Nobody said that teachers at elite academies have to be heartthrobs.

Lin Xun raised his head, his gaze tracing the distinct features of Yu Fuli's eyebrows and eyes in the deepening twilight.

There was none of the superficial pity or dismissive sympathy he often saw in the eyes of others, nor the detached indifference. There was only a genuine hope that he could stand up and move forward.

This kindness is so tangible, so precious.

Like a lamp suddenly lit in the cold night, it is not dazzling, but steadily illuminates a small, safe place to stand.

Deep in my heart, in that corner that had long been occupied by coldness and hatred, I was suddenly soothed by this steady light.

An unprecedented, burning desire surged up without warning.

I wish... that this light would shine just for me.

The thought came so quickly that it was almost uncontrollable.

He hastily lowered his eyelashes, forcefully suppressing the intense, dark longing that was almost overflowing from his eyes, and once again covered it with a gentle and innocent facade.

I can't think about it.

At least not yet.

If we alert the snake, we'll scare Teacher Yu away.

However, it will be soon, as long as he masters it...

"Teacher Yu, please wait a moment."

A slightly deep voice called out to him from behind.

Yu Fuli turned around and saw the school board member who had just been looking serious in the conference room standing alone in the shadow of the pillar, looking at him with an inscrutable expression.

"Teacher Yu," the school board member stepped forward, his face no longer displaying the official demeanor he had when handling affairs. Although he wore a gentle smile, his eyes were scrutinizing Yu Fuli from head to toe.

"You were really eloquent and persuasive at the meeting just now, which left a deep impression on me."

He then changed the subject, his tone pointed, "I just wonder, Professor Yu, you're so young and accomplished, and your actions are so decisive and meticulous... who's guiding you behind the scenes? Or rather, which deity sent you to my Saint Laurent Academy?"

Clearly, this meticulous politician has considered countless options in a short period of time.

In his view, the incident happened too coincidentally, right at the crucial moment of his election, bypassing him and targeting his son, and the handling of the matter was so meticulous that he had no time to react and had to swallow this bitter pill.

He used his connections to investigate Yu Fuli's background, but found nothing. This further confirmed his suspicion that Yu Fuli was no ordinary teacher, but a pawn sent by his opponent to stir up trouble and ruin his plans.

Yu Fuli met the scrutinizing gaze without changing her expression. She merely nodded slightly, her tone polite yet distant: "The councilor flatters me. I am just an ordinary teacher. Adhering to school rules and protecting students' rights is my duty. As for what's behind this, there's no one else involved. If I had to say what's behind it, it would probably be the college's rules and regulations, and my own conscience as a teacher."

His outward response was impeccable, maintaining a polite distance, but inwardly he was already sneering.

Ah, who's standing behind him?

The people and the Party stand behind me!

Before leaving, Director Chen gave him a brief explanation of the school board member's identity and the delicate situation of the current election for the six district heads of Shangcheng District.

He naturally understood the probing and warning in the other party's words. In the eyes of that congressman, the whole matter was probably not a bullying incident that needed to be taken seriously, but rather a political prank that was carefully designed and launched at a critical moment against him personally.

The son's behavior was nothing more than trivial play; the real threat was that it could be exploited by the opponent and affect the overall election.

This kind of thinking, which puts personal political interests above the suffering and injustices suffered by students, made Yu Fuli feel disgusted.

Just how arrogant is this person?

In his eyes, a student being publicly humiliated, having their property wantonly destroyed, and having their dignity trampled underfoot... these real harms are all treated lightly and insignificantly? They only deserve to be an eyesore of dust on his power chessboard, to be quickly wiped away?

"What a fine example of integrity." The school board member repeated meaningfully, but his tone was unmistakably sarcastic. "I hope that Teacher Yu's integrity can remain so pure. The waters of St. Laurent Academy aren't particularly deep, but there are always some undercurrents. As a newcomer, Teacher Yu should proceed with caution in all matters."

"Thank you for your concern, Councilor," Yu Fuli retorted bluntly. "However, perhaps you should be more concerned about your son. St. Laurent Academy is indeed a dangerous place. If you issue a public apology tomorrow, and it gets out of hand, it could lead to rumors of bullying and privilege overriding school rules. That wouldn't sound very good. If it jeopardizes your election, that would truly be a loss, wouldn't you say?"

"You—!" The school board member was choked by his blunt and direct words, his face turning pale. He pointed at Yu Fuli for a long time, his chest heaving violently, clearly very angry.

But every word Yu Fuli said struck precisely at his deepest worry, leaving him speechless for a moment.

He cultivated an image as a reformist legislator who advocated for justice and equality and was considerate of the people's sentiments, and won the support of a large number of ordinary voters with this slogan.

Although he inwardly scoffed at this, he had to wear this mask for the sake of the district head's chair, and he had to make it look respectable. If, at this critical juncture, it were revealed that his son was bullying the weak, disregarding his background, openly violating school rules, or even potentially interfering with privileges at a top university, then his carefully crafted mask of friendliness and equality would shatter instantly.

How will his civilian voters react?

Protests and defections are almost a foreseeable scenario.

The school board member was taken aback by his blunt, almost provocative response, his expression shifting, but he quickly regained his composure, even managing a slightly helpless smile like an elder advising a younger person, and cleared his throat:

"Well, Teacher Yu," he changed his form of address and deliberately made his tone more earnest, "I know you young people are energetic, idealistic, and have a strong opinion against certain things, which is commendable. But you know, ideals can't put food on the table, and some things aren't simply black and white. Being too sharp isn't always a good thing."

His words were subtle yet sharp, serving as both a reminder and a veiled warning.

Upon hearing this, Yu Fuli's face remained expressionless. She merely nodded slightly, her tone maintaining its politeness yet revealing a clear distance: "Thank you for the reminder, Councilor. If there's nothing else, we won't bother you any longer."

Yu Fuli: You see, I don't even acknowledge you.