The Reliable Adult

Half an hour later, Ye Shuang and Bai Yuyou appeared outside the school.

Ye Shuang’s attire was somewhat different—he had changed into more formal clothes and wore silver, frameless glasses, giving him an air of refined elegance.

"Go ahead," Ye Shuang said.

Though Bai Yuyou didn’t know what Ye Shuang was planning, she nodded lightly and walked toward the school with her shoulder bag.

After just a few steps, however, she couldn’t help but glance back, only to see Ye Shuang smiling at her.

By now, many students were coming and going through the school gates. After hesitating for a moment, Bai Yuyou turned and headed inside.

Once her figure had disappeared into the crowd of students, Ye Shuang waited a few minutes before following in the same direction.

At the school entrance stood several students on disciplinary duty.

As Ye Shuang approached, they greeted him in unison, "Good morning, teacher."

"Good morning," Ye Shuang replied with a nod before walking in.

His calm and composed demeanor made it seem as though he truly was a teacher—and in a way, he was. Yinshan Academy had a large faculty, and neither the disciplinary students nor the security guards could possibly know every teacher, especially with new hires and departures every year.

With his scholarly appearance and timing, Ye Shuang looked every bit the part.

"Excuse me," Ye Shuang casually stopped a female student, offering a warm smile. "Could I ask you something?"

The girl blinked, momentarily flustered—perhaps because Ye Shuang was rather handsome—and stammered, "Uh, t-teacher, what is it?"

"Do you know where I can get a meal card? It’s my first day, so I’m not familiar with the process," Ye Shuang asked.

"Oh, the meal card?" The girl seemed slightly disappointed before pointing to a nearby building. "There’s a counter on the first floor of the cafeteria where you can top up or replace one."

"Thanks."

Ye Shuang gave her a playful wink and headed toward the cafeteria.

"That new teacher is so handsome… I wonder if he’ll teach our third-year class," the girl murmured as she watched him leave.

"What’s with the lovesick staring?" A lazy voice came from nearby.

The girl turned to see a pretty, shoulder-length-haired girl standing behind her and immediately brightened. "Xiao Yu, Xiao Yu! I just saw this really handsome teacher—he must be new. He asked me about the meal card. I wonder which grade he teaches."

An Shiyu raised an eyebrow. "How handsome?"

"Super handsome!" The girl gave a thumbs-up.

"You should read more books. Otherwise, you won’t even know how to describe a good-looking guy," An Shiyu said, hands tucked into her skirt pockets, looking thoroughly unimpressed. "By the way, I haven’t finished my homework yet. Let me copy yours."

"Seriously? You tell me to read more, but you don’t even do your own homework?"

"I’m in the top three of our grade. What does it matter if I do my homework or not?"

"Ugh… Fine. One lunch."

"Deal."

The two walked back to class side by side. If Ye Shuang had lingered just a moment longer, he would have recognized the shoulder-length-haired girl as the one who had sold him the phone and steamed buns!

Unaware of the exchange behind him, Ye Shuang arrived at the cafeteria’s first floor. With a quick glance, he spotted the meal card counter.

A short line had formed in front of the window. Ye Shuang joined the back, figuring it wouldn’t take long for his turn.

"Good morning," the female teacher in front of him greeted politely.

"Morning, Teacher Chen," Ye Shuang responded smoothly, adjusting his glasses with a smile.

"Huh?" Caught off guard by being addressed by name, the woman blinked before awkwardly fumbling, "Uh…"

"We met at a staff meeting. I’m Bai," Ye Shuang continued casually, his gaze flickering to a faint window hovering before him.

[Character: Chen Yue

Yinshan Academy, 3rd-Year Class B homeroom teacher, Chinese language instructor. Prone to passing gas.]

"Oh, right. Sorry, Teacher Bai… There are so many teachers here," Chen Yue replied, now even more embarrassed. He had remembered her name, but she couldn’t recall his.

Still, a handsome male teacher like him—shouldn’t she have remembered? Maybe she needed glasses, she mused.

"Teacher Chen, you teach Chinese for third year, right?" Ye Shuang continued the conversation.

"Yes, that’s right. And you?"

"I teach math," Ye Shuang lied effortlessly before steering the topic. "Teacher Chen, do you know a student named Bai Yuyou in third year?"

"Bai Yuyou… Class A, right?" Chen Yue’s expression shifted, clearly recognizing the name. "Yes, I know her. Why do you ask?"

"She’s a distant relative of mine. Just curious if you were familiar with her."

"Oh, you share the same surname." Chen Yue nodded. "That Bai Yuyou is a bit of a loner, and there are… some unpleasant rumors about her."

"What kind of rumors?"

"Ah, you know how students love to gossip. Don’t take it seriously, Teacher Bai." Realizing she might have spoken out of turn, Chen Yue laughed awkwardly, clearly reluctant to elaborate.

"It’s fine. I’d just like to understand," Ye Shuang said, leaning in slightly with a gentle smile.

Chen Yue’s heart skipped a beat at his expression, and she averted her gaze, flustered. "W-well… They say her father was a murderer and her mother was a homewrecker."

Then, catching herself, she quickly backtracked, "But you know how kids are at this age—making up all sorts of nonsense. No matter how much we scold them, they don’t listen."

"True. The older they get, the harder they are to discipline," Ye Shuang remarked neutrally, his smile unchanged.

"Exactly! Ah—it’s my turn." Chen Yue stepped forward to refill her meal card, then turned back to Ye Shuang apologetically. "Teacher Bai, I should head back for morning reading now."

"Of course. See you later."

After she left, Ye Shuang faced the woman behind the counter.

"Hello, I’d like to get a meal card."

"Replacement or new?"

"New."

"50 for the card. How much do you want to load onto it?" The woman didn’t question him—after all, she’d just heard the other teacher call him "Teacher Bai." No one would suspect someone of impersonating a teacher just to get a meal card.

"Two thousand," Ye Shuang said with a smile.

The woman looked up, surprised, then pointed to a QR code beside her. "Scan here."

Ye Shuang transferred the amount without hesitation.

With the white card now in hand, he adjusted his non-prescription glasses.

Time to check out the third-year classrooms.