Chapter Five

Jason Chen returned to his room. With nothing to do, he picked up a book and started to read.

"Knock, knock, knock." The knocking on the door rang out again. Jason Chen couldn't help thinking that the meal couldn't be ready so quickly. He admired He Tao's cooking speed.

"Come in." This time, Jason Chen learned his lesson and stood up first so that He Tao wouldn't see his bad sitting posture.

"Teacher Chen, hello." Lily, the representative of the political class taught by him, walked in.

It turned out to be Lily. Jason Chen was a bit disappointed. However, Lily was Jason Chen's favorite student. Her grades were the best in the class. In fact, she was the study committee member of the class and could have not served as the class representative. But Lily insisted on being the class representative for this subject taught by him. And he was also very satisfied with Lily's work. With her as the class representative, he saved a lot of trouble. So Jason Chen still loved this student very much.

When Jason Chen saw Lily coming, he said, "Lily, school is over?" "Yes, school just ended. Here are the homework assignments handed in by the classmates today." Lily said as she placed the homework on the desk.

"Lily, why were you two days late for class this semester? Is there something going on at home?" Jason Chen remembered that Lily was two days late for class this semester. He asked Lily's good friend in the same class, Mary. Mary said that there was something going on at her home.

"There is something going on, but it's nothing serious. Thank you for your concern, teacher." Seeing Jason Chen's concern for her, Lily felt as if she had eaten a sweet ice cream.

"Of course I care about my good student. Who else would I care about if not you?" Seeing Lily so happy, Jason Chen also teased her.

"Really? Teacher." Lily's face turned red when she heard Jason Chen say this, like a tempting red apple.

"Sure. If I lie to you, I'm a puppy." Jason Chen said with a smile.

"Teacher, am I really so good? What's so good about me?" This time, Lily was determined to get to the bottom of it.

"Your grades are excellent and you are obedient. Isn't that good?" Jason Chen said.

"Oh, so that's it. What did I think was so good?" Lily pulled at her衣角, a little disappointed.

"What are you thinking about in that little head of yours?" Jason Chen felt something was wrong and quickly asked.

"I'm not a little kid anymore. After this year, I'll be 17." Hearing Jason Chen say this, Lily quickly defended herself.

Jason Chen laughed heartily: "Yes, Lily has grown into a big girl. This old man can't even recognize you anymore." Jason Chen felt very relaxed chatting with Lily. It was as if he had returned to his campus days.

"You're not old at all, teacher." Lily wouldn't let it go when she heard Jason Chen say he was old.

"What did you call me just now?" Jason Chen said slyly.

"Call you teacher. Isn't that right?" Lily looked puzzled and asked strangely.

"Yes. You called me 'old... teacher'. If you emphasize the word 'old', then it's no wonder I'm old." After saying that, Jason Chen laughed heartily.

Only then did Lily realize that she had been tricked by Jason Chen. She clenched her small pink fist and said, "Teacher Chen, you are so cunning. You tricked me like this. Then I'll call you 'old man teacher' from now on."

"That's not good. Just one 'old' is enough. If you add another 'old', I really will have to meet Marx soon." Jason Chen said. "And this is not cunning. It's being smart. One is a derogatory term and the other is a complimentary term. You are using words improperly. Didn't your Chinese teacher teach you?"

"I can't argue with you. I'll go wash my hands." Realizing she couldn't win the argument, Lily didn't want to talk to him anymore.

Usually, having a little girl around to banter with is also a good thing. Jason Chen thought.

"Lily, is the study in Grade 9 tense now?" Jason Chen looked at Lily who came out of the kitchen and asked with concern.

"Study in Grade 9 is really intense. I feel a bit overwhelmed." Lily said as she sat opposite Jason Chen.

