Chapter 271: Chapter 268: Parting on Bad Terms
*[Sorry for the delay; the update is a bit late. This Chapter is over 6,000 words and counts for Thursday.]*
Chapter 268 [Parting on Bad Terms]
Sun Keke believed she could calm herself.
Indeed, since school started, she thought she had controlled herself very well. At school, she refused to discuss Chen Nuo with classmates, rejecting everything in her life that once bore his shadow. The classmates around her, after their initial curiosity and repeated attempts at gossip were met with Sun Keke’s cold responses, gradually stopped mentioning Chen Nuo to her. Especially girls like Du Xiaoyan, who were very close to Sun Keke, also stopped talking about Chen Nuo in her presence.
Sun Keke also knew about Chen Nuo’s transfer to the International Division and tried her best not to dwell on it. She was also aware that the British noblewoman named Niveer was, in fact, a secretive member of the school’s board of directors. Sun Keke also knew that Chen Nuo was appearing at school and had started using a wheelchair.
Initially, when she heard the news, she was shocked; her first reaction was to rush over and see Chen Nuo. But soon, she learned that he seemed to move around freely... yet he insisted on using a wheelchair, as if it were some kind of prank...
The previous day, their encounter at the school gate after classes was the first time Sun Keke had seen Chen Nuo face-to-face since the term began.
He appeared to be in good spirits. His smile, just as before, still made her heart race.
Sun Keke had replayed many scenarios in her mind of meeting Chen Nuo again.
She had imagined throwing herself into Chen Nuo’s arms and crying bitterly.
She had imagined slapping that scumbag hard across the face.
She had imagined...
But when actually facing Chen Nuo, Sun Keke found that only by clenching her teeth hard could she prevent herself from bursting into tears on the spot.
That night, after returning home, Sun Keke locked herself in her room. When Yang Xiaoyi asked, Sun Keke just said she felt like she had a bit of a cold and a headache and needed to rest.
With the door shut, she opened a drawer. In the very back corner lay a wind chime.
A Kathmandu wind chime.
And there was a key—Chen Nuo’s house key.
Sun Keke stared at these two items for a long time, then grabbed them and walked to the window.
She opened the window, wanting to throw the key and wind chime out furiously...
But though her arm rose, it fell limply again. Her fingertips clenched tightly, yet she couldn’t bring herself to let go.
Defeated, she sat back down on the bed and stuffed the key and wind chime under her pillow.
Sun Keke lay on her back, staring blankly at the ceiling.
In the darkness, tears silently streamed down the young girl’s face.
You... why did you have to mess with me...
Class 6 of Senior Year Three was designated by the main campus of No. 8 Middle School as this year’s most important focus.
A few days later, leaders from the Education Bureau came for an inspection, and No. 8 Middle School organized a model teaching lesson; a television station even came to record it.
Unsurprisingly, Class Six of the senior year was chosen for this model teaching lesson.
For filming purposes, the classroom for the demonstration lesson was specially arranged in the International Division, because its teaching building and classrooms had the best facilities.
The school leaders of No. 8 Middle School, including Old Sun, attended. A leader from the education group, several leaders from the Education Bureau’s research team, and teachers from other middle schools in the district also watched the demonstration lesson on site.
It was a Chinese language class, and the teacher giving the lesson was Old Jiang—Old Sun had chosen him.
Old Jiang’s teaching level was quite good. He had always gone unnoticed, largely because No. 8 Middle School was a rather ordinary platform. Old Sun’s decision to choose him was also to give his old friend, Old Jiang, a chance to shine. This would greatly help Old Jiang in this year’s selection for the district’s outstanding teacher award.
The teaching effect of this class was very good...
In truth, so-called demonstration classes never have poor teaching outcomes.
To put it bluntly, it was just a performance—a show for the TV station and the Education Bureau leaders.
Although such performances are often criticized, that’s just the way things are.
If this ’play’ was performed well, gaining the support and publicity of official media and the approval of education system leaders, No. 8 Middle School could secure better teaching resources in the future.
Everyone knew that by senior year, the high school textbook curriculum had long been completed.
Old Jiang, naturally aware of Old Sun’s intentions, also poured all his effort into teaching the class.
