you, Tiantian…”

Zhao Gang rambled on, talking to himself.

This was exactly why Sun Tian could never express her opinions.

But now that Sun Tian had rejected him, she was troubled by his continued pursuit.

Sun Tian was too innocent. Anyone else whose uncle was the principal wouldn’t tolerate an ordinary male teacher like this. One word to Principal Sun, and he would naturally talk with Zhao Gang. Zhao Gang followed Sun Tian, trying to change her mind – he certainly wanted to marry her, but he also wanted to teach her some rules. Women should obediently listen to men, and Sun Tian’s naturally gentle personality generally satisfied Zhao Gang.

But it wasn’t enough – he had to make her completely obedient.

Zhao Gang hoped to marry up while also suppressing Sun Tian.

Unfortunately for him, though Sun Tian was gentle, she was firm on certain issues. The views Zhao Gang tried to instill in her made her uncomfortable, which was why he hadn’t truly won her over.

Zhao Gang had to go to Feng Xian – he was still thinking about his deal with Xia Ziyü.

The 500 yuan was already spent, and Zhao Gang wanted more. If Xia Xiaolan couldn’t take the preliminary exam, she couldn’t take the college entrance exam either. Zhao Gang had thought that as a teacher at the First County High School, dealing with a student would be easy.

Who knew Xia Xiaolan couldn’t be judged by normal standards?

She rarely came to school, so Zhao Gang couldn’t find opportunities to sabotage her.

When Zhao Gang tried to take over leading the Feng Xian City team, Principal Sun, who valued Xia Xiaolan highly, had directly assigned Old Wang to be in charge. Zhao Gang didn’t have enough seniority to earn Principal Sun’s trust.

Now, his only chance was to stick with Sun Tian to get to Feng Xian City.

He still had a chance to act before the preliminary exam!

Sun Tian firmly refused to give in. When Zhao Gang followed her to the office, Teacher Qi happened to be there, forcing him to stay quiet.

Sun Tian was truly relieved. “Teacher Zhao, we’re not compatible. I need to work now – would you please leave?”

Teacher Qi gave Zhao Gang a strange look. Zhao Gang forced a smile: “Tiantian, don’t be angry with me. Fine, I won’t go. You go ahead and work!”

Sun Tian wanted to cover her head and scream.

It was always like this – in front of colleagues, Zhao Gang would act intimate, causing misunderstandings.

Teacher Qi gathered her things, casually comforting Sun Tian: “Little Sun, did you fight with Teacher Zhao? Young couples are always like this, fighting and making up. Those of us who are married don’t even have the energy to fight anymore…”

Tears welled up in Sun Tian’s eyes:

“Sister Qi, Teacher Zhao, and I were never dating!”