He must avoid that phase.
Shen Yubai thought to himself.
Xu Chuning did not understand what Shen Yubai meant. Hearing him ask, she pursed her lips tightly, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed as she looked at him.
Silence lingered for a moment, and Shen Yubai lost his patience, "Speak."
Hearing his cold tone, Xu Chuning, who had initially intended to communicate nicely for the sake of Shen Sinian, changed her mind, "Speak what?"
She was defiant; if Shen Yubai's attitude was good, hers would be too.
If his attitude was bad, naturally, hers wouldn't be good either.
Xu Chuning faced Shen Yubai's indifferent eyes and pushed him away, "Shen Yubai, if you want to know about the future, you can go ask Shen Sinian yourself."
She paused, then said calmly, "Also, I want to tell you that Shen Sinian's appearance will not change my opinion of you. We are just ordinary classmates at school, and I hope you understand that."
Having said this, Xu Chuning turned and left.
The roof door was merely latched, not locked. Xu Chuning raised her hand to pull the latch and opened the door to leave.
Watching Xu Chuning's retreating figure, Shen Yubai froze for a few seconds, unable to restrain himself from cursing aloud, "Damn!"
What is all this.
*
Back in the classroom, the second period math class was more than halfway through.
Xu Chuning called out a greeting, and the math teacher Lai Yongliang frowned at her, his tone not too friendly, "How long has class been in session? And you're just showing up now?"
Xu Chuning hesitated slightly, then in a low voice said, "I'm sorry, teacher, I was delayed by something."
"Heh," Lai Yongliang sneered, "Haven't I said that I do not allow students to be late to my class?"
Xu Chuning pursed her lips, attempting to explain herself.
Lai Yongliang didn't give her a chance to speak, he disdainfully glanced at Xu Chuning, "Stand at the door."
"..."
Classmates listened and watched, murmuring amongst themselves.
Fortunately, Xu Chuning was not at her first time being troubled by Lai Yongliang, so she didn't feel too disgraced, just a bit distressed. However, having matured early, she was quite aware and understood the opportunistic nature of some people.
She was a financially underprivileged student at the school, with nothing but her decent academic performance, and no family backup.
Although they were still high school students, the school was partial towards those who catered to their whim, including some of the teachers.
Shen Yubai lagged a few steps behind Xu Chuning as she descended the stairs. Just as he walked out from the stairway, he saw her standing with her back against the white wall. He lightly tugged his lip, showing no intention of meddling, and walked past her.
International and regular classes were not in the same building, but when the school was initially built, in order to facilitate communication between teachers and students on both sides, a bridging corridor was constructed between the two buildings.
Thus, from the international class building, one could walk through the corridor to the regular class side, and vice versa.
Passing by Xu Chuning, Shen Yubai walked forward to the back door of their class when suddenly he heard the teacher's loud call for Xu Chuning inside the room.
"Xu Chuning!" Lai Yongliang glanced unintentionally towards the door, not seeing Xu Chuning there, he quickly walked down from the podium to the door, "How are you standing? Are you defying my discipline? Even standing at the door, you can't stand properly, I think you better—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Lai Yongliang heard a deep and powerful male voice, "Excuse me, teacher."
Shen Yubai could no longer stand to listen and lifted his eyelid, staring at the man who was ranting, "I remember there isn't a school rule that requires students who are late to stand at the classroom door as punishment, right?"
Seeing that it was Shen Yubai speaking, Lai Yongliang's facial expressions varied widely, he looked bewildered at him, and then at Xu Chuning, who was lowering her eyelashes and being scolded, thinking quickly.
Why would Shen Yubai suddenly stand up for Xu Chuning?
Do they know each other?
How has he never heard about it, or is it just that Shen Yubai couldn't stand by and watch injustice happen?
Lai Yongliang has been a teacher at the school for over a decade. Since the day Shen Yubai enrolled, he knew he was not someone to be trifled with and was well aware of the significant contributions the Shen Family made to the school.
Weighing these thoughts internally, Lai Yongliang awkwardly smiled, "Mr. Shen, what are you doing here?"
With his hands in his pockets and a smirk, Shen Yubai looked at him and said, "Teacher, that's probably not the point you should be concerned with."
Hearing the mockery in his words, Lai Yongliang paused and said, "Mr. Shen, that's not what I meant."
After that, he turned and glared at Xu Chuning, "I'm not trying to make things difficult for you on purpose, but you really don't act like a student at all. Your math grades are poor, yet you always come late. Do you think that's appropriate?"
He rambled for a bit, then, smiling at Shen Yubai not too far away, he told Xu Chuning, "Alright, go to the classroom and start the lesson, and don't be late next time."
Having listened to the conversation between the two, Xu Chuning looked up at Shen Yubai, who arrogantly raised his eyebrows at her.
She then averted her eyes and stepped into the classroom.
"Mr. Shen," after Xu Chuning had entered the classroom, Lai Yongliang hurriedly walked towards Shen Yubai, "Did you just get to school?"
He wanted to make his presence known to Shen Yubai, hoping that he might be considered first for any good opportunities at the school.
He was thinking about getting a promotion.
Watching the obsequious middle-aged man in front of him, Shen Yubai scoffed, "Teacher, you should go back and continue your class."
After dropping that line, Shen Yubai didn't spare Lai Yongliang another glance and decisively turned, heading towards the international class section.
As Lai Yongliang watched his departing figure, he sneered and a coldness appeared in his eyes.
A useless person without learning, merely bullying others in school because of his family's power and wealth.
Lai Yongliang cursed inwardly a few times, angrily returning to the classroom to continue teaching.
During the second half of the class, Xu Chuning sat back down, but it wasn't an easy time.
Not sure if Lai Yongliang was certain there was nothing deeper between her and Shen Yubai or for some other reason, he pointed out her name crazily, asked her to answer questions, and come up to the board to solve problems.
Xu Chuning had excellent grades in other subjects, but ever since high school, mathematics had been her weak point.
Because of this, Lai Yongliang seized every opportunity to put her down severely.
The forty-five-minute math class felt like an eternity for Xu Chuning.
When the class bell rang, Lai Yongliang dragged on for a few more minutes before packing up his teaching materials and preparing to leave. Before going, he pointed out Xu Chuning at the lectern, "Write a 3,000-word self-reflection and bring it to my office before school ends today."
"..."
"Damn," once Lai Yongliang left, Deng Xitong couldn't hold back, "Lai the Madman really went crazy today, why is he so against you?"
Lai Yongliang often did things that baffled the students, making him seem like a teacher without normal emotions. Thus, most students at the school nick-named him Lai the Madman.
Hearing Deng Xitong's comment, Xu Chuning lightly shook her head, "I don't know."
Seeing her calm demeanor, Deng Xitong wanted to say more, but then two girls sitting in front of them turned around, asking a question that the class had been curious about the whole class, "Xu Chuning, what was Shen Yubai doing with you?"
"Do you two actually know each other?"
"Was he speaking up for you outside the classroom just now?"
"…"