“H-How could that be!” Liang Sheng replied at once, though she had already begun to stutter.
Dong Yue thought about it for a moment. Fair enough—how could one school possibly have so many lesbians?
“Phew, that’s a relief.” Dong Yue let out a sigh, grasping the girl’s hand once more. She spoke earnestly. “It’s not that your teacher discriminates against same-sex relationships. Whether you like boys or girls is none of my business. But I really don’t want you getting into romance during high school. Right now is the time to study. Wait until college, and you can date whoever you like.”
Ah, what an open-minded teacher! Dong Yue’s image in Liang Sheng’s heart instantly doubled in stature, towering and noble.
And so, Liang Sheng hurriedly nodded, putting on the guise of an obedient, adorable good girl. “Mm-hmm, mm-hmm! I already know all that deep down. Right now, I should just study hard and improve every day!”
Ding~ Favorability increased.
“Dong Yue’s Favorability towards Liang Sheng: 73”
Our adorable Teacher Dong Yue nodded in satisfaction. “Excellent. Your teacher believes you. Now hurry back and get ready for the next class!”
Once her student had left, Dong Yue leaned back against her swivel chair and sipped her tea.
Suddenly, as she savored the tea’s fragrance, Dong Yue realized she might have made a mountain out of a molehill with this whole affair. These kids had only just started their second year of high school—how old were they, really? They probably didn’t even understand what “liking” someone meant. They might simply be mistaking affection for a friend with love for a sweetheart.
With that thought, Dong Yue contentedly set down her teacup. Exactly. How could such innocent children have more complicated minds than hers?
But she had forgotten one trendy term: “precocious.” The so-called “second-year high school kids” in her eyes actually understood matters of the heart far better than she did.
Back in the classroom, Liang Sheng returned to her seat. Lu Ziqing poked her back affectionately from the row behind.
“What’s up, my dear Young Miss?” Liang Sheng turned her head with a cheeky grin.
It was the usual opening line. Lu Ziqing huffed. “What did the teacher want with you?”
“Ah…” Liang Sheng scratched her head. She could hardly tell the truth—that the teacher had given her a lecture on love.
Seeing her hesitate, Lu Ziqing grew even more curious. At this point, she already regarded Liang Sheng as her girlfriend and wanted to know every little thing.
Meeting those probing eyes, Liang Sheng guiltily lowered her head. “W-Well, my grades have been slipping lately, so the teacher called me in to ask what’s been going on.”
Lu Ziqing followed up smoothly. “So, what’s been going on?”
“What’s been going on…” Liang Sheng racked her brains. Sure enough, one lie required a thousand more to cover it.
“Uh, um,” Liang Sheng stammered, “the pressure’s been too much, so I’ve gotten a bit slack with studying.”
“Pressure? What kind of pressure?” To Liang Sheng’s surprise, Lu Ziqing clasped her hand, growing tense herself. In that moment, the Young Miss completely forgot she was supposed to be tsundere.
Was this concern from her tsundere? Liang Sheng held back a laugh. “The lessons are getting harder and harder, right? So the pressure’s just building up.”
Ah… The logic was a bit off, but Lu Ziqing—who trusted her sweetheart implicitly—didn’t suspect a thing. Instead, she gripped the hand even tighter.
“Y-Young Miss,” Liang Sheng said, putting on a pained expression. Lu Ziqing’s grip hurt a little.
Lu Ziqing didn’t notice. “Liang Sheng, come to my house this weekend!”
“Huh?” Liang Sheng blinked in confusion. “Want to hang out, Young Miss?”
Lu Ziqing shook her head, her gaze resolute. “I’ll have a tutor over on the weekend. Come listen to the lesson with me!”
What! Sweat beaded on Liang Sheng’s forehead. She had shot herself in the foot. Weekends were prime time to goof off, not hole up at home cramming lessons—that was such a waste (Don’t listen to this twisted logic; studying is still important!).
“I-I-I,” Liang Sheng swallowed hard, “actually hired a tutor myself! Just paid for it, too—can’t exactly cancel and ask for a refund, right? Wait until this tutor’s done with me, Young Miss, then I’ll come study with you!”
Look at that—our Liang Sheng was such an expert at lying!
“Oh…” Lu Ziqing frowned reluctantly but pressed on. “How long until it’s over?”
“About, uh, at least, well, two or three—five, six, seven, eight, nine months!” Liang Sheng wished she could say a full year.
“Huh?” Lu Ziqing was utterly dumbfounded.
Liang Sheng let out an awkward laugh. “I-I’m not totally sure. I’ll ask my dad when I get home.”
“Fine.” Lu Ziqing looked a little dejected.
Unable to resist, Liang Sheng decided to tease her. Her eyes flicked to Lu Ziqing, then to the small hand clasped in hers, then back again, darting between the two.
“W-What’s with your eyes?” Lu Ziqing asked. She hadn’t yet realized the explosive words coming in the next second.
Liang Sheng grinned, her gaze still bouncing. “Oh~ my dear Young Miss~”
Gradually, Lu Ziqing followed her line of sight. Only then did she notice her own hand gripping the other’s so tightly.
“Huh!?” As expected, her face flushed crimson, and she yanked her hand away.
Hee hee hee. Liang Sheng laughed inwardly.
“You shameless jerk!” Lu Ziqing scrubbed at her hand as if it were filthy.
Huh? Blaming her again? Liang Sheng was the scapegoat once more.
This time, she wouldn’t take it lying down! No more black pot, or she’d end up hunchbacked!
“Young Miss, oh Young Miss~” Liang Sheng teased with a roguish smile. She was this close to lifting a hand to tilt the girl’s chin. “You grabbed my hand all on your own~ Oh my~ Don’t tell me you like me that much? Even your unconscious moves are all about holding my hand~”
“You…” Lu Ziqing’s eyes went wide, staring in disbelief at the green-haired curly girl across from her.
Hee hee~ Liang Sheng let out a silly inner cackle.
At this point, she could tease Lu Ziqing however she pleased. The girl hadn’t lost any favorability from her provocations in ages. Teasing this adorable tsundere Young Miss had become one of the joys of school for Liang Sheng.
“Well?” Liang Sheng got bolder, starting to get handsy. She stood up, sauntered to Miss Lu’s desk, and perched sideways on it.
She lifted her hand and tilted the girl’s chin—the move she’d fantasized about forever. Her head got hot, and she just went for it.
“Feeling shy?” Liang Sheng smirked wickedly.
“You…” Lu Ziqing’s face wasn’t just red; it was the color of a boiled crab.