The lesson was solid and rigorous. Old Jiang’s teaching style was witty and engaging, resulting in outstanding educational outcomes and an excellent classroom atmosphere.
After the class ended, the television crew, the education system leaders who observed, and the teachers from other schools all gave favorable comments.
After class, Old Jiang, as a key teacher being actively promoted by No. 8 Middle School, quickly became the center of attention.
The students, meanwhile, quickly left the classroom after class...
They still had other classes to attend.
Sun Keke, however, seemed a little out of sorts. During class, when Old Jiang asked questions, he had intentionally tried to call on Sun Keke more often. However, after she responded once, he noticed she wasn’t in a good state and decided to let it be.
Sun Keke was indeed somewhat absent-minded. Although she concealed it well, she knew clearly that her thoughts had been in disarray throughout the entire lesson.
When class ended and she left the classroom, her heart began to pound as she stood in the hallway.
Since the school term began, Sun Keke hadn’t set foot in the International Division campus even once!
Even when Du Xiaoyan and the others wanted to invite Sun Keke to the swimming pool or to play badminton at the gym, Sun Keke always refused.
She... really didn’t want to run into *him* on the International Division campus.
Yet, as she rounded the corner of the hallway by the staircase, she ran into him anyway.
It truly was an accidental encounter.
Since returning to school this semester, Chen Nuo hadn’t actively sought out Sun Keke on the main campus. Their meeting at the school gate a few days prior had also been accidental.
Chen Nuo actually understood Sun Keke’s character very well.
Soft on the outside, tough on the inside!
Although she had fallen for him, the traditional values Old Sun had instilled in her since childhood were deeply ingrained.
Her world was small and simple. In Sun Keke’s eyes, love should be the straightforward kind experienced by ordinary people.
Getting married, having children, managing a household.
Two people spending a lifetime together, supporting each other through thick and thin.
This had always been Sun Keke’s understanding and philosophy.
Chen Nuo was well aware of this. Although the girl was gentle and lovely, her core principles were firm and not easily broken.
After she learned about my scandalous love affairs, Sun Keke’s heartbreak, and her disappointment in me, weren’t things I could easily smooth over by just visiting her a few times and whispering sweet nothings.
But to say Chen Xiaoguo would give up...
Of course, that wasn’t going to happen!
After all, he was Chen Yanluo, not the ordinary high school student, Chen Nuo.
The possessiveness in his bones wouldn’t disappear so easily.
To put it bluntly, he wanted them all!
But how to win her back couldn’t be forced; it required strategy, a plan.
But before Chen Nuo could come up with a plan, anyone who dared to have designs on Sun Keke would absolutely not succeed.
His return to No. 8 Middle School, his deliberate choice of the International Division to keep a distance from the main campus—it was all like a tiger circling its prey, patrolling its territory.
This is my prey! I haven’t eaten it yet because I haven’t found the chance to bite down. If anyone else dared to make a move on her, they were sorely mistaken!
The chance encounter by the stairs seemed to startle Sun Keke. She looked at Chen Nuo in his wheelchair, then noticed Xicheng Xun standing behind him, pushing it.
After a moment of silence, Chen Nuo was the first to speak.
"Here for the demonstration class?"
"Yeah."
"Class over?"
"Yeah."
"Old Jiang’s lectures must be good, right?"
Sun Keke bit her lip and said in a low voice, "It’s not like you’ve never attended Teacher Jiang’s class."
It felt like a retort, though not overly harsh. For someone with Sun Keke’s temperament, this was already quite blunt.
She hadn’t actually intended to snap at Chen Nuo; it was the sight of Xicheng Xun that instantly filled School Belle Sun with rage!
He... actually brought this Japanese girl here?!
Taking a deep breath, Sun Keke said with a stern face, "Please move aside."
The wheelchair was right in front of Sun Keke.
Chen Nuo smiled, gazed at Sun Keke’s face for a moment, and asked softly, "Is studying very tiring?"
"..."
"Make sure to rest. Your eyes were only pseudomyopic before; don’t let them become truly nearsighted."
"...That’s none of your business," Sun Keke snorted, responding coldly.
"Also, eat more. You’ve gotten so thin your chin has become sharp."
Sun Keke’s face turned red.
When their relationship was good, "You should gain some weight" was a teasing line Chen Nuo often used with her.
