Chapter 36: Watchful Eyes
The principal cleared his throat, and immediately, the students of Class 8 and Xue Wenyan all turned to look at the window.
Outside stood the principal, the disciplinary director, and the top student with 743 points.
Just moments ago, some of the students had been slouching, but now they straightened up, and the students in the back row quickly hid their phones in their desks.
The game had been paused.
Su Bo covered his head with one hand and muttered quietly, “Damn, I was on a five-kill streak.”
Qin Mo noticed his wife was slow to react and turned her head. By now, she was no longer in her school uniform but wore a sky-blue round-neck sweater, with two pale yellow flowers on the collar of her shirt underneath.
Her small face was fair and pure, and it made people’s hearts flutter.
When Wen Xia met Qin Mo’s gaze, she subtly stuck out her tongue. Qin Mo lowered his head and gave a slight smile.
Though Xue Wenyan was angry, she didn’t want the Jiazhong students to see her lose control. She took a deep breath and picked up the textbook again.
She smiled, “Next, let’s have a student answer the third question about why B is the correct choice. I’ll call on someone at random… He Sheng, how about you?”
“Don’t be nervous. It’s okay if you get it wrong.”
Wen Xia: “…”
They had already covered this question earlier.
Calling on someone at random was just too “random.”
Beside her, He Sheng adjusted his glasses, picked up his textbook, and said, “When adding saturated ammonium sulfate solution to a protein solution, it’s a salting-out process. The precipitated protein’s properties don’t change, meaning no new substance is formed, so it’s not a chemical reaction…”
The principal outside the window nodded repeatedly, trying to save face for the school. “Our students aren’t too bad, actually.”
Director Wei: “…”
In front of someone with 743 points, Principal, where is your self-awareness?
“Mm.”
Qin Mo echoed, having noticed that Wen Xia’s desk partner had been replaced with a male student—the same boy who had been on stage with her.
He gave a quick glance, then relaxed.
The principal, worried about encountering another situation like what happened in Class 8, decided it was best not to show Qin Mo more of No.2 Middle School’s educational atmosphere.
After thinking for a while, he still couldn’t figure out where else to take him. No.2 Middle School really wasn’t very big.
“Qin Mo, how about I take you to the cafeteria? Our school cafeteria is quite good.”
Director Wei glanced upward as if seeking divine intervention. “…”
Compared to No.1 Middle School’s cafeteria, No.2 Middle School’s was… well, he couldn’t even lie to himself about it being good.
“Principal, I’d like to sit in on a couple of classes,” Qin Mo suggested. “Teacher Zhou mentioned that I should learn about No.2 Middle School’s teaching methods and see how to apply the good ones.”
As he spoke, Qin Mo glanced at his wife’s head, her sleek black ponytail tied with a plain hair tie adorned with star shapes.
It was this unremarkable little thing that had taken the place of his expensive watch.
Hearing this, the principal quickly replied, “Of course! Director Wei, arrange for Qin Mo to sit in on a Class 1 session.”
Class 1 was the science experimental class at No.2 Middle School, roughly equivalent to a standard class at No.1 Middle School.
“That’s not necessary, Principal. This class is fine,” Qin Mo said, completely unbothered by his lie. “My Xia Xia said the teachers here are excellent.”
Neither the principal nor Director Wei noticed the possessiveness in “my Xia Xia.” Even if they had, they would have assumed it was normal—for cousins, that is.
In the end, Qin Mo found himself seated in the last row of Class 8. The spot next to him was occupied by a male student.
Somehow, the principal managed to procure a brand-new chemistry textbook for him.
After the fourth period, Wen Xia glanced toward the back of the classroom. Qin Mo was being bombarded with questions from the girl seated in front of him. Her cheeks were flushed, and her gaze remained fixed on his face.
Wen Xia crumpled a piece of scrap paper on her desk, stood up, and made her way to the back, ostensibly to throw it in the trash. As she passed, she shot a few glances in their direction.
Qin Mo calmly explained, “Normally, this is how I solve problems. You might not understand it, though.”
His tone lacked the patience he reserved for Wen Xia.
He caught his wife’s “caught in the act” gaze from the corner of his eye and thought, “…”
“Xia Xia, come here,” he called.
