Chapter Seventy-three: This Time, I Chose Right

Song Yanni chose the location at the Ruyi Pavilion of the Jinxiangyu Restaurant in the city center. After evening self-study, Zhang Wenhao first accompanied Su Ruoran to the bus stop to wait for the last bus. Only after seeing her get on did he say goodbye and pedal off to Jinxiangyu.

Jinxiangyu was a renowned Hunan cuisine restaurant in River City. Despite its focus on Hunan dishes, it was considered top-tier in both quality and reputation. Led by a waiter to the Ruyi Pavilion, Zhang Wenhao found Song Yanni had already been waiting for some time.

Several dishes had already been served before Zhang Wenhao arrived. Song Yanni had even ordered two bottles of beer. As soon as Zhang Wenhao sat down, she poured a glass for each of them, raised hers, and said earnestly, “I haven’t properly thanked you for saving Class 21. You didn’t just help your classmates—you helped me immensely. This favor means a great deal to me. Let me offer you this toast, for everything you’ve done for us.”

With that, Song Yanni tipped back her glass and drank it all. Zhang Wenhao followed suit, emptying his glass in one go. “Miss Song, actually, I should be the one thanking you. When I first joined Class 21, you spent your free time tutoring me in English. When I ended up in the detention center, you were one of the few who genuinely cared. Compared to that, what I did was nothing much. I feel almost undeserving of this dinner you’re treating me to.”

“Don’t say that,” Song Yanni replied sincerely. “Caring for students is a teacher’s duty. But you’re different. Besides, this dinner is just a small token of my appreciation. I should have invited you sooner, but somehow I invited the wrong person at lunch and ended up fuming all afternoon. But tonight, I finally got it right.”

Zhang Wenhao looked puzzled. “What do you mean? I don’t follow.”

Song Yanni recounted the lunchtime mishap as a joke, leaving Zhang Wenhao thoroughly amused. He sighed, “Is Teacher Chen really that interesting?”

“You call that interesting?” Song Yanni huffed, still a bit annoyed at the memory. “He nearly drove me mad.”

Zhang Wenhao grinned. “He probably meant well, though his motives weren’t pure. Still, compared to people like Ma Qianyong and the principal, he’s a bit better.”

“That’s true,” Song Yanni admitted with a sigh. “I used to think teaching was a sacred profession, but after coming to River City No. 1 High School, I realized that even here, people can’t escape the pursuit of fame and fortune. I don’t care much about money, but I do long to achieve something remarkable, so even my own motivations have become a bit complicated. And with all the filth and ugliness that’s surfaced lately at school, I’ve seen just how wide the gap is between ideals and reality.”

“I agree,” Zhang Wenhao said. “Teaching is a profession like any other. Most people choose it to make a living, not to pursue an ideal—just like many doctors today who lack medical ethics. There’s nothing wrong with seeking success, but if you’re like Ma Qianyong, willing to betray morals and principles for personal gain, then no matter what profession you’re in, you’re nothing but scum.”

Song Yanni sighed, “It’s precisely because of that mentality that they dumped Class 21 on me in the first place, and now want to take it back.”

She paused, looking sincerely at Zhang Wenhao. “That’s why I want to thank you again. In the eyes of the other teachers here, I’m just an intern from out of town. Without your efforts, Class 21 would likely have been dissolved long ago.”

Zhang Wenhao smiled. “Let’s not keep thanking each other, Miss Song, or we’ll never get to the end of it.”

Song Yanni nodded and smiled. “Alright, we’ve said our thanks. Now it’s time to talk business.”

Wenhao nodded. “Where should we start?”

Song Yanni began, “Class 21 was assembled in a rush, and I have no experience as a homeroom teacher. Not long after you joined, the Chen Ru incident happened, followed by the parents’ uproar. We’ve never even chosen a class monitor. I’d like you to take on that role for the rest of the time. Only you can win everyone’s respect.”

Zhang Wenhao nodded. “No problem. I’ll do everything I can to help everyone focus on preparing for the college entrance exam and handle the rest of the matters as best as I can.”

Song Yanni was delighted. “That’s wonderful. The other teachers all say our class is hard to manage, but ever since your speech, the students have become united and much more disciplined. You’re a great role model for them, which is why I want you as class monitor. You’re better than me at motivating them and earning their respect.”

She added, “But don’t let this position affect your own revision. The college entrance exam is coming up soon, and I’m counting on you to become the top scorer.”

Zhang Wenhao smiled slightly. “Don’t worry, I’ve set my sights on being the top scorer in the province. I won’t let that honor slip away easily.”

Zhang Wenhao yearned for that distinction more than anyone, because for him, it was more than just an honor—it came with a system reward of three thousand points! To him, those three thousand points were a fortune he couldn’t afford to miss.

Seeing Zhang Wenhao’s unwavering confidence, Song Yanni felt her faith in him deepen. She then asked, “By the way, have you thought about which university you’ll apply to?”

“Yanjing University,” Zhang Wenhao replied without hesitation. “It’s the best in the country—my only target.”

Song Yanni nodded approvingly. “That’s a wise choice. If you get into Yanjing University, I might even continue as your teacher.”

Zhang Wenhao was surprised. “Really? Are you going to Yanjing too?”

Song Yanni laughed. “My family’s in Yanjing, so it’s not ‘going’—it’s ‘returning.’”

Noticing the curiosity in his eyes, she explained, “I went to Yanjing Normal University for college. Technically, I haven’t graduated yet—I’m in River City for my internship, working while preparing my thesis. As soon as your exams are over, I’ll be back in Yanjing for my thesis defense.”

Zhang Wenhao asked, “So, will you teach at Yanjing University after you return?”

“I’m not sure yet,” Song Yanni smiled. “I definitely plan to go to graduate school, but I haven’t decided whether to go directly or to work first. My two favorite universities are Yanjing Normal University and Yanjing University. I chose the former because I love teaching, but whether I work or pursue further studies, Yanjing University is my top choice.”

Zhang Wenhao nodded in sudden understanding. “Then I hope you choose to go straight to graduate school, Miss Song.”

Song Yanni asked with interest, “Why is that?”

Zhang Wenhao grinned. “Because then you’d be my senior, not my teacher.”

Song Yanni scoffed. “What difference does it make, senior or teacher?”

“There’s a big difference,” Zhang Wenhao replied. “If we’re peers, I can call you ‘senior’ or ‘sister’ instead of ‘teacher’ when we meet.”

Song Yanni pursed her lips. “Then maybe I’ll work at Yanjing University first and pursue my graduate studies while working. Who knows, perhaps when you show up at Yanjing University, you’ll find me teaching you English again.”

At this, Song Yanni looked at Zhang Wenhao with curiosity and asked, “I heard Su Ruoran is also from Yanjing?”

Zhang Wenhao nodded. “That’s right.”

Song Yanni gave him a meaningful look. “I suppose a big part of your reason for going to Yanjing is because of her, isn’t it?”

“That—” Zhang Wenhao looked a bit embarrassed, not sure how to reply. After all, Song Yanni was his homeroom teacher, and discussing Su Ruoran with her felt inappropriate.

Song Yanni laughed softly, teasing, “If it’s young love, as long as it doesn’t affect your studies, I have no objections. You’re both outstanding students, and who knows, you might become a legendary couple at our school.”

——

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