Chapter Seventy-Two: The Wrong Person Invited

Song Yanni found Chen Yangpeng’s penchant for mystification deeply irritating. Yet what he knew was precisely the thing she did not, and it was her greatest vulnerability. Earlier that day, she had rejoiced at the preservation of Class Twenty-One, only for Chen Yangpeng to douse her hopes with cold water before half a day had passed. Now, anger and fear mingled in her heart—fear that joy would turn to disappointment, disappointment to joy, but in the end, disappointment would always be waiting for her.

With worry gnawing at her, Song Yanni and Chen Yangpeng found a pleasant restaurant near the school. After they sat down, Song Yanni quickly ordered a few dishes, unable to contain her impatience. “Mr. Chen, what exactly was said at the school meeting today?”

Chen Yangpeng smiled, replying, “You know, my cousin works in the school’s academic affairs office. This meeting was strictly among the school leadership. Only the grade director from our senior year attended. If he hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t know any of this myself.”

“What was discussed at the meeting?” Song Yanni had had enough of Chen Yangpeng’s roundabout ways—like a scholar selling a donkey, three pages of text without a mention of the donkey itself. Every irrelevant word he uttered felt like torture.

“Well,” Chen Yangpeng deliberately adopted an air of analysis, “Miss Song, to be honest, you’re an intern from out of town, with no connections here apart from your university’s partnership with the school. In the eyes of the teachers and leaders, you’re the type everyone can summon at will, expected to greet everyone with a smile.”

“Chen Yangpeng,” Song Yanni interrupted, unable to bear it any longer. She asked angrily, “Can you stop talking about trivial things? I just want to know what was said at the meeting, what the outcome was!”

“Don’t rush,” Chen Yangpeng said with a chuckle. “I’m just setting the stage.”

Song Yanni retorted impatiently, “Have you finished setting the stage?”

“I have.” Chen Yangpeng rubbed his nose, smiling. “Originally, the school leaders met to discuss how to deal with Ma Qianyong, but the grade director suddenly proposed that Liu Guangcai replace you as the homeroom teacher for Class Twenty-One. The grade director feels it’s unfair that such a good opportunity landed in the lap of an outsider intern. Liu Guangcai is his brother-in-law, so he wants to put him in charge of Class Twenty-One and push you out.”

Song Yanni was stunned, and cried out, “That’s outrageous! Do they think they can bully me just because I’m an intern from another town?”

Seeing Song Yanni’s anger, Chen Yangpeng hurried to comfort her. “Oh, Miss Song, don’t be upset. Let me finish.”

“Go on!”

Chen Yangpeng took a sip of water and continued unhurriedly, “The grade director certainly has his own agenda, but the principal isn’t buying it. Your class’s Zhang Wenhao is too formidable—he doesn’t care about any school leader, and even Ma Qianyong was ruined by him. The principal doesn’t want to stir up trouble by provoking Zhang Wenhao, so he scolded the grade director and rejected his proposal.”

“He rejected it?” Song Yanni frowned. “Is that the final outcome?”

“Yes.” Chen Yangpeng smiled. “In the end, the school just wants the matter of Class Twenty-One settled quickly. The principal said you’ll remain as the homeroom teacher.”

Song Yanni’s frown deepened. “Is that all?”

“That’s all,” Chen Yangpeng replied cheerfully. “No one will try to take Class Twenty-One from you again. Congratulations, Miss Song—come the end of the college entrance exams, you’ll be the most remarkable intern teacher in the country.”

“Thank you.” Song Yanni rose without expression. “I need to use the restroom.”

Chen Yangpeng nodded politely. “Please, go ahead.”

But instead of heading to the restroom, Song Yanni went to the counter and paid the bill. She returned to the table, didn’t sit, but picked up her handbag and rebuked Chen Yangpeng, “Mr. Chen, I beg you, please don’t speak to me again—at least, don’t bother me with your cryptic, alarmist nonsense. I’m afraid I might not be able to keep from hitting you. And anyway, I truly invited the wrong person today. The bill is settled; enjoy your meal when it arrives.”

Chen Yangpeng was still caught off guard, unable to react, as Song Yanni strode out, fury burning in her chest. Chen Yangpeng, always stirring up trouble! She had been in high spirits, ready to celebrate during her lunch break, but he had drenched her with cold water, dragging her through needless agony over something that could have been explained in a single sentence. Now she was ready to kill, with no mood left to dine with him!

Her good mood thoroughly spoiled, Song Yanni left the restaurant, her mind drifting to Zhang Wenhao. Class Twenty-One had survived thanks to his struggle against the school, and her own hopes had been won by his efforts. She should have treated Zhang Wenhao to a meal to show her gratitude, not wasted it on the likes of Chen Yangpeng.

This thought brought on a pang of guilt. During the last forty-five minutes of the class, she’d been so caught up in her happiness that she hadn’t properly thanked Zhang Wenhao, only made a perfunctory remark in front of the class. Compared to what he had done for her, her gesture felt woefully inadequate.

Without hesitation, Song Yanni took out her phone and dialed Zhang Wenhao.

At that moment, Zhang Wenhao had just sat down at his family’s dining table. Seeing a call from his homeroom teacher, he answered, and heard Song Yanni ask, “Zhang Wenhao, are you free at noon? I’d like to treat you to a meal.”

Zhang Wenhao replied awkwardly, “I’ve just sat down at home to eat.”

“Then tonight,” Song Yanni blurted out.

Zhang Wenhao asked in surprise, “Teacher, why do you want to treat me for no reason?”

Song Yanni laughed. “You saved all of Class Twenty-One—is that not reason enough?”

Zhang Wenhao smiled. “It was what I should do. Besides, I’m part of Class Twenty-One myself.”

“This evening, then,” Song Yanni insisted. “After school or after evening study, either is fine. I also have some things I’d like to discuss with you privately—about our class, and about matters like filling in college applications.”

Zhang Wenhao hesitated briefly, then said, “Let’s do it after evening study. You choose the place, and I’ll come straight over.”

“All right,” Song Yanni replied with a smile. “I’ll text you the location later.”