You're my wife, don't doubt it!

"Come in," Director Lin said.

"Director Lin, may I speak with you privately first?" Xiao Yao asked politely.

“This…” Director Lin looked at Xiao Yao, then at Song Haijian: “Alright then.”

Director Lin led Xiao Yao up to the rooftop of the teaching building.

Xiao Yao couldn't help but recall that not long ago, he and Shen Jie had spoken with the White Knight on the school's rooftop. At that time, the distant Oriental Pearl TV Tower had also transformed into a pyramid…

It feels like just yesterday, but now it seems like a lifetime ago.

"What's wrong?" Teacher Lin turned around and asked, "Is there something you need to say behind Yu Luying's back?"

Of course, it wasn't to carry Yu Luying on his back, but to carry Song Haijian on his back.

As Teacher Lin spoke, he took out another cigarette and put it in his mouth. He tried to light it with a lighter several times but failed. Xiao Yao stepped forward and covered the flame with both hands.

“Indeed,” Xiao Yao replied succinctly, “some things I said made Yu Luying have a bad impression of the school.”

"Oh?" Teacher Lin's expression turned serious.

Xiao Yao recounted in detail what he had overheard about their conversation while he was in the bathroom.

He even hinted at some of the things Song Haijian said to Yu Luying in the office.

It turns out that Xiao Yao was outside the door when Song Haijian was fooling Yu Luying in the office.

To prevent eavesdropping, the school made the office doors exceptionally soundproof. Standing outside the door, even with your ear pressed against the door panel, you can only hear people talking, nothing more.

Of course, no teacher would have imagined that at this distance, Xiao Yao could tune to FM 96.8 and listen with Yu Luying's ears.

But for some reason today, the signal was very bad, and there was a lot of static interference, so Xiao Yao was completely confused.

After listening to Xiao Yao's account, Director Lin's expression changed.

"Don't worry, Teacher Lin, I only heard it; I didn't record it on my phone," Xiao Yao told him.

He genuinely didn't record it, but to Teacher Lin, his words clearly meant, "I did record it."

"Are you threatening the school?" Teacher Lin asked calmly. "The recording itself cannot be used as evidence."

Why not?

Xiao Yao shook his head: "I didn't record it, and I had absolutely no intention of threatening anyone. Because I know that you, Teacher Lin, are different from him. You genuinely care about your students and are on their side. You are a good teacher."

"Stop flattering me!" Director Lin said, though inwardly he was quite pleased. "But you're not wrong. I've always advocated for minimizing major issues and resolving minor ones, prioritizing education over punishment. But have you considered this? If you push Teacher Song too far, if he exposes your hotel stay that day, aren't you dragging Yu Luying down with you? Don't you care about her reputation? And as far as I know, you rejected Yu Luying's mother's suggestion yesterday—what exactly do you have against Yu Luying?"

Xiao Yao was startled: Why does she tell you everything?

"There's nothing wrong with you! Don't overthink it," Xiao Yao quickly said. "Besides, should I agree to the marriage? Should I marry Yu Luying right now?"

"Hehe." Director Lin chuckled dryly and shook his head without saying anything.

"Her mother must hate me." Xiao Yao seemed to be talking to himself.

"Of course she hates you, but she also said a lot of good things about you." Director Lin took a deep drag on his cigarette, threw it on the ground, and stomped it out.

Was Yu Lihua really on his side? Even though he had refused her request? Xiao Yao felt a pang of emotion.

"So how exactly do you want to resolve this?" Director Lin asked Xiao Yao.

"I don't know either," Xiao Yao replied sincerely. "The reason I want to talk to you alone is that I want you to show me a way out. What should I do now?"

--split line--

Teacher Lin went back to her office first, while Yu Luying stood at the office door with a heavy heart. When she saw Xiao Yao coming over, she hesitated to speak.

At this moment, Teacher Lin came out again to invite Xiao Yao in, so Yu Luying had no choice but to tell Xiao Yao to come out later.

Xiao Yao entered the office. Song Haijian sat behind the desk, while Teacher Lin leaned against the desk on the other side with her arms crossed.

When Xiao Yao came in, Song Haijian gestured for him to sit in the middle chair, but Xiao Yao did not sit down. Instead, he walked straight to Song Haijian's table and stood there.