"Then you should pay attention to your health. Get enough rest and eat well. Haven't you had a meal? Your complexion is rather poor." Jason Chen looked at Lily, a slim and youthful girl. However, her complexion seemed a bit dull, which made him worried. Such a complexion shouldn't appear at her age. "Is there something wrong? Lily, tell the teacher. Maybe I can help." Jason Chen expressed his concern.

"No, nothing." Lily waved her hand and said. Lily changed the topic and asked, "Teacher, is your family in the city?"

"Yes. Have you been there?" Jason Chen said.

Lily lowered her head and said sadly, "I've only been there once in my life. At that time, I went to the People's Hospital to see a doctor. But the city is really bustling and beautiful." Lily had a look of longing.

"No way. Our Foothill Town is only ten kilometers away from the county town. It takes only ten-odd minutes by bus. You can get there in no time. You've only been there once?" Jason Chen didn't believe it at all.

"Really, teacher. Because my dad is busy and I have nothing to do in the county town, so I haven't gone there. But my younger brother has been there several times." Seeing that Jason Chen didn't believe her, Lily quickly said.

"Then when I have time in the future, I'll take you to play." Jason Chen said firmly.

"You can't go back on your word then." Lily clapped her hands happily and said.

"No, I won't." Jason Chen said.

"Let's make a pinky promise." Lily stretched out her crystal-clear and jade-white little hand.

When Jason Chen saw Lily stretching out her little hand, although they were teacher and student, he felt that holding hands like this was still not appropriate. He hesitated.

"Teacher, you won't go back on your word, will you? You won't even make a pinky promise?" Seeing that Jason Chen was reluctant to make a pinky promise, Lily said in a challenging way.

Seeing that Lily had said so, Jason Chen was too embarrassed to say anything. He could only stretch out his hand and hold that jade-white little hand. It was soft and seemed very comfortable. Jason Chen was scolding himself in his heart. This is a student. How could he have such bad thoughts? Usually, he wasn't like this. Could it be that today because of seeing those exciting things of He Tao, his heart was extremely excited?

"Great! The teacher made a pinky promise with me. You won't go back on your word." Lily laughed happily. But she still held Jason Chen's hand and didn't let go.

Seeing that Lily didn't let go of his hand, Jason Chen quickly broke free.

Lily said, "Teacher, holding your hand is so comfortable."

Jason Chen scolded, "You little girl. What are you talking about?"

"I mean holding your hand feels as comfortable as holding my elder brother's hand." Lily said.

"You naughty girl. I really can't do anything about you." Jason Chen had no way to deal with this naughty student. He could only scold her a little. In fact, for such a clever, beautiful and lovely little sister, how could he bear to scold her? He couldn't love her enough!

"Teacher Chen, it's time to eat!" He Tao called from the next room. This is one of the advantages of bungalows. Teachers don't need a phone to talk to each other. They can just call directly and be heard. The sound insulation effect is very poor.

"Okay, I'll come over." Jason Chen responded.

"Teacher, are you having a meal with that beautiful teacher next door?" Lily's smile from just now disappeared all of a sudden and her complexion was a bit ugly.

"Yes. I just helped her fix the fuse in her room and it took up the time for me to buy groceries. So Teacher He next door asked me to have a meal at her place." Jason Chen felt that it was better to explain clearly. Even though there was no need to explain anything to this little girl.

"So that's it." Lily's complexion improved a bit.

"Lily, don't you go home for lunch?" Jason Chen saw that it was getting late and asked.

"I'll go back in a while. Teacher, let me see if the homework handed in by the classmates is all here. You go and have your meal first. I'll help you lock the door later, okay?" Lily looked at the exercise books on the desk.

"Okay, no problem. Close the door for me after you're done." Jason Chen replied.

"Aren't you afraid that I'll steal your things?" Lily imitated a big thief in a play.

"There's nothing valuable in my room. If you like anything, just speak up." Jason Chen wouldn't be intimidated by this naughty and lovely little devil. "That's it. I'll go and have a meal first. It's not good to keep Teacher He waiting for me for too long." After saying that, Jason Chen went over.