The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 165

Chapter 165: I’ll Support You By Handing Out Flyers Part 10

Before Song Siran could answer, Tao Ning stood before them, her gaze meeting Song Siran’s.

Since her classmate didn’t recognize her, Song Siran definitely did, but she didn’t remember Song Siran’s sister looking like this.

Having witnessed Song Yanshu confronting other parents, a true firecracker, no one could out-argue her.

Song Siran was a bit nervous, stammering, “Sister Tao Ning, why are you here?”

Tao Ning was wearing light makeup and a simple yet elegant outfit, looking incredibly proper.

Her usual tattoos were nowhere to be seen, her neck and collarbone bare, and Song Siran almost didn’t recognize her.

But after a closer look, it was indeed Tao Ning.

Song Siran’s surprise was understandable, in her eyes, Tao Ning was usually a rebellious young woman, but now, she looked like a refined artist, the contrast striking.

Tao Ning explained, “Song Yanshu had something urgent come up, so I’m here in her place, do you mind?”

“Oh…”

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t disappointed, she had wanted to show Song Yanshu her improved grades.

Song Siran smiled again: “Of course not, Sister Tao Ning, please come in, have a seat, I’ll get you some water.”

“Excuse me.” She nudged her classmate, who, still stunned, quickly stood up and made way.

Tao Ning sat down, and as Song Siran went to get water, she noticed the report card placed prominently on the desk.

Clearly meant for the visitor to see, Tao Ning took a photo and sent it to Song Yanshu.

Despite her seemingly carefree and sometimes irresponsible nature, Song Yanshu took Song Siran’s matters seriously.

Before coming here, she had repeatedly emphasized: Song Siran’s grades weren’t very good, and she was a little, tiny bit biased towards certain subjects.

These were Song Yanshu’s exact words, no punctuation added or removed.

Tao Ning glanced at the report card: English 21, Math 131, Chinese 125.

Not just a “tiny bit,” but a massive gap.

And these were the results of Song Siran’s genuine efforts, not random answers, the test paper filled with her attempts.

Tao Ning looked away, unable to bear the sight.

Song Siran returned with the water, carefully placing it on the desk: “Sister Tao Ning, have some water, it’s just the right temperature.”

“Thanks.” Tao Ning took a sip, wondering if this was a farewell tea.

As expected, after the parent-teacher meeting, Tao Ning was called to the English teacher’s office for a “brief meeting” about how to improve Song Siran’s English.

Having boasted earlier, she couldn’t just skip it like before, so she sat there obediently, listening to the teacher’s lecture.

Tao Ning, at such a young age, experienced the difficulty of educating the nation’s flowers, becoming a nodding machine, only saying “yes” and “I understand.”

Yes, yes, you’re right, we’ll improve, we’ll improve.

Concluding the meeting, the English teacher said earnestly, “Si Ran’s grades in other subjects are quite good, but her English is holding her back, and in the college entrance exam, even a single point can make a big difference, you have to find a way to improve this.”

Tao Ning’s ears were numb: “Yes, yes, yes.”

The English teacher, her throat dry, took a sip of tea, then seeing it was getting late, said goodbye to Tao Ning.

Tao Ning’s spirits instantly lifted, and she left with a cheerful smile.

The English teacher, watching her leave: “…”

Tao Ning practically skipped out of the office, her happiness evident.

The previous guardian seemed unreliable, so they called this seemingly reliable Miss Tao, but she doesn’t seem very reliable either.

Birds of a feather flock together, the ancients were right.

Stepping outside, Tao Ning felt a sense of liberation, she had never been so humble in her life.

Song Siran, waiting outside, saw her emerge and walked towards her: “Sister Tao Ning, I know my English is bad, I’ll work harder, I improved by two points compared to last time.”

Tao Ning thought she had misheard: “…You mean, you only got 19 points last time?”

Song Siran scratched her head sheepishly: “My sister said I might not have a talent for it, that it’s fine if I don’t study abroad.”

That sounded like something Song Yanshu would say.

Tao Ning looked at her, her tone serious: “Si Ran, I’ve never bowed my head to anyone in my life, you’ve made me break my rule.”

Even when chased by the principal, she had always run with her head held high.

Song Siran felt even more embarrassed: “I’ll work harder.”

Tao Ning, however, shook her head: “No, it’s not you who should work harder, but Song Yanshu, she should find you a good English tutor, and I’ll also try to find one for you.”

