Chapter 24: You Are My Person!

The girl who fell into the water was named Zhu Fang. Because her student number was 40, she was the last to board the boat.

She lay on the school infirmary bed, her hair already dried, and her wet school uniform replaced with a disposable patient gown. Looking at Fang Yan and the other students standing in front of her, Zhu Fang, pale and apologetic, said, "Teacher Fang, I'm sorry. I didn't complete the task well. I've let you all down."

She had been confident and wanted to give everyone a perfect ending, but due to her carelessness, the two classes turned into a farce. She felt very bad and thought she had let down everyone standing in front of her.

"You haven't disappointed me," Fang Yan said with a smile. "You did well. You bravely boarded the boat and passionately recited the poem—just a slip of the foot. Anyone could have made such a mistake. It's not your fault."

"But—"

"Don't think too much about it," Fang Yan gently consoled her. "It's fine. Get some rest. Your parents might come soon, so explain everything to them. Don't let them worry. We'll handle the rest."

"My parents?" Zhu Fang was taken aback. "How did they find out?"

"They are your parents and have the right to know everything about you," Fang Yan said with a smile.

The reason Zhu Fang's parents could arrive so quickly was that some people with ulterior motives had informed them.

It's understandable that the parents were upset to learn their daughter had fallen into the water at school.

However, Fang Yan didn't think there was anything wrong with this. Who wouldn't care about their child?

Putting himself in their shoes, he would want to know every detail of his child's school life. If his opponent had made a mistake, he would have done the same.

Zhu Fang got up from the bed, looked at Fang Yan with determination, and said, "Teacher Fang, don't worry. I'll explain everything to my parents. I fell into the water because of my own carelessness, and it has nothing to do with you."

Fang Yan shook his head and said, "It does have something to do with me. I should have done a more thorough job to ensure your safety. Rest assured, this won't happen again."

"Thank you, Teacher Fang," Zhu Fang said gratefully.

Fang Yan turned to the students of Class 9 and said, "Go back to class. Don't keep your teachers waiting too long."

"Also, through today's recitation, you should have developed a deep interest in 'Farewell to Cambridge.' Look up interpretations by famous scholars and the mood Xu Zhimo was in when he wrote the poem. That way, you'll have a more comprehensive understanding. This is your homework, but I won't check it."

Huang Haoran walked up to Fang Yan and asked, "Teacher Fang, are you okay?"

Fang Yan patted his shoulder and said with a smile, "What could happen to me?"

"Exactly. What could happen to Teacher Fang?" Zheng Guodong pushed his way through the crowd, a smug look on his face. "The worst that could happen is getting expelled. What's the big deal? Right, Teacher Fang?"

"Exactly. A talented person like Teacher Fang can find a job anywhere to support his family. Leaving Zhuque, he might quickly find a job at some other school." Li Yang added.

"Teacher Fang, don't worry, we'll miss you." Chen Tao was almost laughing uncontrollably. The situation was hilarious; he had tried to draw attention to himself but ended up getting expelled.

"Zheng Guodong, you've gone too far," Huang Haoran said angrily.

"Exactly. How can you talk to Teacher Fang like that?" Zhu Fang scolded.

"Old Zheng, don't go too far. Teacher Fang is actually quite nice—" Zhao Lei, Zheng Guodong's friend, didn't side with them.

"What? Can't you stand it?" Zheng Guodong sneered. "If you can't stand it, find a way to keep him here."

"Exactly. Just a bunch of talk." Li Yang chimed in, already knowing that Fang Yan was definitely leaving.

Fang Yan coldly stared at Zheng Guodong and the others and said, "Do you think driving me away means you've won?"

"What do you think?" Zheng Guodong laughed. "Isn't it a win for you?"

"You've already lost, haven't you noticed?"

"How have we lost?"

"Without a good teacher like me, it will be your biggest regret in life, even if you're not willing to admit it now—"

"Ha ha ha, that's hilarious—"

"What's so funny? Let's settle this according to the rules of the world." Fang Yan smiled at him.

"——" Zheng Guodong couldn't laugh anymore.

Li Yang and Chen Tao instinctively took a step back; they were afraid of Fang Yan.

"See, I told you," Fang Yan said. "If I were your teacher, with your intelligence, it would be hard to teach you anything, but I could at least give you some courage—"

"——"

"Teacher Fang—Fang Yan—" Zheng Jing's voice came from outside.