Wen Xia walked over. Qin Mo pulled another piece of chocolate from his pocket and handed it to her. “The rest is in Teacher Cao’s office. Go and get it after lunch.”
He paused and then turned to his temporary desk mate. “Classmate, could we switch seats for the next class?”
Liu Wei nodded. “Sure, but you’ll need to let Teacher Cao know.”
Just as he finished speaking, Cao Jun appeared at the door. Overhearing the seat exchange, he didn’t think much of it, assuming Qin Mo wasn’t comfortable with unfamiliar classmates. “Go ahead and switch,” he said.
Thanks to Cao Jun’s assistance, Wen Xia and Qin Mo ended up as desk mates.
The fifth period wasn’t supposed to be chemistry, but Xue Wenyan was teaching the class anyway. It was likely an impromptu schedule change because of Qin Mo.
While Wen Xia was busy taking notes, she suddenly felt her left hand being held. She turned her head to see Qin Mo sitting beside her, focused on the blackboard as if nothing had happened.
Feeling nervous, she glanced around the classroom, relieved to find no one paying attention to them. She lightly squeezed his hand back, then lowered her head to resume her notes.
…
Soon, it was noon.
The principal, having something urgent to attend to, left Director Wei to host Qin Mo for lunch. Since Qin Mo was in Class 8, Director Wei handed the responsibility over to Cao Jun.
Cao Jun, knowing Qin Mo wasn’t accustomed to eating with strangers, asked Wen Xia to accompany him. He added that any expenses would be reimbursed by the school in the afternoon.
And so, the couple openly sat together under everyone’s watchful eyes, having lunch in plain sight.
Since Qin Mo didn’t have a lunchbox, Wen Xia sent Liu An’an and Jiang Yan to line up while she went to the convenience store to buy one.
Qin Mo followed her, the two walking side by side.
Along the tree-lined path, sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows. Wen Xia chattered away, her small lips moving as she spoke. Qin Mo looked at her with a smile, slightly bending down to listen to her.
Qin Mo’s handsome looks drew the attention of many female students eating nearby, who couldn’t help but steal glances in his direction.
The convenience store was notorious for its greed. A lunchbox that cost 15 yuan outside was priced at 25 yuan there.
Wen Xia checked her meal card and saw there were only 23 yuan left—not enough for both of them to eat. She headed to the recharge counter. Being a Wednesday, there wasn’t much of a line, and it was their turn within a minute or two.
Just as Wen Xia reached for her money, Qin Mo handed a few red bills to the lady at the counter. “Add 600,” he said, then turned to Wen Xia, motioning for her to hand over her card.
“I have money,” Wen Xia protested, pulling out a mix of red and green bills to show him.
“Use your husband’s,” Qin Mo replied with a raised eyebrow. He took the cash from her hand, carefully stacking it bill by bill before slipping it back into her pocket.
After recharging the card, they returned to find Liu An’an nearly at the front of the lunch line. She waved excitedly when she saw them. “Xia Xia, cousin, come quickly!”
Wen Xia hurried to join her, cutting into the line. Qin Mo chuckled softly and followed. “Xia Xia, put theirs on the same tab,” he said as he reached the counter.
The way “Xia Xia” rolled off his tongue always sounded a little too intimate, though Liu An’an brushed off the feeling. The aroma of braised ribs wafting from the window made her quickly dismiss the thought.
“Thanks, cousin,” she said cheerfully.
Standing by the counter, Qin Mo waited for Wen Xia to finish getting her food before taking the lunchbox from her hands and walking beside her.
Jiang Yan had snagged a window-side table for four.
Liu Anan placed Jiang Yan’s portion of ribs in front of her with a grin. “Cousin’s treat.”
“Thanks, cousin! Thanks, Xia Xia,” Jiang Yan said playfully, winking exaggeratedly.
“No need to thank me. Just take good care of Xia Xia in the future,” Qin Mo replied. His tone carried a hint of someone entrusting a loved one to others.
Since he was, after all, the “cousin,” neither Liu An’an nor Jiang Yan thought much of it. They nodded enthusiastically, happy to oblige.
