Both of them froze, staring blankly at Yin Fang.
Yin Fang took a deep breath and slammed her hand on the desk: "The anonymous letter provided detailed evidence. I didn't want to believe it at first, but what were you two just doing?!"
Xue Jiao blinked: "I was explaining a problem to him..."
Yin Fang looked at the young man and woman before her—one was the top student in their grade and exceptionally good-looking. Even at her age, she had to admit the girl's face was strikingly beautiful.
Then there was Yi Tianyu with his handsome features. Standing together, the pair looked remarkably well-matched.
At this age, teenage boys and girls were most prone to straying down the wrong path.
The greater the academic pressure, the more teachers opposed such relationships, the more likely youthful emotions were to flare up uncontrollably.
Yin Fang spoke earnestly: "Gu Xue Jiao, you did rank first last month, but we all know there was an element of luck involved. Chu Sheng from the next class has been studying day and night ever since you surpassed him for second place. You need to make the most of your time too. Studies come first—you've improved quickly, but you must work hard to maintain your position at the top! Do I need to explain the dangers of puppy love? If you'd already graduated, I wouldn't say a word about whatever you choose to do!"
Her tone turned less friendly when she addressed Yi Tianyu: "Yi Tianyu! What did you promise last time?! You said if we let you play basketball, you'd study properly. Are you going back on your word already?! If you won't study, at least don't drag others down with you!"
Yin Fang appeared furious, her eyes wide as if they'd committed some unforgivable sin.
"Teacher, we're really not dating!" Xue Jiao said seriously. "I don't know who reported this, but I must say it's slander!"
Her sincere expression made Yin Fang waver slightly, especially considering Xue Jiao's recent performance...
"Really?"
"Really." The answer remained firm.
Somewhat reassured, Yin Fang continued her earnest advice: "Gu Xue Jiao, you must devote all your time to studying. Don't get complacent just because you came first once. Getting first place once might be coincidence, but maintaining that position this month won't be so easy! You must work hard—even if you can't take first next time, strive to stay within the top three."
Her words practically assumed Xue Jiao couldn't possibly rank first again in the next monthly exam. Xue Jiao lowered her head without responding.
"Alright, you may go back now. I'll rearrange your seating on Monday." Yin Fang remained half-convinced.
"No way!" Yi Tianyu, who had stayed silent until now, exploded.
"Because I'm your homeroom teacher!" Yin Fang glared, her shorter stature no match for her commanding presence.
"I refuse! I won't accept this!" Yi Tianyu's expression darkened suddenly.
Yin Fang panted angrily. Known for her stern demeanor, she rarely encountered direct defiance from students.
"You don't get a choice! I've seen countless puppy love cases—how many actually last?! If you fail the college entrance exams, forget about romance—you'll be lucky not to resent each other! Even if you are dating now, I bet you won't last! There's no future in this!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Yi Tianyu clenched his fists until they cracked audibly, jaw tight with a ferocious expression.
He couldn't identify the source of the rage rising within him—it felt like flames consuming him whole.Yin Fang saw his clenched fists and the veins bulging on his forehead, instinctively taking a few steps back before erupting in fury: "Call your parents! Call your parents right now!!"
——
On this Thursday, Xue Jiao and Yi Tianyu stood waiting in the office.
Yin Fang was certain Yi Tianyu had wanted to hit her at that moment. Now she wouldn't listen to any explanations, convinced his reaction proved something was going on between them.
She sat in the office fuming, refusing to speak.
When Yi Tianyu calmed down, he realized he'd dragged Xue Jiao into this. His attempts to explain fell on deaf ears.
"Sorry..." he whispered, so only Xue Jiao could hear.
She shook her head slightly, lowering her gaze without responding.
Since the start of term, she'd known about Yin Fang's "collective punishment" approach. Though she didn't understand Yi Tianyu's earlier expression, she knew explanations were pointless now.
Xue Jiao bowed her head and began silently reciting the English essay she'd memorized that morning.
After a while, a slightly overweight man burst in—Yi Dafa.
"Teacher! What happened? You weren't clear on the phone—you worried me to death!" Yi Dafa panted, looking at Yin Fang.
Yin Fang stood up angrily: "Yi Tianyu almost hit me just now!"
"What?! This brat dared to attack a teacher?!" Yi Dafa's eyes widened as he turned, grabbed Yi Tianyu, and kicked him in the rear.
Xue Jiao stood some distance away, unnoticed.
Not satisfied with just the kick, Yi Dafa smacked his son's back.
"You little bastard! Where'd you get the nerve?! Huh?!"
"Ow ow ow! Take it easy!" Yi Tianyu dodged another incoming kick.
"I sent you here to study, not to assault teachers!" The blows looked forceful, but only Yi Tianyu knew this was his father's usual act—it didn't hurt at all. He just needed to play along with the yelps.
Yi Dafa twisted his ear, whispering an opportunity: "Good son, apologize first!"