"Teacher Song, I'm here. Just say what you want to say."

Although Xiao Yao knew what Song Haijian wanted to do, and also knew that Song Haijian knew he knew what Xiao Yao wanted to do, it was still necessary to get the other party to speak in order to achieve the desired negotiation results.

Song Haijian once again displayed his signature squinting gesture, twirling a pen in his hand, and glanced at Director Lin.

Then, he got up from his chair and moved to stand next to Xiao Yao.

“Mr. Xiao, there is an old Chinese saying, ‘Xi Xi misunderstands Wei Junjie.’”

As soon as Song Haijian said that, Xiao Yao almost burst out laughing in anger.

What kind of statement is this, coming from a colonel? Your awareness as a villain is a bit too high, isn't it?

But given the occasion, he could only press the tip of his tongue against the roof of his mouth, trying his best not to laugh, which made him feel very uncomfortable.

"I address you this way because I hope that today we can set aside the constraints of our teacher-student roles and have a conversation between men."

"Alright, Mr. Song, your insight is brilliant. I'm all ears." Xiao Yao decided to try to play along and see what he was really up to.

"As we all know, our school does not oppose students dating in principle, and I myself am well aware of the principle that it is better to guide than to suppress. So, when I saw Mr. Xiao, someone who had little academic achievement, find his future direction at the hotel that day, I was actually very happy for you."

"What do you mean?" Xiao Yao was annoyed by the implication in his words.

"Calm down and let me finish." Song Haijian patted Xiao Yao's shoulder affectionately. "From what I know, Mr. Xiao's other girlfriend is young, beautiful, and quite wealthy. She also values ​​you highly, which is truly enviable. If you are willing to cultivate this relationship well, everything in your future, whether it's your studies, career, or anything else, will fall into place naturally. However, as your homeroom teacher, I have an obligation to remind you that everything should be done in moderation; too much of anything is as bad as too little."

"Mr. Song, don't spread rumors here. I, Xiao Yao, do not have another girlfriend. Moreover, I have said countless times that Yu Luying and I are just good friends. Whatever you do, I will take full responsibility. Don't keep dragging her into this!"

"You're the one who dragged Yu Luying into this!" Song Haijian said to him. "Since you don't want to, or can't, have a proper relationship with Yu Luying, then don't try to have it all here. Yu Luying is different from you; she can have a brighter future. Do you really want her to end up like you, having to please rich people to make a living?"

"Or is Mr. Xiao's so-called responsibility to use one woman's assets to support another woman for the rest of his life? Believe me, no woman is truly willing to share a man with someone else. No matter how harmonious they seem today, there will definitely be a day when things get out of control."

Damn it, why do I actually think that what the guy surnamed Song said makes a lot of sense?

Of course, that's not how it works: "I'm telling you clearly now, Mr. Song, Yu Luying and I have never cheated, nor have we done anything dishonest, and we will not accept any punishment for it—you have no right to slander someone's innocence out of thin air."

“You can have a clean record, but you don’t have to take any disciplinary action.” Song Haijian patted Xiao Yao on the shoulder again: “Transfer schools, it’ll be more dignified for everyone. There are still schools in Shanghai that are suitable for you, and I can write you a letter of recommendation.”

"Ha, what kind of conversation is this between men?" Xiao Yao finally managed a laugh. "Teacher Song, I, Xiao Yao, have just turned 16. I'm a proper high school student, full of curiosity. You don't need to put on that high-and-mighty act of a man, and I don't understand the profound principles you're spouting. I don't understand why you're so sure I'm a hopeless academic failure. My grades are better than Yu Luying's. Does the school really support you targeting me like this?"

"How dare you mention your exam score!" Song Haijian was so angry he laughed.

"Don't you know whether you cheated on your so-called grades?" Teacher Lin, who had been silent for a while, suddenly spoke up.

"Improving grades means cheating? When did the school change its rules to those of an underground casino?" Xiao Yao retorted.

"Similarity is irrefutable proof that you cheated!" Song Haijian slammed his hand on the table.

"I, Xiao Yao, am one of the top students in the whole school. This has nothing to do with whether I cheated or not."