Song Siran: “…”

Tao Ning, speaking from experience, patted her shoulder: “Don’t give up, and if you really can’t answer a question, just guess, choose A, B, C, or D randomly, my and Yanshu’s best records were two and one wrong answers respectively on the multiple-choice section.”

Song Siran: “…” This sounds even less reliable.

But she was tempted to try it.

Song Siran was staying at school this week, and Tao Ning, leaving Siyuan Building, felt like a prisoner released from labor camp, a sense of liberation washing over her.

Standing downstairs, she took a deep breath, releasing all her pent-up frustration.

It was getting late, the sun setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and red, the colors fading towards the horizon, where the sky was still a deep blue, with faint clouds.

Most of the students and parents had left, the remaining students heading towards the cafeteria, and the once bustling campus quieted down.

As Tao Ning was about to leave, she heard footsteps coming down the stairs and turned around.

The sunset glow hadn’t faded yet, the sky still ablaze with gold, and a figure descended the stairs, her light clothes flowing, the sunlight illuminating her face, the cinnabar mole between her eyebrows like a red plum blossom on snow.

She turned to the person on the stairs: “No need, I’ll go back myself.”

Fu Zhaozhao followed: “Send me a message when you arrive.”

“Okay, I’ll tell you later.” Fu Guanyue agreed, descending the stairs gracefully, her gaze meeting someone standing by the side.

Their eyes met, and Fu Guanyue’s steps slowed, the setting sun casting a soft glow on Tao Ning, making Fu Guanyue’s gaze seem unusually gentle.

Tao Ning broke the silence: “It’s so late, you haven’t left yet?”

Fu Guanyue, snapping back to attention, walked towards her: “Zhao Zhao is a class representative, and the classroom was a bit messy, so she stayed behind to help, I stayed with her. What about you?”

Tao Ning’s eyes were fixed on Fu Guanyue, and she smiled faintly, a hint of bitterness in her expression: “The child is a bit… biased in her studies, the teacher wanted to talk to me.”

Fu Guanyue, not used to discussing such matters, didn’t know how to reply, Fu Zhaozhao was just playful, not a cause for concern.

She hesitated, about to offer a polite but meaningless reply,

When Tao Ning changed the subject: “The two kids are eating at the school cafeteria, but I haven’t had dinner yet… Miss Fu, are you hungry?”

Fu Guanyue instinctively nodded: “A little.”

She had a regular schedule, waking up at 5:00 AM to cultivate, having breakfast at 7:00 AM, and dinner at 5:00 PM, then cultivating again.

It was already 6:30 PM, and she was indeed hungry.

Tao Ning glanced at the time: “I’m also hungry, there’s a good restaurant nearby, how about we have dinner together?”

The bustling restaurant was filled with people, the air thick with the aroma of food.

Being close to the school, the customers were mostly white-collar workers and students in No. 12 High School uniforms.

“See anything you like?”

Fu Guanyue, looking around, was handed a menu, Tao Ning across the table wiping the table with a tissue, her eyelashes lowered, her expression serious.

She didn’t know why, but she had agreed to Tao Ning’s invitation, and now she found herself sitting here.

Tao Ning crumpled the tissue and tossed it into the trash can, her tone nostalgic: “When I was in school, I found the cafeteria food boring, so I often came here with my friends, the owner’s cooking is excellent, I still come back occasionally.”

Fu Guanyue looked away from the colorful menu, glancing at the slightly old and simple restaurant, and asked in surprise, “You also went to No. 12 High School?”

Tao Ning rested her chin on her hand: “Yes, don’t I look like it?”

Fu Guanyue looked at her carefully, nodding seriously: “You do, very much so.”

Most students at No. 12 High School were well-behaved and academically inclined, with a few from wealthy families, and Fu Guanyue, looking at Tao Ning, could imagine her as a student, carefree and confident, her uniform neat, youthful and outstanding.

Her words pleased Tao Ning, who lowered her voice and asked, “Then what do you think I was like as a student, Miss Fu?”

The restaurant was noisy, and Fu Guanyue leaned closer, unable to hear clearly: “What did you say? I can’t hear you.”

Who would believe that Fu Guanyue, the perceptive and powerful cultivator, would say she couldn’t hear?