Hearing such words now, the girl instinctively recoiled and glared fiercely at Chen Nuo.
The scoundrel actually wore an innocent expression, blinking at her.
"...Don’t you ever talk such roguish nonsense to me again!"
"What’s wrong? Is reminding you to watch your diet considered roguish now?" Chen Nuo asked with a laugh.
"You’re clearly just..." Sun Keke, gritting her teeth in anger, suddenly stepped forward and kicked Chen Nuo squarely on the shin.
Chen Nuo yelped. He furrowed his brow, bent over, and clutched his shin. Sun Keke had already squeezed past the wheelchair, snorted coldly, and hurried down the stairs.
Xicheng Xun immediately stepped aside, smiling and bowing slightly to Sun Keke’s departing figure.
Sun Keke didn’t actually want to acknowledge Xicheng Xun, so she deliberately pretended not to see her, looking down as she walked away.
Only after Sun Keke had descended the stairs and disappeared from sight did Chen Nuo release his leg, the pained expression vanishing from his face.
Xicheng Xun slowly straightened up, looking down at Chen Nuo, "Ah Xiu... do you still like her very much?"
"Yeah, I do," Chen Nuo said lightly. "Every one of you asks me this question. I’ve made it very clear: I don’t love you, nor do I love Li Yingwan or Niveer. Yet you all insist on asking. And when you get the answer, you’re still not satisfied..."
Xicheng Xun, however, seemed accustomed to such deliberately hurtful words. No distress showed on her face; instead, she smiled gently.
"But I think... Ah Xiu is also very kind and gentle to me."
"..." Chen Nuo sighed and looked up at the Japanese girl. "You wouldn’t happen to be a masochist, would you?"
Xicheng Xun covered her mouth and chuckled, then continued to push Chen Nuo’s wheelchair towards the classroom.
In the hallway, they happened to run into Old Sun and several other school teachers coming their way.
When Old Sun saw Chen Nuo, he was startled at first, then his expression quickly darkened.
"Old Sun." Chen Nuo looked up and smiled. "Is the demonstration class over?"
"..." Old Sun took a deep breath. The teachers with him had peculiar expressions, but they were all tactful enough to greet Old Sun and then quickly depart.
"Chen Nuo, come here for a moment."
"Alrighty," Chen Nuo replied with a chuckle. "Time for another lecture?"
Old Sun’s face was stern as he glanced at Xicheng Xun, then turned to Chen Nuo. "Come here on your own! And... stop your bizarre act in front of me! Walk over here yourself! And leave that ridiculous wheelchair behind!"
Chen Nuo sighed, slowly got up from the wheelchair, and stood.
Xicheng Xun maintained her composure and bowed politely to Old Sun.
Although Old Sun was very displeased to see this unfamiliar girl so close to Chen Nuo, she was, after all, a student. He suppressed his irritation, nodded at Xicheng Xun, then turned and headed towards the corner of the hallway.
The corner of the hallway had a balcony, where Old Sun stood, watching Chen Nuo approach with a cold gaze.
Chen Nuo, showing no hint of embarrassment, walked up to Old Sun as casually as ever and even pulled out a pack of soft Zhonghua cigarettes.
"Care for one?"
Old Sun stared at Chen Nuo with a cold gaze.
"Alright, alright... This is school; I won’t smoke," Chen Nuo said with a smile as he put away his cigarette pack.
"Chen Nuo." Old Sun took a deep breath and then exhaled, controlling his emotions and tone. "What on earth is going on with you?"
"Um... I just didn’t feel like walking. My lazy bug bit me, so I used a wheelchair."
"I’m not asking about the wheelchair! If you want to cause a stir or play pranks, I can ignore it! After all, you’re an International Division student now; the teachers there can deal with you!"
Old Sun said coldly, "What on earth is going on between you and Keke?"
"Ummmm... we had an argument."
"An argument?!" Old Sun became agitated, his voice rising a few notches before he quickly caught himself and lowered it. "An argument to the point where Keke doesn’t even want to mention your name? With your personality, if it wasn’t a serious conflict, you’d have charmed her into making up long ago!!"
"Er... Old Sun, so in your eyes, I’m that good at charming girls, huh?"