"Don't give me that!" Teacher Lin slammed his fist on the table. "Don't I know your limitations, Xiao Yao? The last time you passed a math test was probably back in the 20th century, wasn't it? I'll test you again, and if you pass, Teacher Song and I will believe you didn't cheat!"

Oh, right? In the 20th century, how did I get into junior high and high school?

"Take the test then, do you think I'm afraid of you? I've never seen a teacher like you who hopes their students will fail." Xiao Yao retorted, slamming his hands on the table as well.

Teacher Lin rushed over and grabbed Xiao Yao by the collar: "You're being stubborn, aren't you? If you fail the exam, I'll throw you out of school with a bang. High school isn't compulsory education, and no school in Shanghai will accept a scumbag like you! I'll see if your rich girlfriend will still be able to support you then!"

"No need!" Xiao Yao forcefully shook off Teacher Lin's hand: "If I fail the test, I'll wear the hat of a cheating scumbag and parade through the streets myself!"

"Fine, I have the test paper right now. You take it now, and Teacher Song and I will be watching you. Let's see where you'll copy from! Pass? You can't even understand the isometric theorem and you expect to pass..."

"Wait!" Seeing Teacher Lin go to his desk to get the exam papers, Song Haijian suddenly stopped him.

His eyes darted around, thinking to himself that the two of them were putting on a bit too much of a show: "Xiao Yao, I've only been at this school for a short time, so my understanding of you might be a bit one-sided or biased. Please don't take offense. Since you insist that your exam results are fine, and Teacher Lin is willing to give you a chance to retake the exam, then I don't object to trying to help you. But if the retake standard is just passing math, I'm afraid it won't be very convincing, right? After all, you are a top talent who excels in both academics and extracurricular activities and whose grades surpass Yu Luying's."

"Then tell me how to conduct the test?" Xiao Yao still couldn't back down.

"It's simple. The exam will cover all subjects. I'll set the questions myself, so there's no need to trouble Teacher Lin. You and Yu Luying will take the exam together."

"You're a math teacher, and you're setting exams for all subjects?"

"You don't need to worry about that—there's no need to dwell on whether you pass or fail. As long as your grades are higher than Yu Luying's, then things like cheating and plagiarism will be wiped clean from now on. I, Song Haijian, will apologize to you, and I won't interfere in your private life anymore. What do you think?"

“This…” Song Haijian’s conditions have dragged Yu Luying into the matter again, and Xiao Yao is undecided for a moment, but Song Haijian’s next words leave him no time to consider.

"Should we talk to Yu Luying first? I can wait."

General.

Hesitating any longer would be tantamount to admitting to cheating and surrendering, so Xiao Yao raised his head and replied loudly, "Then it's a deal."

“Very good,” Song Haijian sat back in his seat, picked up his pen and drafted a concise agreement outlining the agreed-upon content, as well as the exam subjects, time, and location. He then handed it to Teacher Lin, who frowned as she read it, before passing it to Xiao Yao.

Xiao Yao glanced at it and, finding no room for objection, signed it.

Teacher Lin took it back and made two copies, giving one of the copies to Xiao Yao.

"Can I leave now?" Xiao Yao put away the copy of the agreement and looked at Song Haijian.

"Of course, just don't miss the exam." Song Haijian seemed to have completely stopped caring about Xiao Yao and started chatting with Teacher Lin instead: "Teacher Lin, I recently discovered a restaurant that serves really delicious lamb spine. Shall we go try it later and have a couple of drinks?"

Goodbye, Teacher Lin; goodbye, Teacher Song.

Xiao Yao didn't want to linger any longer and turned to leave, but as he opened the door, Song Haijian suddenly called out to him again.

"Mr. Xiao, please pass on a message to Yu Luying: if she deliberately slacks off in the exam and her grades are a complete mess, the school will definitely expel both of you bad apples. Don't you agree, Teacher Lin?"

--split line--

Yu Luying waited not far from the office door, wondering if she had heard Song Haijian's final shouts.

Seeing Xiao Yao come out of the office, the girl quickly went up to him and asked him questions.

Xiao Yao handed her a copy of the agreement, and as she looked at it, the two walked out of the school gate together.