Chapter 134

Yu Na stammered, "...That's not what I meant."

She really didn't mean it that way, in good conscience.

Just then, her mother, also wearing a nightgown, came into the living room.

She had been secretly listening in on the earlier conversation between father and daughter. Things were going so smoothly that she had been hiding behind, extremely gratified. But then her husband said what he just said, and she helplessly shook her head. He really was incorrigible.

So she had to come out and smooth things over.

Yuna’s mother sat down next to Yuna’s father. “Can’t you just talk nicely with your daughter?”

Yuna’s father didn’t say anything, just made a little room for her on the sofa.

Yuna’s mother said, “The marriage has already been arranged and both families are happy. It's only a matter of time, isn't it? She was thanking you and yet you say things like that.”

Yuna’s father waved his hand dismissively. “Alright alright, she's grown up now. As long as the man can provide her with a stable and affluent life, I won't say anything more. As for other matters, we’ll let them take their own course.”

The corners of Yu Na's mouth turned up slightly.

Yuna’s mother leaned against Yuna’s father's shoulder. “Don't worry, our life will continue to be good. If you and your daughter can reconcile, I won't have any regrets.”

It was quite a warm scene, but for some reason, Yu Na felt strange.

She sat quietly to the side while her parents sat on the other sofa.

Her mother leaned against her husband’s broad shoulders, her arms wrapped around his waist. Her father lifted his hand to hold her around the waist, while his other hand gently ruffled her hair.

And there sat Yu Na, like a shiny light bulb.

"..."

Blushing, she got up awkwardly and said drily, "Dad, Mom, I’m going to bed first...”

She rushed back to her room as if making an escape, leaning heavily against the door as she let out a long sigh of relief.

Yet her heart felt lighter than it had in a long time.

...

The next morning, Xiao Chen arrived at the S Hotel at 5:30 AM sharp.

The two were in perfect sync.

Because Yu Na had also gotten up early. After getting ready, it was exactly 5:30.

She got changed and was about to leave when she knocked on the door of the master bedroom, wanting to say goodbye to her parents before heading out. But she felt it was too early and decided it’d be better to just text them later.

Just as she was thinking this, the door suddenly opened.

And the person who opened the door was none other than her father.

"...Dad, I'm going to work." Yu Na said.

Yuna’s father looked suspiciously at the time. It was only 5:35.

He saw through her intentions right away and let out a cold snort. “Just one night apart.”

Yu Na was speechless.

Yuna’s father took a bottle of water out of the fridge and said solemnly, “You go ahead. Don’t bother coming home the next couple of nights.” “...Okay.”

Xiao Chen accompanied her for breakfast at the hotel, then they got intimate for a while in the backseat of the car.

Clinging to each other tenderly, they were inseparable.

After just one night apart, it was as if they hadn't seen each other for a year.

...

The photos that had been posted online last night had been mostly taken down.

But the ones circulating around school had already spread, so taking them down online didn’t really make a difference.

To avoid attracting attention, she went into the office early, when there was not a soul around.

But there was one person who had arrived even earlier than her.

Yu Na sat at her desk and had just taken a sip of water when the office door opened. It was Principal Qin.

Her scalp tingled. She knew he must be here to talk to her about yesterday.

"Principal." Yu Na stood up to greet him.

"Teacher Yu," Principal Qin was not as stern as she had imagined. On the contrary, he greeted her enthusiastically, "Have a seat, have a seat."

Yu Na forced a smile and played dumb. "Principal, what can I do for you?"

"No big deal," Principal Qin said with a smile. "I assume you've seen the photos online?"

"Yes I have."

"So it's true you're dating Qiao Rui's brother?"

Yu Na: "......"

She had assumed he wanted to talk about family matters. She hadn't expected this.

Even more flustered now.

Yu Na reluctantly admitted, "...Yes."

"When did it start?"

"A year ago."

Principal Qin suddenly understood and dragged out a long "oh". “I thought there was something weird about the way you two were making eyes at each other. Turns out my guess was right."

"Actually, Principal, I really should thank you for, well, me and him."

Principal Qin: ?

Yu Na took the initiative to pour him a glass of water. “We already knew each other before, but lost contact for some reasons afterwards. It was when you first threatened to call my parents that I reconnected with his brother.”