Fang Yan walked to the door and asked with a smile, "Director Zheng, are you looking for me?"

Zheng Jing gave Fang Yan a strange look and said coldly, "Principal Lu is looking for you."

"Okay, I'll go right away," Fang Yan nodded, but he was puzzled. Although Zheng Jing had always looked down on him, he had been somewhat friendly due to Principal Lu's influence. What was going on today? Had he been betrayed or blackmailed?

After Fang Yan and Zheng Jing left, Zheng Guodong coldly warned the students of Class 9, "Don't blame me for not warning you. Stay away from that bastard—he's already been expelled. I still have to 'spend time' with you. If you anger me, you'll bear the consequences."

"——"

"——"

"——"

"Don't tell me the answer, let me guess first," Fang Yan walked around the corner, deep in thought. "Is it a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix? No, no, the types of flowers aren't that many. Is it a sky full of star rain? No. Although there are stars scattered throughout, there aren't enough to describe it as a sky full—Ah, I remember. It's a dish for slaughtering pigs. You throw in all kinds of ingredients, and the taste is still good—Is it a dish for slaughtering pigs?"

"——" Lu Chaoge wanted to die. You stupid pig butcher, no wonder everyone wants to kick you out of the school. Why didn't I raise my hand when they were voting?

My 'a profusion of colors' is called a dish for slaughtering pigs? You are the dish for slaughtering pigs.

"Wrong?" Fang Yan asked cautiously.

"Teacher Fang, come sit down," Lu Chaoge said expressionlessly.

"Ah—" Fang Yan responded. "Principal Lu, don't be so formal, just call me Xiaofang."

"——"

"Xiaofang, it's intimate and close." Fang Yan was satisfied with the name.

"Xiaofang—I'll still call you Fang Yan." Lu Chaoge couldn't bring herself to say those two words. "Is the girl student okay?"

"She's fine. Just a bit startled."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Fang Yan said. Am I not sitting in front of you intact?

"You're fired," Lu Chaoge said.

Fang Yan was shocked and asked urgently, "Will I still get paid for the past two days?"

"Shouldn't you be more concerned about your students?" Lu Chaoge raised an eyebrow, reminding him.

"I am very concerned about them," Fang Yan said. "Is my salary paid monthly or daily? According to labor laws, you have to compensate me for three months if you terminate my contract. Otherwise, I'll sue you for illegal treatment of workers."

"——" Lu Chaoge felt it was impossible to communicate with him.

"The issue we're discussing is important. You can't remain silent at this moment, Principal Lu," Fang Yan urged. "This will make me have bad thoughts."

"I don't know if they will pay you for the past two days. I also don't know if they will compensate you for three months—"

"I resigned," Lu Chaoge said, trying to keep her eyes on Fang Yan's increasingly infuriating face.

Fang Yan fell silent.

After a long pause, he asked, "Is it because of me?"

"Yes. And no."

"Doing things in this country is not easy, right?" Fang Yan smiled.

Lu Chaoge frowned and said, "What else did Zheng Jing say to you?"

Fang Yan pointed to the bookshelf behind Lu Chaoge and said, "All English and French editions, proving your English and French are excellent. People like you usually have a study abroad background. Also, I've seen your resume on the school's official website—'Queen of American High School Education,' but you face obstacles and setbacks in China. It must be a bitter experience, isn't it?"

"Do you understand everything?"

"I don't understand what I shouldn't understand," Fang Yan said.

"Good," Lu Chaoge decided to open up and have a serious talk with Fang Yan. This young man had repeatedly surprised her, both positively and negatively. "Your situation is just a trigger. The real reason I resigned is because—this school is too conservative. They hired me to be a symbol, to show the outside world that their school can accommodate talent, that they can hire the best high school teacher in America. But when I have ideas, they hold me back, making it impossible for me to implement anything."

"So when you saw me, you saw a beacon, a direction?" Fang Yan asked shamelessly. "I am the star in the sky, the lighthouse in the sea, the guide to your destination?"

"Yes," Lu Chaoge gritted her teeth, trying to suppress her nausea.

"You support me because you see the hope of reform in me," Fang Yan continued. "You want me to lead the charge, to break through their rigid defenses and rigid thinking—actually, we are on the same path."

"No, you are my person," Lu Chaoge corrected him.

Fang Yan thought for a moment and said cautiously, "You're not asking me to provide sleeping services, right? I am a man of principles. If the price isn't fair, I'll refuse even if you are my superior."

"——"