Though not highly educated, Yi Dafa's years in business taught him to read situations. Whether Yi Tianyu actually tried to hit the teacher didn't matter—Yin Fang believed it and was furious. Arguing would only make things worse, and Yi Tianyu still had to study under her. They couldn't burn this bridge!
His dramatic display actually startled Yin Fang, leaving her dumbfounded.
"Hey—" Xue Jiao instinctively moved to intervene, but the "beaten" boy turned his head and blinked—his eyes showed no trace of pain.
She quietly stepped back.
Yin Fang exhaled: "Stop! Stop hitting him! We don't use corporal punishment anymore!"
"So Teacher isn't angry anymore?" Yi Dafa smiled. "If you're still upset, I'll keep beating him!"
"Don't!" Yin Fang said quickly.
Having calmed down, she continued: "Mr. Yi, I called you mainly to discuss Yi Tianyu's early romance situation!"
"Early romance?!" Yi Dafa's voice rose sharply.
"Yes."
"You little—!" This time Yi Dafa's anger wasn't feigned.
He knew his son wouldn't attack a teacher without reason—if he did, the teacher must have pushed him to extremes. That's why he hadn't been truly worried earlier.But he had no idea if his son was actually involved in puppy love!
So this time, his anger was genuine.
"Yes, I suspect Yi Tianyu has shown signs of puppy love!" Yin Fang declared firmly.
"Today, I received an anonymous letter reporting Yi Tianyu's involvement in puppy love, and the claims were quite detailed. At first, I didn’t believe it, but when I called him into the office to ask, he nearly lost his temper!"
As Yin Fang spoke, her anger flared up again.
Yi Dafa was taken aback and asked, "Teacher, what did you say that made him so angry?"
Yin Fang replied, "I just told him that at their age, I’ve seen plenty of puppy love cases, and none of them last. Even if they’re together now, they’ll inevitably break up sooner or later!"
She crossed her arms, her face filled with indignation.
Yi Dafa knew his son well. Hearing this, he sensed something was off—at the very least, his son had feelings for someone!
Otherwise, why would phrases like "won’t last" and "inevitably break up" provoke him so much?
"Who is he involved with?"
"The letter mentioned… Gu Xue Jiao," Yin Fang paused before saying the name.
Following her gaze, Yi Dafa noticed Gu Xue Jiao, who had been quietly standing in the office the whole time.
She stood there calmly, dressed in her school uniform with her hair tied in a ponytail, her face fair and clean.
She looked exactly like the well-behaved girl he had imagined.
Yi Dafa suddenly raised his voice in disbelief: "My son actually managed to win Gu Xue Jiao’s heart?!"
His tone abruptly shifted to excitement: "Teacher! Are you serious?!"
He looked as if he had just won the lottery, his eyes sparkling with joy, the wrinkles on his forehead deepening as he grinned widely, revealing two rows of teeth.
Yi Dafa’s reaction left Yin Fang stunned, staring at him in bewilderment.
This response…
The two other teachers in the office, who had been grading papers with their heads down, suddenly looked up, their mouths slightly agape in shock.
"Yi Tianyu’s parent, Yi Tianyu is showing signs of puppy love…" she began hesitantly.
Yi Dafa smacked his forehead. "No wonder that brat suddenly changed his ways and started studying seriously—it must be thanks to Gu Xue Jiao’s influence!"
He spoke with sheer delight. In his eyes, if a troublemaker like Yi Tianyu could actually win Gu Xue Jiao’s affection, it was nothing short of a miracle!
"Yi Tianyu’s father, as a parent, you should stand with the teacher in educating your child. Puppy love has very negative effects!" Yin Fang couldn’t help but grow stern. Yi Dafa’s reaction was completely unexpected.
In all her years as a homeroom teacher, this was the first parent who had actually been happy upon learning their child was involved in puppy love.
Most parents of high school sophomores would be frantic if their child showed signs of early romance—so why was this one so thrilled?
"Teacher Yin, I actually think it depends on the situation. Some kids neglect their studies because of puppy love, and in those cases, of course, it should be stopped!"
Yi Dafa narrowed his eyes, rubbing his hands together, still grinning. "But then there are cases like this—two bright, talented kids encouraging each other, pushing one another to get into a good university together. Teacher, how could you bear to separate them?"
Yi Dafa spoke so earnestly and logically that Yin Fang began to wonder if she was being too harsh.
But soon, she snapped out of it."No, Yi Tianyu's father, you must understand the negative impact of puppy love on a student. There's a reason why the school has always forbidden it—it's harmful. At their age, they're too impulsive. One careless moment could lead to unforgivable mistakes, and then they'd regret it for a lifetime!"
"What kind of mistakes?" Yi Dafa was taken aback.
Yin Fang was at a loss for words, staring at the father and son before her with speechless frustration.
Just then, a voice came from the office doorway—
"Teacher!"
Author's note: Yi Tianyu: My dad is still my dad after all...
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