Chapter 4 The Mute Dog

Regarding whether she was avoiding Jiang Li, Liang Zhouyue gave no definite answer. She knew for certain that she felt embarrassed.

But as his teacher, even if only a substitute for one term, she had to maintain the demeanor and openness of an educator, "I'm not avoiding you, why would a teacher avoid a student?"

Hearing this, Jiang Li, without revealing his understanding, quirked an eyebrow slightly and slowed his pace to match hers.

He stopped talking but didn't leave.

Liang Zhouyue caught a glimpse from the corner of her eye and felt somewhat uneasy. She carefully let out a breath and tried to appear calm as she said, "Do you not have class later?"

Implicitly, she hoped he wouldn't follow the same route as her.

Either genuinely not picking up on the implicit message, or pretending to be oblivious, Jiang Li asked casually, "Mr. Liang, have you had breakfast?"

Liang Zhouyue hadn't had breakfast; in fact, she was on her way to the cafeteria, yet she hadn't even left the teaching building.

But, after his question, she suddenly didn't feel like going.

"I already ate," she responded, her demeanor still cool, and even Jiang Li, who had approached her, could sense her subtle resistance.

The next second, he smile faintly, his young face framed with boyish charm, quickly glancing at Liang Zhouyue who didn't dare to look at him directly.

His deep brown eyes twinkled, she looked down at her phone, and just then, a WeChat message from Fang Zirui popped up: [Coming to eat? I'm in the cafeteria.]

Jiang Li was tall with long legs and had vision that could rival that of a pilot selection's perfect standards. He hadn't intended to peek, but she carelessly let him see the message clearly.

It was nine fifty, and breakfast seemed more likely than lunch.

"Mr. Liang is so slim, yet you eat so frequently," Jiang Li said lazily, withdrawing his gaze. He held no books in his hands, his words carried a tinge of cynicism, but his posture was refined, with no trace of vulgarity.

Although not close, Liang Zhouyue had a clear understanding of the types Chen Dan and Jiang Li represented. The former radiated ruffian vibes without cunning; the latter seemed gentle but was actually defiant, with each side concealing the other.

Anyway, Jiang Li, with his cultivated air of a privileged young master, was much more dangerous than Chen Dan, who appeared to be the problem student. Plus, his thoughts were likely much deeper.

Liang Zhouyue hadn't forgotten the large photography studio and the highly professional photography team that seemed closely associated with this youth brimming with vigor. She didn't resent the rich, but she knew she was no match for wealthy people and would actively keep her distance.

Out of caution, she didn't want any private interaction with Jiang Li beyond academics. She lifted her hand, revealing a slender wrist adorned with a thin diamond-studded watch, which complemented her unadorned skin perfectly, showcasing her elegance.

"You go ahead, I have things to take care of."

Liang Zhouyue didn't take his bait and instead reasserted her authority as a teacher, attempting to intimidate him.

Unfortunately, Jiang Li wasn't the obedient type, and he didn't know fear.

"I had a dream last night."

His voice, laced with a teasing smile, reached Liang Zhouyue just a couple steps away. She halted involuntarily, yet did not turn around.

Jiang Li didn't catch up, maintaining his pace as he leisurely said, "The dream was in the photo studio, with you, my clothes, and…"

He deliberately trailed off, leaving the implication hanging.

Her ears turned half a shade of red, and after a few seconds of silence, with her back stiff, she turned her head around. She knew she shouldn't have asked, but she couldn't help herself, "What else did you dream about?"

Jiang Li laughed, his visage innocent and gentle, but the arrogance hidden within was that of a spoiled scoundrel intent on playing with people's hearts.

His eyebrows slightly raised, his gaze like a smoothly driven car, he spoke deliberately, "It's not suitable to say; I was too tired afterward and don't remember."

...

Liang Zhouyue's face turned various shades of red and white, her embarrassment and shame preventing her from asking any further questions.

She stood there stiffly, while Jiang Li had already passed her by with confident strides, his voice fading into the distance, "Go eat something; it's not good to get too skinny from hunger."

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...

Zhou Yue felt so gloomy!

What kind of social-death scenario was this, having to face a man who had seen over seventy percent of her body for an entire semester.

Feeling increasingly uncomfortable, Zhou Yue quickened her descent down the stairs, fearing another encounter with Jiang Li.

*

At the school's first cafeteria.

As soon as she entered through the side door, Zhou Yue saw Fang Zirui waving at her from afar, full of enthusiasm.

For a moment, the gloom that had just started to take hold of her lifted somewhat, and a faint smile appeared on her face as she walked over to meet her.

"Why did you just get here?" Fang Zirui handed her a cup of cool shaved ice, her favorite strawberry flavor.

Zhou Yue took a sip, and her throat, dry from the heat of late August, was instantly soothed, making her voice much clearer, "There was a student who was late, so I came to correct the attendance."

She gave a vague answer, not wanting to discuss the topic of Jiang Li with Fang Zirui since she considered it unimportant.

At that, Fang Zirui's curiosity was piqued, "Who's so audacious on the first class of the semester?"

This wasn't a topic worth much attention, but Zhou Yue's class was from the finance department, where, in the entire B City, at least half of the overseas returnees are found.

Zhou Yue responded slowly with an indifferent grunt, buying herself time to concoct a white lie. In the end, she revealed half of the truth, "His name is Chen Dan."

"That's crazy." Fang Zirui was so shocked she nearly slapped her thigh, looking every bit the gossip-hungry middle schooler despite being thirty, as she excitedly shared with Zhou Yue, "Chen Dan isn't even the most outrageous. He has a friend named Jiang Li, who's quite something."

Zhou Yue hadn't expected Fang Zirui to bring him up without prompting.

She still couldn't escape this person, after all.

Following Fang Zirui's lead, Zhou Yue engaged her in conversation, "Why do you say that?"

"It may sound a bit harsh, but have you ever heard the saying 'the barking dog doesn't bite, and the biting dog doesn't bark'?"

Zhou Yue nodded.

Fang Zirui made a point, pursing her lips as she articulated each word, "Jiang Li is the kind of dog that doesn't bark."

With that, she took a sip of her shaved ice to wet her throat before diving into the school's combative history for Zhou Yue's benefit, only a year into her job.

"In his freshman year military training, he beat up a junior. He didn't say a word through the whole thing, just sent a guy over one meter eighty to the ambulance."

Dark brown eyes finally showed a ripple of emotion, and a look of surprise surfaced in Zhou Yue's eyes, "Such a grudge during military training?"

More importantly, Jiang Li didn't look fierce; he always had a smiling face. Whether it was genuine friendliness or just a show for his classmates, he didn't seem like someone who could be so violent on a first meeting.

If he truly was a tough guy, his toughness was hidden deep within, seemingly reformed, rather than being an ostentatious front for gossip.

Lost in thought, Zhou Yue heard Fang Zirui sigh, hinting at sympathy for Jiang Li, "Actually, that junior deserved it. He asked Jiang Li if he wanted to go out and book a room."

"He thought Jiang Li was...?" Zhou Yue didn't finish her sentence.

Fang Zirui hummed in affirmation, "Because Jiang Li looks very 'milk,' and his skin is fair, people coveted his beauty."

Judging someone's orientation rashly based on looks and lacking the understanding of respect, Zhou Yue lifted her eyelashes contemptuously, her voice uncommonly cold, "Then he really did deserve it."

She wanted to add 'serves him right' but was stopped by the power of her education.

But he really did deserve it, served him right!

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