CM - 51

The art student was expelled from school, and Teacher Fan was not just resigning—she was taken away by the police. She was charged with “statutory rape of a minor.” The truth came out, and Zhou Shuirong was proven innocent, but no one apologized to her.

Of course, Zhou Shuirong didn’t really need one.

Honestly, in a mean-spirited way, she wanted them to continue misunderstanding, so that the next time a similar situation occurred, they would rush to take sides again. This way, their entire lives would be like a blade of grass on a wall, bending whichever way the wind blew, never having their own opinions, and always being used.

On Friday afternoon, during the last self-study period, Shen Tingwen passed Zhou Shuirong a note. “Wait for me after school.”

Zhou Shuirong didn’t even look at it. She crumpled it up and threw it away.

Shen Tingwen then switched seats with her deskmate and sat next to her.

Zhou Shuirong turned her head to see him, then quickly looked away. She didn’t want to see Shen Tingwen so close to her. It made her feel strange—her heart would race, her ears would get red, and her mouth would feel dry. Her mind kept replaying his words from the schoolyard: “Can’t you tell? I’m staging a rebellion.”

All of this seemed to remind her of how ordinary she was, that she simply couldn’t resist the sight of Shen Tingwen standing unconditionally behind her.

Shen Tingwen took her pen and wrote another sentence on her scrap paper, pushing it in front of her: “Zhou Shuirong is a little dummy.”

Zhou Shuirong turned her head and immediately cursed, “You’ve got a death wish!”

She was like a puppy with newly grown fangs, ready to bite off Shen Tingwen’s eyes and eat them. No wonder his eyes were always on her; he couldn’t look away. Shen Tingwen just wanted to look at her. As long as he looked at her, he felt that the future was promising and all things were possible.

Zhou Shuirong covered her face so he couldn’t see. “Are you sick?”

“I’ve told you a million times, yes, I’m sick with a terminal illness. I’ll die if I don’t look at you.”

“Then go ahead and die.”

Shen Tingwen rested his head on the desk, still looking at her. “Okay, I will.”

Zhou Shuirong panicked and moved the arm covering her face. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Well, since you want me to die, there’s no point in me living.”

He loved saying things like that to get her sympathy. She didn’t want to continue their back-and-forth conversation. “Stop messing around. I’m asking you, did you have something to do with Teacher Fan being taken away by the police?”

Shen Tingwen still didn’t admit it. “No, I didn’t.”

Zhou Shuirong wasn’t stupid. If Teacher Fan’s husband had called the police, he would have used the recording as evidence. But the police never contacted Zhou Shuirong for information, which meant the direct evidence wasn’t her recording. It must have been Shen Tingwen’s doing.

“Do you think I’m an idiot?” Zhou Shuirong asked him.

Shen Tingwen didn’t deny it. “Yes, you are. You have such a good guy like me by your side, and you don’t even know how to appreciate it.”

Zhou Shuirong ignored that comment, pursed her lips, and said in a slightly muffled voice, “Thank you.”

Shen Tingwen’s lips curved upward. “Huh?”

Zhou Shuirong touched her lips, not looking at him. “Thank you.”

Every day, Shen Tingwen found Zhou Shuirong more adorable than the last. Every day, he liked her more. “Shen Tingwen will be fully responsible for all of Zhou Shuirong’s life’s problems. As long as she needs it, he will be there for her unconditionally. A man’s word is his bond.”

Zhou Shuirong’s heart was beating wildly. Seriously!

Shen Tingwen leaned closer, tilting his head to look at her. “Are you moved?”

“No, I’m not!” Zhou Shuirong still didn’t look at him.

“Then turn your head and let me see your face,” Shen Tingwen said.

Zhou Shuirong wouldn’t let him. “I don’t want you to see!”

“Then you’re blushing. You’re moved.”

Zhou Shuirong turned her head. “I am not!”

Shen Tingwen reached out and pushed her loose hair away. “Why are you so nervous? Liking me isn’t something to be ashamed of.”

Zhou Shuirong slapped his hand away. “Psh! I don’t like you at all!”

Shen Tingwen laughed. “Okay, then I’ll say it. I like you. I like you a lot.”

Zhou Shuirong’s heart was really beating uncontrollably. It was starting to show on her face. She couldn’t stay with him anymore. He was too wicked, always trying to tempt her!

Shen Tingwen watched her rush to the bathroom. He propped up his chin, thinking the same thing in his mind: Damn... my wife is so cute!

Jing He crouched and ran to Shen Tingwen’s seat, sitting in Zhou Shuirong’s spot. He showed him a picture he had secretly taken of the two of them from the back. “Bro, look at your eyes. They’re so fixated.”

Flirting openly in the classroom, Shen Tingwen truly wasn’t afraid of anything.

Shen Tingwen looked at the photo. He was looking at Zhou Shuirong, and Zhou Shuirong was looking at him. Her profile was so beautiful. Her eyes, her nose, her lips—he loved all of it... But as he looked, he suddenly became unhappy and glared at Jing He. “Who told you to take pictures?”

Jing He was stunned and a little flustered.

Shen Tingwen warned him, “Don’t take random pictures of her again.”

Jing He understood and took his phone back. “I’m sorry, I’ll delete it right now. I won’t do it again.”

Shen Tingwen cleared his throat. “Send me that picture first, then you can delete it.”

Jing He rolled his eyes internally but smiled and said, “Okay, bro.”