But Tao Ning believed her, moving her chair closer and cupping her hand to her mouth, whispering in Fu Guanyue’s ear: “I said, what do you think I was like as a student?”

Her warm breath against Fu Guanyue’s ear was like a gentle breeze igniting a flame, and Fu Guanyue, startled, instinctively reached up to touch her ear.

Meeting Tao Ning’s surprised gaze, she stopped, her burning ears exposed.

Tao Ning tilted her head: “Your ears are so red, are you feeling unwell?”

Despite the surrounding noise, she had heard Tao Ning’s words clearly, her ears burning even brighter, like the sunset.

Fu Guanyue turned her head slightly, trying to hide them, but it was futile: “I’m fine, just… a bit warm.”

Tao Ning rubbed her slightly cool fingertips together, a faint smile in her eyes: “Perhaps it’s the crowd, the air conditioning isn’t very strong.”

“I think you were probably like Zhao Zhao, good grades, many friends…” Then Fu Guanyue realized something, looking up in surprise, “How do you know my surname is Fu?”

Tao Ning couldn’t help but smile: “I not only know your surname, but also that you’re Fu Zhaozhao’s aunt, I saw the honor roll at the school entrance, your niece’s name is on it.”

Fu Guanyue realized: “I see.”

Perhaps out of politeness, Tao Ning always looked into Fu Guanyue’s eyes when speaking, and Fu Guanyue would always look away for a moment before meeting her gaze again, afraid of being impolite.

Tao Ning’s eyes were bright, almost too intense.

Her voice was soft: “Since we’re having dinner together, would you mind telling me your name, Miss Fu?”

Fu Guanyue’s grip on her napkin tightened: “Fu Guanyue, ‘guan’ for observe, ‘yue’ for moon.”

“Fu Guanyue… What a beautiful name,” Tao Ning said. “My name is Tao Ning, ‘tao’ for pottery, ‘ning’ for peace.”

Fu Guanyue had always thought her name was ordinary, but hearing it spoken with such warmth, it seemed to gain a special meaning.

Tao Ning suddenly reached out, and Fu Guanyue’s heart skipped a beat, watching as the hand reached past her, slender fingers picking up the menu and pulling it closer.

The bright overhead light illuminated the hand clearly.

Pale, slender fingers, not bony, but delicate and smooth, like polished jade, meticulously carved by a skilled artisan.

No rings or bracelets, the slightly protruding wrist bones not detracting from its beauty.

If Fu Guanyue were still rational, she would have noticed the inconsistency—how could someone who struggled financially have such delicate and unblemished hands?

But she was too caught up in her emotions, her gaze following the hand as it moved away.

The entire process only took a few seconds.

Tao Ning opened the menu and asked casually, “Have you decided what to order? The owner has been looking at us, Auntie Zheng is very enthusiastic, she must have recognized me.”

She gestured towards the kitchen, which was separated from the dining area by a glass wall, allowing customers to see the chefs working busily. The restaurant’s popularity was due to its excellent food and service.

Auntie Zheng and the other waitresses bustled around, occasionally glancing in their direction.

Fu Guanyue, actually not having looked at the menu, not wanting to appear clueless, simply said, “I’m not picky, you can order.”

Tao Ning replied, “Okay,” and called for a waitress.

The nearest waitress was about to approach when the owner appeared behind her: “I’ll take their order, you can attend to the other customers.”

Auntie Zheng, holding an order pad, walked over with a smile: “It’s been a while, Tao Ning, and this is your friend? Where’s Xiao Song?”

Tao Ning: “Xiao Song couldn’t make it, I’m here in her place, and I was craving your food, Auntie Zheng, business seems to be booming.”

Auntie Zheng, a kind-looking woman with permed, reddish-brown hair, a popular style among middle-aged women, said, “It’s the weekend, more students, it always gets busier on weekends. Same as usual? We have fresh fish today, how about our signature steamed sea bass?”

She remembered her regular customers’ preferences, knowing Tao Ning and Song Yanshu liked fresh, light flavors, not spicy or sour dishes.

Tao Ning immediately said, “No fish today, I want something different, replace the sea bass with this, the rest is the same.”

She listed a few dishes, most of them house specials, then turned to Fu Guanyue: “Any of these you don’t like?”

Fu Guanyue shook her head, a strange feeling in her heart: “No.”

Not only did she not dislike them, but they were also her favorites.