After school, Liang Sheng hurried straight to Teacher Dong Yue’s residence, terrified that Su Ze or Ni Sihan might beat her to the punch.
She needn’t have worried. Ni Sihan hadn’t even noticed Dong Yue’s absence, and Su Ze was too busy charming other girls to care.
Ah~ Poor Teacher Zhen Zhu, forgotten just like that.
Liang Sheng carried a large bag of medicine and, on the way, stopped by a fried chicken shop to pick up a plump, juicy bird.
Her woman’s intuition told her that Teacher Dong Yue was definitely on her period—not suffering from some other illness.
When she reached the teacher’s front door, Liang Sheng straightened her collar and knocked.
A full minute passed with no answer.
Could she… not be home? Had she gone to the hospital?
“Who is it?”
After Liang Sheng pounded on the door a few more times, a voice finally sounded from inside the house.
She’s home!
“Teacher, it’s me—Liang Sheng!” she shouted at the top of her lungs.
Dong Yue peered through the peephole and spotted Liang Sheng’s unmistakably vibrant green hair.
“Ah…”
Click.
The door swung open.
Teacher Dong Yue stood there, looking noticeably frail.
“Teacher, I came to check on you~” Liang Sheng held up both hands triumphantly—one gripping the hefty bag of medicine, the other the mouthwatering fried chicken.
“What are you doing here?” Dong Yue stepped aside to let her in. “Come on in.”
Liang Sheng slipped inside without hesitation.
“Ehehe~” She kicked off her shoes. “Of course I had to come see how you were doing after hearing you were sick~”
Eh?
A warmth bloomed in Dong Yue’s heart.
“Ding!” Favorability rose sharply.
“Dong Yue’s Favorability towards Liang Sheng: 125”
What a good kid. Having a student like this was truly the greatest comfort in her life. Tears welled up in Dong Yue’s eyes as she thought it.
That’s when Dong Yue noticed the plastic bag Liang Sheng had set aside, stuffed to the brim with medicines. “Why did you… buy so many drugs?”
Liang Sheng glanced back at the pile. “Ah! I knew you were sick, Teacher, but not what was wrong. So I bought a bunch—just in case. Better to have them and not need them~”
“Ding~” Favorability rose.
“Dong Yue’s Favorability towards Liang Sheng: 133”
Oh dear, this child is so thoughtful.
Even as she thought it, Dong Yue chided her gently. “The house is stocked with medicine already. Buying all this is a waste of money—and the drugs themselves.”
“No worries!” Liang Sheng grinned as she slipped into a pair of slippers and hauled the bag to the table, dumping the medicines out. “Everyone gets sick sometimes. Think of it as stocking up for you, Teacher! Though I hope you never have to use them~”
The unspoken part was clear enough: she didn’t want Dong Yue getting sick again. Dong Yue caught it perfectly.
“Ding~” Favorability rose.
“Dong Yue’s Favorability towards Liang Sheng: 138”
This kid sure has a sweet tongue.
“How did you even know I was sick?” Dong Yue was genuinely curious.
Liang Sheng finished setting things down and turned back to her teacher. “I noticed you weren’t in class today, of course. I got worried~ so I asked around with the other teachers.”
“Ding~” Favorability rose.
“Dong Yue’s Favorability towards Liang Sheng: 141”
Dong Yue nodded, pleased.
This child really cares.
Liang Sheng remained convinced that Dong Yue’s affection for her was purely maternal.
Sure, maternal love could push past two hundred, but she wasn’t Dong Yue’s biological daughter. Breaking two hundred would be a tall order.
“So, what’s really wrong with you, Teacher?” Liang Sheng sidled up to Dong Yue with concern.
Dong Yue clutched her stomach, her face twisted in pain. “Just those two days every woman goes through.”
Yes! Nailed it! Liang Sheng crowed inwardly and darted back to the table for the brown sugar she’d bought.
“Teacher! My sixth sense told me to grab brown sugar, and sure enough…”
Dong Yue waved her off. “No need, Liang Sheng. I have some in the fridge.”
Liang Sheng shook her head firmly. “Drink mine, Teacher. This is ginger brown sugar—fresh ginger with the sugar. Way better for the pain.”
Watching her student bustle about on her behalf, Dong Yue felt the corners of her mouth lift despite herself.
Liang Sheng poured hot water into the cup and noticed Dong Yue still standing there. “Teacher, go sit down already. I’ll handle the brown sugar water!”
“Ding~” Favorability rose.
“Dong Yue’s Favorability towards Liang Sheng: 143”
“All right~”
As expected, once it hit a certain level, Favorability climbed much more slowly.
Liang Sheng stirred the brown sugar until it dissolved fully, pondering her next move.
Looks like it’s time for some sweet physical contact.
“Teacher~ Your brown sugar water’s ready~” Liang Sheng trotted over with the cup, beaming.
Dong Yue lay on the sofa and struggled to sit up.
“Thanks, Liang Sheng!”
She took the cup from her student’s hands.
Liang Sheng cautioned her, “Teacher, be careful—it’s hot. I used boiling water.”
Dong Yue took a cautious sip. “It’s fine. I wanted it hot. Feels good going down into my stomach.”
Liang Sheng watched as Dong Yue downed sip after steaming sip.
Oof! Even she found it scalding when she’d tested the water.
Wait—hold on. She’d instinctively tasted the hot water out of habit! Which meant the cup Teacher Dong Yue was using right now… Liang Sheng’s eyes widened.
Holy crap. An indirect kiss with her own teacher in this lifetime? She was on top of the world. Everyone else was scared stiff of teachers, but here she was, so close to hers.
What would it be like to date a teacher? Liang Sheng’s thoughts wandered wildly once more.
As for the fact that she’d sipped from the same cup, she sure as hell wasn’t telling her teacher.
Ahem. Still afraid of grossing her out, that is.
“Mm.” Dong Yue finished and handed the cup back to Liang Sheng. “Could you put it on the coffee table for me?”
“Oh, Teacher, no need to stand on ceremony with me!” Liang Sheng snatched it up and set it down. “This is all stuff I should be doing anyway.”
Dong Yue settled back comfortably onto the sofa.
It had been so long since anyone had taken care of her like this… The last time was… well, the last time.
And this time, it was a student seven or eight years her junior.
“Liang Sheng, thank you so much for today. You should head home and study now.” Even while sick, she couldn’t stop prodding her student to hit the books. A teacher through and through.
Liang Sheng shook her head and dropped to her knees on the floor, hugging Dong Yue’s arm in a playful pout. “Let me stay and keep you company a little longer~ You’re feeling awful right now, so you’ll probably need someone to boss around soon—and that’s where I come in! Pretty please~?”
“Ding~” Favorability rose.
“Dong Yue’s Favorability towards Liang Sheng: 145”
“Fine… But can you still finish your homework?”
Liang Sheng nodded vigorously. “Of course I can, Teacher. Don’t you trust my skills?”
Yeah, right. No way she’d finish it. She’d just copy the answers.
