After one night of indulgence, there would be a second, and a third.
Xiao Chen spent most nights at Huating One afterwards, leaving Qiao Rui alone at Yunwan Mansion, without even asking.
Sometimes when his conscience bothered him, he would come back perfunctorily to check on Qiao Rui.
Yet Qiao Rui was not at all lonely without his brother around. On the contrary, he was very happy.
He locked himself in his room and lay in bed playing games.
When he heard Xiao Chen coming back, he would immediately throw his phone under the blanket and pretend to be asleep.
Xiao Chen would just come in to take a look. Seeing the room dark and quiet, with Qiao Rui lying still with eyes closed, he would leave again.
This happened several times, until Qiao Rui noticed Xiao Chen's pattern of returns.
So he spent many late nights unrestrained in the luxury apartment, playing games to his heart's content.
Until the week before final exams, on Wednesday morning.
The first period that day was English.
Yu Na picked a question for group discussion. During that time she noticed Qiao Rui and Song Yan sitting in the last row. Their posture was the same - elbows on desks, heads drooping, half asleep and looking very uncomfortable.
By now the other students were discussing the question, but when they saw Yu Na walk down from the podium, their gaze also turned to her.
Yu Na went to Song Yan and Qiao Rui's desk.
Song Yan sat closer to the aisle while Qiao Rui sat inside, next to the window.
The class quieted down, waiting to watch the show.
Yu Na reached out and knocked on Song Yan's desk three times.
"......"
The eerie sound made them instantly alert.
Song Yan turned pale. "Ms...Ms. Yu."
Qiao Rui was still in a daze.
Yu Na didn't take up too much class time. After waking them up, she asked, "Didn't sleep well last night?"
The two immediately lied in unison -
Song Yan: "Teacher, my grandpa made me play chess with him last night. I couldn't say no, so I went to bed a little late."
There was soft laughter around the class. They thought this excuse was rather far-fetched.
Qiao Rui was equally shameless. "I had a nightmare last night. I woke up at 3am and couldn't fall back asleep."
"......" Yu Na said, "Both of you go wash your faces."
...
After washing their faces and returning to the classroom, Song Yan and Qiao Rui didn't doze off again.
Yu Na didn't say anything more.
But at the end of third period, Principal Qin suddenly came into the teachers' office. Yu Na was grading homework there at the time.
Following behind Principal Qin were Song Yan and Qiao Rui, not daring to even breathe. They gloomily followed him into the office.
Yu Na immediately had a bad feeling.
She quickly stood up and respectfully called, "Principal Qin."
"Teacher Yu," Principal Qin charged into the office aggressively, "The two students from your class fell asleep during math class and wouldn't wake up no matter how I called them. When I finally got them up, guess what Qiao Rui said to me?"
The math teacher was sick recently, so the principal was covering their class.
Yu Na mechanically asked, "...What did he say?"
"He told me to get down!" He adjusted his glasses. "Forget it. Their parents are coming, I have to talk to them face to face. I want to see what these kids do at home every day."
Yu Na's heart skipped a beat. "Principal, it's a work day right now. The parents are still at work. It's near exams, the students are under a lot of stress, they may doze off in class... And-"
"Alright alright," Principal Qin impatiently interrupted her. "Yu Na, how many times have I told you, you can't keep protecting the students like this. Among all the classes in this grade, only your class acts so unruly. This is related to your usual management! You said it yourself, exams are coming up, yet you still indulge them!"
Principal Qin calmed himself down, then said, "I can understand if they doze off from stress. I won't call home in that case. But these two, hmph. Forget it. Arguing here is pointless. Give me your phone, I'll notify their parents myself!"
Yu Na could only nod. "Okay."
The other teachers were present in the office too. Principal Qin didn't leave either.
He took Yu Na's phone and found Song Yan's father's number. Suddenly Song Yan spoke up, "Principal Qin, Teacher Yu, could you please contact my grandma instead?"
Principal Qin looked at him suspiciously. "Your grandma?"
Song Yan lied, "Yes. My parents are both on business trips abroad. I can't reach them now. It's nighttime over there."
Principal Qin immediately saw through his little trick. "I'll let your grandma come today, but I'll pay your family a visit in person."
Song Yan: "Ah...?"
Principal Qin ignored him and had Song Yan report his grandma's number, then made the call.
"Hello?"
Principal Qin: "Hello, am I speaking with Song Yan's grandmother?"
"Yes, speaking."
"I'm calling because I need to discuss something with you in person at the school. It's about your grandson."
The call was on speakerphone. They could hear the old lady was clearly flustered, thinking something had happened to her grandson. Her voice suddenly became anxious. "Ah? What's wrong with my grandson? Did something happen? Is he okay?"
Principal Qin reassured her, "He's fine, don't worry. But there is a situation I hope to understand by talking to you face to face."
Song Yan's grandma breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, I'll head over right now."
After notifying Song Yan's grandma, he got ready to call Qiao Rui's parents.
Qiao Rui said, "Principal, my brother is my current guardian."
"Your brother?" Principal Qin recalled there was such a person, who seemed very young but had a strong presence. He could also tell Qiao Rui was a little afraid of him.
"Fine, I'll contact your brother then. Your guardian must be present!"
Principal Qin emphasized the last four words.
Qiao Rui obediently reported Xiao Chen's number.
In a flash, Yu Na suddenly remembered - the contact name she had for Xiao Chen was "Big Pig Trotter".
She sucked in a breath, hair standing on end.
"Principal!"
Principal Qin was in the middle of typing in the number when the sudden shout made him jump.
Yu Na had a big smile plastered on. "Let me make the call instead. You sit and calm down first."
"Hmph. With those two students from your class, I'll never calm down!"
Though he said that, he did take an empty seat next to Yu Na, hands on his thighs. "Fine fine, you call, but I want to talk to Qiao Rui's brother personally."
He felt that while Yu Na was a good teacher who students liked, she lacked authority.
The students didn't fear her, and some parents didn't take the young new teacher seriously either.
So he wanted to speak personally.
Yu Na swiftly deleted the "Big Pig Trotter" contact name, then anxiously dialed the number.
She could only silently pray that Xiao Chen wouldn't say anything inappropriate. Please don't, please.
After three rings, the call connected. But Yu Na's prayers were futile.
The other end lazily and suggestively said, "What's up? Miss me?"
Principal Qin: ?
Yu Na: "............"
The other teachers in the office also turned to look. Only Qiao Rui was desperately trying not to laugh.
