Teasing Old Ginger

At Lin Mo's words, the hallway outside fell silent for a brief moment before erupting into hushed murmurs of admiration.

Everyone raised their thumbs in approval.

"Really donating? That can't just be empty talk, right?"

If Lin Mo was merely boasting, they’d have dismissed him as unreliable.

But if he actually went through with it—

Then he truly was a person of noble character.

As the saying goes, judge a person by their actions, not their intentions—for no one is flawless in heart.

Don’t listen to what someone says; watch what they do.

The parents had already mentally prepared a script to educate their children, urging them to keep a close eye on Lin Mo.

Lin Mo couldn’t care less about what these parents thought. He simply walked into the classroom holding a water bottle and a red envelope.

The moment he took his seat, the gazes of several classmates drifted toward him, filled with recognition and curiosity.

Lin Jiajun, sitting beside him, immediately leaned in and whispered, "You really donated? Not to the Red Cross?"

Lin Mo scoffed.

"My money, just for them to take a cut as 'management fees'? And then issue a statement saying supplies are piling up in some warehouse?"

He set his water bottle down on the desk with a soft thud.

"Better to donate to the Han Lan Foundation. At least they disclose where every single cent goes. With the Red Cross, you’d get slapped thirty times before even getting through the door."

Lin Jiajun couldn’t help but laugh, quickly covering his mouth before nodding in agreement.

"Fair point. My uncle donated a batch of supplies last year, and no one knows which warehouse they rotted in."

Before the discussion could continue, the bell rang.

The parents in the hallway immediately quieted down, straightening their postures and putting on their most attentive and concerned expressions, their eyes fixed on the classroom.

Parent Observation Day was mainly for parents to see how their children behaved in class.

The first lesson proceeded as scheduled.

Chairs were set up in the hallway for parents to observe, though only about a dozen had arrived so far.

In a class of over fifty, not all parents would come early.

Many students glanced outside, torn between hoping their parents would arrive soon and dreading their early appearance.

The afternoon’s first class was physics, taught by the famously engaging "Brother Chun," whose lessons were the most lively and well-received.

Within the first ten minutes, Brother Chun had the entire class—and the observing parents—hooked.

Several parents nodded slightly.

A school’s true strength lay in its teaching quality.

Brother Chun called on a few students to answer questions, all of whom were among the top performers in physics, so they responded flawlessly.

This pleased their parents immensely.

At least their children weren’t embarrassing them in class.

The lesson ended quickly. The homeroom teacher, Chen Xiaoya, was already waiting outside. After exchanging a few words with the parents, Brother Chun headed back to the office.

Brother Chun taught physics for multiple classes and wasn’t assigned as a homeroom teacher—his lessons were just that effective, making even complex topics stick.

Once the physics teacher left, Chen Xiaoya addressed the parents in the hallway. "Parents, you may now enter the classroom."

They filed in orderly, while the students moved out to the hallway.

The classroom soon thinned out, leaving only about a dozen students seated alongside their parents.

The usual desk mates were now replaced by parents—an awkward dynamic.

Some parents exchanged pleasantries among themselves.

Chu Lintian poked Lin Mo’s back.

Why did both aunt and niece have a habit of prodding his spine? Lin Mo turned his head.

"What’s up, Aunt Chu?"

"Nothing. Miaomiao mentioned you sit right in front of her. Now that I’m here, it feels like I’m back in school."

Lin Mo tapped the desk with an air of wisdom. "Better pay close attention, then. Choosing between arts and sciences is a big deal."

"So, which are you picking?" Chu Lintian had never taken the college entrance exams herself and wasn’t too familiar with the system.

She could easily hire tutors to analyze it for her, but since it was Lin Mo, she was happy to play the student.

"I’m going with sciences. For Miaomiao… I’d recommend arts—actually, no, sciences."

Genius is said to be 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration.

But as everyone knows, that 1% is what really matters.

Chu Miaomiao would never want for money in her life.

As for writing, talent—not effort—is what counts.

Take the author "Potato," who wrote his first novel at nineteen and pioneered the "trashy divorce trope" by twenty.

If that’s not talent, what is?

So whether she chose arts or sciences didn’t matter much.

If Chu Miaomiao were placed in another class, Lin Mo wouldn’t feel at ease.

Verbal harassment wouldn’t trigger her protective charms.

But with Lin Mo in Class 8, no one would dare gossip about her.

Chu Lintian saw right through him and smiled.

"At school, Miaomiao will be counting on you."

Before Lin Mo could respond, a figure approached and took Jiang Yunlu’s seat.

Well, well—if it isn’t Chairman Jiang?

Jiang Chengshan, dressed in a tailored suit and blessed with strikingly handsome features, had many mistaking him for Jiang Yunlu’s older brother.

Wang Qin, who’d never met Jiang Chengshan before, nudged Jiang Yunlu in the hallway.

"Wow, is that your brother? He’s really good-looking."

Jiang Yunlu pressed her lips together. She was used to this question—and to the odd looks people gave her dad.

"That’s my father."

She should’ve called out "Dad" earlier when switching seats.

Too late now.

But even if she had, the result would’ve been the same.

Wang Qin reined in her reaction, sighing. "Your dad really is handsome. No wonder you turned out so gorgeous."

Jiang Yunlu blushed, though her focus remained on how Lin Mo and her father would interact inside.

"Long time no see, Chairman Jiang. Dressed to impress today, huh?"

Lin Mo didn’t hesitate to tease the older man.

Thankfully, it wasn’t too hot yet—otherwise, that suit would’ve been drenched.

But Jiang Chengshan sat rigidly upright, completely unruffled by the jab.

Chu Lintian, however, raised an eyebrow.

"Chairman Jiang? As in Jiang Chengshan, chairman of Tianyun Century?"

The question was directed at Lin Mo, but Jiang Chengshan turned slightly and clasped his hands toward Chu Lintian.

"That’s me. And you are?"

Chu Lintian pulled a business card from her pocket and handed it over.

"Chu Lintian, newly appointed CEO of Da Jiang Group. Also Chu Miaomiao’s mother."

Jiang Chengshan’s pupils contracted slightly.

Those in the upper echelons knew—Da Jiang Group had recently been through quite the storm.

And the only one who benefited was Chu Lintian before her eyes.