"..." Old Sun glared at Chen Nuo.
"Alright, alright..." Chen Nuo said with a wry smile. "This time the argument was a bit serious, but I’ll..."
"No!" Old Sun said sternly. "That’s not what I want to talk to you about today."
"Then what do you want to talk to me about?"
"Did you do something to wrong Keke?!" Old Sun’s gaze was stern as he continued coldly, "What’s your relationship with other girls? Hmm? That girl pushing your wheelchair just now! Chen Nuo, if you value your relationship with Keke, you shouldn’t be getting entangled with other girls!
I know my daughter best!
Keke likes you, and it’s not a casual liking!
If you’d upset her over something trivial, she might act a little sulky on the surface, but a little coaxing would have been enough.
She even used to get anxious if anyone spoke ill of you!
But now it’s entirely different!
I’ve talked with her at home, and she doesn’t even want to mention you!
Chen Nuo! Did you break Keke’s heart?! What exactly did you do to her?!"
As he spoke, Old Sun clenched his fist tightly, glaring fiercely at Chen Nuo.
Chen Nuo sighed, his smile vanishing, and his tone became serious. "Old Sun, I can tell you plainly, I haven’t done anything *to* Keke... As for the kind of thing you’re worried about, rest assured. I promised you I would observe propriety in my affection for Keke.
I’ve always acted that way.
Really, Old Sun, rest assured, I truly haven’t harmed your daughter."
Hearing this, Old Sun relaxed slightly. "Then what is going on between you two?"
Chen Nuo fell silent.
This attitude made Old Sun a bit impatient.
"Keke is like this, and so are you?
When I ask about it, you give me the silent treatment, is that it?"
Old Sun, infuriated, pointed at Chen Nuo, jabbing his finger in the air a few times. "Fine! Since you won’t talk and she won’t talk, then I, as her father, won’t press you further!
But as Keke’s father, I have something else to say to you now!"
"Go ahead," Chen Nuo shrugged helplessly.
"If you want to reconcile with Keke, then go and properly appease her, resolve the problem! I used to admire you, thinking you were a responsible and dependable young man!
If... your conflict is really too great to resolve...
Then, Chen Nuo!
You had better stay away from my daughter!
She’s in her third year of high school! Senior Three, you understand! She needs to study hard and prepare for university!
If her mind is still preoccupied with your relationship drama, it will affect her mood, her emotions—and that will affect her entire future!
Chen Nuo, if you have any consideration for the kindness I’ve shown you, and for Keke’s affection for you...
Then don’t hurt her at a time like this!"
Chen Nuo exhaled, his smile turning somewhat bitter.
"Old Sun... why else do you think I transferred from the main campus to the International Division?
It was precisely because I didn’t want to be in Class 6 of Senior Three, being an eyesore to Keke every day.
I’ve already hidden myself away in the International Division campus; where else can I go?
Surely you don’t expect me to drop out of school?"
That brat, he’d skipped plenty of classes before too!
Of course, Old Sun ultimately couldn’t bring himself to say that.
After all, as a teacher, he couldn’t very well force Chen Nuo to skip classes or drop out just to give his daughter peace of mind.
"Believe me, I would never harm Keke."
Chen Nuo’s tone was very sincere. "Old Sun, you’ve been very good to me. You’re the best teacher I’ve ever met, the kindest person. And Keke is... well...
In any case, I definitely won’t harm Keke.
I will resolve our issues."
"I hope so!" Old Sun felt a tightness in his chest. Before leaving, he couldn’t stop himself from delivering one last harsh word to Chen Nuo.
"Chen Nuo! Although I used to think very highly of you... Keke is my daughter!
I am a teacher; of course, I hope you do well in your studies too!
But if you really do something terrible to my daughter, then... even if it costs me my job as a teacher, as the vice principal of No. 8 Middle School, I will have you expelled! You won’t be able to get near my daughter again!
Those are a father’s feelings!
I’m warning you now!"
The conversation didn’t exactly end amicably, and the atmosphere was understandably tense.
Watching Old Sun leave with a grim face, Chen Nuo felt the cigarette pack in his pocket but decided against taking it out.
He returned to the corridor and sat back in the wheelchair.
"Shall we go to the classroom?" Xicheng Xun asked gently.