Principal Qin was stunned speechless as he listened.

Yu Na added solemnly, “It’s true.”

"What do you mean?" Principal Qin's brow furrowed. “Is that meant to thank me or mock me?”

“I’m thanking you! Principal, rest assured, my personal affairs will not affect my work.”

Principal Qin cleared his throat. “Miss Yu, I shouldn’t interfere with your private matters, but your student is in his last year of high school and will soon be facing important exams. You know what’s at stake. At this point in time, you have to be aware of the impact you could have. No matter what, you’ll have to wait until after they graduate to pursue anything further. That’s not an unreasonable request, is it?"

"I understand that even without you telling me, Principal. You have my word that my personal affairs will not affect my job. You don't have to worry. But—"

Principal Qin's eyebrows shot up. "But what?"

"Please don't keep threatening to call Qiao Rui's parents all the time. His brother won't be showing up at school either." The principal laughed in frustration. "So what you mean is, even if Qiao Rui gets into trouble, I can't call his parents anymore, right?"

"You can call them of course,” Yu Na said innocently. “But if parents are to be called, currently only his brother would be able to come.”

“I suppose you’re right. I've seen his brother come by many times, yet he hasn’t been able to rein Qiao Rui in. Every time he's here, he only has eyes for you."

The principal pondered with hand on chin, then decided, “Fine. From now on, if Qiao Rui causes any more incidents, I'll take it up directly with you.”

This outcome took Yu Na by surprise. "...Huh?"

He picked up his thermos and left, tossing over his shoulder, “Since you’re like his guardian now, it'll just be more convenient to talk to you.”

"...“

...

Her father's people had suppressed the photos and news, and Continuous Comparisons’ popularity was still rising, soon sweeping her little scandal under the rug.

But at school she had become a hot topic of discussion.

It just so happened her class was first period, and many students were gossiping about her.

Yu Na didn't acknowledge any of them. Before class started, she tapped the podium and said leisurely, "Curious about me?”

The students below didn't dare speak, but several fearless ones answered softly, “Curious.”

Some even nodded furtively.

Yu Na said solemnly, "After you’ve all finished your exams next year, I’ll share my story with you all as a friend. But right now, before your graduation, ours is still a teacher-student relationship. So please restrain your curiosity until the exams are over next year.”

A few voices called out from below, “That’s too long from now!"

Yu Na quirked her lips in a not-so-friendly smile. “Look back at the countdown on the blackboard. How many days left?”

"......"

She meant what she said, but of course she couldn’t stop the students discussing among themselves if they really wanted to. She could only turn a blind eye and make herself scarce in the office when she didn't have to teach..

The students would naturally move on to other topics after gossiping for a bit.

Plus, Yu Na really hated when others pried into her private affairs, so no one dared openly chat about it in front of her.

As long as she didn't overhear anything, then nothing had happened.

...

That night, Yu Na and Xiao Chen returned together to One Hyde Park.

After their showers at night, they lay in bed recounting last night’s happenings to each other.

Xiao Chen said his parents kept trying to pick out a good date for their engagement yesterday.

Yu Na snuggled up to him. “My parents were showing PDA in front of me.”

“Huh?” Xiao Chen sounded incredulous. “How so?”

“...Cuddling in front of me.” Yu Na said with the back of her hand against her cheek. “And I just sat on the side.”

“...I can’t even imagine your dad showing PDA.”

“Actually it was quite a warm scene.” Yu Na said. “But with me standing all alone on the side, I really didn’t know what to do.”

Xiao Chen stroked her head. “Don’t worry, next time we’ll show PDA too. Since you’ll be openly marrying me, we won't have to sneak around anymore.”

Just as he finished saying that, Xiao Chen’s phone rang.

It was a call from Xiao Chen’s assistant Xiao Jiang.

Xiao Chen simply answered it right there and then, while Yu Na still lay in his arms.

Suddenly a mischievous idea popped into her mind.

Xiao Jiang was talking on the phone, and Xiao Chen was listening attentively at first. But Yu Na took the chance when he was not paying attention to cup his face in her hands and stand on her tiptoes to kiss his lips.