Volume One, Chapter 13: Spring Outing

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Gu Nanxiao hurried home through the rain, his clothes soaked halfway.

Upon entering, Mu Yao saw the bedraggled Gu Nanxiao and paused for a moment before rising to approach him.

Gu Nanxiao blankly accepted the towel Mu Yao handed him, casually rubbing his head as he looked around this home that felt both familiar and strange.

What on earth... was going on?

Why did everything seem to unfold so naturally?

“Ahem, Gu Nanqing has some questions he can’t solve, I’ll help him out. It’s late, so I won’t stay any longer. Goodbye!”

Mu Yao quickly made an excuse and fled in haste.

Gu Nanxiao walked to where the two had been huddled together moments ago and looked down at the book left behind.

“Chinese Winter Vacation Homework Answers.”

So... what exactly were they studying with this answer key?

Gu Nanxiao was baffled—education nowadays had advanced beyond his comprehension.

Gu Nanqing reluctantly saw Mu Yao to the door.

“Teacher, can I really come find you again? But that day, Zhao Zihan said…”

Though Gu Nanqing appeared mature, he was still just a seven-year-old child, his thoughts clearly etched on his face.

Mu Yao frowned and crouched down to look at Gu Nanqing.

“Nanqing, what did Zihan tell you?”

Upon hearing this, Gu Nanqing pouted as if on the verge of tears.

“He said I took up too much of the teacher’s time, that the teacher ignored him, and that he’s going to have his mom report Teacher Mu. Teacher… did I cause you trouble?”

Gu Nanqing’s voice grew softer and softer until it was barely audible.

Mu Yao heard him clearly, lifted her hand to rest on Gu Nanqing’s shoulder, and looked him in the eyes.

“Nanqing, I promise you, at school I treat you and Zihan equally. As for after school, you can think of me as your sister, just like your big brother—you can find your sister anytime, and she’ll never find you annoying.”

“Okay!”

Gu Nanqing threw his arms around Mu Yao’s neck.

“Brother, I have a sister now!”

Gu Nanqing skipped happily back home and bumped right into Gu Nanxiao blocking the doorway.

He hugged his brother’s leg briefly before dashing inside.

Only Mu Yao and Gu Nanxiao remained in the hallway.

The motion sensor lights went off, plunging the corridor into darkness, with only a faint glow coming from Gu Nanxiao’s home.

“Thank you. Nanqing meeting you is his good fortune.”

For the first time, Gu Nanxiao sincerely spoke these words.

Mu Yao stood up; even in the shadows, Gu Nanxiao’s eyes remained bright.

“Nanqing is adorable. I really like him.”

After seeing Mu Yao off, Gu Nanxiao turned and entered the house.

Gu Nanqing peeked his little head out from the living room.

They exchanged a silent look, the question hanging in the air.

Gu Nanxiao was still his brother, and Nanqing wasn’t allowed to go to bed until everything was clearly explained.

In the quiet night, the room echoed with rustling sounds.

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Gu Nanxiao turned over again, facing the ceiling, one hand behind his head.

So...

He really had misunderstood Mu Yao.

The girl was lively, yes, but utterly responsible when it came to work.

*

“Teacher Mu, we’re planning a spring outing for the kids next week. The schedule has been posted in the group; please take a look.”

“Okay, Sister Wu, I’ll check it right away.”

Mu Yao’s eyes scanned the computer screen as she reached for her phone beside her.

She casually glanced and marked the date on her work calendar.

The bell signaling class preparation rang, and Mu Yao picked up the books on the desk and left the office.

Gao Mingyu watched her figure disappear; his bright eyes dimmed slowly as he unclenched his fists.

“Teacher Mu! Are we really going on a spring outing?”

Before Mu Yao had entered the room, the children’s excited voices came from the doorway.

Mu Yao shook her head helplessly at the rowdy little monkeys.

“I don’t know yet. The school hasn’t notified us. Since you all have so much energy, this class will be a spelling test.”

“Ugh~”

Her single sentence elicited a chorus of groans from the students.

Mu Yao smiled contentedly.

On the day of the spring outing.

The door clicked shut in the corridor, and a small head popped out from Gu Nanxiao’s home, just barely opening the door.

Mu Yao couldn’t help but smile.

“Teacher Mu~”

A little hand waved beneath the head, shaking at Mu Yao.

“Teacher Mu, here, my brother made two lunch boxes for the spring outing. They’re really delicious~”

The small head disappeared. Before Mu Yao entered the elevator, a small hand grabbed her bag.

“This…”

Mu Yao paused, hesitating as she looked at the thermal bag in Gu Nanqing’s hand.

“Take it. This dessert inside is low sugar.”

Mu Yao looked toward the voice’s source.

In an instant, her eyes involuntarily widened.

The man wore a black apron over a single tank top.

The loose old tank top looked like a tight-fitting shirt on Gu Nanxiao.

His excellent figure was on full display.

The man held a spatula, left a few words, and hurried away.

Mu Yao turned around and touched her nose.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, she hadn’t had a nosebleed.

...

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“Xiao Yao, ride with our class’s bus.”

Gao Mingyu was the homeroom teacher of Class Eight.

The school had arranged a bus for each class, and the homeroom teachers would ride with their own class’s bus.

Subject teachers like Mu Yao could only catch a ride.

Mu Yao was just arriving at the playground when Gao Mingyu approached, carrying his bag.

He reached out to take Mu Yao’s bag without a word.

Mu Yao frowned.

“It’s okay, senior brother, there’s not much in it. I can carry it myself.”

Gao Mingyu hesitated, then awkwardly withdrew his hand.

“The bus is here, let’s…”

“Teacher Mu! Come sit with us! Class Four’s bus! You can pick your seat first!”

Children’s shouts came from the playground.

Someone had started it, and soon children from Mu Yao’s teaching classes were beckoning her one after another.

Unfortunately, Mu Yao did not teach Class Eight.

She gave Gao Mingyu an apologetic glance.

“Sorry, senior brother, the kids are calling me over there.”

With that, Mu Yao left with a light step.

Gu Nanqing’s smile grew wider as he watched Mu Yao approach.

Before she could get close, Gu Nanqing dashed out of the line and hugged Mu Yao.

By the time the other classes reacted, Mu Yao had already been pulled into Class Four’s line.

“Sister Wu, sorry to bother you.”

Mu Yao smiled sweetly at the homeroom teacher of Class Four.

Wu Xia liked this young newcomer very much; her teaching abilities were evident, and she had won the children’s affection.

She patted Mu Yao’s shoulder.

“We’re honored to have you in Class Four, right kids?”

From several lines away, Gao Mingyu looked toward the lively Mu Yao surrounded by children and closed his eyes briefly.

He had invited her too late.

The spring outing destination for second grade was a theme park.

Mu Yao wore a beautiful princess dress to match the occasion.

Standing in the photo zone, she looked more professional than the park’s NPCs.

The children lined up to take pictures with her.

Mu Yao gently patted Gu Nanqing’s small head, and after Wu Xia finished taking pictures, she took out her phone to snap a photo with Gu Nanqing.

“Teacher Mu, send me that! This one looks great!”

The little boy jumped excitedly beside her. Mu Yao smiled and sent the photo over.