Chapter 416: Chapter 405: The Best Teacher
"Auntie, what are you doing?" Ouyang Yanming returned home to find a large pile of luggage cleared out in the living room of the villa, feeling an inexplicable heart palpitation.
Ouyang Jun was sitting on the sofa with a somewhat unsightly expression, silent in response.
Lin Shuangyue put down the suitcase in her hand, pulling a stiff smile at the corners of her mouth: "Xiao Meng, your dad and I are divorced now. Take good care of yourself from now on."
The relationship between Lin Shuangyue and Ouyang Yanming was actually not that good. Initially, Ouyang Yanming resisted Lin Shuangyue and Lin Xiaoman joining the family, but later, because of Lin Xiaoman, they slowly improved their relationship. Just when they had been getting along peacefully for a few months, she mentioned divorce?
"Xiao Man." Ouyang Yanming’s lips slightly parted as he stared straight at Lin Xiaoman.
Lin Xiaoman pursed her lips, then gently turned her head away. One could see the redness staining her eyes, but she still bravely turned back to face Ouyang Yanming with a smile: "Brother Yanming, we can’t live together anymore, but in my heart, you will always be my brother. Goodbye!"
"Xiao Man!" Ouyang Yanming grabbed Lin Xiaoman’s hand, his voice full of restrained emotion with a touch of pleading, "Don’t leave."
"I’m sorry." Lin Xiaoman pushed Ouyang Yanming’s hand away and then, without turning her head, left with Lin Shuangyue and the suitcase.
"Dad!" As he watched the mother and daughter leave, Ouyang Yanming couldn’t help but yell out to Ouyang Jun.
Ouyang Jun lowered his head, his voice deep: "Let them go! We have nothing to do with them anymore." After saying this, he went straight upstairs. Lin Shuangyue, at the doorway, stiffened her back, and then hastened her steps after hearing the footsteps.
Ouyang Yanming glanced at his dad, then ran out after Lin Xiaoman, his eyes filled with deep love and reluctance. He didn’t understand why things had suddenly turned out this way.
"Brother Yanming, although we won’t be living together anymore, we can still keep in touch any time. You have my email and phone number." Lin Xiaoman held up her cellphone, feigning cheerfulness.
"Where are you and Auntie moving to?" Ouyang Yanming clenched his fists.
"Mom said she’s taking me to Canada. The environment there is nice; it’s good for my health." Lin Xiaoman’s voice got quieter as she spoke, her hands nervously twisting her clothes.
Ouyang Yanming’s breathing paused for a moment, his gaze hopeful and fervent as he asked softly, "Can you not go?"
"I can’t help it."
Ouyang Yanming fell silent after hearing her reply, just staring straight at her.
Lin Xiaoman forced a smile, then suddenly hugged him: "Brother Yanming, can you come visit me during your vacation? Or when I have a vacation, I’ll come back to find you. Don’t forget me; I’m afraid."
As the soft body of a young girl suddenly rushed into his arms, Ouyang Yanming’s heart melted, feeling even more reluctant to let her go, yet knowing he was powerless to change anything. Thus, he hugged her back tightly: "No way, I won’t forget you. I’ll come to Canada to see you as long as I have a vacation. Just make sure not to forget to send me your address when you get there."
"Mhm!" Lin Xiaoman nodded vigorously, buried in Ouyang Yanming’s embrace.
After that day, Ouyang Yanming became even more silent at school. His handsome features, affluent family background, and melancholic demeanor attracted more female students, at one point even surpassing the popularity of Xuanyuan Junrui, the most admired male student at the academy.
Life hadn’t been easy for Xuanyuan Junrui lately. Since the last incident, Xuanyuan Ce’s parenting became much stricter, even ordering him not to skip classes like before, or else his favorite modified Harley motorcycle would be confiscated.
"Bang!" Xuanyuan Junrui kicked open the classroom door with force, startling the students who were in the middle of a lesson.
Ye Qiu glanced over at the three of them and then continued teaching unfazed; he was earnest, and Liu Tong listened carefully. The teacher and student duo seemed somewhat out of place in this classroom.
Xuanyuan Junrui stared at Ye Qiu with a gloomy expression, convinced that he must have made some deal with his scheming stepmother.
"Xuanyuan." Ouyang Yanming looked at him worriedly, fearing he might do something foolish.
On the other hand, Sima Kai was lively, clearly enjoying the prospect of a scene unfolding.
"It’s nothing." Xuanyuan Junrui said gravely and then began to meditate with closed eyes.
Sima Kai, bored, pouted and left the classroom again, taking the basketball with him.
A few boys and girls exchanged looks in the classroom and then stared at Ye Qiu and Liu Tong with malice. Ye Qiu, attuned to the tension, scanned the room and rested his gaze on Liu Tong, noting that he understood the topic, and continued onto the next point of knowledge.
"Liu Tong, don’t leave after school, I have something to talk to you about," Ye Qiu instructed as he packed up his textbooks at the end of the lesson.
Recently, Ye Qiu had been giving Liu Tong test papers and exercise books from other schools, and he had gotten used to it, so he nodded his head, thinking it would be business as usual.
Although Liu Tong still hadn’t made any friends at school, his demeanor had become much more cheerful. He was no longer as sullen as before and would proactively ask teachers about things he didn’t understand in his studies. Along with the nutritious meals Ye Qiu provided, whether intentionally or not, in just one month, not only had Liu Tong’s grades reached the top again, but he had also grown taller and more handsome, causing a subtle surprise at school as people seemed to start to see him in a new light.
However, the number of people who wanted to trouble him didn’t decrease. Xuanyuan Junrui didn’t need to get involved personally—as his followers would go to lengths to please him. Before, it was only Liu Tong alone; now Ye Qiu was included as well. That’s why Ye Qiu was concerned about letting Liu Tong go around by himself—even if he himself wasn’t a great fighter, he still had Little Golden Crow, right?
"Teacher, I have a question and was wondering if you could answer it?" After school, just as Ye Qiu and Liu Tong were about to leave, they were surrounded by a group of boys and girls in the office, all dressed in a flamboyant and slovenly manner, their disdain obvious, clearly harboring no good intentions.
Liu Tong’s mood sank once more. He thought everything was over after the previous incident, but they were still looking to cause trouble for him and the teacher. Was wanting to study in peace really that hard? Who had he and the teacher offended?
Ye Qiu, however, remained unfazed, his presence commanding, his gaze steady: "Which question do you not understand?"
The group suddenly felt a hint of danger in the air, but how could that be possible? Just a teacher from an ordinary district, what threat could he be to them?
The group tried to bolster their courage, and a girl with exaggerated smoky makeup stepped forward, puffing herself up as she declared, "Who cares about not understanding? I’m here to beat you guys up today." With that, she swung her hand, with its long nails, at Ye Qiu’s face.
Ye Qiu, having anticipated the action, caught her hand mid-air: "Classmate, you will be punished for hitting a teacher."