"No, I’m going home. I’m skipping class today."
「In a manor within Britain.」
"Ten o’clock... target is moving south."
Little Candy’s voice came through the earpiece as Lu Xixi moved rapidly through the undergrowth, her figure darting swiftly.
With a leap, she landed on a treetop, quickly crouching down to peer below.
In the undergrowth, a patch of shrubbery gently shook.
Overhead, a crude-looking drone flew slowly, its propellers’ whirring startling whatever was in the bushes. A grey shadow quickly darted out.
"Pull back the drone; you scared it."
Lu Xixi grumbled into the earpiece before removing it and stuffing it into her pocket.
After leaping down from the treetop, Lu Xixi dove back into the undergrowth.
Minutes later, the manor’s grand entrance door was kicked open.
Lu Xixi strode in from outside. Her long, seaweed-like hair was simply tied back, her face and clothes covered in dust and bits of grass.
In her hand, she held the ears of a plump gray rabbit.
On the steps, Little Candy, the white-haired loli, skipped down. She took the plump rabbit from Lu Xixi’s hands and hugged it.
"Senior Sister Rabbit, you really mustn’t run off again!
Otherwise, next time, you’ll end up in soup!"
Lu Xixi sighed and turned towards the stairs.
"Teacher, where are you going?"
"I’m a bit sleepy; I’m going back to my room for a nap."
"Um... but you have a doctor’s appointment soon."
Lu Xixi stopped in her tracks and looked back at the white-haired loli, "Doctor? What doctor?"
"...I made the appointment for you." Little Candy sighed, walked up to Lu Xixi, and looked up, scrutinizing her expression.
Lu Xixi clearly looked guilty and avoided eye contact.
Little Candy’s expression grew more serious. "Your appetite has been poor recently, and you’ve been irritable and quick to anger.
The day before yesterday, I specially made your favorite pumpkin pie.
You only ate three plates! You used to be able to finish an entire pot!
And I saw you secretly vomiting in the courtyard again!
Lu Xixi, tell me, are you sick?"
Lu Xixi flushed, then retorted sternly, "Nonsense! I’ve just had an upset stomach lately. I’ll be fine after a few days’ rest!"
Little Candy stared at Lu Xixi’s face, examining it for a long time before suddenly exclaiming in shock!
"Lu Xixi!!!!!!"
"...What?"
"You, you, you... you don’t have a terminal illness, do you?!" Little Candy cried out, her voice choked with sobs. "Do you have some incurable disease? And you can’t bear to tell me because you’re afraid I’ll worry and be upset, so you’re just shouldering it all alone?"
As she spoke, Little Candy released the rabbit and threw her arms around Lu Xixi’s waist, burying her small head in Lu Xixi’s embrace.
"Don’t lie to me, Lu Xixi! Just tell me!
I can take it!
No matter what illness you have, can’t we face it together?"
Lu Xixi’s expression was strange. She hesitated for a moment, then finally sighed.
Reaching back, she patted her disciple’s head, tousling her hair.
A blush still on her face, Lu Xixi whispered, "Alright... if I tell you, you mustn’t make a fuss or tell anyone."
"Okay, tell me!"
Lu Xixi’s eyes grew misty, and she subconsciously reached out to touch her lower abdomen.
"You... might be getting a little junior brother, or a little junior sister."
"Huh?" Little Candy looked up, blinking. "Are you taking another disciple?"
"..."
"Where did you hear about this disciple? Are we going to secretly recruit them?"
"No need... it’s right here with us."
"Where?"
"Here..." Lu Xixi pointed to her own belly.
Little Candy: "???...!!!"
A few seconds later, the loli screamed sharply!!
"Who is that damned man?! Is it that husband you mentioned before?!!!!!"
"Don’t ask. He’s already dead!"
"What!! Who killed your husband?! The enmity from a husband’s murder is irreconcilable! Lu Xixi, should we seek revenge?"
"No need! I killed him with my own hands!"
"Er..."
Little Candy was stunned into silence. Lu Xixi watched her disciple, about to explain.
Suddenly, Little Candy said bleakly,
"So... my poor teacher, you’ve become a widow now?"
"..."
A few minutes later, Little Candy’s miserable shriek echoed through the hall.